Latest Read: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Here are the basics ...
Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi
Publication date: Feb. 4, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Category: Young Adult - Paranormal
Source: Purchased

Summary: With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her. (Adapted amazon.com)

My thoughts…

I had no expectations of Ignite Me. I didn't have any predictions as to how the series would end, the type of person Juliette would become or how the highly debated love triangle would resolve itself. But Tahereh Mafi gave me exactly what I wanted even when I didn't know what that was. Ignite Me was a thrilling, unputdownable read from start to finish and ended the series on the type of bang it deserved. And because I would hate to spoil even the littlest thing, I'm going to concisely (but enthusiastically!) break down the highlights.

Juliette. Juliette became everything I hoped she would be and the development of her character through the course of the series has been slow but natural. No one changes or lets go of the past overnight. She's had years of mental and emotional damage to overcome. She went from absolute seclusion to forming friendships and having two guys vying for her affections. I understood her initial quiet and scared nature in Shatter Me, the tears, moping and uncertainty from Unravel Me, and finally the clarity that came in Ignite Me. (I'm sure, getting shot will do that to a person.) But I absolutely loved her in this one. She was fierce and impassioned and didn't hold back any thoughts. Which made me root for her and other times made me laugh (in a good way!).

Love triangle. I thought this was handled really well and very maturely. I was staunchly pro-Adam in Shatter Me. He was the nice, uncomplicated knight-in-shining armor who helped Juliette. By the end of Unravel Me, I had jumped ship to Warner but I still could've been swayed either way. Yet within the first few pages of Ignite Me (for no other reason than my own gut feeling), I realized I was all for Warner and his complicatedness. The author expertly peeled away the different layers of Adam, Juliette and Warner with each passing book until we finally saw everyone's true colors. And I think the how's and why's of the triangle made sense regardless of who you shipped (at least that's how it came across to me!).

Kenji. This boy deserves a special mention because he is awesome. He provided much-needed humor, perspective when characters needed it and I adored his friendship with Juliette.

(Super minor) reservations: It was inevitable that Juliette and company would go head-to-head with The Reestablishment and Anderson and the preparation for that fight was steadily paced. But the ending did feel a bit rushed and wrapped up rather neatly. Yet, I wouldn't have wanted it to end differently either.

Do I recommend?: I've recommended this series before but I've never really pushed it. But after reading Ignite Me, I'm saying it now - you have to read these books!

Happy reading!