Series Recap: Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi

Reading order: (sort by release day)

Shatter Me (Book 1, Published on November 15, 2011)
Destroy Me (Book 1.5, Published on October 2, 2012)
Unravel Me (Book 2, Published on February 5, 2013)
Fracture Me (Book 2.5, Published on December 17, 2013)
Ignite Me (Book 3, Published on February 4, 2014)

Click the titles to check out my reviews.

***

Synopsis Recap:

Juliette's journey starts with Shatter Me. She has an unimaginable power/curse. She can kill with a touch. And she's locked in an asylum for 264. When Adam, the boy from her past, brings her to Warner, the leader of Sector 45, her life is about to take big twists. She fear Warner's inhumane methods. And she has to escape. With Adam and Kenji's help, they're about to find a rumored place called Omega Point, an organization trying to overthrow the Reestablishment.

Destroy Me is told in Warner's point of view. After Juliette's escape, he has to heal from his wounds. He's still obsessed with Juliette and he's determined to find her and bring her back. But along with this problem, he faces others as well. When the Supreme Commander, who happens to be his father, come to the base, Warner simply can't follow his demands.

Unravel Me is a turning point of the story. Juliette, Adam and Kenji is in Omega Point. But things aren't as good as she imagined. She has problems with just about almost everyone and everything there, including Adam. She needs to control her abilities before she can safely touch others and go to battle. But the bigger problem emerges. One that they can hardly stop from happening. And it will change everything.

Fracture Me is told in Adam's point of view. After the devastating events in Unravel Me, their goal, their only goal, is to stay alive. With all the things come crashing on him, he's in a mess. The odds of the Reestablishment killing everyone Adam cares about, is high. And he has no idea how to solve this big problem.

Juliette is ready to battle in Ignite Me. But she has to rely on a person she never thought she could trust: Warner. Things have changed a lot. The Omega Point, Sector 45, Warner, Adam and even herself, are not the same anymore. Together, they must find ways to overcome all the prejudice and hatred before they can take down the Reestablishment. It will be anything but easy.

***

Thoughts Recap:

Three words to describe the series: Intense yet frustrating

Shatter Me is a unique book. Mainly because of the strikethroughs. And how Juliette's mind works. I have mixed feelings about this book. While I think the plot is nice enough, Juliette pisses me off a little with her utter vulnerability. In her eyes everything is black and white, and so the book is a little like that. Black and white with no grays. It might not be the nicest start of a series, but it's nice enough for me to continue.

Destroy Me is one of the better books in the series. It's nice to know what Warner, the supposedly villain, truly is. It's very intense and endearing. There's no way you can hate him for being a villain after reading Destroy Me. This is a main reason why I keep reading the series.

Unravel Me... well, again I have mixed feelings about this book. The plot is nicer than Shatter Me, that's true. And Juliette is significantly stronger. But she's also more whiny... along with Adam. The countless melodramatic scenes between Adam and Juliette is exhausting in more ways than one. But there are also scenes with Kenji and Warner that salvages almost all of my negative feelings. If I am to be completely honest, this book is better and worse at the same time.

Fracture Me is one of those books that I don't even know if I want to talk about for ever. After reading this book my view towards my previously favorite character changed a lot. While I admire him for caring about his family and his so much, I'm also irritated that he doesn't even think about trying to save his love. I can't deny that this is an important book though, because it kind of helps to understand some things in Ignite Me. And it finally gives me a view of the real Adam.

Ignite Me is pretty epic and a little frustrating at the same time. Frustrating, because of those melodramatic scenes (again!). Epic, because of everything besides the frustrating part. I'd say it's a beautiful conclusion for the series. Though I have to admit that I'm not sure if I will re-read it again. I won't talk about much concerning the plot in the book here. That's up to you to discover it. But Ignite Me is definitely one of the better conclusions I've read about so far.


Overall rating: 8/10
Do I recommend this series?: I think everyone should read it, even though I think not everyone will buy the story.

