Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (review)

It’s only been a few weeks since Juliette (from Shatter Me, BCCB 1/12) escaped the asylum that was her prison and found refuge in Omega Point, the rebel headquarters. Since then she has begun honing her powers—her ability to torture and kill with just a touch—and preparing with the Point’s other similarly supernaturally gifted people to go to war with the totalitarian government that would see them dead. She is still uncomfortable with both her “gift” and the prospect of war, however, and she feels particularly bereft now that Adam, her longtime love and the only human that can touch her without consequences, begins to pull away, both emotionally and physically. A raid brings a hostage to Omega Point, and Juliette finds herself faced with yet another challenge, this time in the form of Warner, the young man responsible for her previous imprisonment and to whom she feels strangely attracted. Juliette’s overwrought, sometimes histrionic voice gets wearisome, and the problem is only somewhat mitigated by Kenji, the wise-cracking sidekick, who directly calls Juliette out on her petulance and selfishness until she finally moves on from being a whiny lovebird. It’s here where the plot finally gets moving and readers begin to uncover the true extent of Juliette’s powers and the brutality of the oppressive government. Warner is a nuanced third point to the love triangle, and the moments that pit his love for Juliette in direct conflict with his need for power are compelling and bittersweet. The flowery prose that went over the top in the first installment is somewhat tempered here, but fortunately the romance is just as tempestuous and steamy, so fans will likely be satisfied.