Cover Reveal: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi - Megan

IT'S HERE! After months upon months of waiting, we finally get to see the cover for book two of Tahereh Mafi's break-through Shatter Me series. Isn't it beautiful?!

In my previous post showing the new cover for SHATTER ME I profess my love for the new theme used so when I seen this cover, I was at a loss for words. Everything about this cover is so mesmerizing - the icy tree branches; the bird in her eye (it's back!); the serious look in the eye; the pale colours; and the new and improved tagline, OH MY! I'm totally excited to see what Juliette has in store for us this time around.

THEY WANT TO FIND ME I WILL FIND THEM FIRST.

This series is my absolute favourite so I can't wait to have this beauty sitting on my bookshelf on Feburary 5th!


And now the moment you've all been waiting for....
 

I'm in love - again!

What do you guys think of this cover? Have yous read SHATTER ME yet?

 

 

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - Megan

Synopsis from Goodreads

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Someone fetch me a dictionary because I'm at a loss for words! The idea behind this book was carefully thought out and perfectly executed. Tahereh Mafi has such a refreshing and unique style of writing which she uses to paint Juliette's world in a wonderfully realistic manner. I breezed through this book within a few non-consecutive hours but the interesting thing is, it felt more like daydreaming, like I was watching a film or witnessing the action for myself - it was just that good! Mafi also uses very literary phrases - which some readers may find difficult to understand - that splash vibrant shades of colour onto the canvas and as I did in my last review, I'm going to include quotes because Tahereh Mafi's words are pure poetry.

 "I can't remember the warmth of any kind of embrace. My arms ache from the inescapable ice of isolation."

The use of strike-through had me intrigued beforehand, although I was a bit skeptical at first about what effect it would have on the plot but I found that it greatly contributed to the potrayal of Juliette's thoughts and emotions. The detail used in the descriptions were oozing with originality. It's simply captivating.

"I only know now that the scientists are wrong. The world is flat. I know because I was tossed right off the edge and I've been trying to hold on for 17 years. I've been trying to climb back up for 17 years but it's nearly impossible to beat gravity when no one is willing to give you a hand. When no one wants to risk touching you."

Juliette is my favourite female protagonist in YA. There was a strong sense of realism in her character that made me become emotionally attached to her - which is an uncommon thing for me. She is a complex character whose personality I absolutely adore! From her vulnerability to her bravery, from her kind-heartedness to her fierceness. There's nothing I could fault about her. I enjoyed watching her transition from "scared, lonely teen" to "brave, determined woman".

adam. Adam. ADAM! I think this is the correct time to mention that I am in love with him. Why couldn't all boys be as perfect as him? And yes, that's what he is - pure and utter perfection. He's so sweet and gentle it hurts. His loyalty to his younger brother is so heartwarming and his eyes are so blue you could swim in them. He's strong-willed, protective, a bit aggressive at times but all the pieces fit together perfectly and I wouldn't change a single thing about him.

“Raindrops are my only reminder that clouds have a heartbeat. That I have one, too.”

 

Warner, on the otherhand, is deliciously evil. I didn't like him towards the beginning of the book because he was such an unappealing character but as the plot progressed I started to become more and more drawn to him. I found him to be a mysterious character and watching his soft side gradually appear was interesting. Plus, the fact that he has green eyes just totally sealed the deal for me because I am a sucker for guys with green eyes! (And now I'm impatiently waiting for DESTROY ME to be released because it's written from Warner's point of view *silently fangirling to myself*)

"My words wear no parachutes as they fall out of my mouth."

Adam and Juliette's relationship was so delightfully real that I actually got a bit emotional at times. There was an aspect of insta-love in their introduction but I was able to forgive it considering they both actually liked each other for years beforehand. Their love was sincere and genuine and I loved watching it develop. They had their ups and downs - like all relationships - and I was touched by their dedication to each other. It's safe to say that I am forever jealous of this fairytale romance.

“I'm oxygen and he's dying to breathe.” 

I don't give out 5-star ratings too often but this book definitely deserves it. The poetic writing; the strong characters; and the diverting plot had me completely engaged from start to finish. It was carefully structured with various small twists that had me glued to the pages. Nothing I will ever say can fully express my love for this book and since nobody got me my dictionary (shame on yous!) the only thing I can tell you is go read this book. Like, now. Right now. Go.

