Destroy Me (Shatter Me Book 1)

I enjoyed this book, but I have no idea what Tahereh Mafi was trying to accomplish with it. I totally sympathize with Warren, and I want him to get Juliette. I remember how badly I wanted things to work out for Juliette in Adam in Shatter Me, but I don't care anymore. I need Warren to get his girl! Mafi's emotional writing style is back in full force. But I'm sure Juliette's not going to go for Warren who I think is the more interesting choice now. And I want to see her help redeem him. I think that would just be the most beautiful love story ever.

The one thing that bothered me about this book is that something big happens and the book just ends. Ends at what should be the midpoint. This is truly a 3.5 star book, but I'm giving it 3 because there is no half star on goodreads.

I really liked the first book but this one just bored me. It seemed to me that it was just dragging out and nothing really exciting happened. And the way it jumped from Juliet's P.O.V to this guy just confused me. I hope the third one is better...

SHATTER ME was an amazing book! i wouldn't put it down! and UNRAVEL ME was even better i finished that book in 2 days. but i was disappointed that DESTROY ME was only on Ebook. ( i like actually having the book on my shelf.) but i bought it anyway. For some reason i feel like it ended to soon. i mean after he seen the dog and saw what he thought was her ghost.. it ended? what about is view of when he was a hostage or when he escaped omega point? i kinda feel ripped of by how entirely too short the story was. very disappointed by how it ended like that!

If it was actually a finished book about Warners thought id have given it a 5. but it seemed to end at a point were there was WAY more to be told....

See more of my reviews sooner on The YA Kitten!

Shatter Me. For a reason I can't remember (Google searches turned up a "major pre-empt" and the movie rights being bought; according to my ARC, it had a $150,000 marketing campaign too), it was one of the most hyped-up novels of 2011 and I gave it three stars, though it has now been downgraded to two in my head. Destroy Me went on my list for one reason only: Warner.

I mean, come on! The guy has absolutely no marbles to speak of and in a book full of bland characters, I liked that. His obsession with Juliette had more to do with why I liked him, though; I find obsession and what it does to people morbidly fascinating. Besides, his character reminds me of one of my own and I want to see how another author did it. And so I dove into Destroy Me.

It's written in normal prose rather than the over-the-top ultraviolet prose of Shatter Me, and I was excited to be in Warner's head from the very start. If it wasn't clear before, it's clear now that he is head-over-heels obsessed with Juliette. He thinks himself in love like more than a few obsessed people do, but I know better! He's the kind of guy one would call the police on in real life, but here, it's good. Knowing the boundary between what's okay in fiction and in real life is always good.

The problem with this novella is that it is completely unnecessary and doesn't give me any richer knowledge of the world of Shatter Me. We get a little more insight into Warner's other obsessions like his need to be clean and some hints at how he grew up, but most of what Destroy Me reveals is stuff I'd already put together. His dad sucking? Check. The poor conditions of the people? Check. If any fan who refused to read this because they hate Warner skipped it, they would miss absolutely nothing. The Reestablishment is still a typical dystopian society with little to no plausibility and it is therefore too easy to put together what their world is like.

I'll be reading on to Unravel Me, which looks like it will be just as purple prose-filled as Shatter Me if the excerpt is anything to go by, for the same reason I kept with this novella: Warner.

He better not find his marbles and/or become a serious love interest. I mean it. If he does, he'll get boring and then I'll be done with this series.

After reading Shatter Me, I knew immediately that I had to check out the next book in the series. I was extremely happy when I found out that Destroy Me, the novella between Shatter Me and Unravel me, was in Warner's point of view. I knew, while reading the first book, that Warner was a big character but I was unsure of how he was going to interact with Juliette and how he was going to fit into the story, other than just being her captor.

Destroy Me definitely put a few things in perspective and just hit home how much Warner covets Juliette and he's even slightly mad at the thought of her. Obsessed is an easy word to use in description of his characters but I'm very curious of how his character is going to evolve and grow as the series continues.

I definitely plan to dive into Unravel Me soon because I have to know what will happen next!!

Rating: 4 Stars

Destroy Me is a companion novella to the Shatter Me series by Tehereh Mafi. This book takes place between the first in the series Shatter Me and the second Unravel Me. This novella is told from the perspective of the villain, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

Warner had been shot in Juliette's escape attempt and this novella picks up with his recovery and the hunt for the escapees. The story gives a more in depth look at Warner's character and his obsession with Juliette. Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes and Warner knows he can't allow his father's plans for Juliette.

Destroy Me was a great look into Warner as a character in the series and brought more depth to the story that began in the first book. I always enjoy when a companion novella gives another side that we miss in the main story and feel it brings me further into the books and what is going on. I'd definitely recommend picking up these companion reads if reading the rest of the series.

My full review can be found on my blog, Reader Rayna, as well as Goodreads.

4.5/5 stars

My love for Warner just increased, I think.

I loved being able to see from his perspective and the different voices all of these characters have. Tahereh Mafi has a way with words, crafting them into beautiful sentences, and it makes my heart flutter.

Warner was actually really creepy to me in the first book, less so in the second, and definitely not in the third. For this novella, he was still kind of weird and foreign to me, but as it continued I really saw his struggle to maintain control. He likes order, he likes control; it's what makes him feel most comfortable with the world, so for the world to be in disarray after the events of Shatter Me, it's kind of eye opening to see how he reacts in the situations that are being thrust upon him.

I think that this novella definitely improved his character arc and I wish I had read it sooner. Not only do we get a look into why he did some of the things he did, but we got to understand that he's human just like everyone else and, though he may try to hide it, he does have emotions and weaknesses and insecurities.

The plot followed the events right after the first book and into the second book, and I like that we got to see more of Delaliu and even his father. The plot itself was simple: find Juliette and the others, and even then that was a challenge given his injury and other factors. I thought that it was engaging and interesting to see what happened from the other side where Juliette and Adam weren't at.

I really enjoyed this novella and definitely recommend it to Shatter Me fans and if you want to get a bit more out of Warner.

It’s been a little over four years since I read Shatter Me. I loved that book, but honestly I barely remember what happened. Thankfully there is a website that does recaps and I remembered that I really liked Juliette and I wasn’t that big of a fan of Warner. Since I didn’t like Warner, I was actually looking forward to reading this novella. I love reading things from the POV of the villain. If an author can make me start to like a villain after reading their POV, then they’ve done an amazing job. And Tahereh Mafi has done an amazing job.

I actually started to like Warner. He’s a product of his environment and he doesn’t necessarily like what he has to do, but he doesn’t have much choice. When he tries to change things, his father finds out, which doesn’t work out for Warner or the people he tried to help. It made me feel bad for Warner. He tried so hard to make a fair decision, but it wasn’t the right one in his father’s eyes. Then there’s Juliette. His feelings for her seem genuine, but then again it could just be obsession and not feelings. I look forward to seeing how things play out. I don’t know who I want her to end up with now. But now I’m once again eager to finish reading this series.

I am usually opposed to novellas but I live this series so much I decided to read it. Best decision ever. This novella gives us an in depth look at a part of the story that we didn't even know existed but answers all our questions and in fact makes us love our character seen more. I also usually find that novels are inferior writing and histories. I should have known better when it and to Tahereh Mafi. It was just as high quality as her best book, Shatter Me, and even better than all her others. It shows a side to a character that we absolutely needed to see in the most graceful and heart wrenching way. Thank you Tahereh Mafi. You have make my life. Your writing is above beautiful and perfect, you had captured character creation and development perfectly. I think I'm in love. (With you books and your characters and your writing style and your words ...)

During the lull between the two official novels in the series, my friend Cass convinced me that I had to read Destroy Me. And honestly, I am so glad that she gifted it to me and kept reminding me to read it because this little novella had an unexpected impact on my feelings for one particular character in this series: Warner.

I am truly a fan of the marvelous Tahereh Mafi and her Shatter Me series (as evidenced by my thoughts on Shatter Me and Unravel Me). What's she's managed to do is create these characters who are so complex and interesting and multi-dimensional - and who the reader will fall in love with. She's done this and she's managed to do it using a writing style that's all her own, and to me, that's an incredible feat.

In this novella, the writing is completely different because we're now experiencing the world through Warner's eyes. Tahereh is certainly one smart cookie for choosing Warner's point of view. Doing so helped me to see everything in Shatter Me from his perspective, including the reasons and logic behind his actions, his feelings about certain things and most of his thoughts and his plans. And finding out all these things did wonders for softening my heart towards him, and convincing me that perhaps he and Juliette did stand a chance because in some ways, they were just so alike. I really got to see the human side of Warner in this book, and my heart went out to him for his past and for his own emotions and experiences after Juliette, Adam and Kenji have escaped his clutches.

Unlike the Throne of Glass novellas, this one isn't necessarily a complete story on its own. It feels to me more like a chance to get to know Warner a little better by sharing a few experiences with him. While I did enjoy the opportunity, it only worked because I am a fan of the series and I needed to satisfy my curiosity about Warner.

