Shatter Me

This one was recommended to me by a student. It's definitely a YA Romantasy novel, but it held my interest. There are some unique narration style choices, and the narrator uses a lot of hyperbolic (and other figurative) language. It's the first in a series, and I plan on reading the rest soon.

i have read a few dystopian books in the past but they are few and far between because for me personally they have to be well-written and interesting. this book is both of those things.

The story follows Juliett who has the ability to kill people just from her touch. because of this, she was sent to an insane asylum until Warner was ready to use her to fight a rebellion.

But she isn't evil and she doesn't want to hurt anyone let alone kill them.

I absolutely hated this book the first time I picked it up (about 2/3 years ago I guess) but I'm glad that I have picked it up again.

The writing was a bit annoying at some points, since Juliette was constantly whining about anything, though this can be overlooked, because I really enjoyed the plot which got me hooked and made me want to keep reading.

Every time I started reading it was slightly hard to get in to, but after the first few chapters it became a lot better and much more interesting.

~ 3.5 ⭐️

Well, that was a wild ride.

I was tired and wanted a book to keep me awake, and this definitely did. The audiobook was better than I expected, too, since the narrator does different character voices.

I'm not usually into these dystopian novels, but this one hooked me. It helps that it's super fast-paced and there's not a TON of world building to keep track of (at least in the beginning). There's definitely some YA cliches in here, including some major sexual tension that never goes too far. And yeah the prose can get a little over the top at times. It wasn't enough to distract me from the story, but if you think this might be a problem, I recommend the audiobook.

Also, it didn't end on a cliffhanger but also gave me incentive to read the next book. So, I'm sold! 

Es un buen libro de ficción que te sumerge en una distopia. No podria compararlo con algun otro libro porque no he leido mas distopias (al menos no que recuerde ahora mismo), entonces esta opinión se basa en mi poca experiencia con distopias.
El punto más debil en el libro es ¿Como es posible que el villano tenga más quimica con la protagonista que el mismo interes amoroso de la protagonista? La tensión entre Juliette y Warner es tremenda, nos dan todo para un perfecto enemies to lovers que ojala exploren más porque lo que mas daña mi relación con el libro es la relación tan acartonada de Adam y Juliette, cada momento que tenian solo queria que terminara y volviera Warner con todos sus cambios de animo que llegan a interesar muchisimo mas que las promesitas de Adam. ADEMAS el hecho de que el supiera todo lo que estaba pasando y ella no me genera cierto complicto interno, sumandole que las razones que el da para amarla son un poco tontas. No creo que ellos realmente funiconen como pareja por el simple motivo de que Juliette solo esta con el por el hecho de que la puede tocar y es una escapatoria para ella de la realidad que vive. Algo que no me gusto cuando estaba con Adam era que Juliette pareciera que olvidara toda su personalidad fuerte, valiente y atrevida, personalidad que relucia con Warner (no digo que el sea la mejor opcion para ella, perfectamente podria estar sola y creo que estaria mejor, aunque sabermos que esto no va a pasar) y con Adam aunque quedan toques de esa personalidad termina cayendo un poco al papel de damicela en apuros (cuando ya sabemos que para nada lo es).

P.D. Perdon los errores ortograficos (Soy pesima con esta)

Warner actually made me physically cringe but I heard he gets better... HE BETTER MFS WAHT THE FUCK other than that the world-building was amazing and actually had a main character that I felt like I could 100% root for <3

Not quite sure what to think of it. The story reminds me of Divergent and Red Queen; a girl with astonishing talent and unexpected defiance stirs up a rebellion against the ruthless and inhumane ruling body. Maybe I would have loved it had I read it like 10 years ago.
Of course our heroine is strikingly beautiful and every male character gawks at her. She's had like one meal a day with little nutrients and no exercise or even sunlight for nearly a year, she must look more like a skeleton than a human but sure, she's sexy.
That creepy aspect aside, the language and writing style are something very different. I would even call it flamboyant; it might not be to everyone's taste and certainly had me torn. Not gonna lie, between story and writing the middle part of the book had me struggling to continue reading. But then all of a sudden, the book is over and there is a sneak peak for part II. I would love to know more about the world building and characters' background so I will read on. But after a little break.

Tenía el hype super arriba y tenía algo de miedo de que no llegará a las expectativas. Pero me ha encantado. Es un muy buen comienzo de saga y me deja con muchas ganas de leer los siguientes.

Aquí fan de Aaron Warner desde el primer libro.

I finished this book within a day with zero complaints. I think it was very fast paced and definitely had me imagining a lot of the details of what was happening in the story, reshaping dystopian era stories like the “Divergent” series or “The Hunger Games”. My only dislike for this book is the inconsistencies in printing where there are parts scribbled/crossed out. At times, it made it hard to read the book normally. I also wish I found this book when I was a preteen because it absolutely itches the preteen brain of mine that longed for dystopian stories as such. I don't know if I will read the rest of the books, but I do think this first book has been pleasant to read.

rating - 4/5

“I hate the lackadaisical ennui of a sun too preoccupied with itself to notice the infinite hours we spend in its presence.”

did i think the prose was really good? yes. did i also think it was a tad bit excessive? yes.

