The Shatter Me Series

Title: The Shatter Me Series 

Author: Tahereh Mafi 

Overall rating: 9/10

Books this includes: Shatter Me, Unravel Me, Ignite Me, Restore Me, Defy Me, Imagine Me.

I have chosen to not include the Novellas here as I shall do a separate review on them.  

Tahereh Mafi's Novels are eloquently written. We follow Juliette Ferrars as she battles her inner demons, we see this though crossed out phrases and even a whole page -the words are still legible which further emphasises the point Mafi makes here about how the right people can help to heal our minds and that love and support goes a long way to help us develop as people. 

Juilette finds herself in the midst of a rebellion against a corrupt regime where she is the centre prize. All the while trying to learn to socialise and manage the plethora of emotions that are unleashed on her whilst on the run. We follow her emotions and feel her confusion and distrust and anger. 

It is a wonderful set of books that hold you at a grasp throughout. Great for getting out of a reading slump. It also serves as a criticism upon society exploring contemporary issues such as the climate crisis and the harsh brutal reality of war. This series has a highly diverse set of characters all with their own backgrounds that aren't stereotypes including characters of ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ characters in a way that humanises them and also presents the challenges they face in society today. 

Juilette finds herself in the midst of a rebellion against a corrupt regime where she is the centre piece. All the while trying to learn to socialise and manage the plethora of emotions that are unleashed on her.

We experience love and hate and grief and loss in an unforgettable tale of bravery and courage in which the characters forge their own family ties and connections.

You may find the first 2 novels to be slower paced but by the 3rd novel the plot has thickened and everyone is interconnected and the pace increases. 

There are ideas of trauma and grief and death and also a suggestion of gore yet it isn't sever enough to be overly disturbing to majority of readers. To me these books would be suitable for anyone aged 13 and up. They are accessible to children but are not by any means a childish series. 

Written by M.