This novella is short, but totally worth reading if you're interested in discovering more about Warner or are a fan of the entire series. Tahereh did a brilliant job of letting us into Warner's mind, to the point where you're not sure if he's the true villain or if it's just because that's how he was raised or forced to be. I highly recommend Destroy Me to fans of the Shatter Me series (although, be warned, you definitely need to have read Shatter Me first!), as it adds a little more complexity to everything, especially Warner.

NOTE: This review contains mild spoilers for SHATTER ME.

When we meet Warner in Tahereh Mafi's debut novel, SHATTER ME, he's a cunning, off the wall militant who wants to use the narrator, Juliette, as a weapon. Juliette has a deadly touch which can (and has) killed people. Warner did not expect to become obsessed with Juliette or have Juliette hurt him in a way he never expected. Now, in DESTROY ME, told from Warner's perspective, we see how her wounding him has shaken him yet not changed how he feels for her. In fact, you find out a lot more about him than you thought you did.

DESTROY ME caught me by surprise. I like a nice guy; Warner, however, is not. He has hurt people and taken lives. So I was surprised when I found myself hastily reading parts in SHATTER ME so I could find parts involving Warner. Was I out of my mind? He definitely has a few screws loose and I could not get enough of him. Then I read DESTROY ME and see the true Warner... and I was disappointed. He's still crazy, but not full out like he was in the first book. It felt like Ms. Mafi took the safe road when it came to this novella. I'm assuming getting hurt like he did probably got the screws back in, and that this change is going to cause some conflict for Juliette in the next book, UNRAVEL ME.

While I was saddened by this change in Warner, I am excitedly waiting for UNRAVEL ME. Let the dastardly guy make his appearance again.

Originally reviewed at:[...]

**WARNING! WARNING! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW IS RIDDLED WITH Shatter Me SPOILERS! PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!**
We settle in Warner’s head almost immediately after he is shot by Juliette. Juliette has run away to find Adam, leaving Warner in a pool of his own blood. His men scurry around him, “led” by the ever-faithful Delalieu. Without their fearsome leader for a moment, Sector 45 is already in shambles.

In the beginning, the anti-Warner readers among us will feel right at home. He is everything we have been taught that he is. He is ruthless and self-contained. His own right-hand man quakes in his presence. He hates disorder. He hates messes. He organizes his closet by shade like a Pantone chip catalog. He hates being barefoot and showers with an almost OCD drive. His mind is a carefully cataloged room of drawers, which can be carefully wiped into a blank white when needed.

This is the Warner most people expect.

Until the simple thought of Juliette makes his knees buckle.

Warner-haters, prepare to have your world rocked. I’m not promising that you’ll like him by the end of this novella. I’m not saying you’ll adore him as much as I do. But you WILL be changed. At the very least, you’ll have a better understanding of how Warner became what he is and why he made the choices that he made in Shatter Me.

----

I blink back the flood of disaster pressing against the small world I’ve built; I swallow hard against the fear creeping up my throat. I push the walls back, making more space in the room until I can finally breathe. Until I’m able to stand.

----

First of all, let me say that I love Warner’s man Delalieu. You may remember him as the man who read off the charges for the guy that Warner shot. Brief, forgettable, nothing. In Destroy Me, Delalieu is the only one happy that Juliette didn’t blow Warner’s head off. He is also the one most likely to prompt Warner into moments of humanity.

You’ll see several of those moments of humanity throughout Destroy Me. Several of Warner’s more despicable moments from Shatter Me are explained. Some I had already guessed, but some made me guess. (Shooting that one guy in the head? He totally had a reason.)

But really, it’s hard not to see Warner as human when compared next to his father, the Supreme Leader of the Reestablishment, a man with a black hole for a heart. The man is pure evil. He’s like a less charismatic Billy Dent from I Hunt Killers, but just as bloody. Ooh! No, he’s like The Commander from Defiance, except some poor woman actually had to MARRY him to give him a child (Warner).

Seriously, the man gives me shudders, which is hard to do.

However, the best part of the novella, in my opinion, is getting inside Warner’s brain to find out how he really sees Juliette. How long he’s really watched her, what he really thinks of her powers, and the real reason he brought her to the compound were all fascinating answers to learn. About that last bit, yes he lied about why he removed her from the asylum. You’re surprised?

Personally, once I was inside Warner’s head, I just wanted to scoop him up and hug him and tell him everything would be alright. Poor guy.

Whew, this review is long for such a short story. Better wrap it up. Bottom line: Read the story. If you’re a pro-Warner, you’ll love it. If you’re anti-Warner, you’ll at least know you’re enemy better. And if you’re simply pro-Juliette, well, you’ll get to know her better, too. I promise. Now go read.

Before I even began Shatter Me the only thing I knew about this series was that there were Team Warner fans, Team Adam fans, and that folks raved about this series. After reading Shatter Me it was hard for me to conceive how there could be Team Warner fans out there. And so I knew I must be missing some critical information. Simply knowing that Team Warner fans existed while reading Shatter Me kept me from fully committing to Team Adam—even when Team Adam felt like the only option. So when I finished Shatter Me I asked if I should bother reading the in-between novellas, Destroy Me and Fracture Me, and I was met with a resounding “yes.” (Well with the exception of one “no”.) And so far, I’m glad that I did.

Destroy Me is from Warner’s point of view. Warner is essentially the main villain from Shatter Me. We know there are other villain’s out there, but Warner is the immediate one that our characters are faced with. But I find that anytime I can get inside a character’s head, I end up relating to them more. Sympathizing with them. Empathizing where I can. And even if I still don’t agree with their actions and behaviors, I find that I understand them. And that’s exactly what’s happened with Destroy Me.

I read it. And I came away feeling like I had more information to this grand puzzle, but all the questions that were answered only led me to more questions. Exposing these puzzle pieces only made me realize that the puzzle is perhaps bigger than I originally thought. Seeing inside Warner’s head did make me want to root for him. Seeing that he feels such a deep connection to Juliette on a level much deeper than I (or she) even imagined gives me hope for him. Yet, I wonder how he can ever make her see what he sees. Is there any hope for him, for them, at all? I just don’t know.

I picked up Destroy Me because it was a novella. Short. I could easily finish it in a day. And I wasn’t in a slump exactly, but I’d tried to start two different books and neither one were getting my attention. So I wanted something I could “accomplish” quickly. Plus it was available immediately from the e-library. So why not?

Once I realized that Destroy Me was from Warner’s perspective, I wondered how Tahereh Mafi would handle writing from a different character. I fell in love with her writing style through Juliette with Shatter Me, but I wanted to make sure the characters felt distinct. And they did. They really did. While I loved the strike method that Tahereh Mafi uses in Shatter Me with writing from Juliette’s POV, I loved even more that she didn’t use it while writing from Warner’s POV. Yet she still found a way to incorporate it in Destroy Me through the means of Juliette’s journal. So smart.

Favorite quotes:
-Torture is not torture when there’s any hope of relief.

-It’s been so long since I’ve felt like a coward.

-I’ve never read anything like this before. I’ve never read anything that could speak directly to my bones.

-Terror, I realize, is one of the easiest feelings to read. Even on a soldier’s stoic face.

-Swallow the tears back often enough and they’ll start feeling like acid dripping down your throat. It’s a terrible moment when you’re sitting still so still so still because <strike>you don’t want them to see you cry</strike> you don’t want to cry but your lips won’t stop trembling and your eyes are filled to the brim with please and I beg you and please and I’m sorry and please and have mercy and maybe this time it’ll be different but it’s always the same.

I also love the play on perspective. Shatter Me being told from Juliette’s perspective offers you, as the reader, only what she sees of Warner. The opinions she’s formed of him. But she offers them to you as if they are fact. You see Warner as a heartless monster because that’s what Juliette sees. But Destroy Me shows that Juliette doesn’t have all the information. She uses what information is available to her to draw the conclusions that she has. But it isn’t all truth. And this works in our everyday lives. And I love this. Just because I don’t see all of the pieces doesn’t make the pieces that I do see fact or truth. They’re just pieces. They’re perspective. And perspective is colored by past experience as well. So I love seeing that things aren’t always as they appear.

Even though I was only going to read Destroy Me because it was a novella and then move back into some review books that I need to read for deadlines and such, the copy of Destroy Me that I borrowed from the e-library had the first two chapters of Unravel Me included. And so I read them. And in doing so, decided to not only go ahead and purchase Unravel Me but to continue reading it…now. I need to know what’s going to happen and if Juliette is going to ever see the similarities between herself and Warner the way that he sees them.

Destroy Me easily gets 4 Stars. It moved the story along without actually moving it along at the same time. The information given within sparked my curiosity for more information. It sparked my desire to continue reading this series sooner rather than later. And it gave me a great new perspective on the characters involved and the events taking place. Have you read Destroy Me? What did you think? Let me know!

I was told that it was gonna happen but I didn't want to like him... I really, really, really didn't want to like him... DARN IT! I like Warner now. *sigh*

The intensity of Warner's character is captivating. Again, the writing style is wonderfully, impeccably erratic and you get to BE the character. Thoughts are written out the way we think. Not in perfect sentences but in sporadic images and feelings. It's messy and rhythmically chaotic and I LOVE IT!