“I spent my life folded between the pages of books.In the absence of human relationships I formed bonds with paper characters. I lived love and loss through stories threaded in history; I experienced adolescence by association. My world is one interwoven web of words, stringing limb to limb, bone to sinew, thoughts and images all together. I am a being comprised of letters, a character created by sentences, a figment of imagination formed through fiction.”

underwhelming

there is a problem, if ALL you're using is metaphors.

“and please and please and please—”“He looks so familiar so familiar so familiar to me.“There are 400 cotton balls caught in my windpipe.”“My jaw is dangling from my shoelace.”

really liked the world-building and evolution of the different relationships

slow

development

quite fast paced in the sense of reading time

here for Juliette's character arc

liked it more than i thought i would!!

3.5 ⭐

It was cringy at times tbh (especially bits of the dialogue), but the storyline is compelling enough that - for now - I wanna know how the rest of the series goes. It feels a bit like Divergent meets the X-men. We'll see how the other books go. Still confused how the pairing I know is endgame will end up being endgame but we shall see. I really don't like love triangles though...

DNF @ 10%. This is what I get for not really reading a synopsis before picking up a book. My complaints are 1) It's a teen dystopia novel and I don't tend to enjoy books about teens or dystopian worlds. 2) Overly flowery language. I just couldn't get into the prose. It felt like every sentence had at least 1 flowery metaphor thrown into it. 3) It's written like a journal or diary entry from the main characters POV. And she crosses out sections of her own thoughts when she wants to pivot her train of thinking. Maybe in print it isn't annoying but when listening to the audiobook (the narrator is doing a great job btw) there is an audible paper scratch sound every time a thought is crossed out on page and it was starting to drive me crazy. Because it happens almost every 2-3 sentences or more. Overall just not the book for me.

3,5!!

OK so please tell me why this book about a gritty dystopian earth with a traumatized and extremely poetic heroine with DEADLY traumatic powers ended with her wearing fucking super hero tights???? huh????? did I miss something?? what is the age demographic here????? anyway warner is hot even tho he's like cartoonishly evil so I'll stick the book at a 3

I have to read the whole series because. well. I bought the whole box set.

okay. so. I know I'm gonna end up loving Warner at some point (I hope so atleast, or the the rest of this series is gonna be hella hard to go through) but right now? I want to burn him to the ground. I want to be the one to put a bullet in his shoulder. he's so damn irritating and it's hot villain material, just creepy villain material. and at some point my feelings on Adam are supposed to change but right now? love him 10/10 so sweet, heart is singing from this man. (james supremacy)

besides the point, this book is so quotable. like things are described so beautifully and in ways I've never thought of and I just- yes. yes. yes.

”Your touch is the only thing keeping me from losing my mind.”

I haven't read a dystopian in so long and this book has reminded me why I love them so much.

I have only heard good things about this series but I wasn't expecting to become so absorbed into this story from the very first chapter.

I found myself wanting to delay finishing this, despite wanting to consume it in one sitting because I didn't want it to be over.

The characters in this book are all so unique and I am so interested in reading more about them.

This book was such a good start to a series. It makes me feel so nostalgic because this is exactly the type of books I loved growing up and this has just brought back all those memories and love for this genre. Shatter me is captivating, exiting and I am so excited to read what's next.

“You're my bird and you're going to help me fly away.”

I really liked this book, I had a good time reading and some parts kept me on edge, I will probably read the rest of the series

4.5/5

3/5

it was a stupidy romance until right at the end. But the ending intrigued me enough that I will probably read the next one eventually

Could be better, a lot of romance and little world building. I think the next one will be better!

who ever said this book is fast paced, to the point and easy to read, or has great writing style...well, you all have your own opinions but this book was terrible, took me 2 months to reach 40% (!!!) and was just outright horrible

when i reached closer to the middle of this book, i realized that this is just another young adult fantasy novel that came out in the 00/10s because juliette is another alina, warner is the darkling and adam is mal. if was too obvious not to notice.

and though i might found warner more alluring than adam (though they both sucked equally) warner made uncomfortable with his constant persistence that juliette belonged to him and then kissed her(?) idk if he forced it or not because i literally skimmed through that scene.

i found a court of thorns and roses more enjoyable than this and THATS saying something.

I thought that this book was kind of meh. While I enjoyed the writing style, I felt there was a lack of plot. But I am intrigued enough to continue with the series with my book club, and I am hoping this book was just a flop. I read it a long time ago and didn't remember much that happened, but I don't remember feeling bored like I did this time. I think the next few books in the series will pick up the pace and have more action which I am really looking forward to.

I really don't like Warner. But cannot seem to really hate him yet. Adam is great. James is cute. Kenji issa b*tch. Juliette... let's just say she is slowly getting stronger.

The book is written a bit weird at times..like it takes jumps or skips things.. sometimes it is hard to imagine what is happening exactly.

I'm not sure yet if I want to continue reading this series.