Ignite Me: Review

Synopsis:

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

***

It's very hard for me to write this review. I just have so many mixed emotions about Ignite Me. I love some parts of the book as much as I hate the others. There are times where I don't know whether to love or hate some of the characters. It's so intense! I'm pretty messed-up after reading this book, and it's in a good way and a bad way at the same time.

In Ignite Me, Juliette is no longer the cowering little girl. She's ready to accept her abilities and fight against the Reestablishment. She's one of those characters that I don't know whether to like her or dislike her. I have a feeling this is both. Why I like her? Well, for starters, she finally FINALLY doesn't whine for her misfortune. She finally is ready to accept her super weird/awesome/lethal/however you call it ability. And she finally faces what her heart tells her to. Oh yeah, and then she is pretty badass with her strength. But the dislike part is pretty strong. There are times where she's just too naive for her own good, and for some reason that annoys me. She's really reckless too. And not the very good kind. Sure, I get that she wants to take down the Reestablishment badly, but that doesn't mean rushing to the end, right? Think before you act! There's no good throwing yourself into the battle without preparing for it.

Warner? Mostly admiration and frustration (and just a little affection). That guy... well, he's totally sweet in this book. There are so many scenes where he shows Juliette with endless affection and admiration and stuff. These are one of the best parts in the book. It just brings a smile to a face. And to be honest, I never thought Warner will have such good intentions, even though I know very well that he's not bad at his core. Frustration is here too, because he's unsure about Juliette's return of her affection even though it's crystal clear that she does. I don't know if I will like that guy fully with my heart, but I'm sure as hell that I don't hate him anymore.

I have a lot to say about Adam. And mostly not in a good way. Just thinking about him makes me want to punch him in the face. I'm not talking about him here because 1) I think I might just trash my computer out of anger and 2) You have to read for yourself to realize just how annoying he is. He's being a dick in Ignite Me. And even though a small part of me kind of understands, the rest of me is just pissed. Because he's being totally unreasonable about... well, almost everything. Some part of me can't even believe I used to like him (back in Shatter Me). But I can't hate him like I thought I would. Because deep down I know he's a good guy. And a really good one that cares for his friends and his brother's safety. That doesn't change that I'm not angry with him. But yeah, he just wears his emotions up his sleeve, and he's stressed. These are not things that  you can blame him. 

The plot is probably the best thing in the book. Because for once this doesn't anger me in any way anymore. It's safe to say that it's anything but predictable. And the battle scenes are just plain awesome. I don't know how to describe the awesomeness exactly, but I'm sure most of you will love it. And then there's Kenji. I really love that guy. He's funny, caring, and logical. Juliette is lucky to have a friend like Kenji. Man, I really wish that guy is real. He's fantastic.

Despite my mixed feelings, I still give it a 5 out of 5 in Goodreads. There are hardly any book that can sway my feelings (as well as my mind) like no tomorrow. Ignite Me is sure one of the specials. And hey, this is a badass conclusion for the trilogy. Nice job.

Rating: 9/10

Teaser Tuesday: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn¡¦t give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

This week I choose Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi.

"you need to just back up, okay, because you are dumping way too much information on m all at once, and I need you to start from the beginning, and I need you to tell me everything."

Add Ignite Me on Goodreads:

Fracture Me: Review

Synopsis:

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Timesbestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu.

***

I have mixed feelings about Adam in Fracture Me. On one hand I'm relieved that he finally seems to get out of his love-sickness and focus what's around him. But on the other I'm pretty pissed that his so-called undying love for Juliette is fading because of something that neither Adam nor Juliette wants to happen. I think the pissed-off part outweights the relieved part in more ways than one because I always think that Adam will always be there for Juliette. But now it seems like Adam's not that determined to win her back either, which really makes me angry. I sound like a bitch by admitting this, and you guys will probably call me sick, but I'm actually in a state of cruel happiness when I read the scene about Adam trying to process the thought of a certain loss on some level.