This is book number 1.5 in the Shatter Me series, a novella from Warner's point of view. The events occur in between those of book 1 and book 2. Although you don't actually get to see neither Juliette nor Adam in this book, Juliette is very, very present in Warner's thoughts. Warner has a depth to him that you never thought possible. I am completely fascinated by him now.

So it looks like this series may be heading towards a love triangle. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series evolves, in light of all this new information on our "bad guy".

Dystopian, teen/young adult, sci-fi, romance.

PARENTAL ADVISORY: Violence. Firearms. Death. (no sexuality)

I truly did not want to like Warner, even a little bit, but I can't lie. Destroy Me ruined that for me. I can't help but feel for him now, no matter how much I didn't want to.

He's arrogant, more than a little disturbed, controlling, full of daddy issues, and a whole lot of screwed up. He is also vulnerable and sweet and kind... things he shows to no one. And the more we learn about Warner, the easier it becomes to understand him and the way he is. Yes, he does some reprehensible things and it is often hard to see past those things. But there are things about Warner that just make me want to hug him and love him.

Mafi creates such complex characters and I love that. Juliette hovered on the brink of insanity for too long. In many ways, that time stripped her of a lot of her humanity. Her obsession with numbers and counting was a measure of control in an uncontrollable world for her. To her, Warner was yet another measure of control over her. Adam was everything that was freedom to her. Warner was all of the things that she hated and was terrified of, and yet so much more than that. Adam, too, was more than what he seemed, with a story and issues of his own.

Things to love...

--The rich characters. So complex, so interesting.
--The world. Mafi is amazing at building a world that is equal parts fantastical and disturbingly realistic.

My Recommendation

If you love a fantastically disturbing dystopian story, this is the book (and series) for you! It is so absorbing!

Destroy Me is all about Warner and the perfect appetizer in preparation for Unravel Me, the next book in the Shatter Me series. I love Tahereh Mafi's lyrical writing style and was excited to learn about Warner the ruthless villain, and leader of Sector 45. This novella quickly drew me in and left me spent.

The tale picks up right where Shatter Me ended and is told from Warner's point of view. He is injured, dealing with Juliette's escape and traitors in his army. Mafi shares with us the many facets of Warner's personality and we get to understand him. I spent most of Shatter Me despising Warner and in fact stated he made my skin crawl. We learned he had a dysfunctional upbringing but in Destroy Me we get a much clearer picture of what has made and drives Warner.

Mafi is wonderful at creating characters that illicit strong emotion from me and then she twists them around and makes me see them in a totally different light. Grrr! Warner, Warner, Warner...he loves Juliette, he is lonely, afraid and so complex. When he finds Juliette's journal from her time in the asylum it is clear he understands her deepest fears and his emotions are so raw. Of course, he is still an egotistical maniac and truly believes he is the only one for her. I cannot believe that I now care about him, I mean honestly how did this happen?? His father and leader of this awful world is the man to fear and detest, the guy is a freak.

We get some nice world-building and a glimpse at how this dystopian came to be. We learn more about the civilians, troops and their lives. We also discover some things about Juliette and the people she is now with. originally posted on caffeinated reviewer dot com

“There’s something about the way she looks at me that always makes me feel insignificant. As if she’s the only one who’s realized I’m entirely hollow inside. She’s found the cracks in this cast I’m forced to wear every day. And it petrifies me”
-Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

If this novella’s purpose was to make us love Warner, then it certainly did its job. I usually don’t like novellas because they don’t add anything to the story, but in this case, it definitely did add to the Shatter Me universe. I enjoyed the fact that we got to see a whole new side to Warner, and boy, it did not disappoint.

“I’ve developed a reputation as a cold, unfeeling monster who fears nothing and cares for less. But this is all very deceiving. Because the truth is, I am nothing but a coward.”
-Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

I was so flipping happy that I finally got a look into Warner’s sexy evil, alluring, wonderful mind. He was like this puzzle that you couldn’t help but want to decipher. It was also so refreshing getting the point of view from a person who’s actually on the “wrong “ side of the government, someone on the inside. We get to see firsthand the “lies” and deceit that the Reestablishment is doing to their citizens, and we can actually feel a little bit more hate towards it.

What I really enjoyed was learning why Warner had a “fixation” with Juliette. I just thought he was kind of stalker/creepy in Shatter Me, but I finally understand! Warner is so full of emotions that he can’t seem to be able to express. Gosh, I feel so giddy about Warner. I think I’m falling for yet another fictional guy.

I also enjoyed how the author wrote Warner’s voice. It was somewhat precise, clipped, under control. The sort of voice that you’d imagine the leader of a military unit would have. Except his voice also has some sort of vulnerability that desperately tries to get out. And I loved it so much. It was such a contrast to Juliette’s jumbled and muffled thoughts, which also make an appearance in this novella!

I don’t know if I found any faults in this… maybe that I didn't want it to end? Seriously, Warner could have a whole book for himself and I wouldn't mind... Let’s just say that I didn’t find any faults.

Without a doubt, this novella has reinforced my interest in the series, and I’ll definitely be picking up Unravel Me as soon as I can.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Ugh, what to think now? Warner. Is still don't think I like him, but now I don't know if he's ALL bad or not. We meet Warner's father the leader of the Reestablishment and dang, he is the devil.

I love reading from the bad guys point of view. I know, kind of twisted, but I love reading about how and why they became the way they are. There is always something behind their behaviors. Well, with Warner's father in the picture we learn a lot about why Warner is the way he is.

We also learn that Warner kind of has a heart. I wish I could say I know for sure, but I just can't yet. I loved reading Warner's side of the story though. I think Warner might have had good intentions regarding Juliette. Warner's father on the other hand....

I really enjoyed reading this side of the story. I love the insight it gave into Warner's mind. I think I have a better understanding of why he is the way he is. I cannot wait for the next book.....

That is all I am going to say because I probably already gave something away. Oops, if I did ;).

Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi

1.5 in the Shatter Me trilogy

5 stars

Destroy Me follows Warner, the villain of Shatter Me, who may not be such a villain after all. Warner is recovering from his near-fatal wound at the base. His soldiers are disappointed not because he was hurt, but because he didn't die. Warner must make sure that they don't rebel against him or the Reestablishment. Warner is becoming more obsessed with Juliette and the arrival of Warner's father, has plans for Juliette, Adam, and Kenji. He'll make sure that no mistakes go unfixed and he plans on fixing them. I wanted to read Destroy Me before Unravel Me because it seemed like it would be a key part to the story in Unravel Me. I haven't picked Unravel Me up yet, but plan to soon (months from now with the schedule I have). Destroy Me in my opinion was far better than Shatter Me. If you didn't really like Shatter Me, but want to know if this trilogy is worth continuing then pick up Destroy Me. I feel like even though Destroy Me is a novella it really set a bar for where Unravel Me could go. One thing reading Destroy Me made me realize is that I strongly dislike Juliette and her voice, but more on that later. Mafi is known for her purple prose, which either I love or hate. I have a rollercoaster ride of emotions toward Mafi's writing. I can never decide if I truly like her writing or not. This novella proved to me that Mafi can definitely write. She can write not only beautifully, but she can also write about a character that I'm actually invested in and care about. This is both a pro and con. Why is it a pro? Because there's no doubt in my mind that I'll enjoy Mafi's future works. Why is a con? Because the character I'm emotionally invested in isn't the character that has a POV in the books aside from this novella. This also makes me hesitant about the trilogy now that I've realized this. I definitely loved Destroy Me, but I'm not sure if I'll love Unravel Me because I only liked Shatter Me enough to want to continue the series. At the same time, Destroy Me has me excited to pick up Unravel Me and see if Mafi has progressed in her writing.

The main male character is Warner. I have been Team Warner from the start. I, of course, have a thing for the bad boys. I do like Adam though, but Warner is where it's at and if Juliette doesn't end up with him, I'll gladly take him. In Shatter Me, we had a glimpse of his dark past, but I think it was brought to light more in Destroy Me. I adore Warner and find his character be complex and one that I would gladly read more about. I'm also looking forward to Chapter 62 in Unravel Me because I love Warner.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 9

So, while Juliette isn't exactly present in this novella, her diary entries are. Remember how I briefly mentioned that I didn't like Juliette. Well, her journal entries made me realize how much I hate Juliette because she is nothing but annoying purple prose. As I've said, Mafi can write, but Juliette brings her writing down and makes her seem childish. I am not the biggest Juliette fan as it is, but these journal entries didn't make me like her any more. They didn't make me hate her more, but I just feel brief passes of sympathy towards her. She's okay and nothing to brag about. In fact, if she didn't have this power she would be just another victim of the Reestablisment.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 7

The Villain- Destroy Me introduces the actual villain in this world. It isn't Warner or the monster we think him to be, but the monster that shaped Warner, his father. I have a strong dislike towards his father and his cold-bloodedness towards killing innocent people makes me uncomfortable. This is what I like in a villain. As a human, he's terrible, but as a villain, he's what writers should try to aspire to.

