Shiirleyy's Bookshelf has migrated to Dear Shirley ! I will continue to post book reviews but there will also be a lot of personal and travel-related posts :)

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

17 Feb 2014

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!

4 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh I made exactly the same points that you did in my review Shirley, I was totally confused by this new Adam character, I adored him in Shatter Me, but hugely disliked who he had become in this story. I also switched teams in Unravel Me, and I loved how we got to know Warner's character, he and Kenji also too made this book for me. Also I was expecting a lot more from the ending, there was this huge build up and then nothing really. But like you I overall enjoyed this book! Lovely review as always Shirley! :)

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  2. Don't shoot me *hides behind laptop* I haven't started this series. I know there has been a major hype about this series, and I'm seriously considering starting this series ASAP. I'm so glad to find a ending to a series that you can finally feel closed from it, sort of thing. I love the sound of Juliette and Warner. I even have the series which gets me off to a good start. lol. It's been a long time Shirley, I've missed you around. Love you new blog layout as well. Brilliant review. :)

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  3. Adam's transformation doesn't make any sense to me! I started to like him less in Unravel Me, but I didn't like Warner any more, unfortunately, and so I can't bring myself to read this book. :( I'm happy to hear that it was a great final installment for you, despite the rushed ending. Brilliant review as always, Shirley! :)

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  4. Is it kind of sad that I have STILL not picked up this series yet? (I seem to be saying that a lot lately...heh). But I waaaaaant to start this so bad. I swear the first book is sitting on my shelf right now! :D

    So glad the series ended off well for you. Adam sounds...ergh. What the hell, how does someone change their whole personality completely in 3 books? I'm going to have to keep a weary eye on him when I start reading the books...he sounds...psychotic. BUT KENJI SOUNDS AMAZING. Did you have a good v-day with him? ;)

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