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jessread_s 's review for:

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
4.5
adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Review: “Ignite Me” is the best book in the “Shatter Me” series yet!

The characters undergo a lot of changes, especially Juliette. As Kenji notes, Juliette finally puts her “big girl pants on” and becomes the strong, independent woman Warner knew she could be!

Speaking of Warner, I love how his relationship with Juliette progressed. The enemies-to-lovers trope was perfectly woven into the storyline, working across the first three books. Because the relationship development was so well paced, I found Juliette and Warner’s intimate moments both meaningful and beautiful. 

In addition, I appreciated how “Ignite Me” allowed me to get to know more about Warner’s character. The choices that he makes throughout the series are complex and the more I read, the more I realized that he is ultimately misunderstood. Warner is a human being not without a vulnerable side. Mafi reveals that he cares deeply for his mother, so much so that her death destroys him. He also cares enough about his newfound brothers to want to get to know them, despite starting off on the wrong foot. His character arc truly is phenomenally crafted. 

I would be remiss if I did not touch on how “Ignite Me” sheds light on the complexity of Kenji’s character. I was not aware of the burden that he carries, how he is expected to keep it together as a leader of Omega Point even when he’s falling apart inside. Only his humor keeps himself afloat. I am so glad that he has Juliette to confide in and lean on. Their friendship is one of the highlights of this series.

I cannot wait to see where the next book takes me! They only get better and better as you go on!