But despite all the new-found hatred (well, maybe not hatred, but close) for Adam, I still think this sets quite a good stage for Ignite Me. Though it doesn't give away too much, I can see that the people from Omega Point will fight the Reestablishment with everything they have now that they have lost Juliette (or at least they thought so). I can't wait to see how Ignite Me will turn out to be.

And I kind of don't want to see Adam in Ignite Me now. 

Rating: 7.5/10

Update on 12/21/2013: Check out my further review on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/556424166

Cover Reveal: Fracture Me by Tahereh Mafi

Finally! Fracture Me <3. I'm curious about Adam's point of view.

Here's the cover

Opinion:

Um... okay. I guess tit's alright? I have to admit I like Destroy Me's cover better. I like the shades of purple, but for some reason green suits better. And I don't know the business with the feathers. But overall it's an okay cover for a novella.

Synopsis:

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu.

Expected Publication: December 17, 2013

Name and Cover Reveal: Shatter Me #3 by Tahereh Mafi

Reblog based on MTV:

Oh my gosh there's finally a cover and a name for the final book of Shatter Me trilogy! I've already waited too long and now it's here~! (Happy dancing)

Here's the name and the cover:

Ignite Me! Fans were always talking about the name might be Ignite Me but I was skeptical. I can't believe it's true! And the flower... they are really beautiful. But I'd rather have fiery things. And hey, the blue in the eye is much more beautiful than the previous ones because it's more clear.

Synopsis:

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Praise for the Shatter Me series:

"Dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense. I dare you to stop reading."-Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures series

"Tahereh Mafi's bold, inventive prose crackles with raw emotion. A thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love, the Shatter Me series is a must-read for fans of dystopian young adult literature-or any literature!"-Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

"Addictive, intense, and oozing with romance. I'm envious. I couldn't put it down."-Lauren Kate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series

***

Ignite Me will be released on February 4, 2014 (I can't wait to see the next Winter Dark Days because I will swoon all over the place)

Unravel Me: Review

Synopsis:

tick

tick

tick

tick

tick

it's almost

time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life

***

(This review might contain spoilers. So beware if you haven't read Unravel Me or even Shatter Me)

This book is a hell of a PERFECTION! Woohoo! Never once did I feel even the slightest boredom (Yep, I can tell you there are a few small slightly-boring part even in Boundless and Through The Ever Night.). The special skill written by Tahereh Mafi heightened a lot in this book. And once you pick that up, you will never be able to put it down until you finish it.

So yeah, we have Juliette Ferrars again, which transforms into a more... heroine girl. And honestly, I'm relieved. I just don't think I can take more of her intense emotional cyclone with Adam/Warner again. Because seriously, every time I re-read Shatter Me, seeing her so damn caught up with her little world is getting more and more annoying. Like Kenji says, she lives in her own world. And now, seeing her finally comes out from her mental cage, well... you know what I'm gonna say. I can't say I really love her now, but it's getting much easier.

And there's the whole team thing. It's starting to get really messed up. For Adam... well, I can't say I completely transfer from Team Adam to Team Warner (since I think I can never hate Adam no matter what). But there are times where he really ticks me off. He's just too... I don't know, emotional or something? Or too lovesick. And his confessions to Juliette while she tries to tell him that she will hurt him...kind of gives me two feelings. One is heart-ache, the other is annoyance.

And for Warner... I can finally say I'm officially in love with Warner now. One bad, hot boy. Again, I can't say I'm team Warner now, but there are plenty awesomeness with Warner in the book. I think the best of all is him trying to save Juliette near the end of the book. Damn if this is not sweet at all. I practically swoon in front of my family. And the scenes in the cell in Omega Point are also very sweet. Yep, Warner is complicated, but it's safe to say I really love this guy. I guess that makes me Team Neither then. Or more specifically, Team I-Don't-Care-Who-You-End-Up-With.

