Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ignite Me

by Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Release Date: 26th February 2014
Format: Paperback, 416 pages

 With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn't know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won't keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. 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.

*sobs* The Juliette Chronicles has officially come to an end. No more sometimes-seemingly-psychotic-sometimes-affectionate-and-vulnerable-Warner who captured my heart and made me change teams from a firm Team Adam to a devoted Team Warner. No more self-pitying Juliette who initially annoyed the hell out of me, but later grew on me as she finally decided to take control of her life. No more bipolar Adam whose character did a full 180 and I was left wondering if this ‘Adam’ was the same swoon-worthy, kind and gentle Adam readers fell in love with in Shatter Me. No more sarcastic and eternally entertaining jokester Kenji, who never failed to put an enormous grin on my face. I know that I’ll definitely miss these endearing characters, but at least I can take comfort in the fact that I own all three books in the trilogy and can plan a re-read anytime I want J

I was extremely pleased with the Juliette’s growth in Ignite Me. The Juliette who wallowed in self-pity; who was perpetually relying on everyone around her to orbit her like planets around a sun, and who only wanted to be protected, has finally matured. She’s ready to learn to harness her powers. She’s ready to fight for her future. She’s ready to become a leader and lead an army into battle. She’s ready to take on the supreme commander, the most powerful person alive. The whole time I was like “YESYESYES JULIETTE ABOUT TIME YOU LEFT THE LAND OF FAIRYTALES AND ENTERED THE LAND OF REALITY.” I wrote this ‘letter’ to Juliette in my ‘Unravel Me’ review, and after reading said letter, I’m delighted to announce that none of the points I addressed apply to her anymore. YAYYYYY!

Unfortunately, I was incredibly disappointed with Adam. The Adam who I described as “caring, loving” and “the only person who stood by her (Juliette), protected her and treated her like a human being”, just…suddenly vaporised into thin air. The Adam in Ignite Me was malicious, overbearing and consistently bitter about Every. Goddamn. Thing. WHAT HAPPENED? What happened to the once compassionate and caring guy? Who’s this fraud who would throw around phrases like “I’d rather you were dead”? And since when were guys so emotional all the time? Even though I'm Team Warner and honestly at the start of the book I semi-wanted Adam to just disappear so Juliette could embrace her true feelings and ride off into the sunset with Warner, I still wanted the 'competition' to be fair. Adam's character was so inconsistent compared to what he was like in Shatter Me; I was like "Is this really the guy Juliette (and us fans) fell in love with, because he's a completely and absurdly different person here."

Warner and Kenji were once again my favourite characters in the book, and if it weren’t for them I don’t think I would’ve continued past Unravel Me. Warner’s once ice cold and stoic demeanour was stripped away, layer by layer as the story progressed. We once again witnessed the vulnerable side of him and I JUST WANTED TO JUMP INSIDE AND PROTECT HIM FROM HIS PSYCHOPATH OF A FATHER AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HATED HIM. Kenji was also back with his snark and never-ending jokes. Since Kenji and I are both single…I think it’s only fair we spend Valentines together :DDD hehehehee  (NOTE: YES I DID SPEND VALENTINES DAY WITH KENJI)

The last few chapters of Ignite Me were packed with fast-paced action. My only problem was that too much time was spent preparing for the inevitable battle – almost 85% of the book lead up to the climax- while the actual fight was over too soon . The climax wasn’t bad or anything, but I felt the ending was too rushed. Yes, I’m a girl and yes, I do love drama, but some of those very melodramatic lovers’ quarrel scenes could’ve been cut out and replaced at the end with a more fleshed out ending.

Apart from the rushed ending, Ignite Me was fantabulous<3 I already miss all of the wonderful characters Mafi first introduced to us all those years ago. If you haven’t read Ignite Me yet, GO GRAB YOURSELF A COPY!! THIS IS NOT TO BE MISSED.

A massive thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Ignite Me for review!