IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi

“‘The fate of Omega Point is unknown…’ Everyone Juliette has ever cared about may be dead – the rebels, her friends, and maybe even Adam could all be gone. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. And now Juliette must rely on Warner. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world – but that’s not all he wants with her…”

What is the book about?

Everything has changed. Juliette used to be safe, surrounded by her friends, but now she is alone and all of her friends are dead. Omega Point was destroyed in the battle and there is no one and nothing left but Juliette and her determination to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. She is sick of being the small, fragile girl, locked away in her own mind, and now she is ready to do everything in her power to finish what she and her friends started, even if that means relying on Warner. He is the one person she thought she would never be able to trust and would always hate, but he saved her life and it seems that he is on her side and is not afraid to go against everything his father built. He claims he is ready and will Juliette with everything she needs and will save their world from permanent destruction, but he wants more. And it seems that Juliette will finally have to make a choice and face her heart. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Initially, I was so excited and so desperate to open the book and just climb right in, ready to continue my adventure with Juliette and her friends. Unravel Me ended and I didn’t know what else to do – I needed to get my hands on the next book. Reading Fracture Me gave me a little more reassurance and closure, but I still went into Ignite Me on the edge of my seat. When I finally opened the book and began to read, I was already in love. The book started so quickly and I just jumped right in. It was such a flowing and easy read, even from the very first page. As soon as I opened the book, I felt like I was back at home, even though it is a world that is not my own, and I was so glad that my confidence that I was going to enjoy Ignite Me was not wrongly placed. So far, reading this series has felt like a relief and I just love the feeling of returning back to the genre of books that I have always loved.                        

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Overall, I think my favourite character is Kenji. I have to say though, that I have no character dislikes in Ignite Me and I know that a lot of people will hate Adam after reading this book, and others will still be torn on their thoughts about Warner, but I have to say that I like them both and I will definitely explain this in a little more detail later on. Now, Kenji was definitely my favourite character for one main reason: his relationship with Juliette. I loved how their friendship was exactly like you would expect for a couple of best friends: always teasing each other and making jokes.  But the main reason that I loved Kenji was because he could set aside the jokes and talk about the deep stuff and he would always be there for Juliette. It really hurts me that I still don’t know about Kenji’s past from his point of view and that no one really knows that on the inside he is just as broken as any of the other characters; he just chooses not to burden everyone else with his problems and covers his true feelings up with his jokes. I was always desperate to read more about Kenji and every time he appeared onto the page I was so excited and he always managed to bring a smile to my face. I can’t wait to read more about him.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

In Ignite Me, I did not have a specific favourite part of the book, instead I found that there were a lot of moments that I loved and that was my favourite part of the book (the moments when I was truly free of my own world and felt like I was with the characters). The majority of these moments were when Juliette and Kenji were interacting. I loved how they acted like real teenage besties and their relationship and the way the acted together was so animated that whenever I was reading these moments, I forgot that to everyone else they aren’t real and, no matter how real they feel to me, they will always be fictional. I truly forgot that I was in my own room and instead found myself on the roof, in the training room and in so many more places just admiring Juliette and Kenji, laughing with them, crying with them and just being with them. I truly don’t know what I’m going to do when I finally reach the last book of the series and can no longer read these moments and feel these feelings. I loved Kenji and Juliette’s platonic relationship and I am so glad that this will never be anything romantic because their friendship is one of the most incredible parts of the books (and also this leaves Kenji for me).

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Ignite Me was an absolutely incredible conclusion to the series, though I do have a couple improvements. Firstly, although I absolutely loved Juliette’s transition from a timid little girl, afraid to use her power, to a strong warrior, ready to do anything to destroy The Reestablishment, I thought that it was a little rushed and possibly a little unrealistic. I hated Juliette’s attitude in Unravel Me and was always so annoyed at how whiny she had become, and when she nearly died, I was so glad to see that she was finally going to change her view on herself and her life. However, I think that it was a bit extreme how dramatically she changed and I thought that her extreme gain in confidence was a bit unrealistic. However, it was very well written and, although I missed it, I loved the lack of repetition and strikethroughs, which really reflected her new self. Another thing I would like to mention is the ending. It really shocked me to see that Ignite Me was the intended conclusion to the Shatter Me series. It ended right when, in a normal dystopian novel, things would actually be beginning. However, I do see where the author was coming from and I do like the sense of hope that the ending leaves us readers with (but I am really glad to be able to continue my adventure with Juliette – and see Kenji again). One last thing that I would love to mention is that, although I loved the build up to the battle and all of their preparation, I found it a bit odd that the actual battle took up a very small section of the book. I thought it was a little unrealistic and in reality I feel like Anderson wouldn’t have gone down that easily. Despite all of these minor improvements that the other could have made, I do believe that Ignite Me is an incredible book and Tahereh Mafi has done nothing but impress me – I can’t wait for Restore Me. 

