Review: Fracture Me by Taherah Mafi
Goodreads
Release date: December 17th, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Series: #2.5 in the Shatter Me series
Source: Purchased
Rating: Still Team Warner. Sorry, Adam!
In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.
As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.
On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.
Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu.
Note: this novella shouldn't be read until after you've finished Unravel Me (which obviously shouldn't be read until you finish Shatter Me, because that's how series work and stuff). It contains spoilers for the ending of Unravel Me.
First of all, this is not a novella. It's a short story, and it's certainly no Destroy Me, which might be the best thing Mafi's ever written. This can easily be read in one quick sitting. However, I definitely think it's worth reading whether you're Team Adam or Team Warner. I'll admit to being pretty staunchly Team Warner (yes, I know this is unhealthy, I don't care, Chapter 62 is very persuasive and I find him much more compelling than Adam. SUE ME.). So I liked the chance to go into Adam's head and see what makes him tick. Win me over, Adam! Pull yourself out of the emo coma you were thoroughly entrenched in in Unravel Me and wow me.
While I've still got my Team Warner badge firmly in place, I will say that I understand Adam more now, particularly his intense devotion to his little brother, James. They were toothache sweet together. I've always loved James, and he and Adam (or "Addie", as he calls him, to Adam's horror), are heart-warmingly adorable. The "fracture" in the title comes from Adam's strong emotional commitments to both James and Juliette, and how he feels split between them. When it comes right down to it, which one is the one he'll give everything go? If he can only save one, which will it be?
I loved Adam when he was caught up in the dilemma, with really tough choices to make and a whole lot of heart ache. I did not love him so much when he continually thought of Juliette as a child who needed to be protected. I get it's coming from a place of love, but it's part of why I prefer her interactions with Warner. He, at least, sees her as someone powerful and capable (even if that might be stretching the truth a bit.)
The writing in this one? Not remotely Juliette-esque. Very straightforward and Adam-like. Hardly a metaphor to be found. Well, I'm sure there were metaphors, but you know what I mean. Also, seeing Juliette from Adam's perspective lets you see how truly nuts the girl is. It makes me very fond of her. We also get to see a lot of Kenji (I wanted to smack in the beginning of the story and hug his face off at the end). This is right after he's been nearly mortally wounded by Juliette, so he's kind of a mess, too. The rest of the characters? Eh. I've always thought the background characters in this series (ie, not Juliette, Warner, Adam, Kenji, James, and Anderson) were pretty blank. Also, whenever they talk about Castle, I think of Richard Castle, and that just confuses me.
The ending was funny. I mean, not intentionally. I loved it. it's one of my favorite silly, melodramatic tropes. I AM EXCITED FOR IGNITE ME NOW THOUGH I'M SURE ALL MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS DIE.
I will not lose her. Um, sorry, buddy, but you kind of did. Quite spectacularly. Didn't you read Unravel Me?
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I need to read both Destroy Me and Fracture Me. Ideally before Ignite Me releases. Like you I am staunchly Team Warner and yes I know it's not healthy.
ReplyDeleteTeam Warner! Honestly, I didn't mind Adam before, but this novella made me dislike him quite a bit. It bothered me how he didn't seem to love Juliette like he said, and maybe he just has a strange way of showing his devotion, but I felt like Warner's feelings were more natural.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh my goodness. I always think of Richard Castle, too! And then a character describes him with dreadlocks and I just get a bad image.
TEAM WARNER. Despite all the bad blood and the things he's done, I ironically think he and Juliette ARE healthier than J/A. I haven't read this one but am definitely planning to when the bind-up book comes out. UGH it makes me so mad Adam would see her as a kid. SHE SO ISN'T. She's growing so much and you can SEE in the writing in UM that she is. UGH ADAM UGH. I too, think he's already lost her, though who knows what Tahereh has up her sleeve.
ReplyDeleteWarner FOREVER AND A DAY.
ReplyDeleteWarner totally won me over in Destroy Me and Unravel Me... he is such a damaged person, but Adam annoyed me so much with his protectiveness and treating Juliette like an idiot... I don't think he realizes how damaged she really is, and can't understand her POV at all. In this one Adam mostly annoyed me! I can't wait for Ignite Me, even if I'm scared of what may come!
ReplyDeleteYES!! Completely agree with you. I didn't notice it before (in the other books), but the way Adam and Warner treat Juliette is different and says so much about their relationships. I kind of liked seeing how Adam sees Juliette because I think it's an accurate representation as to what everyone (other than Warner) sees her as. Butyeah....
ReplyDeleteAdam. I'm not picking a team or anything, but Warner's character is more compelling as you said.
great review!!
OKAY, GILLIAN. I can't read this because Unravel Me. However, do I need to read this? No, right? Because Adam doesn't matter? Yes? Yes. You can just spoil it for me. Sound good?
ReplyDelete