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| Book two |
Unravel
Me is Tahereh Mafi’s second book in a dystopian trilogy. It
picks up directly where the debut, Shatter
Me, left off. Juliette has escaped from The Reestablishment and thwarted
their efforts to use her unique abilities as a weapon. Taking refuge at Omega
Point, the headquarters of the rebel resistance, offers Juliette hope and the
chance at a new life. It also gives her an opportunity to explore romance with
her fellow escapee, Adam. But if she thinks The Reestablishment is going to
give up on her that easily, she’s mistaken, to say nothing of Warner, son of
The Reestablishment leader. He has acute, raw feelings of his own in regard to
Juliette. He’s not above letting her know how he feels. Things are heating up
in more ways than one.
Mafi certainly didn’t suffer a “sophomore” slowdown in
this second novel. She does an excellent job of fleshing out her characters as
the saga continues. There’s a good dose of the psychological. The author peels
back the layers of their psyches and lets the audience in on what makes them
tick; what drives them. Interspersed between the first novel and the second,
Mafi released a short ebook named Destroy
Me. I think it only cost $2.99 and it was so good, I wish it were longer! It’s written from Warner’s perspective and is a surprising look into
the feelings of a boy that appears hell-bent on destruction. It whets your
appetite for what you know will be an explosive meeting between him and our
heroine, Juliette in Unravel Me.
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| ebook! |
In the midst of learning more about the inner lives of the
characters, the action and the forward momentum of the story is not neglected.
The action and emotional components, indeed the romance, are all seamlessly
blended. The author utilizes the device of repeating words or phrases,
sometimes in triplicate, when Juliette is in a particularly emotional or
stressful state of mind. It can work, but it can also become redundant. I began to skip over the extra phrasing.
Unravel
Me is a novel that works. The story and character arcs are
glorious and well thought out. The conclusion will leave you hungry for that
third book. You have to learn how Juliette comes into her own and resolves her
relationships with Adam and Warner. The connections between all three are rich
and complex. Tahereh Mafi has proved herself to be a masterful plotter and
storyteller.
Toodles!
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