Which book did you like better, the first, the second or the third?

All 3 books that I have read so far have been absolutely incredible and I have loved every second of this adventure, but I am still quite confident in my decision that Shatter Me is my favourite. My main reason for this is that there was nothing that I found could have been better. All 3 books have been so similar in all the aspects that I loved, but I feel like Shatter Me was perfect. I think that the romance could have been improved upon a little, but overall Shatter Me was the best. Juliette was a relatively good  main character and she wasn’t at all annoying, like in Unravel Me, or overly confident, like in Ignite Me, instead she felt a lot more relatable and I feel like a lot more thought went into her initial composure. Another thing that I really loved about Shatter Me was how the plot was so clear and I found that the story flowed so easily, whereas, in contrast, in Ignite Me and Unravel Me I feel like the pot was based around a battle that then lasted way less than a true battle would. In conclusion, although I did love Shatter Me a little more, I adored all the books and can’t wait to read more.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would 100000% recommend this book and I demand that everyone picks up the Shatter Me series because it is truly incredible. I particularly recommend this for over 15 year olds and those who like fantasy, dystopian fiction and don’t mind some steamy romance, but I am sure that anyone who gives it a go will love it. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An intense and incredible novel filled with romance and action.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

UNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi

“Juliette will not stand alone in a battle that will decide the fate of her world… 

Destroy Me – Warner the ruthless leader of Sector 45, refuses to let her go. 

Fracture Me – Adam, Juliette’s first love, will do anything to get her back.”

What is the book about?

This book includes 2 marvellous novellas: Destroy Me (book 1.5) and Fracture Me (book 2.5). 
Destroy Me – Warner lost Juliette after she shot him in the shoulder and escaped for a second time. But he will not stop until she is right back next to him. He knows that she believes that he only wants to use her as a weapon for The Reestablishment, and maybe that’s how everything started, but Warner feels so much for her now and he wishes she would understand. He just needs one more chance, one more moment with her to prove that he will never let her go again and will do anything for her. 
Fracture Me – Adam has lost Juliette and he has no idea where she is. He knows that she broke off their relationship, but he cannot accept the fact that they are over. All he wants is one more chance to prove to her that they can make it work and that her power will not get in the way. But he now feels he may have lost that chance forever. 
Unite Me also includes Juliette’s Journal, which she wrote in the mental asylum, giving everyone a glimpse into the inner workings of her mind.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I discovered that these novellas were going to be written from the point of view of Warner and Adam, I was desperate to read them. I was so excited to get a glimpse into the mind of the two boys that Juliette has to choose between. After reading the blurb, I was even more intrigued because I was going to get to see what each boy though of Juliette and how each of them coped with not being with her and having to get her back. I started to read Destroy Me after finishing Shatter Me, and I was immediately engrossed in the story, flipping pages faster than I ever had before. I then read Unravel Me and, as soon as I finished, I grabbed Unite Me, so I could continue the collection and read Fracture Me, which I also found grabbed my attention incredibly quickly as it went straight in. I knew I was going to love the novellas as soon as I saw the book, and now I know for sure – they were amazing from the very start. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think that my favourite character in Unite Me was probably Adam because of how he felt about Juliette, but also about James (his little brother). Warner has an obsession with Juliette and, although I do love a villain who would destroy the world just for the one girl he loves, to me Warner was a ruthless, psychopath, however I do believe that I will begin to think more highly of him once I get to know who he truly is a bit more. In contrast, Adam truly wanted Juliette and, even though he would never accept the fact that they were broken up and was going to keep finding a way to be with her, he respected her decision and didn’t touch her or go near her if she didn’t want him to, and this respect and consideration really made me like him as a character. But what made him stand out to me was his dedication to James and how Adam would do absolutely anything for that little boy. To him, James was everything, and without James he knew he would no longer have a purpose in life and he would probably lose all will to live. He raised James as if he was his own child and James was the only bit of hope left for him in a world full of devastation and he was never going to allow anything to happen to him. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