The book is action-packed and full of secrets. The action in this book will definitely stun you to silence. The fighting scenes are more vicious than ever (I think I can say even more vicious than in Insurgent). And the secrets can also leave your mouth hangs open (Spoiler: e.g. Adam's heritage!).  Jeez, you will never know how thrilling to make through a book with fights and secrets and all kinds of fun stuff until you read it! Like the synopsis says, there are times where the characters have to make life-changing decisions. The outcomes are kind of horrifying at times as they are breath-taking. This is a book you will never forget. Just trust me on this one.

Last line: If you love Kenji in Shatter Me, you will love him more in Unravel Me :) [I am one of those Kenji lovers!]

Rating: 9/10

Listopia 2012

It's the last day of 2012 (Yeah, to me it's the last day cuz I'm not living in USA or Canada). So let's have a quick recap. I released 10 articles of my Top Ten YA Novels read in 2012 in the previous 10 days. So this listopia will about something else. (But I will give you the link of the top 10 novels at the end of the post)

So let's start with the Best Cover:

• A Million Suns by Beth Revis
• Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
• Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth
• City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
• Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Rapture by Lauren Kate
• Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Best OTP:

• Allison and Zeke in The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
• Alex and Aiden in Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Alex and Lena in Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver (although my stance are shaken by the excerpt of Requiem)
• Tobias and Tris in Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth
• Clara and Tucker in Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand
• Aria and Perry in Under The Never Sky (Under The Never Sky #1) by Veronica Rossi
• Daemon and Katy in Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Jace and Clary in City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
• Will and Tessa in Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare
• Adam and Juliette in Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

Most Anticipated Novel in 2013 (There may be more than 10):

• Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare
• Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand
• Through The Ever Night (Under The Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi
• The Traitor Son (The Iron Fey: Call of The Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa
• Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman
• Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi
• Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks
• Renegade Heart (Mystic City #2) by Theo Lawrence
• Untitled (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth
• Requiem (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver
• Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• Angel Fever (Angel #3) by L. A. Weatherly
• Shades of Earth (Across The Universe #3) by Beth Revis
• The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

I have a crazy 2012. And I think 2013 will be even crazier.

See my Top Ten YA Novels 2012 by clicking the links:

No.1 : Insurgent by Veronica Roth
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-insurgent-by.html

No.2 : City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-city-of-lost.html

No.3 : Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-opal-by-jennifer.html

No.4 : Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-deity-by.html

No.5 : Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-onyx-by-jennifer.html

No.6 : Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-finale-by-becca.html

No.7 : Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-pandemonium-by.html

No.8 : Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-under-never-sky.html

No.9 : The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-immortal-rules.html

No.10 : Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi
http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2012/12/top-ten-ya-novels-2012-destroy-me-by.html

Top Ten YA Novels 2012: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

2013 is approaching! After a whole year of palms twitching, toes curling, eyes bursting, teeth wrenching, it's time to announce my top ten YA novels in 2012!

Reminder: And since that I need to revise for my examinations which will be held in January, I will keep it short. My apologies.


No. 10: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Summary:

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

***

Why I like this book:

1. Warner is so different from the one in Shatter Me, which is interesting

2. Again, it's interesting to read stuff happening from Warner's point of view

3. The emotions are intense

4.  I can get a sense that Warner might join the rebellion group with Juliette


Why everyone should read this book:

1. The writing skills are epic

2. Out of all short stories I read in 2012, this is definitely the best

3. Shatter me is a worth-reading book, thus the half-sequel


Do you think Destroy Me is good? Do you think it should be one of the top ten YA novels in 2012? If not, you can suggest one!

See my full review here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.hk/2012/10/destroy-me-review.html

Dark Days Revealed: Book 1 and Book 2

YAY! The Dark Days are back!

Time for some more Pitch Dark novels!

1. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Summary:

 tick, tick, tick, tick, tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Look at the reveal here:
http://mtgreviews.com/


2. Boundless by Cynthia Hand

Summary:

The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

Look at the reveal here:

http://bookalicious.org/2012/12/dark-days-revealed/


Make sure to check out more Dark Days books!

Destroy Me: Review

Unravel Me is unavailable until next year, so I spend a day to read the short story from Warner's perspective: Destroy Me

Summary:

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

***

I'm not gonna write a long review about this since Destroy Me is a fairly short story (actually it's not short at all).

Before I started reading Destroy Me, I hate Warner in my guts. I want him die. Now, after I read this short story, there's no way I can hate him now. Not like that I love him, but I finally see the pain resting inside him, his demand for a people who actually cares for him. Maybe he's not so bad after all. And him reading Juliette's notebook? That nearly undo me. Not just because of Juliette's words but also his reaction towards it. Maybe he can actually feel emotions like sympathy, care, or even love. I'm not sure if I will love him as much as Adam, that will be either confirmed or BUSTED in Unravel Me. But I don't hate him now. I don't.

Warner's father, on the other hand, is one of the most horrifying son of a bitch (es) I've ever seen. He just use his son's (his own son!) emotion as a weapon against him. He only sees Warner as nothing more than a weapon. I really feel bad for Warner at this part. He plays him as if he's a toy that need to obey his every commands. My hatred turns from Warner to his father, which I hope he will die in the most horrible way.

Destroy Me is even better than Shatter Me. The story is not long yet it's heartbreaking and the emotions aim to the deepest point of our hearts. Hope that Unravel Me will even be better. Look forward to it. And looks like I'm another new fan of Shatter Me now.

Rating: 9/10

Shatter Me: Review

Right after finishing Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, it's time to start another famous dystopian series, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi!

Check out the summary below:

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

***
The best thing of this book is that it's actually set in a dystopia. There's no illusions about the society. You can see the everyone is starving for food and the weather is going wild like crazy. To be honest, I've never seen a destroyed Earth in any of the dystopian novel until Shatter Me. Very good, Tahereh Mafi. I will definitely read Destroy Me and Unravel Me later.

Juliette is none of the typical warrior girls/ tough girls in any of the dystopian series. She doesn't look tough in any parts. She looks fragile. Like a typical scared girl with no warmth from her parents and self-loathing as hell. But her heart is the best thing. She doesn't want to be a monster to everyone else and try to help others with her hands even though her killer hands scares and disgusted by many people. Not everyone can stay pure in heart in that kind of situation.

Now I can see why other readers go all fangirl about Adam. He is awesome. There are no relationship that can last long like them in a world that is dying every single day. 7 years surely is an impressive amount of time. He's not shy, either. He doesn't try to hide his feelings like other famous hot boys in YA books. He is honest to Juliette about his feelings, and he will do anything just to protect Juliette. I am seriously considering to vote for him in the next YA Crush Tourney.

Warner reminds me of a less lustful but more violent Christian Grey. I don't like Fifty Shades, to be honest. And Warner is being so damn possessive. I just don't understand why he thinks Juliette is his other than he wants her as a weapon. I think there's a bond that Juliette is not aware of. Maybe my question will be answered in Destroy Me. But his words to Juliette when Adam and she tries to escape from him surprised me. A lot. Maybe he does care about her in some very twisted way? Anyway, I don't like him. But I don't know if that will remain unchanged.

Omega Point is somewhat like a headquarter of revolution. I know it IS a place where a bunch of revolutionaries live in. Omega Point sounds like a good place when the world outside is in chaos. I wonder how they will break the Reestablishment dudes. I am not sure if I want Warner dies in Omega Point's hands, but I am sure as hell that I want Warner's father dead. He is a sick, twisted dick.

The only not-so-good part is the last part. It's still good. But the peace lasts a little bit long at the end of the book. I don't know why I love to see chaos so freaking much. But some more battles and wars will do good to the book.

Looks like I need to start Destroy Me.

Rating: 8.5/10