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unravel meWhat: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

Who: Allen & Unwin

When: February 2013

How: Borrowed from library.

Our lips touch and I know I’m going to split at the seams. He kisses me softly then strongly like he’s lost me and he’s found me and I’m slipping away and he’s never going to let me go.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. 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.

Haunted by her past, terrified of her future, Juliette knows that in her present, she will have to make some life-changing choices.

Choices that may include choosing between her heart – and Adam’s life.

4cats2

I really liked Unravel Me.

Many of the problems I had with Shatter Me were still present, though. At the end of reading Shatter Me, and in my review, I stated that I hoped Juliette grew as a character in Unravel Me. Perhaps gained some strength, and finally showed her kickass heroine colours that I have been hearing about non-stop. Alas, this did not happen. I still felt as if Juliette was a whimpering girl who was not ready to take on life, not ready to accept the responsibility that comes with having powers that the general public does not. Maybe I expected her to make a decision, or ACT upon the feelings that she has for the two boys in her life. I shouldn’t have fooled myself with that, though. We all know the conclusions to love triangles occur in the final book of a series. But regardless, I wanted some character growth, and I didn’t really get any.

I remember saying that the world building in Shatter Me was kind of spectacular. Unfortunately, I think that really fell short in Unravel Me. The entire novel pretty much takes place in Omega Point, a kind of sanctuary for people with powers, and the headquarters of the rebellion against The Reestablishment. But nothing really happens. I want to know more about WHY The Reestablishment is so horrible. I want to know more about HOW they came into power. I want to know more about WHAT they do. I just want more world building. I cannot support Omega Point, and hate The Reestablishment if I’m not getting any reasons TO support and or hate these two organisations.

Chapter 62. OH BOY. I sent an email to my wifey, aka Kayla from The Thousand Lives, detailing my feelings on this chapter. Here’s a snippet (SPOILERS):

“NO DON’T RBEAK HIS HEART HE’S SO BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT AND YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO HE RELIED ON THE ONLY ONE HE EVER OPENED UP TO ND LET HIMSELF CARE ABOUT AND THEN OH NO EXPLETIVE  YOU WARNER IMMA JUST GO AND BREAK YOUR BEAUTIFUL HEART BECAUSE ID ONT HAVE ONE OOOOOOO ADAM UHM EXCUSE ME ADAM IS LAME YEAH A BIT SWOONY BUT WARNER IS SO TORTURED AND HEARTBROKEN AND HOW COULD OU DO THIS TO HIM YOU HEARTLESS GIRL ADAM DIDN’T EVEN TALK TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE IN SCHOOL TOGETHER AND WWARNER’S LIFE HAS BEEN SO HARD SO FREAKING HARD.”

END SPOILERS.

There was more. More expletives, and cursing Juliette, and typos, and blanket hugging. I was kind of a mess. Warner’s character is the saving grace of this series. Don’t get me wrong, the series on a whole is pretty good, but if there wasn’t a Warner, I don’t think I would be a big fan. I think the way that Mafi has written his character is perfection, and gosh darn I am in love with him.

One thing I kind of have to mention –

I really do have to mention the –

I HAVE TO MENTION THE –

I seriously cannot stand the way no one can ever finish their sentences in these books. I mean –

Just –

PLEASE JUST FINISH YOUR SENTENCES –

I’M BEGGING YOU –

LITERALLY. BEGGING.

But yes. This really irritates me. I don’t understand why every character is cut off mid sentence all the time. I would like a flowing conversation or two, please.

As soon as I finished Unravel Me, I immediately wanted to read Ignite Me. I desperately want to know what happens. And you know what book I am trotting off to read right now? I think you can guess.

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

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Posted on: August 9, 2014 • By: Chiara

18 Responses to Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

  1. I read Shatter Me a while ago and wasn’t HUGELY impressed, but that was a couple years ago. And people say the series gets better. And I do own a copy of Shatter Me so I might have to try it again someday :)

    • Chiara says:

      I liked all the books in the series about the same, but a lot of people do think it gets better. I’m a fan, simply because I really like Mafi’s writing style, and Warner ;D

      Maybe you might like it more the second time around!

