When I started reading Defy Me I realized I had forgotten a lot about Restore Me haha. So a friend told me I should really read the novella Shadow Me first and I’m so happy I did. I don’t have that much to say about either story though, so I thought I would do another round of mini reviews.
since these are book 4,5 & 5 in the Shatter Me series, there will be spoilers for the earlier books!
Fan favorite character Kenji Kishimoto narrates this gripping companion novella to Tahereh Mafi’s New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, set during the explosive events in Restore Me!
Juliette is still reeling from Warner's betrayal, and Kenji is trying to balance his friendship with her with his responsibilities as a leader of the resistance against the Reestablishment. Things get even more interesting when an unexpected person from Omega Point’s past surfaces.
The ending of Restore Me left readers gasping, and this novella full of Kenji’s signature sass and big heart is the perfect story to tide fans over until Defy Me, the shocking fifth book in the Shatter Me series, hits shelves in April 2019.
Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #4.5
Published by HarperCollins on 05/03/2019
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy
Pages: 112
Goodreads
Shadow Me is about one of my favorite characters from the series, Kenji! It’s a little over a 100 pages and its set during the last chapters from Restore Me. That made this the perfect novella to read before picking op Defy Me. As I said, I had forgotten a lot from Restore Me and Shadow Me refreshed my mind on some of the important details. I was a lot better prepared going into Defy Me.
I’m lonely but I’m not alone. My body works, my brain works, I’m alive. It’s a good life. I have to make a conscious effort to remember that. To choose to be happy every day. If I didn’t, I think my own pain would’ve killed me a long time ago.
But Shadow Me isn’t only a good read to refresh your memory. Kenji is such a wonderful character and I loved being in his mind. He is often seen as the comic relief in the series but he’s so much more than that. I really enjoyed being in his head and getting to know him better. If your a fan of the series I would highly suggest picking up this novella.
The gripping fifth installment in the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shatter Me series. Will Juliette’s broken heart make her vulnerable to the strengthening darkness within her?
Juliette’s short tenure as the supreme commander of North America has been an utter disaster. When the children of the other world leaders show up on her doorstep, she wants nothing more than to turn to Warner for support and guidance. But he shatters her heart when he reveals that he’s been keeping secrets about her family and her identity from her—secrets that change everything.
Juliette is devastated, and the darkness that’s always dwelled within her threatens to consume her. An explosive encounter with unexpected visitors might be enough to push her over the edge.
Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #5
Published by HarperTeen on 02/04/2019
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy
Pages: 352
Goodreads
After finishing Shadow Me I started over with Defy Me and was much better prepared to read it. These new books in the series seem to have everyone very divided! I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original trilogy (actually disliked the first book) and really enjoyed Restore Me. Even though it did feel like everything was thought of later on and twists were used to make everything fit. But I was looking forward to Defy Me after those lasts scenes in Restore Me.
It’s not insane to imagine that sometimes even horrible people are searching for a way out of their own darkness.
Unfortunately Defy Me didn’t live up to my expectations at all and the more I think about it, the more I want to lower my rating (and I did lower it one star right after typing this haha). Defy Me consist almost completely off flashbacks while everyone stays in the same exact spot for most of the book. I enjoyed the flashbacks but at the same time I was so so so bored. There didn’t seem to be any plot, but just a bunch of asshole villains who just liked to be bad people. Nothing made sense and there were some really cheap plot devices.
I do actually like the way the memory loss was used in here, although I know a lot of people hated it. However, bringing people back to life was something I wasn’t a fan of at all. It really cheapened the experience we had in earlier books and I think Tahereh could’ve thought of something better. It would’ve been so much better if we got the flashbacks either in a novella or as the first couple of chapters in book 2 & 3 combined. I would’ve liked a duology a lot better. Because I still have hope the last book will be good and enjoyable, and combining the two would’ve been a much better choice. But I guess what’s done is done and I’m just not a fan haha.
I’m not trying to get you to sleep with me. I just literally had to lie down. Thank you for appreciating my face. I’ve always thought I had an underappreciated face
While I really liked Nazeera and I will always be a fan of Warner and Kenji, the other characters were quite annoying. A lot of the characters behaved differently than we are used to. The villains aren’t that well developed either. I was never a fan of Tahereh’s writing style and since there was no plot in this one, there wasn’t a lot to enjoy. Let’s hope Imagine Me will turn out to be more enjoyable.