Villain Scale: 8

There were a few good quotes in Destroy Me that I really liked and feel like leaving in my review:
"I want to leave this worn body behind, but my chains are too many, my weights too heavy. This life is all that's left of me. And I know I won't be able to meet myself in the mirror for the rest of the day."-Warner
"It's a strange thing, to never know peace. To know that no matter where you go, there is no sanctuary."- Juliette's diary (which is surprising that I actually liked a quote from a passage)
I definitely recommend Destroy Me for fans of Shatter Me and skeptics as well. I think this novella will make or break your decision to give Unravel Me a shot.

Cover Thoughts: These covers are so gorgeous. I really like this one, but not as much as the Unravel Me cover and definitely not as much as the Ignite Me cover (which is absolutely gorgeous).

I have heard lots about Tahereh Mafi's books but had not had a chance to read them until I realised she has also written a novella.

I did not expect to enjoy a novella especially when it is based on a series I know nothing about. But after reading this I am definitely going to read the novels in the series to find out more about Juliette; the girl with the fatal touch.

I'm assuming there was a novel before this novella which would explain more about why J is classed as insane when she does not seem to be a threat. But I'm more interested in reading the novel after, to see what happens when Warner finds J and if J manages to control her "abilities".

I particularly enjoyed reading Js journal entries because it gave an insight into what was going on in her head and shows how vulnerable this supposed monster really is.

Very much looking to read more in this series. I can see why Tahereh Mafi is so popular!

Favourite Quotes:

It's a strange thing, to never know peace. To know that no matter where you go, there is no sanctuary. That the threat of pain is always a whisper away.

She put my hand in the fire once.
Just to see if it would burn, she said. Just to check if it was a regular hand, she said.
I was 6 years old then.
I remember because it was my birthday.

"Let their fates serve as an example to you. We do not welcome traitors in The Reestablishment. And we do not forgive."

This girl is destroying me.
A girl who has spent the last year in an insane asylum. A girl who would try to shoot me dead for kissing her. A girl who ran off with another man just to get away from me.
Of course this is the girl I would fall for.

I pretend and pretend until the world becomes so breathtaking behind my eyelids that I can no longer contain it. But then my eyes fly open and I'm caught around the throat by a pair of hands that won't stop suffocating suffocating suffocating.
My thoughts, I think, will soon be sound.
My mind, I hope, will soon be found.

Seamus Fletcher was murdering his family. And I shot him in the forehead because I thought it'd be kinder than ripping him to pieces by hand.

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.

And I'm eager for any opportunity to snap Kent's neck,
That traitorous bastard. The idiot who thinks he's won himself a pretty girl. He has no idea who she is. No idea what she's about to become.
And if he thinks he's even remotely suited to match her, he's even more of an idiot than I gave him credit for.

And yet I've known nothing like this terrible, horrible, paralyzing feeling. I feel crippled. Desperate and out of control. And it keeps getting worse. Every day I feel sick. Empty and somehow aching.
Love is a heartless bastard.
I'm driving myself insane.

We're running out of time, he said.
As if time were the kind of thing you could run out of, as it were measured into bowls that were handed to us at birth and if we ate too much or too fast right before jumping into the water then our time would be lost, wasted, eaten up, already spent.
But time is beyond our finite comprehension. It's endless, it exists outside of us; we cannot run out of it or lose track of it or find a way to hold on to it. Time goes on even when we do not.

I can sum up my reaction to Destroy Me in two words: HELL YEAH.

For any fan of the Shatter Me series, this novella is an absolute must-read. Told entirely from Warner's POV and picking up right from the cliff we left him at, Destroy Me is a chance to (finally!) get inside the life and mind of the young man we loved to hate in book 1.

The thing is, though, I didn't hate him. I felt like I should, but even at his worst, something about his character spoke to my twisted little soul, and try as I might, I couldn't write him off as just another bad guy.

Destroy Me doesn't wipe Warner's slate entirely clean, but it explains a lot of his actions and choices, and I challenge any of you to read it and not experience even the smallest change of heart about him. He may not win you over completely but he will win something - sympathy, grudging respect, what-have-you. In my case, he earned my full-fledged support.

Yep, that's right. After reading this novella, I am officially a Team Warner girl. No, I am not in any way spitting on the awesomeness that is Adam. I freely admit that Adam is wonderful and a far more sensible (and obvious) love triangle choice, but Warner does it for me in a way Adam can't and never will. He is my favorite type of character, the one with the greatest potential to evolve and surprise me, and I'll be rooting for him right to the end.

5 Stars ★★★★★

Tahereh Mafi is such an amazing author. That's the only thought currently running through my mind. In a mere 103 pages, she gave me such a huge glimpse into a crazy psychopath's mind and somehow found a way to make me love him. She is such a genius.

Now, I made the silly mistake of reading UNRAVEL ME before I read the novella that comes between the first two installments of Mafi's SHATTER ME series. I'm not much of a novella reader and when my friend offered to let me borrow her ARC of the sequel that she got at New York Comic Con, I could not resist! The feelings that that story awoke in me are impossible to put into words and I highly recommend picking it up next week. No matter how twisted a character seems, they sure as hell can be capable of unimaginable passion. And with that in mind, I decided to backtrack and purchase this novella for $2.99. I'm kicking myself for not reading the books in order because, in all honesty, this explains so much. And to top it all off, it's the perfect thing to tide you over until the release of book two.

Mafi's amazing writing style is still evident in this novella, though only slightly. Told from Warner's perspective, it's clearly very cold and logical, but it gives us such a huge glimpse into the mind of someone so unique and vile. I can't help but to say that not only do I feel like I understand Warner, but I feel for him. And by that, I mean I feel everything but disgust for him because disgust was the only thing I felt for him in SHATTER ME. I really got to learn who exactly Warner was. And I even got a few personal glimpses of Juliette through her diary that Warner read. That, my dear friends, is where Mafi's incredible writing style appears. Though not a huge part of this novella, the little snippets found throughout it were still enough to make my jaw drop at the sheer creativity. Watching his journey through fascination, obsession, and love was captivating.

So, for all of you out there in the blogosphere that are not novella fans like me, I highly encourage you to pick this one up. It gives you a lot of insight about what is awaiting you in UNRAVEL ME and it'll allow you to understand a few things in book two better. This is one novella worth reading. Mafi never ceases to amaze me.

Okay, I am just going to come out and say it. I LOVE WARNER! I know we all hated him in Shatter Me, but who wouldn't. He was crazy and manipulative to Juliette while she was with him. But, who would have thought that Warner would have a soft side? Tahereh, why must you play with our minds like this?? So with that said, Team Warner, all the way!

Destroy Me is from Warner's POV and starts off right after Warner gets shot by Juliette. Unfortunately, his shot to the arm is the least of his worries. Now, everyone is looking at his as his father's incompetent son. The reestablishment isn't going to want a leader who's a wimp. So who comes to pay a little visit? His father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment. If you hated Warner in Shatter Me, then wait until you meet this guy. Warner gives us a little glimpse on how his childhood was and it really made me understand why he's the way he is. You can only feel sorry for him. So now, his father is on his back about finding Juliette, Adam and Kenji. The only problem is that his father wants to kill them all, including Juliette. This is something that Warner is totally against and will do everything in his power to bring Juliette back unharmed for himself.

Destroy Me was a short, fast paced novella, that I just couldn't get myself to stop reading. Tahereh really knows how to capture our attention and our hearts. I just didn't expect Warner to actually be a good guy - but he is, just with a messed up childhood. I guess that might be the reason why he feels so strongly for Juliette. It's something they both have in common. It's a good thing that Tahereh came out with this because it just makes the wait for Unravel Me a little less painful. I can't wait! - Ana

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: An emotional journey and wonderful bridge between Shatter Me and Unravel Me that tells Warner's side of the story. Do not read if you have not read Shatter Me.

Opening Sentence: I've been shot.

The Review:

Destroy Me is a short story (novella) that takes place between Shatter Me and Unravel Me. Unlike the main series, Destroy Me follows Warner and delves deep into his intimate thoughts and feelings. If you haven't read Shatter Me, you may not want to read this review for it starts off with a *spoiler*. This novella starts right after Warner has been shot by Juliet. His feelings have truly been hurt by Juliet's betrayal but no matter what he can't find it in himself to hate her. Warner's father, the supreme commander of the Reestablishment, has heard of Warner's troubles and takes charge of Warner's sector. Warner finds himself trying to be the same tough guy on the outside while inside he is melting for Juliet, while hiding his thoughts from his father.

In Shatter Me, Warner seems like the kind of bad guy that seems quite deranged and cruel. As much as I was hoping there was some good in him, there was something not quite right about him and I couldn't wait for Warner to get what was coming to him. Destroy Me completely shattered my vision of him.

The short story accomplished such a major thing as to change my mind about Warner. I like Adam but....I think I'm beginning to like Warner more. I definitely pity Warner more. He is in such a perilous predicament, as the son of the leader of the Reestablishment, he has to live up to his father's expectations and his harsh rules. As a leader, Warner has to make sure his tough exterior is always showing, he can't put up with anyone's "stuff", because if he shows weakness (like being shot) his soldiers would rather see him dead. Warner does seem to have some good in him but how will this continue to affect him. I did find that Warner was a little too obsessed with Juliet (but really, who hasn't had some kind of crazy crush like that on someone at one time in their lives?).

