Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
ISBN: 9780062085481
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Series: Shatter Me #1
Released: November 15, 2011
Duration: 9 hours, 12 minutes
Source: Audiobook from my public library

Summary:
"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."

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First Lines:

"I've been locked up for 264 days. 
I have nothing but a small notebook and a broken pen and the numbers in my head to keep me company."
Page 1
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Review:

This was one of those books I listened to pretty much only because it was available at my library. I've sort of figured out that might be the only way I get to some of these titles these days. But I am so glad I did! There was much more to it than I was bargaining for!

So, Juliette is unable to be touched. The last time someone did, she accidentally killed them. The government put her away until she was granted her freedom - by Warner. Someone who wanted to exploit her abilities. She also finds that she has someone on her side - someone who would do anything for her. But to what end? How will they survive in a world where things are falling apart?

Can I just say how much I loved this book? I feel like I haven't read as many dystopians that take place as the government is actively falling. Typically, it is after the fall and the people dealing with it. This book is smack in the middle of it. And I think that makes it very unique. You start very simple - a girl in a locked cell. Then she gets a roommate. Then she's let out... It just keeps growing and growing. I loved that feeling of learning just a little more each chapter. You could actively feel the story building. It felt like really good writing and storytelling. I was impressed.

The idea that there is a girl who can't touch people is very X-Men. Truly, it gets even more X-Men-y toward the end. But I feel like the way the story is told kept me from thinking about that until the very last second. I can only imagine that the next book is going to be even more so. I've heard good things, though... so I am eager to get that one.

I did listen to this book. And let me tell you... there are some steamy bits. Like, fan your face as you're driving... steamy. I mean, you can imagine... Girl who can't touch people. But there's one boy who miraculously can. What to you expect to happen? So everything is just overly sensual, I think. I'm not sure if it comes across that way in the normal reading. But listening to it? Whew!

I give this one a solid two thumbs up. I'm a little late to this party - as the book came out over a year ago. But I'm so glad I've finally joined in! I have already talked to a couple of people about the second book - so I can only imagine how I am going to feel after reading that one. I'll keep ya posted. :)
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Other Blog Reviews:

Book Addict
Novels on the Run
Awesomesauce Book Club
The Z-Axis
Afternoon Book Party
Alice in Readerland
Sarah's Reviews
Alexa Loves Books
Mariela O. Blogs
A Year of Books

Out This Week (Feb 24-Mar 2)

Some awesome titles coming out this week. Take a look...

 

•  2.26.13 Also Known As by Robin Benway
• 2.26.13 Pulse by Patrick Carman

•  2.26.13 The Murder Notebooks: Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy
• 2.26.13 Dualed by Elsie Chapman

• 3.1.13 The Summer Prince by alaya Dawn Johnson
• 2.26.13 The Madness Underneath (Shades of London #2) by Maureen Johnson

•  3.1.13 Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally
• 2.26.13 The Ivy: Scandal by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

• 2.26.13 The Trouble with Flirting by Claire LaZebnik
• 2.26.13 Fragments (Partials #2) by Dan Wells

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Title: Through the Ever Night
Author: Veronica Rossi
ISBN: 9780062072061
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Series: Under the Never Sky #2
Released: January 8, 2013
Pages: 341
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.
Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first. Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure—and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable".
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First Lines:

"Aria was here.
Perry followed her scent, moving swiftly through the night. He kept his stride even as he scanned the darkened woods, though his heart hammered in his chest."
Page 1
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Review:

If you haven't read Under the Never Sky, I would suggest you do so. I don't think I can leave out any spoilers from that one in this review. Plus, it's really good. You'll be happy you did.

This second book is still about Aria and Perry and their newfound relationship. They have been apart for months, but not by any choice of their own. Both of them have had huge life changes. Perry is now the leader of the Tides and Aria has lost her mother. She has also been given the task of finding the Still Blue - a place where the Aether doesn't attack. Unfortunately, they can't spend time together because of their quests. They are pulled in different directions, and only find themselves together in the heat of a crisis.

I have to say, this was a solid sequel. Most times, I go into these things with a bit of caution. I know many second books suffer from the slump - where you adore the first book and the second one falls flat. But truly, this one was just as good as the first one. In fact, I might think it was better. You have gotten to know these characters and you can imagine the things they have gone through. This second book just builds on all of that base knowledge. You now get to know more about them - more about where they came from, more about who they are. And you really find out just how awesome the characters are!