As this is a short story collection, I am going to pick my favourite story of the book. I believe that out of Destroy Me, Unravel Me and Juliette’s Journal, my favourite was Juliette’s Journal. This is mainly because I loved to get to see exactly what was written in the journal. I had been so curious since the journal was first mentioned in Shatter Me and, as soon as I realised that Warner had it and was getting to read it all and yet I wasn’t getting to see it, I was furious. Thankfully, when I reached the end of Fracture Me I realised that there was a whole section that was literally the whole journal. Juliette went through a lot and being in that mental asylum for nearly a year had a huge impact on her life. I really loved getting to read what her exacts thoughts were and how she was able to prevent herself from becoming just like all the other people who were actually insane. Getting to see into her mind really showed me that if Juliette is able to find a way to cope with being all alone in a mental asylum, then there is definitely a way that I can learn to cope with my own anxieties. This part of the novel showed me the Juliette that I loved from the first book, the one who stayed strong when she should be at her lowest point, and I am glad I got to read it because I really missed her. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I absolutely loved Unite Me for many reasons and I don’t think there is anything negative that I could say about the book. One thing that I loved was how we got to hear from 2 new perspectives. Shatter Me and Unravel Me were solely written from Juliette’s point of view, which I really enjoyed. However, after a while it can get a bit boring and predictable to always hear from the same person, so I was really glad to see that I was going to get to hear from both Warner and Adam’s perspectives. Another thing that I absolutely adored was the fact that I got to read Juliette’s Journal. I am a naturally curious and impatient person, so whenever I am reading and I find out that there is something important, but don’t know exactly what it’s about or what’s in it, then I immediately become anxious to find out more. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t gotten to read them in this book, but I am so relieved that I did and it really was incredible to see Juliette’s thoughts during her experience in the mental asylum and really get to feel everything with her. One last thing that I really loved about the book was that, as it was written from a different person’s point of view, I was given the opportunity to gain more information on what was happening while Juliette was doing something else. There is always a part of a story that remains in the dark, unless someone else contributes what happened to them and I am always wondering how someone came to be at a certain place or what happened to them, but when a story is told from only one person’s point of view then it is a very one sided story that doesn’t have as much information as I would like. To get the chance to see Warner’s side and Adam’s side really helped me bond with the characters and become part of the story. I loved reading Unite Me and I can’t wait to start Ignite Me and go back to the main story.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend reading Unite Me as it is a great addition to the Shatter Me universe. Of course, you must read Shatter Me and Unravel Me first, but it is definitely worth the wait. I think it is particularly great for 15 year olds or over and those who love fantasy, dystopian fiction, romance and action.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A short story collection filled with action, adventure and two fresh points of view that bring a whole new perspective to the Shatter Me series. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh Mafi

“‘He’s found me and I’m slipping away and he’s never going to let me go…’ Juliette has escaped The Reestablishment. She has found the headquarters of the rebel resistance – and people like her. Gifted people. She is free from the threat of being used to kill others, and free to love Adam, the man who saved her. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. Haunted by her past and terrified of her future, Juliette must choose between her heart – and the life of the one she loves.”

What is the book about?

After almost a year trapped in a mental asylum and some more time in the hands of The Reestablishment, Juliette has finally escaped those who want to use her as a weapon, and who think of her as a monster and not the human being that she is. Now, she is with her own people – gifted people, with powers just like hers. She is living underground in Omega Point, the headquarters of the rebel resistance and finally she feels safe. She is finally free of everyone who wants to use her and turn her into something she is not, and now she can love Adam, without anyone stopping her. However, Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch and, even when everything seems perfect and untouchable, it can ruin everything. But Juliette isn’t just battling her own self; she is also fighting Warner, who will stop at nothing to get her right back next to him. Now, Juliette must make one of the most difficult choices in her life – save the man she loves from destruction, or follow her heart and possibly take his life in the process.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The first book of the series, Shatter Me, ended in a relatively shocking cliff-hanger and left me wanting to find out what would happen next as I was desperate to know more about Omega Point and if Juliette and the others would battle The Reestablishment. Therefore, when I finished reading Shatter Me, I almost immediately grabbed Unravel Me and began to read. As soon as I started to read, I was already captivated and had been sucked back into the world that had been created for me inside the safety of the pages of the book. It went straight into what had been happening at Omega Point and, thankfully, there wasn’t really much of a recap of what had happened in the previous book, which I was quite glad about as I find it is incredibly tedious to have to read about something you literally just read about earlier. From the very first page I already felt at home and was racing through the book. Even before I had started to read, I was quite confident that I was going to enjoy the book as I had loved Shatter Me so there wasn’t any real reason that I wouldn’t also love Unravel Me – and I was right!