I recommend reading Destroy Me only if you have read Shatter Me first. Your thoughts on Warner will be altered, if you already liked him, I think you will like him more, if you hated him, I think that could change. Unravel Me will be read with a whole new outlook towards Warner and his motives.

FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Destroy Me. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

Destroy Me was an awesome awesome novella and the perfect bridge between Shatter Me and Unravel Me. I have always been a Warner fan, sorry Adam lovers, but there is just something about him that caught my attention right away. I always knew there is much more to him than meets the eye and Destroy Me proves me correct. It was so interesting to get inside Warner's head and finally begin to understand him.

Warner is damaged, and I think that is putting it lightly. There are numerous reasons he is the way he is and I am not going to list them all now. However, we also learn that Warner is not your normal bad guy and that deep down he really isn't all bad. Certain actions prove he does have a heart and he does know the difference between right and wrong. It also becomes clear that Warner is not happy with his life, but he also sees no way out of it. The happiest he has ever been was when Juliette was there and it crushed him to learn that her getting happier was not a result of him, but of Adam.

Destroy Me was the perfect lead in to Unravel Me. It gives the reader some perspective and really sets them up for the sequel. I am definitely ready for more and I am dying to see how the events in this novella play out in the next book. Great read for fans of this series, even Adam fans.

I love this series!!! This is a quick read to hold me over until January...hopefully. This book is all about Warner. We find out what makes him the way he is, and why he commands his troops the way he does. He finds Juliette's notebook that got left behind, and through reading it he becomes totally obsessed and more in love than he was to begin with. Through reading it, he begins to understand her more, and realize they have more in common than he ever knew. This does not mean that I trust Warner, or that I think he should be the winner in the end. But Destroy Me made me totally obsessed with Warner now. I loved him in Shatter Me, and he is still a character that is most intriguing (even with what may seem an unhealthy obsession). I think I am just hoping for him and Juliette to be together for a short rendevous :) and then she can be with Adam. I am sure Tahereh Mafi has plenty of surprises in store for Unravel Me. I recommend this series to EVERYONE!

Original review at [...]

"I knew she was terrified, horrified, even, but I never thought those feelings were directed towards me. I'd seen her evolve as we spent time together; she seemed more comfortable as the weeks passed. Happier. At ease. I allowed myself to believe she'd seen a future for us; that she wanted to be with me and simply thought it impossible." -Tahereh Mafi, Destory Me

As I stated in my previous post I've thought about writing a blog with reviews for quite awhile but was always too much of a coward a scared-y cat. However, after reading Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi I was inspired to begin and get my thoughts out there. I'm still nervous about this I'm ready to begin.

Wow, where do I begin? So if you haven't read Shatter Me, the first novel in the three book series then I'm sorry. With all good intentions I intend to go back and write about Shatter Me but until then we have Destroy Me. *SPOILERS AHEAD DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT SHATTER ME RUINED*

And with that disclaimer out of the way Destroy Me opens immediately after Warner has been shot by Juliette after a massively intense make-out scene that she was faking and he was shaking from. So, very understandably and to quote the amazing author herself in a recent vlog, "Warner. Is. Pissed." He is furious, he is embarrassed, he is in physical pain, but most of all he is hurt...emotionally...weird, I know! Warner is a character that people love to hate. He puts on a cruel, indifferent demeanor meant to evoke fear and loyalty among his soldiers that he is commander of in his sector.

However after experiencing Destroy Me told from Warner's eyes you see he is not this person completely. He is complex, he is wounded, he is complicated, and he is really just a boy wanting to love and be loved. Mafi's writing is beautiful and that might be the biggest understatement in this blog. Her writing transports you to a completely different world within your own. It is sharp, tender, heart wrenchingly pure and raw and emotional all tied up in the short e-novella. While reading it I honestly felt like I was in a floating bubble not entirely grounded in this world.

My second disclaimer of this post: I am not into bad boys. I do not like villains. I do not sympathize with the bad guys. I was never that girl who went after token "bad boy." With that said... I.Love.Warner. So incredibly much. I found myself rooting for his broken, tortured soul and wishing with all my heart Juliette herself could read this in order to make a completely informed decision as to who she wants to be with. They could belong together. They could save each other. For Mafi to be able to write her villain in such a way and such a light as to sway my loyalty to Warner instead of Adam is a great accomplishment. Mind you, I love Adam. I love love love him in Shatter Me and still love his character now but I will be lying if I say my heart doesn't beat a little faster when thinking of Warner.

Overall this book was absolutely the most beautiful and perfect addition to the Shatter Me series and fans of the books will not be able to get enough of the beautifully damaged man boy known as Warner.

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.

Wow. I don't think I will ever look at Warner the same again after reading this. The persona that he puts forth is so different than who he is, but now we see that (in a sense) he has no choice but to be the way he is. If not for his father, he probably would be a pretty good guy. He tried to help people in his own way, and it was cute to see him play with the dog. Seeing how he unexpectedly fell as hard for Juliette as he did and not even realize it for as long as he had, made it seem more like he did genuinely come to love her. He couldn't stop thinking about her and wanted her to be happy with him, even if he didn't know the right way to go about it. I liked getting a little history on him as well. It was interesting finding out that him and Juliette did have much in common like he always said, just not in the way he thought.

WARNER WARNER WARNER WARNER WARNER WARNER WARNER WARN- Alright, I'm done. If I wasn't a Shatter Me/Tahereh Mafi fangirl before, I am now (...I totally was before), because Destroy Me was more than I ever expected out of the novella, and just makes me that much more antsy for Unravel Me in February. Do you think they make time machines where I can just go get it now? No? Damn.
Destroy Me is told from Warner's point-of-view, just after he's been shot and Juliette has been spirited away by Adam to someplace unknown by The Reestablishment. Previously, he's displayed strength and brutality, but now he's a victim of his own circumstance, in a way. He is the one who created the situation - or so we think.
Fuuuuuuudge, I don't want to give too much away, because this novella was almost too good. But even in Shatter Me, Warner was one of my favorite characters, because he seemed so fragile beneath that hard exterior, and in Destroy Me, we get to know him - as well as the inner workings of his sector - so much more intimately. He doesn't seem to enjoy his power over the people, but at the same time he seems to think he needs it to survive. Or...that was my perception.
We also get to meet Warner's father in Destroy Me, and without a doubt, I did not like him. He reminded me somewhat of the more ruthless leaders in our history; supposed family men, but cultivating their offspring to follow in their devious , manipulative footsteps.
The reasons Warner wanted Juliette were eye-opening and softened me. Not all is what it seems. And that is all I can give away. Tahereh Mafi has given us such a tasty teaser for what's to come and I'M HUNGRY NOW.

Review Originally Posted @ The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger

Destroy Me is a novella that takes place after the events in Shatter Me, where we get a rare opportunity to get a glimpse into Warner's head. I have to admit that although I didn't absolutely love Warner in Shatter Me, I didn't absolutely hate him either because I felt like there was more to his character-- and boy was I right!

Destroy Me really helps us understand Warner's character a lot better and I think because of that, a lot of readers will switch sides and start rooting for Team Warner. Warner is the dictionary definition of a tortured soul--we get a real feel for the abusive relationship between him and his father, and how that has resulted in him being the man he is today. In addition, Warner made me swoon over and over again when his thoughts drifted towards Juliette. His desperation to find her and realization of how in love with her he really is made for some endless sighing on my part. Warner definitely has a way with words!

Overall, there really isn't any major plot points in this 103 paged novella that you won't find out in Unravel Me- in fact, there's actually a bit of overlap between the novella and the second book. Although Destroy Me simply just helps us connect with Warner, I think it's an important novella for Shatter Me fans to read before Unravel Me. Having a bit of backstory on Warner's character will help you better appreciate book two *coughs* Chapter Sixty-Two *coughs* ;)

I almost forget that she still hates me,
despite how hard I've fallen for her.
And I've fallen.

I couldn't expressed how precisely this short story made me feel without totally degrading how awesome Tahereh Mafi & I'm afraid you'll have to settle for my incoherent fangirling dialect: AHDHUSOYTROFFHFGHDRYE THIS STORY IS BEYOND AMAZING!

Let me go and rave about Destroy me.

Warner have my devoted faith from the start because I totally feel that there are things left unsaid in his case/story & sweet merlin I am not wrong.

And after reading Destroy Me, I think I even love him much better now. Yes Warner might not make the right decision all the time but he isn't completely evil, he is capable of breathing raw emotions just like us. He grew up with his father's breathing down his neck, whispering and poisoning his mind with inhumane schemes. He was pressured, all his life. This is the thing he was destiny to do, the life he was supposed to embraced. To lead and tortured. I just hoped that he'll find the light and come to his senses soon enough.

It's official Tahereh Mafi rendered me speechless. You broke my heart and I just want to give Warner a cuddle.

