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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
For more reviews, check out my blog Reading Rad Books
Sticks and stones keep breaking my bones but these words, these words will kill me.
Snapshot:
I really do think this quote says it all. This book literally almost killed me—reading boring scene after boring scene with whining, angst-filled teenagers was not my idea of a good time. I really think this series has huge potential; there’s a definite X-Men vibe, but all the action that I was hoping for really just wasn’t there. In the end, this book just fell flat for me. Juliette and Adam were tiresome, Warner was still fairly psychotic, and the whole thing just felt like a drag.
Writing: 2.0
Characters: 2.0
Plot: 2.5
Originality: 3.0
All reviews are measured on a scale of 0 to 5.
Deep dive:
There has never been, and I hope there never will be again, a character I hate more than Juliette. Sure, there are villains that I love-to-hate and ones I actually hate, but that’s the way the author wants it. I’m assuming that was not Mafi’s intention with this book so I’m just going to say that, in my personal opinion, WHINING IS NOT ATTRACTIVE. She completely ruined this book for me.
Besides the annoying character that is Juliette, there was very little plot for me to follow. It’s almost exclusively Juliette going back and forth between wanting to be with Adam and worrying that she’s going to hurt him. Castle, the leader of the little band of super-powered people, pushes her to use her powers, telling her to train again and again. Does she do that? Of course not. She continues to whine about her life and feel sorry for herself.
In the first book, [b:Shatter Me|10429045|Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)|Tahereh Mafi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1310649047s/10429045.jpg|15333458], I didn’t mind Adam; I didn’t love him, but he seemed like a solid love interest. That’s completely turned around in this book. He starts hiding things from Juliette and starts acting super anxious. Nothing about their relationship seems to make sense or work. Honestly, it seems like Juliette was so desperate for anyone to love her that she settled almost immediately for the first guy who came along. That also seems to be the case for Adam, at least in part, since he has very little family to support him.
The one redeeming quality of this book was Kenji, which is surprising considering how annoying he came off in the first book. He provides some much-needed comedy to this book and a break from the incessant whining. Kenji, bless his soul, gets so sick of Juliette and Adam that he yells at the both to get over themselves. There’s a literal war going on and all they can think of is themselves! Then finally, finally Juliette gets it, breaks up with Adam “for his own good”, and starts practicing to use her abilities, including her newly discovered super-strength.
I don’t want to give away too many details for those of you who haven’t read this book and plan to, but let’s just say there’s a definite surprise that ends in a cliffhanger. Since I’ve come this far, and Juliette seems to be showing at least some initiative, I’m going to finish out the series to see where it ends.
Wish me luck, fellow Rad Readers!
Sticks and stones keep breaking my bones but these words, these words will kill me.
Snapshot:
I really do think this quote says it all. This book literally almost killed me—reading boring scene after boring scene with whining, angst-filled teenagers was not my idea of a good time. I really think this series has huge potential; there’s a definite X-Men vibe, but all the action that I was hoping for really just wasn’t there. In the end, this book just fell flat for me. Juliette and Adam were tiresome, Warner was still fairly psychotic, and the whole thing just felt like a drag.
Writing: 2.0
Characters: 2.0
Plot: 2.5
Originality: 3.0
All reviews are measured on a scale of 0 to 5.
Deep dive:
There has never been, and I hope there never will be again, a character I hate more than Juliette. Sure, there are villains that I love-to-hate and ones I actually hate, but that’s the way the author wants it. I’m assuming that was not Mafi’s intention with this book so I’m just going to say that, in my personal opinion, WHINING IS NOT ATTRACTIVE. She completely ruined this book for me.
Besides the annoying character that is Juliette, there was very little plot for me to follow. It’s almost exclusively Juliette going back and forth between wanting to be with Adam and worrying that she’s going to hurt him. Castle, the leader of the little band of super-powered people, pushes her to use her powers, telling her to train again and again. Does she do that? Of course not. She continues to whine about her life and feel sorry for herself.
In the first book, [b:Shatter Me|10429045|Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1)|Tahereh Mafi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1310649047s/10429045.jpg|15333458], I didn’t mind Adam; I didn’t love him, but he seemed like a solid love interest. That’s completely turned around in this book. He starts hiding things from Juliette and starts acting super anxious. Nothing about their relationship seems to make sense or work. Honestly, it seems like Juliette was so desperate for anyone to love her that she settled almost immediately for the first guy who came along. That also seems to be the case for Adam, at least in part, since he has very little family to support him.
The one redeeming quality of this book was Kenji, which is surprising considering how annoying he came off in the first book. He provides some much-needed comedy to this book and a break from the incessant whining. Kenji, bless his soul, gets so sick of Juliette and Adam that he yells at the both to get over themselves. There’s a literal war going on and all they can think of is themselves! Then finally, finally Juliette gets it, breaks up with Adam “for his own good”, and starts practicing to use her abilities, including her newly discovered super-strength.
