Short Story Saturday was created by Lauren at 365 Days of Reading. I can’t guarantee that I’ll post a review every Saturday but I will post one as often as I can!
Short Story: Destroy Me (Shatter Me #1.5)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Set after Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me and before Unravel Me, the spellbinding sequel, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.
In 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.
So I’ve never been a fan of Warner. I’m still not a fan of Warner but I really enjoyed getting a look inside his messed up mind. Destroy Me is a quick novella set between Shatter Me and Unravel Me and I think it really gives readers a lot to think about regarding Warner. I’ve never been a fan of novellas but I was really impressed with what Tahereh Mafi did in Destroy Me.
Destroy Me is very much Warner’s story so don’t go in expecting Adam and Kenji and Juliette. None of them are in this story. This is all about how Warner came to be how he is. It’s a pretty great look into his mind and his childhood, even if it is a very brief look. And while I still don’t care for Warner, I feel a lot more for him than I did while reading Shatter Me. His past was a dark one and his present isn’t much better. However, he does show some sign of starting to think for himself and I look forward to seeing how he handles things in Unravel Me.
The story is very quick. Destroy Me starts off immediately after the end of Shatter Me and it covers a very brief period of time between the two books. There’s not much going on but that’s really okay. This story was more informative than anything but I truly felt that it added to the series. I can’t say the same for a lot of novellas so I was happy with this one.
Overall, if you’ve read Shatter Me but haven’t had the chance to pick up Unravel Me, check this one out first. You can certainly still go back and read this one after Unravel Me but I think it’s a great bridge between the first and second book.
Looking for more reviews of Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi?
Series:
Destroy Me (#1.5)
Unravel Me (#2)
I didn’t like Warner in this one either, but atleast I get him. I know where he comes from and I don’t hate him anymore. I’m not a fan of novella’s either but Destroy Me was really good and to the point. Great review 🙂
I was really excited for this one because I love villains and getting inside their heads. I’ve never liked novellas much either-seems like a waste of money to read a short story. Glad to hear this one was worth it. Great review!
Weird. I didn’t like this novella at all. I felt like Mafi was trying to write Warner in the same style of Juliette which worked for Juliette but not for him. It was too much telling versus showing which is why I didn’t feel sympathy but more like I was supposed to or told to.
But I’m happy you enjoyed it nonetheless 🙂
I was so happy to be able to read Destroy Me in between books 🙂 It really kinda prepares you for Unravel Me. I thought it was interesting to be inside Warner’s head. But I’m still Team Adam.
So I didn’t read this between books and found the little bit of humanity he had a surprise. I was not a big fan of his and knew that there was more to him than the disturbed individual but for whatever reason I still can’t fully like him :(. I’m glad you enjoyed this and maybe I will look into it 🙂
I’m pretty sure I’ll get to this some day, but I think I have a good enough sense of Warner as it is. Still Team Adam though, lol. Great review!
Vivian
Confessions of a Vi3tBabe
Deity Island
Haven’t read this series, but lots of people complained about the last one and I don’t want to be disappointed, although I see you’re really into it!
Lovely review! 🙂