In Shatter Me, I hated Warner. He was a creepy psychopath. With Destroy Me being from Warner’s point of view, I was nervous I might not like it. I should have just trusted the awesomeness that is Tahereh Mafi. I may have hated Warner in Shatter Me, but I grew to love him a little bit in Destroy Me.

Opening up readers to Warner’s inner thoughts is a genius move. It shows that Warner may have plenty of issues, but he is not pure evil and possibly actually human. It all gives insight to the horrific treatment Warner had to survive under his father. While I grew to love Warner, I am still divided as to whom I would like to see Juliette end up with but I am leaning closer to Warner for sure.

Since this is a novella, it is a quick read that I highly recommend reading before Unravel Me. Knowing Warner better will give better insight and a deeper connection to the characters. At least that is what I hope as I am planning to start Unravel Me very soon.

I have fallen in love with his series. It makes my heart race each time that I pick up one. This is a novella among the books. This is the 1.5. I thought it best to read them in order and not skip the novellas. This comes from the view Warner and what happened after she was shot by Juliette. It add more drama to what is to come. I am looking forward to the next book. 

Being a huge fan of Shatter Me, I was very excited to start this short novella, Destroy Me. The best part is that, it's told from Warner's point of view! While reading Shatter Me, I definitely had mixed feelings about Warner. I didn't know whether to like him, or whether to hate him. He was just one of those characters where you end up having a love/hate relationship with! Destroy Me starts off from a certain point in Shatter Me, but what I really loved is that we get to hear what Warner thinks about whatever happens, instead of Juliett. I think this novella really got me to connect with Warner much more, and know him as a character. I don't think i'd ever understand Warner if I've never read this book, and I'm so glad I did. I think I judged Warner, without actually knowing the feelings he has inside. That's why I'm going to thank God that I read this book, because I no longer have a love/hate relationship with Warner, but a LOVE LOVE relationship! Despite this book being short, there were also moments where it almost broke my heart. Y'all probably know how Tahereh Mafi writes, but if you don't, its so, oh God beautiful. Anyways, I cannot wait to open the pages of Unravel Me, and let Tahereh break my heart once again!

I don't like Warner. There is nothing in this book that can justify his action as being good either for his future or for Juliette. The only good thing that came out of the story for me was that we finally got to see the inside of Juliette little red notebook.

Destroy Me is not a bad novella, and I'm not going to give it a bad rating just because I don't like a particular character. In a way, I'm glad that we got to know more about Warner; I don't see him as a villain anymore, I see a misguided person in his place who had a rough childhood, and no one to support him. I can see the similarities he has with Juliette, both of them were tortured by their parents, and had to learn to live a hard life, but Juliette came out positive whereas Warner let other people, especially his father color his judgement.

I still feel that Warner has a good heart, and he can be a part of the good side if he wants, but he has to stand up for himself, and not let his father control him. I might not hate him anymore, but I'm still not rooting for him. I'm sure there is another girl for him somewhere, and I can't wait to read that story. Just stop bothering Juliette, and we'll be in good terms, Warner :)

I don't feel as though there is too much to comment on for this novella, so this will probably be a short review. In "Destroy Me", we get to see Warner's point of view on things after the events of Shatter Me. We get to see how he truly feels about Juliette and why he is the way that he is. We are also introduced to Warner's father, who is evil and very hard on Warner. There are also some tid-bits from Juliette's journal inserted into the story, so she's not completely out of the picture.

I'm not sure how I feel about the character of Warner. It kind of seemed like, to me, Mafi was trying to connect the reader more with him and get us to sympathize with him, which I do, but I feel as though he could make different choices if he truly wants to be good, instead of catering to his father. It seems as though Warner wants to be good, but he doesn't know any other way of doing things. This is how he was brought up, so this is how it is. He also doesn't want to disappoint his father, who he seems to detest.

I sense that we will see Warner change as the story continues.

Warner is one of the most fascinating villains of all time. The entire time he was torturing Juliette in Shatter Me, it was clear that he was intrigued by her and even loved her in his own, twisted way. Destroy Me provides an excellent look inside of Warner's mind and we find out some surprising things that makes him seem more human and less hateful.

Warner and Juliette have a lot in common, and if Warner opened up to Juliette, maybe they could form a type of friendship. Juliette is too broken to be around Warner if he is going to manipulate her into using her abilities to hurt people. She's a good person at heart and she needs to stop feeling like a monster.

Learning more about Warner's childhood and finding out that he is not quite as merciless as he seems made Destroy Me an utter delight. Warner is a very complex character and discovering what made him into the psycho he is was absolutely fascinating. I am so glad we got a deeper look into Warner's head and I can't wait to read more about him in the rest of the series.

In the perspective of Juliette in Shatter Me, you see Warren as the villain. It is very easy to hate Warren in Shatter Me, that Juliette's actions towards him seem justified because from what you see, with her narration is that he is a monster. But with this book, Destroy Me, all that is turned around. His actions are explained in his point of view, and you really get you understand Warren differently. That man that you learned to hate in Shatter Me kind of gets unraveled and you begin to not hate him anymore but to feel for him.

I think I like this novella better than the first book. I think I like Warren's narration better. Though he is frantic at some points he seems more down to earth and believable than in the narration of Juliette's. I usually don't like novella's as they don't put much into the story, but this one really changes you mind about a character and very much changes the way I will read the next book.

My Thoughts: This is a novella so its super short. We are back with Warner right after the end of Shatter Me. We see what happens in Sector 45 while they are gone. We get to experience things from Warner's point of view and how he feels.

I liked seeing things from Warner's point of view, just to learn how he saw things when Juliette was around, and how he truly felt about her. This was so short so there isn't really much to say about it. We get to see how he feels about his father and what he really thinks about him. We get to see how he looks deeper into Juliette's mind.

I liked reading this enough, but it didn't have much depth but it was a good short story in between books.

Overall: I liked it quite a bit. Since there really isn't a main plot or anything it's hard to really get into it. I'm glad I got to see things from his point of view though. A good look inside the villain's mind. You don't have to read this between books but its fun too!

Cover: It's alright. I like the eye and the color!

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
___________
Taken From Princess Bookie

I honestly don't see what the big hype is about Warner. He's just your average villain to me. There's always that villain who's thinks their in love with their victim in a screw up type of way, that's Warner to me. He's in love with Juliet, but he's still an evil and torturous person in my eyes. Nothing has really changed but the fact that we get to see deeper into his 'emotions'.

To me, this book was okay. I thought it was interesting enough, but I could have done without. I was really excited to read it since everyone was talking about the different side to Warner that we'll see and whatever else, but Warner is not that exciting to me. I was pretty much bored throughout reading this. But I really like the things that was written with Juliet's journal that was left behind. Those words she'd written intrigued me with her thoughts and experiences she was going through at that time.

I definitely can't wait for Unravel Me, to see how things turn out. I know the Warner, Juliet and Adam will meet again and things might not be pretty. And Juliet will probably start falling for Warner...IDK, that's just me talking, but I can't wait to see what happens.

I read Unravel Me before reading this novella and I think it's almost better that way. There are several details I don't think I would have picked up on if I had read Destroy Me first. In other words, if you read the novella first, just know that some holes that may be confusing will be explained in Unravel Me.

As all the other reviews say, this novella is great for insight into Warner's character and true motives. Once again, Mafi makes the character leap off the page. Warner has made himself into this clinical, detached person to everyone else (he even has an obsessive need for cleanliness), but on the inside Juliette has clearly unraveled him. We find out how and why in this short novella.

Spectacular writing. Dare I say this is the most well-written YA series I've yet to come across? Recently, Raven Boys and Daughter of Smoke & Bone have been praised for their beautiful writing (great books, by the way), but I think Shatter Me takes the prize. Furthermore, the audiobooks are even more better than the printed versions. Probably the best audiobooks I've read so far... Get on this train, folks.

I really enjoyed getting to read from Warner's point-of-view. It really did change my outlook on him and his plans. This is one of the first times that I have read the novella that comes between books. I haven't read Unravel Me yet and I'm very glad I read Destroy Me first. I don't know if it'll effect how I'd otherwise feel about Unravel Me but I love having the extra information about Warner's side of the story.

I'll be honest; I really couldn't stand Warner at all in Shatter Me. I found him to be pathetic and terrible. While now I can't exactly say that I like him... I do understand him a whole lot better. He has a back story, just like anyone else; a reason behind his actions. His motives aren't all like they seem from Juliette's point-of-view in the first book. Destroy Me definitely made me soften towards Warner.

Just like with Shatter Me, the writing is well-done. I actually enjoyed the writing in this one even more. Warner's thoughts aren't quite as scattered and flow smoother than Juliette's. If you were a big fan of Shatter Me, I recommend reading this novella, even if it's just for some extra time in this world. You get a lot of extra history that you wouldn't otherwise get in the regular novels.

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Dang it. I really really didn't want to like Warner. I didn't but yet, gah, darn Maji, she made me feel for him. She made me like him even. Pity him even, and I really am heartbroken over it because I was so looking forward to expending so much energy to hating him. Now, whatever will I do? Where will all that disgust and hate go?

