#35 A book set in the future: Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi.
Will I ever come across a book set in the future that wasn’t dystopian in nature? Eh, probably. I guess I’m just drawn to the chaos-filled stories and reading about how people overcome the aftermath of our self-inflicted destruction.
Shatter Me was interesting in my opinion due to the author’s writing style for the voice of the protagonist, Juliette. After she was kept in solitary confinement in an asylum for almost an entire year, her mind was close to breaking. Because of this, there was always a combination of thought and a hyper-awareness of consciousness in her voice. She would say what she wanted to say then cross it out and say what she felt she was supposed to say. Example: I’m a monster, I’m not a monster. Touch me, don’t touch me. I loved this effect because it added to the wonder if Juliette was crazy or not, and gave a window into her soul.
When one day she suddenly gets a roommate, her conflict towards wanting human contact, and not, drives her to the point of insanity. She soon discovers that it was not an accident that she got paired up with another person, and is forced to make a decision, although she quickly realizes there wasn’t a choice for her to make. Juliette can hurt and drain an individual if she touches them directly, and when the government tries to manipulate her to use her abilities for them, she quickly refuses. She didn’t want to be a monster. When she discovers someone exists in the world that is immune to her touch and offers her freedom away from the government, she is forced to make a decision that might endanger not just her, but the ones she has come to care for. This series begins what could be an interesting series, as she finds help and safety in a rebel group and learns she might not be the only one out there with abilities.
The pace of the story was very consistent so it felt like a quick read. However I felt it had one too many clichés that just seem to be too good to be true, but perhaps they will be changed in the other books that I have not yet read of this series so I hold hope on that thought. Other than that, I felt that the relationship between the protagonist and antagonist was very complex and set up perfectly to expand in the books that follow. Lines are not as clear cut and I appreciate that. Because of that I rate it 4 out of 5. It was consistent but a little predictable, but with the hope of its potential, I lean towards this higher rating.
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