  2. Emily says:

    Haha! I’m glad you enjoyed this one Chiara ;D I mean, besides the way the sentences finish, or don’t xD I find that on equal parts annoying and unique because I think that’s the way people think, we don’t necessarily finish our thought “sentences” sometimes haha! But yes that bugs me sometimes too >< And I AGREE. Without Warner, I wouldn't be that huge of a fan of this series!! BUT BASICALLY LIKE YOUR REACTION WHILE YOU WERE READING IT OMG SO EMOTIONAL!!! I'm super glad that you love this series (if only because of Warner but it's okay me too ;)). *hugs*

    • Chiara says:

      Me, too ^.^

      Haha, I am actually okay with Juliette’s thoughts not finishing, it’s more when people aren’t finishing their sentences in conversations >.< I just want to shake them and tell them to keep talking. YAY FOR TEAM WARNER ;D He's just such a precious thing, I love him ^.^

  3. Sounds like this series was kind of disappointing because along with the unfinished sentences, you also had some unanswered questions! I have yet to read this series yet but I am really looking forward to the unique writing and interesting dystopian concept, so I’ll enter with reservations.

    • Chiara says:

      Yeah the unfinished sentences were a liiiiitle annoying, haha XD

      But overall I really do like this series. It’s not a favourite, but I am a fan of the writing style + Warner ;D

      I still highly recommend it!

  4. It’s probably just me but one of the reasons that I’ve yet to pick up this series is because the Aus covers are so damn ugly! Seriously, WHY WOULD YOU SAY NO TO PRINTING THE US COVERS?! WHY! I seriously did not even realise they were the same book.

    Ahem, moving on…I’m glad you enjoyed this one overall despite its flaws. Of course, it’s not a YA unless it suffers from middle-book syndrome and a love-triangle! :P But at least you liked it enough to give it 4 cats.

    I’ve actually heard a lot of good things about the final book, so I hope it meets your expectations lovely! x

    • Chiara says:

      Haha, they really are hideous, right! D: I wish we had the pretty US covers, even if they are a bit weird.

      I think I liked this a little bit more than the first book, though, simply because there was more Warner in this one ^.^ :D

      I’ve actually already read the final book! I liked it about the same as this one, as there were a few problems with it, as well.

  5. Kayla says:

    *nodding emphatically* ALL OF THE ABOVE! And you’re giving me Warner feels again, wifey. Maybe a reread soon…? I think I need it ;)

    The sentences bother me too, but I think they help illustrate Juliette’s state of mind so well that it really fits. If Mafi writes like that in any other book… I probably won’t like it as much.

    • Chiara says:

      I know, right! When I read over this review I was just like: WARNERRRR. I love that boy.

      I’m find with Juliette’s unfinished sentences, but it happens in conversations WAY too much. People are always cutting themselves off, or being cut off and it just irritated me D:

  6. IGNITE ME IS AWESOME. HONESTLY. WARNERRRRRRR. *hugs copy of Ignite Me a little* I wasn’t a fan of Shatter Me, but I liked Unravel Me a bit more and then absolutely adored Ignite Me. Kenji is also freakishly awesome. I seriously can’t wait until Mafi writes more books because her characters are A+ even if the plots aren’t really…riveting. *shrugs* I don’t care. Because there’s Warner.

    • Chiara says:

      WARNER IS SO PERFECT. I WANT ONE. I REALLY WANT ONE.

      I think I liked all the books about the same, perhaps the second two a bit more because of the increased Warner page time, haha XD Kenji is a great character!

      I’m interested in her next book, which is MG fiction because I want to see if her writing style is different to that of this series. Yeah, the plot in this series isn’t really THERE, but like you said: WARNER.

  7. Ack, I STILL haven’t picked up Unravel Me, I’m dying to find out what happens though, and I’ve heard a lot of the same things that you mentioned, about Juliette not growing much as a character. The good thing is I’ve heard loads of people say that Ignite Me is where all the character growth happens and Juliette finally realises her strength so yay for that! Can’t wait to continue the trilogy, hope you enjoy Ignite Me!

    • Chiara says:

      Yeah, I was a bit disappointed with the lack of character growth in this novel, as well as Juliette’s indecisiveness.

      I’ve already read Ignite Me, haha XD I shan’t say too much, because I have a review coming up soon-ish, but I must say I wasn’t quite as smitten with it as everyone else was >.<

  8. I have been the biggest fan of this series from start to finish!!!!! I don’t know if it’s just me but I really find Mafi’s writing very brilliant and I hear you about the minimal world building but I love the focus on the characters and Juliette. I even like the stilted sentences! But EEP WARNER! <3 Hah, I love your rant!!! :D

    • Chiara says:

      Mafi’s writing is pretty spectacular, and I was able to forgive the little things that irk me because it is so terribly unique and wonderful! And YES WARNER *FLAILS* I’m glad you liked it, Hazel XD

  9. Annie says:

    I have to agree, I felt this book had the least world building of the three. And really nothing happened. And Adam became much less interesting. There were good moments but it’s my least favorite of the three.

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