Tag: shatter me

Book Review: Watch Me (Shatter Me: The New Republic #1) by Tahereh Mafi

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Dystopian Fantasy Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Storytide
Release Date: April 15th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lose yourself in this exhilarating return to the #1 global bestselling Shatter Me universe, the first book in a new series set ten years after the fall of The Reestablishment.

James Anderson had a plan. Or half of one. All that matters is that he managed to do what his older brother, the famous Aaron Warner Anderson, never did: infiltrate Ark Island, the last refuge of The Reestablishment. In the past decade no outsider has breached the stronghold of the authoritarian regime, but James is in. In a prison cell, sure, but as far as James is concerned, a win is a win.

It’s been ten years since the fall of The Reestablishment. Ten years since the notorious duo — Juliette Ferrars and Aaron Warner Anderson — led a worldwide rebellion and established the New Republic of the West. But after a decade of unsettling quiet, The Reestablishment is ready to make a devastating move, and they have the perfect person for the job.

Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. She always has a plan. On Ark Island, where constant surveillance is packaged as security, even emotions must be experienced with caution. A trained assassin, her every movement is monitored by synthetic intelligence—and when she’s given an order to kill, she never hesitates.

Brimming with pulse-pounding action and torturous romance, Watch Me is an explosive journey through a dystopian landscape where enemies-to-lovers has never felt more impossible. Step into a beloved and breathtaking world that demands an answer to a desperate question—

Who are we when no one is watching?

THE JOY THIS BROUGHT ME.

Oh my gosh did I love reading this book so dang much. I had no idea how I would feel about this spin off series and it delivered. NOW, I will say, this is not a series to ponder every single page and break it down. Enjoy the ride, the drama, the banter and the family. Speaking of found family, I highly recommend reading the original Shatter Me series first to get a full understanding of the characters and world. This is set 10 years later and I think my basis of the previous series helped me enjoyment level for this one.

I loooved the banter and chemistry between James and Rosabelle. I love that he’s the sunshine character and the interactions between them set me of every time. They are a hoot. I love the push and pull and waiting to see who’s going to betray who and when all the secrets will come out. I liked that there was enough information here to turn the pages but that there’s plenty more to uncover as the series goes on.

And I loved seeing all of my favorites again. GOSH I MISSED THEM.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Dystopian Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: almost kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: torture, starvation and lack of food

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Book Review: Imagine Me (Shatter Me #6) by Tahereh Mafi

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Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2
Audience: YA Sci-fi / Dystopian
Length: 464 pages
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: March 31st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The explosive finale to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shatter Me series.

Juliette Ferrars.

Ella Sommers.

Which is the truth and which is the lie?

Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong—between Ella and Juliette—blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control.

The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose what side she fights on.

SET LOW EXPECTATIONS.

This is what I’ve told people who’ve asked me about this series. The first three books (the original series) was stellar. One of the few dystopian series I really enjoyed. Then came the next three books which felt like extended novella/Warnette series (I do love them, so that part’s fine), but they never felt necessary. And this is where I stand on the last book – wondering yet again, why it’s here.

It was essentially another rescue mission book. Rescuing Juliette/Ella from the Reestablishment. The whole book. I was surprised at how fast I read it, and how much didn’t actually happen. A lot of neat bows were tied to get some closure on characters (truthfully, much appreciated or I would have had too many questions), yet again though…this was all solved with finishing the original three books.

WE DIDN’T EVEN GET THAT MUCH AARON/ELLA TIME. WHY.

Clearly, my biggest gripe. I read this book for them. I needed the happy ending (and you do get that much) they just weren’t together much of the book and lets face it, they carry the series.

Well them, and Kenji. Gosh dang, I love Kenji. He ranks up there with some of my favorite main (but more side) characters; i.e. Sevro from Red Rising. Kenji is funny, honest, a lover, and a genuinely good guy. Watching him and Warner through around a bromance was one of the highlights of this book. I like that it’s clear they both care of each other’s well-being, even if they have a hard time showing it.

Side-step back to my loves Warner and Juliette (I have the inability to decide which names to call them in this review so I apologize). I am smitten with Warner and his unending love for Juliette. He gives me all the butterflies and swoon worthy moments and that’s why there needed to be more. I loved the closing scene with him finding Juliette and the epilogue was perfectly fluffy as well.

Yes, yes. Buildings explode, some people die, and at last things seem to fall into a new world order. Lets leave it here.

