Review: Shatter Me | Tahereh Mafi

This review is spoiler free.

“All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.” 

Series: Shatter Me
Published: 2012, by HarperCollins.
Pages: 338
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy
Contains: Death, Murder, Violence, Torture, Grief, Blood/Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Trauma, Kidnapping, Threats, War

‘Shatter Me’ follows Juliette, a girl incapable of touch. The last time she did, she was imprisoned for murder. So now, she hasn’t touched anyone in 264 days. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one cares for her; the world has more problems than a seventeen-year-old girl, so she’s left alone. Abandoned. Forgotten. However, The Reestablishment believe she could be of some use. So, Juliette must make a choice of becoming a weapon, or a warrior.

I was initially drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover, loving the colours and design. However, the talk surrounding this book, both positive and negative eventually lead me to pick it up and try it. Needless to say, I have mixed feelings about this book.

Juliette is an incredibly unique protagonist, making for a fun read. She’s smart, fun, and a storyteller, yet she does come with her flaws. She’s broken, naïve, and a little on the defensive side. That being said, her powers are incredibly unique and powerful, and the concept of her being used as a weapon simply makes the story as realistic as a woman with the power to kill with her touch as it can be.
However, the story doesn’t come without its faults; introducing Adam. Adam’s immediately introduced as a love interest, which caused the book to lose a star in my eyes. There wasn’t any gradual pace with their relationship or exploration of one another; he was immediately a love interest. However, Adam’s relationship with brother James was wonderful, making up for his, admittedly boring, relationship with Juliette.
Personally, my favourite character was Warner, who made an interesting villain. His language and persona was gripping, being full of grace and power within the pages that made him a full, concrete character.

This book as a whole is definitely a one sitting read. The language and structure means you’re capable of achieving progress so quickly, coupled with the short chapters making it an easy read. However, at the beginning of the novel, there is a disclaimer of sorts, which immediately pulls you out the story before the story has begun. It’s a letter to readers, explaining the overuse of simile and metaphor throughout the pages, defining it as a “visual representation of the chaos in Juliette’s mind.” Personally, I dislike this inclusion, feeling as if the story as a whole would have sufficed. There was simply no reason to include it, it made you lose confidence in the story a little.

Overall, this book was okay. There were a few problems with the language, the writing techniques not making sense on occasion, but the addictive characters made up for it.

3/5