Rating: 5/5 stars

New Cover: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - Megan

Normally I can't stand it when a book cover gets redone because, in my opinion, they usually end up nowhere near as good as the original so you all could probably imagine my disappointment when I heard that SHATTER ME was getting a new cover.

I haven't begun reading this book yet although it's next on my TBR (review to come soon) but when Tahereh Mafi posted the cover reveal on her blog, I just had to witness the disaster for myself! However, I found myself to be completely shocked by it's beauty and slightly disappointed at the fact that I don't own this version of the book - I still love the original though!

Tahereh Mafi also informed us that the covers for DESTROY ME and UNRAVEL ME will be revealed later this month and they will follow this style for the rest of the series. Come on guys, are yous as excited as I am?!


Release Dates
Shatter Me (New Edition): October 16th 2012
Destroy Me: October 16th 2012
Unravel Me: February 5th 2013

And now for the main attraction!

I think I'm in love!

Look at that! The trees-for-eyelashes; the waterfall of tears; the colourful clouds; the bird reflected in her eye; and really just the overall theme is beautiful! I want this on my bookshelf, right now!


Here's a side-by-side comparison:

What do you guys think? Do you prefer the original or the new cover?

Guest Review with Michele

Since starting my blog I have meet some amazing people! One of my favourite is Michele. I meet Michele on twitter and we have been chatting ever since.

A little bit about Michele.

Reading is my favorite pastime, but I also enjoy writing, playing the piano, singing and my newest loves: reviewing and blogging about the books I read. I am a wife to an understanding husband who has grown accustomed to repeating things whilst I'm lost in the pages of a good book. I am a mom to an incredibly sweet little girl who is an avid reader herself. I have worked in the medical field for the past 20 years.

My love of reading stems from growing up near an Air Force Base, where friends were always being transferred out. My childhood friends were always leaving, but my book character friends never did. Now, having a family, a busy home life and work keep me from traveling like I would like, but in my books... I've been everywhere!

Stalk me here:
Blog:  http://abellestales.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ChelesBells1
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5464054-chelesbells

Shatter Me review:

From Goodreads: The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

It has been 264 days. 264 days with no human interaction. 6,336 hours without feeling the warmth - the touch of another person. 264 days without using your voice. This is the world Juliette lives in - if you can call it living. One might think Juliette would be broken. Shattered. One would be wrong. Juliette is strong, she is defiant, and she is a survivor.

"All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.”

But her whole world changed the day that Adam walked through the cell door. Adam. The only person to ever really know Juliette. The only one who ever saw her. Who ever cared.

“‘You can't touch me,’ I whisper. I'm lying, is what I don't tell him. He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him. Please touch me, is what I want to tell him.”

And thus begins the exciting and powerful story written by Tahereh Mafi. I can easily say Tahereh’s writing style is the most unique style I have had the pleasure of reading. The way she wrote Juliette made her seem so real. So easy to envision yourself in the role of Juliette. And so easy to wish you were the one Adam was looking at.

“I'm oxygen and he's dying to breathe.”

Adam. Hubba Hubba. I’m sorry, do people even say “hubba hubba”? I know I never have. But then again, I never knew Adam until now. I blame thank Tahereh Mafi for bringing Adam to life. He is truly a magnificent man with looks to die for and eyes you could drown in, but with the added bonus of a beautiful soul (and tattoos… did I mention the tattoos?? Swooooon).

“Adam stares at me so long I begin to blush. He tips my chin up so I meet his eyes. Blue blue blue boring into me. His voice is deep, steady. ‘I don't think I've ever heard you laugh.’"

The phrasing of this story and the pictures that Tahereh Mafi painted with her words are stunning. I found myself repeating sentences I had just read over and over, for the simple reason of loving how they sounded and tasted.

"And we stand like that until I'm too old to remember a world without his warmth."

Shatter Me is one of the few books that I ever finished reading…only to open it right back up and start again. And it wasn’t just Juliette and Adam that had me captivated… Warner is deliciously evil. If I am ever held against my will…. Oh please, let it be Warner doing the holding.

“He takes too long to speak; his eyes are busy traveling the road map of my body. I want to rip up the carpet and sew it to my skin. He smiles and offers me his hand.”

Then there is Kenji, who is just delightful in every way.

“Well damn. But you make crazy sound so good”.

I can’t wait to read more about the amazing characters that Tahereh Mafi created and that I can’t seem to stop thinking about. If you haven’t already picked up your copy of Shatter Me….do it now and thank me later. Right now, I think I’m going back for thirds.

My touch is lethal. My touch is power.