Overall audience notes:

  • Young adult sci-fi/dystopia
  • Language: some strong (mostly in Kenji POV’s)
  • Romance: kisses, make-outs with removal of some clothes
  • Violence: guns, machetes, powers (Juliette can literally rip people apart); pretty gory at times

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Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Tropes

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I found this topic easy and hard all in the same breath. I also could think of more tropes I DON’T like easier than I could come up with tropes I DO like. When I’m reading a great book I honestly don’t notice many tropes (besides the first one below). After the fact and seeing other reviews I realize how many tropes were actually present in the plot. But you better believe I notice when tropes are done poorly, making them stick out like a sore thumb.

So after a lot of thought, I’ve come up with some that I remember that I love. Not in any order, except for the first one because ENEMIES TO LOVERS ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY.

I added some covers of books that remind me of the trope, it’s definitely not an exhaustive list!

Enemies to lovers

OH MY GOODNESS. This is really my one and only ultimate trope and it never gets old. NEVER.

Someone being secretly royal

I’m looking at you Throne of Glass.

A romance that begins with one of them undercover

And no, not in a bad way. I’m thinking along the lines of The Kiss of Deception and The Traitor’s Kiss. That moment when the reader knows what’s going on, but they don’t yet and the fall out leads to a passionate kiss. YES.

Families with a lot of siblings

Big families (Dance of Thieves – Ballenger clan) are great. I love all of the banter between siblings. SO FUN.

Forbidden romance (star-crossed lovers)

UGH WHY CAN’T THEY JUST BE TOGETHER FOREVER?

Parents who are still alive (at least one)

I like a present parent, what can I say?

When a legitimate villain does a good thing

I’m a sucker for a bad guy who makes one good move in their time.

A good partnership with fantastic banter

I LOVE when the banter is off the charts between a working friendship. These are some great examples.

Squad goals

Squad 313, Night Court, Court of Terrasen, Skyward. This is without a doubt one of the greatest tropes ever.

Royalty living in exile, running away

Banished royalty gathering a group to take back their throne? YESSSS.

What are some of your favorite tropes? What about least favorite? It was fun seeing how many tropes are in one book! Lets talk in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Cover Redesigns I Loved (&A Few I’m Not So Sure About)

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This was so hard!? I also didn’t realize how many cover redesigns there have been. It’s practically every other book had a redesign at some point.
There are definitely more cover changes I loved so I included more of them, but at the bottom you’ll find a few that I’m not so sure about. I don’t hate them, they just wasn’t what I was hoping for.

Though, I will say I’m NOT counting any cover redesigns that involve movie changes. I HATE WHEN COVERS CHANGE TO LOOK LIKE THE MOVIE. I will wait forever to see one that I do like.

Happy Top Ten Tuesday!

Cover redesigns I loved:

An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir

I love the addition of putting the characters on the cover! They deserve the spotlight and while I wish I could get all of the other covers (one day!) I love having the third (and fourth soon!) in this new design.

The Winner’s Curse Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

I never quite got the first cover. It’s pretty, and I love the dress. Maybe a nod to her nobility, but the new covers actually show Kestrel for what she is. A strong minded warrior.

Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

These first covers were all just…odd haha. Showing Vin in a better light and more realistic is so much better!

Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi

OH I’m ecstatic these changed before I even started reading them. That first cover is awful. Sorry not sorry. I love the eyes and think it’s really creative!

Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

We all know the new covers are AMAZING. I loved seeing every new design (especially the backs with those dresses!). I didn’t even realize this was a cover change when I started reading them.

Anna and the French Kiss Series by Stephanie Perkins

Ooomph. I love the bright, bold colors that these cover redesign went too. INFINITELY BETTER.

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

I WANT THE NEW COVERS SO BAD. THEY’RE SO PRETTY.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

I LOVE the new covers. They are more colorful and inviting. Makes me want to pick them up and read them.

Cover redesigns that I’m on the fence about:

But wouldn’t say hated, just not quite what I was already loving.

Shattered Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima

I do love the new covers, but I really wanted them to all match the first series in this saga, Seven Realms. I’m on the fence about these. They aren’t bad, but I like fluidity in novels on my shelves when possible.

I don’t know. I like the addition of Amani on the cover, but the first cover WAS SO PRETTY. I have the book on the left and the other two books as the new covers.

Do you love or not like any of these covers? What’s a cover change you loved or hated? Lets talk in the comments!

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