Shatter Me
By Tahereh Mafi
YA Dystopian Fantasy
ISBN 9780062085504
A fellow writer recommended Shatter Me, not one, I should mention, who reads fantasy very often. On her word, I picked up the book that very week at my local bookstore. I bought it without a second thought. And why not? It had been recommended by someone I trusted. In the middle of reading several books, I set it on my bookshelf to read later. As TBR piles usually go, it sat there for almost four months, until I finally picked it up.
The disclaimer at the beginning about the use of strikethroughs intrigued me. Was it really necessary? Were there really that many instances where somebody said something about them to warrant the disclaimer? Then I began to worry. Was it going to be annoying to read through all those strikethroughs?
I decided to give the book a chance and dove in. Mafi wrote it in first person, and for the longest time, I didn’t care for books written in first person. However, YA dystopian fantasy is usually written in first person, and since I enjoy reading YA dystopian fantasy, I learned to overlook it.
My touch is lethal.My touch is power.
The story immediately captured my attention. I loved the way Mafi used the strikethroughs to express Juliette’s thoughts. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and was even more surprised when the book came to a close. Apparently, I bought the copy that included the novella, Destroy Me. This was not a disappointment in the least. Hungry for more of the story, I already had the novella to read and tide me over until I could get back to the bookstore to buy the next book.
As a writer, myself, the simplicity of the plot fascinates and inspires me. As a reader, the simplicity of the plot came as a welcomed surprise. It was lovely to read something that was uncomplicated, but still a great story, and it allowed me to easily get lost in its pages even when I only had a few minutes to read.
Not having been in a situation even remotely similar to theirs, the characters were more than just relatable. I could see myself in them and I could see others that I know in them.
After reading Shatter Me, and then Destroy Me, I have become an avid fan of the series. I am on my way back to the bookstore to buy the next book, and I will probably buy everything else that Tahereh Mafi publishes. If you liked this review, you can get your own copy of Shatter Me here, or if you would like to read other reviews check out our Bookworm’s Blog. Let us know what you thought of Shatter Me in the comments!
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