I don’t want to give away too many details for those of you who haven’t read this book and plan to, but let’s just say there’s a definite surprise that ends in a cliffhanger. Since I’ve come this far, and Juliette seems to be showing at least some initiative, I’m going to finish out the series to see where it ends.
Wish me luck, fellow Rad Readers!
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok three books in (or 2 and a half) there is enough story here to fill maybe one. I guess this is really going to be dragged out huh? And darn it I’ll carry on reading.
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.6⭐️
So… Here I am again struggling to really understand what I think about this book.
Let’s start from what I think is the BIGGEST PROBLEM of not only this but also the previous books in the series: we are being told what is happening rather than shown, especially when it comes to character dialogue.
This is the writing style, I get it, but I don’t like it. I think the main reason that I wasn’t as excited when Juliette and Aaron got closer was because of this.
In the first book they had many interactions, but they were barely shown. We were TOLD about them but could not actually see the dynamics between the characters.
Speaking of Aaron, I wish there was more of him. He is truly an interesting character, but at least for me it felt like he was not very present. When he did, though? MY GOD I love him.
So… Here I am again struggling to really understand what I think about this book.
Let’s start from what I think is the BIGGEST PROBLEM of not only this but also the previous books in the series: we are being told what is happening rather than shown, especially when it comes to character dialogue.
This is the writing style, I get it, but I don’t like it. I think the main reason that I wasn’t as excited when Juliette and Aaron got closer was because of this.
In the first book they had many interactions, but they were barely shown. We were TOLD about them but could not actually see the dynamics between the characters.
Speaking of Aaron, I wish there was more of him. He is truly an interesting character, but at least for me it felt like he was not very present. When he did, though? MY GOD I love him.
I still hate the purple prose and those unnecesary Juliette being accidentally hot and perfect moments. Like, it doesn't make me hate Juliette at all - but the author. For example : I don't understand why the author felt the need to put such moments in the book again - we get it, Juliette is beautiful, no need to make her feel bad about it to insist on it. But this time, the whole book was saved by Warner (I like these kind of characters, don't look at me ok? not that I really ship him with Juliette, all the ships in this are kind of messed up tbh), the action and Juliette who I like a lot, who got to grow up a lot. So, I don't think I'll ever be a fan of Tahereh Mafi's prose nor her way of writing these love triangles, but it was still not bad a read. (She should change her publicist, though. These ads last year were supremely annoying.)
Spoiler
she and her ex-boyfriend just broke up but they have to work together. She's given this super suit that's supposed to help with her power, and it's very tight-fitting. She asks something to said ex-boyfriend casually, and he looks at her and storms out of the room. She's confused and Kenji, a friend, tells her: "Honestly, Juliette, how dare you talk to him wearing THIS and batting your eyelashes at him? You broke his heart already, don't rub it in! If you were my ex-girlfriend, I'd have died already." like oh thank you Kenji for shaming Juliette just because she thought she could talk to Adam even when wearing something that is NOT supposed to be sexy, but rather something supposed to help her control her abilities better. THANK YOU.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Aaron Warner. I get the hype
better than the first one, but i’m still not fully convinced. the first part was pretty much boring, but it started getting interesting when juliette went to talk to anderson and warner showed up.
honestly, the only scenes i truly enjoyed were the ones with him. warner is SO interesting and his past is heart shattering and i’m sure my love for him is gonna increase the more i learn about him.
there are a few things that don’t sit right with me. maybe it’ll be explained later, but warner falling in love with juliette so quickly?? i get the obsession and all, but already confessing his love for her…… i don’t know. maybe that’s just a me problem because i really prefer slowburns with lots of tension and yearning, and straight couples aren’t always able to deliver that.
also, juliette being heartbroken over ending things with adam, only to immediately being all over warner? i get her starting to see him under a new light and not for the monster everyone thinks he is but almost sleeping with him seems too rushed to me. don’t get me wrong, i CAN’T stand adam and i’m glad they broke up, but everything is going so fast.
that being said, things are definitely getting more interesting, and i’m hoping the next books won’t disappoint me
honestly, the only scenes i truly enjoyed were the ones with him. warner is SO interesting and his past is heart shattering and i’m sure my love for him is gonna increase the more i learn about him.
there are a few things that don’t sit right with me. maybe it’ll be explained later, but warner falling in love with juliette so quickly?? i get the obsession and all, but already confessing his love for her…… i don’t know. maybe that’s just a me problem because i really prefer slowburns with lots of tension and yearning, and straight couples aren’t always able to deliver that.
also, juliette being heartbroken over ending things with adam, only to immediately being all over warner? i get her starting to see him under a new light and not for the monster everyone thinks he is but almost sleeping with him seems too rushed to me. don’t get me wrong, i CAN’T stand adam and i’m glad they broke up, but everything is going so fast.
that being said, things are definitely getting more interesting, and i’m hoping the next books won’t disappoint me