Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me #3)

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3)
Tahereh Mafi
Published: Feb. 4, 2014 (HarperCollins)
Purchase: Book Depository or Amazon
Review source: borrowed from library

Reviewed by: Amanda

Rating (out of 5): 4 stars

Note: While this review is spoiler free, it does assume you’ve read the other books in the series.

Juliette wakes up after being shot in the chest by Anderson, the supreme leader, only to find she’s been imprisoned again, this time by Warner. Or so she thinks.

She hasn’t forgotten that Warner begged the twins to help him save her life, but she can’t figure out why. Warner is the enemy. Warner wants to use her as a weapon. Warner was always after her to live up to her full potential.

Warner is as horrible as she thought he was, and he is kinder than she could ever imagine.

After the destruction of Omega Point, Juliette’s surprised to learn not everyone died in the bombing. Determined to take down the Reestablishment, she convinces those left alive to help her. Even though it means teaming up with Warner – and trusting that when he says he wants to take down the Reestablishment, he means it.

Ignite Me was an amazing end to an amazing trilogy. I loved seeing Juliette go from borderline insane to mastering the full extent of her powers. She’s determined to make up for what she lost out on all those years, when she was shunned by her classmates, and she reaches out to the survivors of Omega Point and starts building friendships, something she’s never had.  Juliette’s relationship with Kenji was one of my favorite parts of this book, the two of them poking fun at each other, giving the other an ear or a shoulder to lean on when things got tough. Other than Warner, Kenji was pretty much the only other person who believed Juliette could be more than what she was and pushed her to go after what she wanted, pushed her to master the immense power she possessed.

But let’s talk about Warner. Aaron Warner, leader of Sector 45 and the man who has been obsessed with Juliette almost from the beginning. In a lot of ways, he hasn’t changed – he’s often closed off, stiff, unfriendly, very focused and used to being obeyed. What’s changed is how Juliette sees him. He shows her the sides of himself no one else gets to see: scared, lost, in complete awe of her. He lays himself bare for her, and frankly, if you didn’t think Warner was the right one for Juliette after Unravel Me, you will now.

The chemistry between them is thick and buzzing with electricity. Part of it is Mafi’s writing; you really get into Juliette’s head. Those times when Juliette allows her body to overrule her brain lead to some pretty intense moments, and those moments are among the steamiest I’ve read in romance, YA or adult.

But the conflict between the rebellion and the Reestablishment gets the short shrift here. A lot of the story is training and planning, leading up to the attack on the Reestablishment. The battle, when it happens, is almost anti-climactic, and a bit of a let down. The ending ties up enough threads that we can leave Sector 45 behind, knowing the war isn’t over, but that Juliette’s more than ready to take her place as leader.

Sexual content: References to sex