Tahereh Mafi : SHATTER ME

Warning: Is there a whole in your heart after the X-men series, which needs to be full filled ? Pick up the SHATTER ME book series and you will never regret it.

SHATTER ME is a debut novel written by the lovely Tahereh Mafi. There are three books in the original series, plus two short stories.

I have been meaning to read this novel for quite some time. To be honest, it's been sitting on my book shelf for past couple of months, but I have been so busy reading other stories, that it had to be patiently waiting there to be picked up and read. So finally, I have decided to include it in Autumn Reading Challenge. The time has come to find out if the rumours are true and this is one of the best YA book series you ever read.

The lovely Sara from Carpe Librum Girl ( http://carpelibrumgirl.blogspot.co.uk ) told me that this is her favourite book series. And I, as true adventurer in the stories of the literarworld, have decided that it's time to find out for myself what is hidden behind the beautiful book covers.

SHATTER ME tells a story of JULIETTE. We find Juliette being imprisoned for past 2 years in some hidey hole no one knows about. Juliette actually hasn't spoken to another person for over a year. You see, Juliette has been taken away from her family due to an unfortunate accident. She has a gift. Well she thinks it's a curse. Everyone who touches her can die. Her skin can kill. So she has been poked and experimented on and now lives in this prison. Her only company are numbers. She counts everything. That is until she gets a new roommate. ADAM. But the thing is Adam isn't just anybody. She knows him. She actually had a crush on him for years and years. And with the arrival of Adam, changes are in tale. And Juliette is thrown in to a life changing adventure.



Firstly, let's talk about the edition. Because oh my, I love love love this book edition. Paperback. 338 pages divided into 50 chapters. Gorgeous. Mesmerising drawing on the cover. Actually all the books in this series have a wonderful cover. The eye can see into your soul. The blur on the back makes you want to buy the book immediately. It's intriguing. The edition actually sold me the book in the first place.

The writing. Intriguing. Thrilling. Exciting. Surprising and down to the point. We follow everything from Juliette's perspective. And what is the most wonderful about Mafi's writing is that she writes it in the style of someone's thinking. I love the crossed away thoughts and sentences. I love the repeating. It's refreshing to read something so modern and truthful.


The story itself is an exciting ride. One chapter is packed with sexual tension between Adam and Juliette. Another chapter we are on the run. It's packed with enormous amounts of twists and turns and just keeps on giving. It keeps you on your toes with it's constant change of pace. I love this. I love this story. It has all the elements I like: adventure, love, superpowers, world in shatters and all the massive amounts of strength and will to survive. The sexual tension between Adam and Juliette is brilliantly described. These two just cannot catch a break.

All the characters in this book are so likeable. Even the villains. Juliette has been living in belief that she is cursed all her life. She is scared that she hurst someone by accident as it has happened before. But at the same time she is strong and fierce. And she is getting to be more independent. Adam reminds me a lot of Tobias from Divergent. A Strong male character who has a heart in the right place and cares for his family and friends. But he can be rational and strong when needed. Warren is the most interest character of them all. He is literally obsessed with Juliette and does anything in his power to keep her with him. It's so interesting to watch how these characters will develop in the future.

As we found out, not everything is as what it seems. Secrets are revealed. And you just cannot wait to find out what will happen next. I know I can't.



Luckily we have, 2 novels and 2 short stories to indulge our souls with: UNRAVEL ME, IGNITE ME & UNITE ME ( DESTROY ME and FRACTURE ME).

Thank you Tahereh for writing such a wonderful series !

THE DECEMBER READING CHALLENGE

The last month of the year just crossed our doors. HELLO DECEMBER! The weather outside is a little bit more frightful and we are taking refugee in our warm homes sitting my the fire with hot chocolate (or other suitable hot drink) in one hand and a book in the other. 

Why not? I know, we are all stressing out about Christmas. Probably most of us are arranging all the presents, visits and shopping trips. Our homes are starting to look like an advert for the Christmas decorations, but we have smile on our faces. Everyone loves Christmas. Although I am not a child anymore, I still do love getting presents. Even more though, I enjoy giving out presents to my friends. Just ask the lovely Sara from Carpe Librum Girl who has recently received a package from me. You can check out the contest of it on her blog post : http://carpelibrumgirl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/my-uk-package.html . 

But the reason why I love December is the amount of time spent indoors with book in my hands. December is the perfect month to get lost in various stories. So, as we are slowly wrapping up the year 2014, I have decided to post the last 2014's Reading Challenge - THE DECEMBER READING CHALLENGE. As I have only 4 weeks to complete my reading, and I still have to read WOOL from my Autumn Reading Challenge, I only pick 4 books. They are all Winter / Christmassy themed and I am really looking forward to get lost within their pages. 

THE DECEMBER READING CHALLENGE

THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass

In a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels THE SELECTION is the chance of a lifetime: to compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's heart. But for America Singer it means turning her back on her secret love, and leaving home for a prize she doesn't want. 

Then America meets Maxon and all her plans start to crumble. Can the life she's always dreamed of compare to a future she never imagined?

LET IT SNOW by John Green, Maureen Johnson & Lauren Myracle

The worst blizzard for fifty years.

Three wintry love stories. 

One magical night.

It's Christmas Eve and Gracetown has been buried by snow. But the weather is more than just an inconvenience. When one girl unexpectedly steps off a stranded train, she sets off a series of life-changing events. 

