Book Review: Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi

Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Release Date: February 4th 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Bought from National Bookstore

Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love".

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

The final book in the Shatter Me trilogy picks up right after the events in Unravel Me, but I highly suggest that you read Adam's novella, Fracture Me, before you dive into this one. Just so you'd have better perspective of... stuff. More than action and blood and explosions, I love how Tahereh Mafi seemed to focus this book on wrapping up the characters' relationships because they are what I love most in this series. I can seriously read about them hanging out in one room for hours and not get bored - that's how interesting they are. And good lord, just how much they've all changed!

Juliette's transformation is simply something to behold. Far from the scared, timid girl she used to be, she now knows what she wants and is not afraid to unleash her power to get it. I was so surprised when she didn't let a certain douchebag insult her anymore, because she knows she doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. I don't think I've ever seen a character grow this much before and every time I think about her Hulk-smashing her enemies, I just smile like a proud parent.

It's no secret that I love Warner. I've loved him since book one, no matter what that says about me, because he is one of the most complex characters I've ever encountered. He's fine with being viewed as unapologetically ruthless and he doesn't deny his selfish ways, but he also actually cares about the civilians. I love where his relationship with Juliette is at by the end because they push each other to be better. Without Juliette, Warner would have continued believing that it's impossible to redeem himself; without Warner, Juliette would have never thought herself capable of using her power to achieve extraordinary things. Oh, and I just adore that detail about him loving fashion because who doesn't love a well-dressed not-so-villain?

Aside from Warner, this series gave me another one of my favorite fictional characters: Kenji Kishimoto. He takes things very seriously but he's also very jovial. He knows his friends are in desperate need of amusement and he really couldn't have entertained me more. Funny Guy of the Year, yes? And I really appreciated his friendship with Juliette - they're such BFFs, even Warner was jealous - because God knows she needed that purely platonic relationship, and who better to help her with her love problems than her sanest male acquaintance.

I never had much liking for Adam - he really does have as much charisma as the rotting innards of unidentified roadkill - but in this book he single-handedly made himself unlikable in just about every way. And I knew, halfway through, that even if he tried to make up for it towards the end, it wouldn't be enough because you don't tell a girl that you'd much prefer her dead than with another guy, no matter how angry you may be.

The absolutely perfect conclusion to the series, Ignite Me gave me all the answers and revelations I wanted. No stone was left unturned, and it was compelling ultimately because of the dynamics between the characters. (I just about died giggling when James kept peppering Warner with questions ♥) This is, undoubtedly, my favorite in the series, if only because it made me laugh the most, and can anyone blame me if I'm desperate for more?

MY FAVORITE PART would have to be when Warner finally found out about the Adam and James situation. Good God.

RATING: