From only having read the first 4 Shatter Me books, this latest spin-off feels darker and more gruesome, though the character banter is still lighthearted. Don’t be surprised if a character has killed a grown man with their bare hands at three years old. Maybe the latter half of the series had this tone, but I can’t speak to it. I do see some slight retconning, like how James’s time before Adam got him seems altered to make him more “brooding.”

The dialogue and banter here are really fun, and I think James’ relationship with Warner was my favorite part. In the original series, the two had barely interacted, but here you feel the brotherly love between them. On that same note, Adam is basically written out of James’ life. This book series will never stop showing Adam its behind. He lost the girl and the brother!

Rosabelle’s imprisoned mindset and dissociation made sense here. When reading her narrative, the struggles and second-guessing she had about everything seemed plausible. How tiny and pale she was got old very quickly.

Also, AI is the villain here, rightfully so, as it often is these days. I found it interesting the varying levels of technological advancement or lack thereof; how some characters were even choosing to get back to more rustic lifestyles.

Overall, was this entertaining? Yes. Do I want to continue this series with James and Rosabelle? Not really. Undecided. I don’t find them super compelling as a couple.