Review: Ignite Me

Title: Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pub Deets: February 2014, HarperCollins
Series/Stand Alone: Series
Source: Purchased

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Previously: Shatter Me & Unravel Me

In a sentence or so: The conclusion to the Shatter Me series finally has Juliette become the person she has always wanted to be - strong, confident, powerful. Who will stand with her until the end? Will she be able to take down the Reestablishment after what happened at Omega Point?

IGNITE ME had some great parts, some meh parts, and some ??? parts. I have somewhat creatively broken down my thoughts on this book into What Shattered Me (where I was disappointed), What Unraveled Me (where I become overwhelmed with feels), and What Ignited Me (where I fist pumped so hard it hurt).

The ultimate resolution with the overarching plot. I read this on my Kindle so I can tell you that quite literally the bulk of the plot resolution with the Reestablishment happens in the last 15 minutes of the book. There were more than a handful of gaping plot holes and ultimately it felt rushed. I was quite disappointed, considering how much time we spent in UNRAVEL ME at Omega Point learning how to fight the Reestablishment. They spent their whole lives figuring out how to correct society's wrongs, so for Juliette and co to have some sort of plan executed in a matter of weeks/months felt insincere.

So you may be wondering what happened the other 2 hours and 30 minutes of the book? FEELS. Lots of drama. Sexytimes. Hurtful words being flung back and forth. Juliette and Kenji's friendship is developed and awesome. We learn who is still around and what they're up to.

While I was pissed that the plot suffered, I absolutely adored how lyrical, poetic, and powerful Tahereh Mafi writing is. Even though she was basically writing teenage soap opera drama, it was so incredibly poignant and beautiful that I was captivated from start to finish. How you do that, Tahereh?!

JULIETTE. THERE YOU ARE. It's about damn time you find yourself and own it! She stands up for herself! She has plans and purpose and makes her own decisions! She values relationships! Oh man, after the whiny unpleasantness in UNRAVEL ME, this was such an awesome surprise.

<START SPOILER> My team won. If you know me AT ALL, you know what team I'm on and so I very smugly read all of the sexytimes and feels and relationship building. It made me SO HAPPY YOU GUYS. <END SPOILER>

If you've read the Shatter Me series up to this point, I don't have to tell you to read this. You already have, I'm sure.

But if you haven't read this series yet, know these things. Tahereh Mafi's writing is among the most quotable you will ever read. She captures emotions in a way that is simultaneously heart wrenching and inspiring. The core of this story are the characters, their relationships and Juliette finding herself. If you're looking for sweeping social statements, look elsewhere. BUT if you're looking for characters that you will get ridiculously attached to and writing that sweeps you into a whole new world of emotions, for the love of everything pure and holy read this series.

Fave Quotes: "Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh." (Loc 1505)

"There's a strange kind of freedom int he dark; a terrifying vulnerability we allow ourselves at exactly the wrong moment, tricked by the darkness into thinking it will keep our secrets. We forget that the blackness is not a blanket; we forget that the son will soon rise. But in the moment, at least, we feel brave enough to say things we'd never say in the light." (loc 653)

"This isn't about Adam or Warner,' I tell him. 'This is about me and what I want. This is about me finally understanding where I want to be in ten years. Because I'm going to be alive, Kenji. I will be alive in ten years, and I'm going to be happy. I'm going to be strong. And I don't need anyone to tell me that anymore. I am enough, and I always will be.'" (Loc 2975) - FIST PUMP CITY.