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I think that my favourite character in Unravel Me was probably Kenji. This time, Juliette didn’t really seem like the best to me because she was really whinny and a bit annoying because she didn’t want to train because she didn’t want to use her abilities because she was scared. In contrast, Kenji was the one who managed to convince Juliette to come out of her shell and stop moping and start actually doing something. He was so energetic and, although he could be a jerk from time to time, he was a really fun and entertaining person to be around. I loved how even in the lowest of moments he managed to lighten the mood and he always had something goofy to add to a conversation. I also really loved how he never let anything stop him from speaking his mind and, although lots of people hate bluntness, I loved how he went straight to the point and didn’t waste any time. He could be quite stubborn as well, but I think this made him an even better character because he was determined to always do what he set out to do and he wasn’t going to let anyone stop him from making a difference. One of my favourite quotes from him was: “If I’m going to be shot dead before I’m twenty-five, I’d at least like to remember what it’s like to laugh before I do.” I think this pretty much sums him up and I can’t wait to read more about him in later novels. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I think my favourite part of the book was the very, very end when Juliette finally realised that the only person stopping her from making a real difference was herself and it didn’t matter that she had a lethal power, she could still help people if she really put her mind to it. I hated how (in Unravel Me) Juliette was always whining and feeling sorry for herself, when she had been so much better and braver in Shatter Me (the first book). This is why I was so glad to see that at the end of this book she finally realised that having the power to kill didn’t mean she had to shy away from everything and everyone, it just meant she had to be a little more careful, but she could still live her life and do good. She finally knew that she was ready to do what she was meant to do and she was no longer afraid of her future and the chaos that could be coming her way. She was finally strong enough and angry enough to leave the past behind and stop hiding behind some gloves. I really hope this means that she will be a better main character in the next book. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I thought that Unravel Me was an absolutely incredible book, just like Shatter Me. One thing that I absolutely loved, which was also present in Shatter Me and will probably always be used, was the intentional strikethroughs and repetition.  I thought that the use of them was absolutely incredible and that it showed how amazing the writer was as she managed to think up this incredible idea to illustrate Juliette scrambled mind. There were less of them in this book because Juliette felt safer and more confident, but I still noticed how effectively they were used. Another thing that I really enjoyed was the ending because it was where I realised that Juliette was going to stop thinking about what happened in the past and finally focus on the future. The ending of Shatter Me had been interesting and it did leave me on a sort of cliff-hanger, but I loved the ending of Unravel Me so much as it gave me so much hope that Juliette was going to actually do something with her life and help others and stop thinking that her life was ruined because of her power. One last thing that I really loved about the book was how the plot was so good and I knew exactly what was going on at all times. I had been a bit confused of the aim of the story at the beginning, but after only a few chapters it was clear to me what the plot was. Also, it was such a well thought out plot and I am so excited to see how things end. The plot is like all the books that I usually read, so it was so nice to go back to the comforts of dystopian fiction and rebellion. I loved Unravel Me and I am so excited to see what comes next in Ignite Me.

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

Although I absolutely loved both books, I am pretty confident in my decision that Shatter Me is my favourite. Both books were so similar and had so many things in common that it was impossible for me to choose, however the main thing that made me choose Shatter Me as my favourite was the fact that Juliette wasn’t an annoying main character like she was in Unravel Me. The worst thing about a book is when the character that you hear the most from and whose point of view is written from is annoying because it just makes the book so hard and tedious to read because you really don’t want to be hearing about the character. Unravel Me wasn’t that bad, but it still made the book a little worse. One other thing that also made me choose Shatter Me was the fact that Juliette was confident in her choice of Adam as the one she loved, whereas in Unravel Me so many things changed and I just wanted her to go back to having a happy life with Adam. I am so excited to read the next book (Ignite Me) and I hope to love it just as much as I loved Shatter Me and Unravel Me.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend reading Unravel Me (obviously after Shatter Me). Personally, I think it is best for readers over 15 who enjoy fantasy, action and dystopian fiction, however I am sure that anyone who reads it will enjoy it just as I did. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

An amazing, action-packed second instalment of an incredible, fantasy series. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

MY SECRET UNICORN – THE MAGIC SPELL by Linda Chapman

“‘But unicorns don’t really exist, do they?’ Have you ever longed for a pony? Lauren Foster has. And when her family moves to the country, her dream finally comes true. But when she reads a story about a perfectly ordinary pony who turns into a snow-white unicorn, she starts to look at her own pony, Twilight, and to wonder, maybe…just maybe…?

What is the book about?

The book is about girl, who is called Lauren Foster, who wants a horse. She moves to the countryside and her dream of having a horse comes true and she gets a pony, she names Twilight. She meets a lady, called Mrs Fontana, who owns a book shop and has a dog, called Walter. Mrs Fontana gave her a book about unicorns and inside she learnt about unicorns and thought that maybe Twilight could be a unicorn and be her very own secret unicorn.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Twilight, the pony/unicorn, was my favourite character because she helped Lauren and made Lauren happy. I love horse and unicorns so much and they are my favourite animals, so I loved Twilight too!

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

 My favourite part of the book was when Lauren went to go and get a horse. She took a lot of time but then got the right size of horse, after all her hard work. It was so good that she the best horse for her from all the options in the stable. I loved how happy Lauren was after all her hard work finding a horse.

What did you think of the book and why?

I thought that the book was very interesting and nice because it was about friendship and it was full of surprises and it brought me through lots of adventures! I loved reading it and it was so fun!

Reviewed by Fabiola Gutierrez Reviriego