WARNING: SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THIS FAR IN THE SHATTER ME SERIES, STOP NOW. DO NOT READ. THIS IS BOOK 3. FOR THE REVIEW ON BOOK 1, CHECK OUT SHATTER ME. FOR BOOK 2, CHECK OUT UNRAVEL ME.
Review:
Another nostalgic moment for me. It has been a hot minute since I've read this series and all I really remember was Juliette was this self-deprecating superhero type with one good guy and one bad boy in love with her. That's the extent of my memory so let's start book 3!!
Since I began revisiting series’ I didn't finish, one big lump I've had to swallow is I started these series' when I was a wee teen! A baby! So, things that I used to love about YA fantasy I realize now are very problematic and frankly dumb. With that being said, I went into this trying not to be so critical, for wee me's sake. I really tried. And I failed miserably.
We open back where we began, in a fancy bedroom on the Sector 45 camp. This time though, Warner is on her side. I mean who else does she have now that all plots to overthrow the Reestablishment are turned to ash? Now listen, I have been team Adam for the previous books; granted he was the stereotypical soldier come to save her, but I thought that with the war, they would grow into these two badass rebels fighting for a better world together. And as far as I remember, other than them both going off on their own for a while, that future was a possibility.
Then we entered this installment. First, the entire rebel camp has been is BOMBED, and Juliette cried for a little bit and then was like "oh well on to the next." MA'AM. You've professed this love for Adam for two whole books and you are completely unfazed by his death?? Her lack of concern is jarring. And then she goes looking for possible survivors and when she hears there are a few, not once does she even ask if Adam is one of them. NOT ONCE. Even Kenji is like, "yo, wtf."
Then we see Adam. And from here on in, he is a god damn toolbag. I wanted to sock him in the face so much. Was he this annoying in the other books too, but my colorblind teen ass didn't see the red flags????? It was ridiculous. So obviously when Love Interest Numero Uno is acting like a tool, we go to Numero Dos for comfort.
My biggest quarrel with this installment though, was Juliette. In Unravel Me, Juliette is slowly coming out of her shell and learning not to be afraid of her powers, and we're seeing progress. In Ignite Me, she is completely unafraid and has shed all vulnerability. For me, there was a disconnect. Sure, you can say that the bombing and the feeling of losing everything caused her to toughen up a bit more, but the amount of trauma Juliette has endured - that have paralyzed her all her life - suddenly evaporated? I wanted to see Juliette grow but I also wanted her to be real. Trauma doesn't just go away because you've decided you've got new things to stress about, you don't just flip a switch. I wanted it to be an ongoing battle for her to choose to believe in herself over her fear. that would've made for a more compelling heroine for me.
When I read the acknowledgements, this was clearly supposed to be the last book, but I'm glad it's not. You can't build up this goliath of a villain, who beat our heroes once already, and then have them so easily subdued! I'm hoping for more depth and frankly more flaw in our main character in the next installment, and maybe some turmoil between her and the boys. I think the biggest takeaway here was that it wasn't messy enough for me. Give me the mess!
Thank you so much for reading, leaving a comment down below of your own thoughts and feels!
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