Typically, when I start reading a second book, I have to go back to my review of the first one to even remember what it was about. This one? I didn't have to remind myself at all - I remembered the first book with pretty striking clarity. I think that's one of the tests of a great book. If you can remember it without any trouble, it was well done. And I don't think I will be getting this one out of my head any time soon.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the emphasis on Roar and his life. You get a peek into that through the first book, but you start to understand him better. He becomes a real and important person. I think the author did a great job setting up the story like that. You get all of the love and romance and drama from the first book, but it is compounded by the amazing characters introduced in this one.

As usual, I'm not going to spoil the ending for you. But can I just say that there is a huge shocker toward the end? I mean, huge. It changes the course of the story. And I'm going to put this in writing - I think what happened may not have actually happened the way we think it did. You don't get a firm look at the situation. You just remember it through Aria... And you never know! Maybe that will be the twist in the next book. But it's a shocker... so get ready for that!

All you dystopian lovers out there - this book is 100% for you. It's definitely in my wheelhouse. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. The mystery is about to be solved and I can only imagine the drama of trying to get there! I'll definitely be waiting impatiently for the next installment. Has it even been announced yet?
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Other Blog Reviews:

Cuddlebuggery
Katie's Book Blog
Two Chicks on Books
Nick's Book Blog
A Life Bound By Books
Lily's Book Blog
Melissa's Bookshelf
Ivy Book Bindings
Once Upon a Bookcase
The Bookish Babe

Out This Week (Feb 17-23)

A few great things coming out this week. Take a look... 

•  2.21.13 The Different Girl by Gordon Dahlquist
• 2.21.13 The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock

•  2.21.13 The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand by Gregory Galloway
• 2.19.13 Shards and Ashes by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

•  2.21.13 How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller
• 2.19.13 Mind Games by Kiersten White

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Title: Unremembered
Author: Jessica Brody
ISBN: 9780374379919
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Released: March 5, 2013
Series: Unremembered Trilogy #1 
Page #: 302
Source: ARC from the publisher

Summary:
"With no memories and no identity, the sixteen-year-old girl who was floating among the wreckage of a devastating plane crash knows only one thing for certain: nothing is what it seems. Crippled by a world she doesn't know, plagued by abilities she doesn't understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can't remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue comes more questions. And she's running out of time to answer them. Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?"
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First Lines: (Quote from the ARC, subject to change!)

"The water is cold and ruthless, lapping against my cheek. Slapping me awake. Filling my mouth with the taste of salty solitude."
Page 3
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Review:

This book is absolute crazytown. I have read other stuff by Jessica Brody and thought they were hilarious. This one is a huge diversion for her. But a very interesting diversion that I think I really liked. I think.

So, a girl is found in the middle of the wreckage of a huge flight that went down. She is the only survivor. But she has no memories at all - nothing to give anyone a sense of what happened. Not only does she have no memories, it's like her entire mind is wiped out. She can speak, but has no idea what anything is. Then a strange boy starts showing up everywhere - and tells her to be careful. But once the secrets start revealing themselves, she realizes he was right.

Honestly, I was a little worried about that whole "doesn't remember anything at all" thing. If she doesn't remember a car, then she can't remember a road. If she can't remember a cell phone or the internet, then she can't remember electricity. I don't know. I think it worked out okay, but there were moments when I thought that might have been forgotten. Of course, then the entire story would be about her rediscovering every little thing. And that wouldn't do. So I was holding my breath for a little of that, but it seemed to work.

I am trying not to give away any secrets here. You can't help but imagine why she can't remember anything... and why she is being warned to stay safe. I really thought she was going to be some sort of government spy that had the secrets to the earth's destruction or something. Let's just say I was wrong. I won't divulge any further, but it totally wasn't what I was expecting. I was a little shocked. Good shocked, because it was so imaginative. But shocked, nonetheless.

I'll agree with some of the reviewers on this one that you never really develop a relationship with Zen. You only see him in the context of the girl - how he has been in her life, how he has gotten to know her, what has happened between them. You do find out why he is even around, but there isn't much information on his life in general. I'm assuming we will get more of that in the next book.

Speaking of the next book, I truly cannot wait to see what it has in store. The setting could be... anything. You'll learn why. But I think it would be a crazy twist to take this story to a whole new backdrop. Again trying not to give away anything, but I will definitely be picking up the next book to see where it takes us!
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Other Blog Reviews:

The Hollow Cupboards
Good Choice Reading
The Page Turner
Somewhere Between the Pages
Carina's Books
WeaklingNo14's Wondrous Reviews
Me, My Shelf and I
Stacked