Review: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on January 30, 2013 | 13 Comments


Review: Destroy Me by Tahereh MafiDestroy Me by Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #1.5
Published by HarperCollins (10.2.2012)
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: eBook, 103 pages
Source: I own it
Buy on Amazon


5 Stars

Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

My thoughts

First of all, in Shatter Me I didn’t really care about Warner one way or the other. I didn’t dislike him necessarily, but I thought he was a bit creepy. Mainly that his obsession for Juliette was creepy. And in my review of Shatter Me I even said “So strong was his obsession that he deluded himself into believing he loved her. I almost felt sorry for him.” Because I didn’t believe that he truly loved her.

So, when I saw people talking about how they were Team Warner, I thought they were crazy. He was power-hungry, a bit disturbed, sick and twisted. Only out to further his own agenda. And he did horrible things to Juliette (and many others) in Shatter Me.
When the teaser video came out, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see it or not. I don’t like spoilers. In fact, I hate them. I like to find things out for myself. But everyone was RAVING about it, and my curiosity is an evil and controlling thing.

Nikki wasn’t the first person that had said I’d be Team Warner after reading this novella.
Not gonna lie, I thought they were all full of crap.
 
I’m a believer now!

Forget what you think you know about Warner. Because Destroy Me will completely obliterate your perception of him.

At first, I felt sorry for him. Everyone was afraid of him, except Juliette. He was regarded with hatred and fear, he was never trusted or liked. Meeting his dad really opens your eyes to why Warner acts the way he does. Anderson is a creep, a snake, and doesn’t care about how his actions affect anyone else. He feels no remorse in hurting people. He thinks emotion is a weakness. No wonder Warner was messed up!

Being inside Warner’s head made me realize that he wasn’t the monster I thought he was. Sure, he’s twisted, his perception of right and wrong is a bit skewed, and he’s damaged; but he is capable of mercy. There is goodness in him. It’s just buried rather deep.

This girl is destroying me.

His fascination for Juliette, his affection for her, was what broke me. It’s hard to describe it, and it’s really something you need to read for yourself. But the way he regarded her was incredible. He held her so high, admired her so much; she was like a goddess to him. And the anger he felt over her depressing journal entries blew me away. Like I said, I thought his love for her was a delusion. This novella proved to me how wrong I was.

My priorities, shifted. My concentration, destroyed. Everything I care about right now revolves around one person, and for the first time in my life, it’s not myself. Her words have been burned into my mind. I can’t stop picturing her as she must’ve been, can’t stop imagining what she must’ve experienced. Finding her journal has crippled me. My feelings for her have spiraled out of control. I’ve never been so desperate to see her, to talk to her.

Reading this novella, I was struck by how alike Warner and Juliette really are. They’ve both been abused, neither of them can really help what they are or what they’ve done. They’re both outsiders; feared, hated, mistrusted. They’re perfect for each other!

I don’t care much for novellas. I rarely ever read them, because I typically see them as just fluff. Perhaps a helpful piece of information, but nothing overly important.
This is very different. If you read Shatter Me, you NEED to read this! Seriously. It’s probably the most important novella that ever existed.

Being in Warner’s head changed me. It destroyed me It infected me. After reading this, I couldn’t stop thinking about him, and now I’m kind of obsessed with him! And reading Unravel Me only made it worse. (Stay tuned, review coming tomorrow!)


Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

quotes

I’ve come to believe that the most dangerous man in the world is the one who feels no remorse. The one who never apologizes and therefore seeks no forgiveness. Because in the end it is our emotions that make us weak, not our actions.

assessment
Plot: n/a
Writing style: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
 
Overall rating: 5/5 starfish
 
previous
Click cover for my review
 
Other links: Music Monday (2): In which I pick the perfect song for Warner
 
 
Jessi (Geo)

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13 responses to “Review: Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

  1. Yeah! I wish she’d give him a chance, he’s come a long way already since meeting her and I think she could steer him in the right direction with a little love :)

  2. Maija @Bookish Randomness

    OMG, I`m so going to read it now! At first I thought I don`t need it because I don`t like novellas, but now, with a chance to find out who Warner really is, I`m definitely reading it. Thanks for this honest review, if I hadn`t read it, I`d have just passed this novella up, since I don`t care for Warner much (he`s crazy after all).

  3. Maija @Bookish Randomness

    I`m just saying, but I don`t want to read Unravel Me reviews, because I`m afraid of spoilers…so sorry, but I`ll pass up, until I read it myself

  4. Well, I’m always on Team Warner ever since I’ve read Shatter Me. I always knew, scratch that, I always believed that there’s something good underneath the cruel facade of Warner and I’m right since Warner became like he is because of his upbringing. Team Warner all the way! m/

  5. Kristen

    I’ve only read Shatter Me. So as of know, I still consider myself to be Team Adam. But I’ll definitely be reading Destroy Me before I start Unravel Me to see if it changes my opinion. :3

    Great Review! :))

  6. Shelver506

    I wish I had some kind of witty, intelligent comment to add her, but I really don’t. Warner = awesome and DESTROY ME proves that. That is all. Carry on.

  7. Karina A.

    We have the same thoughts about Warner in Shatter Me. He’s so creepy and obsessed, he gets under my skin. I also don’t get why most of you are Team Warner. I just don’t get it. Maybe I should read this novella too. Thanks for the review!

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