“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”
-Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me
Juliette Ferrars has lived in isolation for the last year, for one main reason: her touch is lethal. All it takes for her to kill someone is to simply let them touch her skin. The Reestablishment locked her up in order to protect her and the rest of humanity. But with the world on the brink of war, they’ve changed their mind. Maybe Juliette can be a weapon. And Warner is determined to make her one.
I had seen this series everywhere on Instagram, so I finally picked it up from the library. And I was surprised at what a page turner the whole series was! The combination of the characters, the society that Mafi created, and the plot drew me quickly in the story; I was also extremely invested in what was going to happen to the characters. What would happen to Juliette? Would they be successful in their overturn of Supreme Commander Anderson? What happens if they do?
The two most successful aspects of this story are the world-building and the characters. Mafi does an excellent job crafting this futuristic society that you mostly don’t realize that it’s happening, which makes it easier for the reader to just accept it as reality. Her future is also believable; it was something that I could actually see happening. The world has been irreversibly damaged, and people are suffering the consequences.
Similarly, the characters within the novel feel very realistic. We’re able to see all sides of the main characters and the background characters, emphasizing their strengths and their flaws. One of my favorite moments was when Kenji calls out Juliette for being whiny and selfish because I was definitely thinking the same thing. Like, get out of your own world and see the way that you’re affecting those around you! The fact that her best friend calls her out feels so realistic, and makes you love Kenji even more (he’s fabulous, you should read the book just for him).
If you’re looking for a fast-paced book to read at the beach or on vacation this summer, definitely pick this one up. It has action, adventure, suspense, and romance–everything you want in a summer read! The fact that the majority of characters have superpowers is a bonus.
An excellent series to dig your claws into, no matter what you typically like to read.
4.5/5 stars
Sounds great!
It's a great series! 🙂