Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: November 15, 2011
Source: Publicist

Overall:

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Shatter Me completely exceeded all of my expectations when I was pulled into the harsh world of Juliette and Adam. The world-building was brutal and at times, disturbing. Mafi will have readers tangled up in so many lies and doubts, making it nearly impossible to predict what happens next.

Mafi's writing was absolutely stunning. The imagery and the strike-throughts did a good job of conveying Juliette's feelings of isolation and betrayal. The sometimes-blunt writing made Juliette's world seem all the more real. The storyline was complex and each unpredictable event occurred one after the other; keeping me on my toes.

Juliette's narrative completely entranced me and I was really able to connect with her because of her strong literary voice. I was able to watch her grow not only as a character, but also in her beliefs and her determination. She seemed very fragile at first, but as she started to trust Adam more and more, those layers were slowly peeled away. The chemistry between Juliette and Adam is unmatched from the very beginning. And because they share an even deeper physical connection, it just adds to their romance.

Shatter Me is dangerous, sexy, and original all in one. I was shattered when it had to end.

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Title: Hereafter
Author: Tara Hudson
Pages: 400 (hardcover)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: June 7, 2011
Source: Publisher

Overall:

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Haunting and eerie, Hereafter is a touching love story with supernatural mystery. It’s engrossing from the very beginning and Hudson captivates readers with its vibrant characters, remarkable writing, and heart-rending drama.

Hudson’s writing is beautiful with her well-described tales and picturesque descriptions. Her prose is alluring and breathtaking. The way Hudson was able to portray emotions along with action was very remarkable. Her interpretation with afterlife came to be so creative and original.

Amelia doesn’t know much about herself. She doesn’t remember anything from her life and she’s living outside the light because there’s no one there to help her remember anything about her. Amelia is entertaining at times but she is also protective and brave. Joshua is the likeable, handsome type of guy. He didn’t need to lift a finger to be liked. He’s an extremely down to earth person and was very caring when it came to family.

The relationship between Amelia and Joshua is so enthralling and heartbreaking. A ghost and a handsome ‘human’ in a relationship is so unique and Hudson was able to pull it off. It was very realistic and believable. It wasn’t too quick and was perfectly paced, but when their love kept growing, it wasn’t tacky nor had those cliché representations. Although, as the story unravels, it’s not just a romance; it’s an adventure to discovering more about each other and themselves.

Hereafter is a brilliant start to a series. Readers will be engaged from start to end with Amelia and Joshua’s relationship, the actions, the drama, and most importantly, the interpretation of afterlife. Definitely a must read for all fans of paranormal!

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