Soon fourteen pumped-up cheerleaders will descend on the local Waffle House, the Duke's DVD night will be rudely interrupted for a Twister mission, and a lovesick barista will determine the fate of a single teacup pig...

All the three stories collide, strangers cross paths and romance blossoms with heart-warming consequences. 

MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME edited by Stephanie Perkins

Twelve Writers. 

Twelve Winter Romances. 

Long, cold nights are for falling in love...

THE HOBBIT by J. R. R. Tolkien (Illustrated by Jemina Catlin)

Bilbo Baggins enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep to whisk him away on a journey to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

Check out my list and please let me know what books are on your December Reading list. Also, throughout December I have decided to take part in #decbookchallenge14 on Instagram which was created by @youngadultbookaddict ; @_halfbl00dprincess & @ursula_uriarte. So keep checking my Instagram account for all the pics! I might even post the conclusion post on here. So keep your eyes on it. 

In the meantime, keep on reading my blog please. There is a lot of posts coming your way and they aren't all book reviews! 2015 is nearly knocking on our doors and with its arrival come couple of changes to the posts. I have decided to branch out and share even more of my life with you. But that all will come in post in early January'15. 

Have a wonderful December guys!

xoxo

Teri Terry: SLATED

Warning! This book is a brilliant surprise which will blow your mind !

SLATED is a first part of trilogy written by English author Teri Terry. What a great name the author has!! There are two other books : FRACTURED & SHATTERED in this great series.

I have owned this book and was looking forward to reading it for quite some time,  especially after reading great reviews by other book reviewers online. I have been hearing big things about this series. So naturally, I must have found out for myself if the stories are true. I included it in my Autumn Reading Challenge and finally found the time to see if all those brilliant reviews were based on true findings.

"Gripping, chilling and all too real. An un-put-down-able thriller." L.A. Weatherly, author of ANGEL

"An original and hating psychological thriller. I was gripped from the first page and can't wait to read more. " Julie Bertagna, author of EXODUS AND ZENITH

"A beautiful, intriguing puzzle revealed piece by dark and sinister piece." Sara Grant, author of DARK PARTIES

Hmm. Thriller? I usually don't like thrillers.. Well not after reading and being disappointed by Gone Girl. (No Gillian Flynn, I still haven't forgiven you for that one!!) But YA thriller might actually do the trick and change my mind. And SLATED did the job well.

Welcome to society where the bad youngsters are punished by wiping their memory clean and setting them up with brand new life. A society where they might just get a second chance being better. They are SLATED. They are getting a chance to be redeemed. Meet Kyla. A Sixteen-year-old with freshly wiped memory. She is leaving the hospital to start her new life with new family in brand new place in England. Although everything is new and she even doesn't know how to cross the road safely, she keeps having flashbacks of her old life. Well she thinks, that they are nightmares, but soon enough we find out that this isn't the case.  It seems that Kyla is different. But just how different we or her don't know yet. And then there is the lovely Ben she seems to have a connection with... And of course as a brand new slated person, she is being watched. She doesn't know who to trust. She doesn't know what she did to be Slated. And she cannot understand why the old life keeps creeping upon her. Why the slated procedure didn't seem to work properly on her??


Let's start with the edition. I love the drawing / picture on its cover. A Beautiful young girl with bright green eyes which seem to look into your soul. Kyla herself.  434 pages divided into 51 chapters. Mesmerising. Modern.

The writing is just how I like it. Easy to read and follow. Gripping. Exciting. Packed with twists and turns. And it's very modern. There are so many references to modern age and England I cannot even count it on my fingers. I loved it.

The story itself gets under your skin straight from the start. From the first page you will be glued to the book and you won't be able to let go. It's packed with action and happenings. There is always something new and exciting which keeps your mind wonder. What the hell is going on? What did Kyla do to deserve to be Slated? Are these all young people really killers and terrorists? You are not able to put this book down.

The chapters are all right size. There is no unnecessary description of forest or how the wind move. Straight to the point. It lets your imagination go free and wild. It's exciting. Thrilling. Yes, after reading this book, I would call it a thriller. And I must say it's a first thriller I truly enjoyed. It paints a story of very possible future in true colours. Who is the enemy ? Is the government really on our sides?

The characters in this book are really interesting. Kyla. Sixteen year old teenager with so many questions and interesting past she cannot recall. She is fierce. Strong. Independent if allowed. I love her character so far. Her sister Amy seemed like a bland character at the start, just accepting everything without questioning it even if it didn't make sense, but as soon as you find out why she has been slated, you are falling for the character and understanding her a little bit more. Now, Ben.... Well I found him very confusing. He seems to be  a happy chap, but he just easily follows what others tell him to do. He doesn't wonder about his past. He doesn't question anything. But soon enough he is proven that he needs to take charge a little bit more. Now, my favourite character is Kyla's adoptive mum. She has been through a lot but is a stronger person for it. She is very intriguing and I hope she is good. She seems to be, especially compare to Kyla's dad who I really really don't trust. He seems shady!


All in all, SLATED is a brilliant start to the trilogy. I cannot wait to sit down and read more. I am packed with excitement of what is coming next. So many questions to be answered. And I need answers!!!

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Teri Terry for showing that the thriller genre does have a place in Young Adult literature. I have truly enjoyed this joyful ride.