Defy Me: 5 (Shatter Me)

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Stronger, braver, and more resilient than ever, Juliette must fight for life and love. But first she has to survive the war being raged against her mind. I left Kenji for last because he’s just the best supporting character ever. All I remembered from him is that I loved him, and now my love for him has only grown stronger. I love how supportive of Juliette he was, and he finally got some much needed bonding time with Warner. I had to laugh so much at their interactions, even when things were overall dramatic, but he’s just too fun not to love. For anyone who wants a refresher before dipping into this recap, we have recaps for Shatter Me, Unravel Me, Ignite Me, and Restore Me. And now is the perfect time to recap, as the final book, Imagine Me, is just around the corner! So, Ian says quietly. We have to be smart about this. If they’re dead, we need to be thinking about our next moves. Where do we go? In this new, turbulent reality, the one person I recognize is him. My memories of him - memories of us - have done something to me. I've changed somewhere deep inside. I feel different. Heavier, like my feet have been more firmly planted, liberated by certainty, free to grow roots here in my own self, free to trust unequivocally in the strength and steadiness of my own heart. It's an empowering discovery, to find that I can trust myself - even when I'm not myself - to make the right choices. To know for certain now that there was at least one mistake I never made.

She’s just screaming words, I think. They’re just words. But she’s screaming, screaming at the top of her lungs, with an agony that seems almost an exaggeration, and it’s causing devastation I never knew possible. It’s like she just—imploded. the trans character is essentially outed while her twin brother is introducing her to Juliette, who hasn’t met her beforeI really have no updated review for this other than GODDAMN IT, IT STILL ENDED THE SAME WAY AND I NEED ANSWERS. thanks for attending my tedtalk.

Anyway, the trans character literally only gets one or two lines of dialogue, and we wouldn’t know that she’s trans unless another side character pointed it out in a transphobic way, saying the trans character, whose name is Valentina, is “playing pretend”. The chapter where this happens is from Warner’s POV, who already knew about the character being a trans woman, but he doesn’t really do anything to defend her. Instead, Valentina has to defend herself, and then the matter is simply pushed aside to continue with the plot. The Shatter Me series is a YA Fantasy Romance. So let’s dissect that. First, Romance is an important aspect of the plot and it does contain romantic elements. But it’s also YA, or Young Adult, meaning that it’s meant for ages 13 to 17. I shove my way through the quiet, stunned, still-breathing bodies of my friends. I hear Winston’s soft, insistent whimpers and Brendan’s steady, reassuring response that the wound isn’t as bad as it looks, that he’s going to be okay, that he’s been through worse than this and survived it—The author weaves a tale that urges readers to question the role of memory in shaping one's identity and underscores the importance of self-discovery for personal growth. Additionally, Mafi's storytelling intentions extend to shedding light on political power dynamics, the ethical dilemmas of rebellion, and the consequences of manipulation and control. Some readers may find the book's ending to be somewhat unsatisfying. It leaves several storylines open, which can be frustrating for those looking for a more conclusive wrap-up. Like, if someone wanted to kidnap Warner and Juliette, James says. You know? Like you said earlier. Causing a scene like that would be the perfect distraction, right? The Shatter Me series is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of power, love, and the human condition. With its rich characters and intricate world-building, it’s no wonder that the series has become such a beloved staple of the young adult genre.

That’s what happened in Defy Me! We have recaps of the entire Shatter Me series if you need a refresher of what happened in previous books before you dive into Imagine Me. Buy the Series

The Shatter Me Series in Order

i don't hate adam. i'm sorry. especially with how his power could save peoples' lives in the next books, and he might've escaped the hell of that ending? he might save the day. I mean, I knew Juliette was strong—and I knew we hadn’t discovered the depth of her powers—but I never imagined she’d be capable of this. I know everything is crazy right now, but I need you to snap out of this, J. Wake up. Get out of your head. We have to get out of here. I will say I am a cis person and I don’t want to overstep my boundaries, but this book is just too new at the point in which I’m reviewing it and I haven’t been able to find an ownvoices trans reviewer talk about this. If you find one please send it my way.

One day,” she says, chasing after me, her eyes bright with tears. “If he doesn’t stop hurting you, I swear I’ll do it. You’ll see.” She steps forward. She looks suddenly terrifying. There’s a fire in her eyes. A murderous stillness in her movements. “If I ever catch you putting your hands on him again, I will tear open your chest,” she says, “and rip out your heart.” I can’t believe I let myself be distracted by a pretty face. I should’ve trusted Warner when he told me she was hiding something.Kenji’s eyes widen, surprised, and he laughs. He nods at my face and says, “Aw, you’ve got dimples. I didn’t know that. That’s cute.”