Shatter Me // fantastically twisted characters

I enjoyed Shatter Me way more than I could have ever expected! I had so much fun reading this book that I immediately had to pick up book 2.




Set in a dystopian future where the world is falling apart, Juliette can kill people with a touch. The Reestablishment have her locked up for three years, isolated, until she is given a cell mate. Adam is a stranger, but something about him is familiar, and soon Juliette is thrust into the world of The Reestablishment and of Warner - the man who wants to use her powers as a weapon.

The concept has a few parallels with X-Men, but for me the novel definitely stood on its own. It comes with a different approach to the same ideas, and although it's not perfect, it sure is fun to read. The plot was lacking in a few places, but enough was provided to keep me hooked on the story.

What really had me hooked were the characters. Juliette is a brilliant protagonist. She is kind-hearted despite what the world has done to her. She is scared but strong and so very human, and all of that is reflected in her narratorial voice. The writing is rambling and self-correcting, but rather than finding it annoying, it made her character feel more real to me. I loved seeing Juliette grow and how her voice changes with her. I also loved Adam, who was a genuinely sweet love interest. I expected to hate the romance (as I often do), especially because it was so central to the story, but I unashamedly loved it.

As for the villain, Warner was amazing. I feel like I didn't get to learn a lot about him, other than the fact he is utterly repulsive. He is gross and predatory and enjoys hurting people, and he feels like the world has wronged him in the same way that it has wronged Juliette. But the difference is that Juliette wants to be better than him. I was worried that she would reciprocate his twisted feelings, but I'm glad he wasn't romanticised. I don't know if he will stay a villain, but right now he seems irredeemable and I like it that way.

Shatter Me is definitely not a story for everyone, but if you can get past its flaws, it's utterly engaging. I can't wait to see where the story takes these characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 ★★★★★

YA Romance/Dystopia

Book 1 of 6 in the Shatter Me series

guns, death, blood, torture, violence

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