{Review} Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi
Published: November 15th 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0062085484 (ISBN13: 9780062085481)
Pages: 352

Format: PaperBack Edition
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/COVET
Rating: 5 Stars

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. 

My Review:

INTENSE, VISUALLY POETIC, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, SWEAT PRODUCING, JAW DROPPINGOh boy, what can I say? This could easily be the next Twilight, or City of Bones or Hunger Games. I'll be perfectly honest; the first 10 chapters were a drag to read but like City of Bones, I kept reading and GOLLY was it ever worth it! I am a sucker for superheroes and this was the first book I read that felt "superhero-y". My love for Shatter Me came in 3 stages:

1. OK this is interesting but if it's like that through out the whole book then I don't understand the hype!
2. Hmmm, I like this book! It's original! Still think it's been over-hyped though. It's good but...
3. OMG TOTAL FANGIRL!! I LOVE JULIETTE! INTENSE!

Once I really got into it, once I was completely swallowed by the plot, by Mafi's prose and completely original story, concept and characters, I was hooked. Juliette  is a character to behold, a totally kick-ass heroine. She is good at heart and has been persecuted most of her life but has remained pure throughout. She is powerful and good, but she lives so deeply inside her head. She has a constant struggle within herself. She is indecisive and insecure and that is what makes her relatable.  Adam is kind, loving and courageous. And I love him! Villain wise, Mafi created one of those villains you love to hate but hope they're good underneath it all.  Warner is cruel, and merciless. And I love him. Because he is broken. There is much more to the book than just the plot and characters. There are twists and surprises that will make you re-read the same page at least once over and make you exclaim: "WHOA!WHAT!?" And then there is Mafi's definition of humanity and society. I can't wait to read more about the world Mafi has created!

This book is multi-faceted. It's a diamond. 

Final Nifty Rating: 5 Nifty (Diamond) Stars