Oh, I know, to his blasted despicable father. The supreme. Yep, that is exactly where my hate and disgust can now reside.

Just when I think I have a handle on my feelings for this trilogy and its characters the author has to go and throw a curve ball in and make me feel even more and start to question everything....I love it and it makes me eager to continue on with the series. To experience whatever else the author plans on throwing my way.

Even though the second book has already came out, I decided to read this anyways beforehand. I don't regret it either. When I read the first book I imagined him as a horrid, selfish guy who was incapable of feeling any emotion. But with a look into his mind, I realize that he was just a boy who was abused by his father and is forced to act this way. He actually has feelings and wants to care about people, unlike his father. I couldn't be happier to know what he's really like and I think it's so important to read this short story before continuing on to the second book if you want to have a real, fresh look, at the story b

I am so glad that I found this book before I started Unravel Me. It truly helps you get into the mind of Warner. Which, sadly, isn't as bad as I was hoping it would be. Warner is portrayed as an abused/neglected child who turned into a whiny adult. The contrast between this story and Shatter Me isn't missed either. Destroy Me doesn't have all of the colorful metaphors or all the action but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I like the fact the we get to meet Warner's father and I enjoyed the extra character background. After reading this I did, however, realize that maybe Warner and Juliette wouldn't have been so bad together. I still like Adam better though. I know it was just a novella but it ended too quickly. I want to know more, I need to know more. Now I can't wait to read Unravel Me. Overall I give the book 5/5 stars.

"Love is a heartless bastard." pg 78

I read Unravel Me before reading Destroy Me and honestly I feel like the novella didn't add anything more to the story.

Destroy Me is written from Warner's perspective and we get to explore more of his thoughts and feelings regarding both Juliette and his father.

While it was interesting to read something from Warner's POV, he is my favorite character in the series, I didn't feel like I got to know him any better and I don't feel that his thoughts justified his actions in Shatter Me.

Overall, despite being a Warner fan I didn't enjoy this novella, it was simple and at times I felt like I was just re-reading what happened in Shatter me, if you're in doubt I would skip it.

Tahereh Mafi, what have you done. I WAS TEAM ADAM UNTIL NOW. AHHHHH.

Sigh. Never in my life did I think I would like Warner but after reading Destroy Me, Mafi has me questioning A LOT of things. In this novella, Warner is still the manipulative, scheming antagonist that we meet in Shatter Me, but here the reader can glimpse a side of Warner that hints towards a more vulnerable, dare I say kinder, young man who is on the wrong path but is nowhere near as evil as his father. The obsession and yes, love, that Warner has for Juliette is more painfully obvious in Destroy Me, but what really shocked me was how I totally believed in it and how, for one crazy moment, I wanted him to be with Juliette. (Like Adam who?)

We also get a glimpse into Warner's life as the leader of his section, and how he has almost no ties with anyone--no friendships, no warmth, only instilled fear and hatred from those around him. Destroy Me focuses intently on how Warner tries to regain control once Juliette escapes and to even protect her from his own father. The atmosphere in Destroy Me is tense, something always on the verge of happening, and being in Warner's head reminded me a lot of Juliette, actually. I'm sure Juliette would hate to know this*, but she and Warner actually have a lot in common; but ohhhh, the possibilities between these two if anything should happen. Again, Adam who????

Final Verdict: I'm so confused. I was Team Adam for book 1 and I still am but...but...Warner. My loyalties have been tested because of this e-novella. I need to read Unravel Me PRONTO because omg. Er, anyway back to the e-novella. If you are a fan of the Shatter Me series, I would definitely recommend reading this before the second novel because it gives fans a glimpse into Warner's point of view and despite it being a short read, it packs quite the punch. If you hated Warner in book 1, you won't after reading Destroy Me and if you didn't....well, you'll find more reason to love him.

*Or maybe not? Haven't gotten to Unravel Me yet.

Wow! I think Destroy Me is the best novella I've ever read. I had no idea I would like it as much as I did.

I hated, absolutely hated, Warner in Shatter Me. I thought he was a ruthless villain and had no redeeming qualities. So, imagine my surprise, when by the end of Destroy Me, I was actually hoping that Juliette would give Warner a chance, or to at least be his friend.

Mafi writes Destroy Me from Warner's perspective, and knowing his thoughts, as well as his heartbreaking history, made me understand his actions. What I thought was Warner's true identity is actually a very convincing facade. Like Shatter Me, I devoured this book, and immediately jumped into book two, Unravel Me. I highly recommend the Shatter Me series!

This is a novella meant to be read after Shatter Me (first book) and before Unravel Me (second book). Novellas don’t necessarily need to be read to understand the series, but it helps to give more insight on characters. This novella was in Warner’s point of view and I think that it adds great depth to Warner’s character development. When we leave off in Shatter Me, Warner is a heartless, power-hungry tyrant, but this book really sheds light on why Warner appears to be this way. This book was a fast read and really added to the emerging love triangle between Warner, Adam, and Juliette. I would suggest this novella to readers who like Shatter Me and that plan on continuing with the series.

♥♥Warner♥♥ If you are Team Warner, you will love this story. If you are not, this might convince you. I love it when we get to take a peak inside another characters head. Warner is such a complex character and I was always wondering what he was thinking. He changed so much and so constantly that it always kept the others on their toes. There were just so many different sides to Warner, that one could never know which they would get. We also got to know Juliette and Warner's father a bit better with this story. We at least got to know them through Warner's perspective. If you are a fan of this series, make sure you check this one out.

First Line:
"I've been shot."

Favorite Line:
"Medicine, medics, hours in bed. All this for a kiss."

Before I read this, I kept asking myself "why?" whenever my good friend told me that she's on Team Warner. I told myself that I'd never like someone as cruel as him.

After I read this novella, I completely understand why. I loved reading about what Warner has to go through. I have so much sympathy for him and personally think that he might be a better match for Juliette. Reading about all the hardships Warner has to go through is heartbreaking. Normally, I wouldn't be able to read something like that because I am really sensitive, but Tahereh Mafi and her writing style is just so beautiful that I couldn't stop reading. I'm glad though, because this novella really adds a lot to the series.

I LOVED this novella. How could I not? I LOVE Warner. I actually read this after I read Shatter Me, Unravel Me, and Ignite me, so I wasn’t able to benefit from the bridging of gap between the novels. I already knew all of the “reveals” of Warner’s motives and true personality from Ignite Me. Still, I swooned. Over and over and over.

One thing that annoyed me: there were wasted pages of excerpts from Juliette’s journal. I don’t want to read about her! I just want to read about Warner!

Team Warner! Forever and always! Screw Adam!

I ate this up. What surprised me most, in a good way, was how sympathetic Warner is as a character. I finished Shatter Me wishing that a sinkhole would open and swallow him up, crush him, and erase him forever. I hated his guts. But I finished Destroy Me kind of feeling sorry for him, despite myself. And also wondering if he is as bad a guy as Shatter Me led us to believe. Kind of the way I felt about Mitt Romney after the election: he's still not my guy, but at least I don't hate him anymore, and I can't help feeling a little sorry for him and wondering if he would have turned out better if he'd only had a different beginning. And I KNOW we're going to need to know this stuff about Warner by the time Unravel Me comes out!

My only qualm is that Warner sounded a little too much like Juliet, and I would have liked to see more differentiation between the characters. They were completely different characters in SHATTER ME, but I felt like some of that was lost in this novella. However, it's still essential reading before you pick up UNRAVEL ME!

Before I started out reading Destroy Me, I was about 70% Team Adam and 30% Team Warner...now, I'd say the playing field is pretty damn even. Wow. Did we learn a lot about Warner in this novella or what? He actually appears to be human...who would've thunk? ;)

Warner's obsession with Juliette; I thought that's all it really was was an obsession. However, it turns out it runs much deeper than that. Insanely deeper. Not only do we learn a lot about Warner but we learn a lot more about Juliette and her time locked up. We get a good peak inside of her head during all those long, agonizing months.

I don't know how much I can say without spoiling this entire novella. I want to talk about it so badly but I don't want to spoil it for any Shatter Me fans nor do I want to write this entire review hidden because of spoilers. What a dilemma...

Basically, whether you are a Warner fan or not, you want to read this. You see a different side of him, you get to see in his head and most importantly, you get to meet his horrid father. If you think Warner is horrible, he's like rainbows and butterflies when compared to his father. Plus, if you're a Shatter Me fan, you're probably dying for Unravel Me. This helps quench your thirst for more. It will tie you over (or make you want it to be February even more) - regardless, get it, read it and fall in love with Warner.

Reviewed by Jessica @Step Into Fiction

It was an OK read. Nothing more. I didn’t like Warner in ‘Shatter Me’ but I understand him better now. It’s not like I love him, but I can imagine how his childhood formed him to the man he now is.

I write reviews for Appraising Pages, check us out for all things bookish! [...]
After reading Shatter Me, I was really excited about this series. Shatter Me laid out a great foundation and ended with a lot of possibilities for the rest of the books. So, when Destroy Me came out, naturally I wanted to read it. This book obviously has a different feel than Shatter Me, its from Warners perspective and not Juliette. I was really surprised that I had started seeing posts from other readers that claimed they were "Team Warner". Well, that was before reading Destroy Me.
Warner comes to life in a whole new way and it's a way that makes him actually human. He became someone you empathize with and you can see where his actions come from. Getting to know him, what makes him tick and what he fears made him so much more dimensional. I started understanding what other readers were seeing in him, though it doesn't hurt that he is apparently hot. It was interesting seeing Juliette the way he does, he views her in a way so distant then she does. It's amazing to me how much more I got to know Juliette when it was written about Warner. I said in my previous review of Shatter Me, that one of the biggest aspects I liked was how well I connected with Juliette. Destroy Me only furthered that belief.
Warners thoughts on the world he lives in and his place in it blew what I used to think of him away. His participation in The Reestablishment became something I appreciated and saw value in. This was the perfect novella to get me geared up for Unravel Me (of course I am currently reading it, it came TODAY). If you've read Shatter Me, I would really reccomend reading Destroy Me before you dive into Unravel Me, it's a great book and it may change your perspective of the whole situation!

What a wonderful addition to this marvelous series. I hate that there isn't a clear villain in Warner. Well to be honest I didn't completely hate him before either. What a talented author Tahereh Mafi is giving us such complex and dimensional characters to grab hold of and loose ourselves in. This book gives us such insight into Warner's mind and glimpses into his relationship with his sadistic devil of a father that you can't help but feel sorry for him. I can't imagine what life must have been like for warner growing up oppressed and emotionally abused. This gives us such perspective and understanding of Warner's actions and behavior in Shatter Me. Gosh I can't wait till his father is dead! And I truly hope Warner's the one who gets to do it! Tahereh if you read this *wink wink* we're not opposed to Warner shooting his devil father to death *wink* LOL! And as fabulous as this treasure has been now we sit and sadly but anxiously wait for the release of book two which has been pushed out until next year. The wait is going to torture me beyond words. This was so good so makes it even harder to wait, but wait we shall for the continuation of this marvelous series.

Didn't expect to LOVE this bridger novella between Shatter Me and Unravel Me so much! O.O

I had hated Warner. And now? Wellllll, I feel for him and love his character. I read book #1 years ago. I was still just a teen back then. Now a proper adult (hehe) I still love Tahereh Mafi's style.

I recommend reading this before book #2. Lots of story here you do not want to miss out on. I know this isn't really a review but if you trust my excitement I hope it's enough convincing. :D

Get your tomatoes ready.

I am so in the minority with this whole series, I know. Sure the words go together and the grammar is correct. Still, to me it is absolute drivel.

Warner has the personality of a robot and this novella didn't improve my view on him. Sorry!!!

Wow. Really great insight to Warner. He's almost human! Good job making the reader sympathetic towards the enemy who, in fact, isn't the true enemy. This is a necessary read in the series. Not just an off-hand novella, this is important to the story. I really enjoyed it. Moreso than Shatter Me actually. Time to read Unravel Me!

Loved this! I'm finding that I really like novellas. They can be so intense for such a short snippet of the story, yet they add so much. I wanted a little more though, but I guess that's what the second book is for. I was all for Adam but now I'm not so sure.. I'm interested to see what happens next!

I was shocked when it ended to abruptly.. ebooks can be so misleading!

This is a rather short novella. It's meant to be read in between SHATTER ME AND UNRAVEL ME. It's told from the perspective of Warner, the son of The Reestablishment leader who wants to use the trilogy's heroine, Juliette as a weapon. DESTROY ME was a real surprise. I love the way the author went deep inside Warner's head. Mafi has a great way of distinguishing the voices of the very different and disparate characters in her saga.

Learning about the depth of feeling Warner has for Juliette and how his life formed him into the monster he is, kept me glued to the page. You'll definitely go into reading UNRAVEL ME, anxious for Warner to show up!

My only regret about this story is that is needed to be longer--much longer! *sigh*

This book catches you off guard. It plunges you into a world you can imagine but puts it into a perspective that is new, unique, and surprising. By far my favorite new series of ya fiction. The main character is dynamic and the sub characters add feeling. Love the writing style. Very unique. To the point. Yet descriptive enough that you can relate. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

This novella, bridging the gap between Shatter Me and Unravel Me, Destroy Me is told from the villain Warner's perspective. I have to say, the story gave me a whole new view on Warner. He's not evil through and through, and his background is far more unsettling that I'd imagined. This new understanding of Warner will add a richness to Unravel Me...definitely worth a read.

I LOVED this book. It was written in Warner's perspective, and gave a fresh view of someone that you view as a monster. What goes on inside this person? Is he really evil like he seems to be? I came out of this book with new eyes, and read the remaining books with those eyes. I loved it.

I discovered this novella through reading and watching book reviews. They all said that before reading Unravel me that you have to read this novella because it has must need information. Now most novellas are optional to read and I am one of those people that don't usually read them. You don't have to read destroy me but it is recommended before reading Unravel me. Before reading this I wasn't really sure if I was team Adam or team warner because Warner kept saying something about Adam and how he can't be trusted but Adam was saying the same thing about Warner. But after reading destroy me I am like 90% team warner and 10% team Adam. This Novella definitely brings you closer to Warner's perspective and his story.

I liked this much more than the actual first book, shatter me. I think it had something to do with the author writing from a different characters point of view. If anything this novella is why I'll keep reading the series.

Let me start off by saying that I, for the most part, liked this book. BUT. Oh, there are so many buts.
First of all, there was a lot of figurative language. Don't get me wrong, figurative language is great... when you use it sparingly. It got to a point where there was figurative language in almost every paragraph. Frankly, it was used so much it was annoying and confusing.
The constant crossing out was another thing that bothered me. I got tired of reading through all of it. Once again, a couple of times would have been so much better. Less, in this case, is more.
One more thing: how much the main character talked about Adam. I understand she found him super hot, but I couldn't stop cringing when she talked about how amazing his body was in excruciating detail. This was definitely not the best book I've ever read. But it's definitely not the worst.

I went into Destroy Me hating Warner. Now that I read this novella from his point of view, I actually like him. What's even worse is that I feel pity for him. I don't know who I want Juliette to be with now. Yes, Warner is a jerk, but he has reasons for doing what he did. Do his reasons justify his actions? They just might.

I read this after book two, but it was still great to go back and see what happened to Warner after Juliette escapes in book one. I have a whole new appreciation for Warner and his character. He really isn't quite the bad guy book one made him out to be. Not gonna lie I'm rooting for Warner!

I like having more invited into Warner and what he has had to go through with his father. In this we get the real picture of who the monster truly is and just how deep Warner's feelings for Juliette actually go. While the writing was better in this the style was still just as annoying.

I am still on the fence about how I feel about Warner. I am glad that I got a better idea of what goes on inside of Warner's head, so I am really interested in seeing what happens in Unravel Me. I am not 100% team Warner but I am coming around especially now knowing how his father is.

Overall, I like this novella and would recommend it to anyone.

I have read shatter me and loved .. Im stoked about unravel me and cant wait for it to be released. This book is not a must read.. it is a look into Warner point of view after Juliet shot him.. and her is trying to find her. It's a short read.. and it shows you that Warner is even more delusional then we had thought from shatter me.. but it gives us details about him and the reastablishment that we did not know before... over all. Good read

From Nyx @ [...]
I don't know how Mafi managed to convey so much in so little pages. I have a whole new view concerning Warner, and at this point I might actually like Warner more than Adam. Can't wait till Unravel Me comes out! :D

I knew Warner had a heart. I saw sparks of it in Shatter Me and Destroy Me just proved that. I’m still Team Adam all the way, but this was a good short story and made Warner into a likeable character. I actually wanted it to be longer.

I have always been a fan of Warner's and this story, his story, has made me love him even more! This novella is a bridge between Shatter Me and Unravel Me and couldn't be more perfect. In fact, I wish I'd read this before reading Unravel Me because it sets up that part of the story so well. Tahereh's prose is poetic as always and her ability to create a visual picture with words continues to amaze (and distract) me. ;)

This s is my favorite series and this sets the next book in the series (which I have also read) perfectly. I am having a hard time describing this book, because it gets inside you and you want to scream and weep at the same time.

I absolutely luv tahereh mafi so much. She is such an awesome writer. Never have I loved a book series soo much. I loved this novella because it was from Warners point of view.warner and julliette forevah. Chapter sixty two in unravel me guys, epic ,just epic.

Go team warner

When I saw this existed, I seriously happydanced around the room. I've alwayed liked Warner so this was pratically Christmas coming early. BUT one thing is bugging me like crazy. WHAT IS WARNER'S FIRST NAME??!!

I will read this series differently now that I've seen a different character's perspective, reminding me that the best antagonists are those who are more complicated and tortured than they appear at first.

This was a great book. I liked how we got to hear what is really going on in Warner mind. What is weird is I started to like him & route for him. I could not put this book down. I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy to come out.