Unravel Me (edition 2013)

SPOILER ALERT - IF YOU'VE NOT READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS READ NO FURTHER!!

We find Juliette, Adam, and Kenji at Omega Point. Juliette and Adam are beginning to settle in, or at least Adam is. Juliette slips farther and farther into her old, semi-catatonic state with each passing day. Juliette has reverted to form, her fears and insecurities coming to the fore, easily shattering her resolution made at the end of book one.

Castle, the creator and power that runs Omega Point, is working to get Juliette and Adam to learn how to harness their "Energy," otherwise known as their gifts. Just like Kenji learned that he could become invisible, over time and with a lot of hard work he learned to project that out. Now he has reached the point where he can cloak others with his invisibility as long as he is touching them. And this is what Castle is pushing Adam & Juliette to do. But Juliette spirals out of control in her head and is unable to make any progress. Having Castle push just makes things harder, as do all the secrets Juliette is keeping from Adam and the others. Secrets that just keep piling up as time goes by. Even after some of her secrets are revealed by others she still can't take that step to open up and share all she knows. Particularly when it comes to Warner for some unknown reason - except she knows in her heart of hearts why she is holding his secrets safe.

The action is never lacking in this installment of the series, nor is the ongoing mental mess that is Juliette. Just when you think she's made a breakthrough she suddenly has a setback and reverts to form. Life with Juliette often seems to be one step forward and two steps back, then three steps forward and one step back. She just can't seem to truly break free of the insanity that she's been struggling to hold at bay for her entire life. Just when things begin to like like they are turning a corner for Juliette she learns something about Adam that has the ability to destroy not only her, but potentially him as well.

The interaction between Warner and Juliette is wild in this book. It covers the entire range if emotions and even physical discoveries. Discoveries that are both a blessing and a trial in one, at least from Juliette's point of view. And though Warner comes off as being more stable than Juliette, I tend to think that it is simply a side effect of his military upbringing that allows him to seem so much more 'together' than Juliette. And Juliette's new knowledge of Adam opens the door for Warner to try to step into the breach.

Once again Ms. Mafi has crafted a story that is full of compelling characters and intense, individual story lines that all twist together to form the central story. This is another pick it up and read until the end before you can set it down book. My only real issue is with Juliette's continual relapses. By now I am ready to see her take control of her own life and accept responsibility for her actions without constantly apologizing and dissolving into a quivering mess. Yet with the strong ending that once again leaves us hanging, there is no question that I will be reading the next book in the series the day it is released (unless I get lucky enough to wrangle an ARC somehow)!! Now to pray that another book IS planned to follow this one and answer all the loose ends, and that Juliette finds her spine and keeps it. :-) ( )

2013?! What ludicrousness is this? :O

Thoughts:
Juliette has escaped whatever fate Warner had for her as a tool for the Reestablishment and now has the chance to be amongst those that understand that she is different. At Omega Point, a portion of the inhabitants have gifts and they all work together to make the operation of the facility run smoothly. Though Juliette has her freedom, she feels more trapped underground with them than she did with Warner. At least then she could see the sky. I think if she becomes any more withdrawn, she will internally combust. She is so focused on the fact that she doesn't want to hurt anyone that she sits balled up in the corner of her room rather than learning to harness her abilities. But it's not all about her; there are other lives at stake. For her to truly understand, it will take something drastic to happen.

Adam is different in this book because he has discovered something he's not ready to cope with, which makes him unable to share it with Juliette. She has her secrets as well, one big one she discovered in the first book. Warner can touch her and she is keeping this from Adam. The thing about secrets, they have a way of coming out and Juliette figures this out the hard way. Does this stop her from keeping more information about Warner that may be crucial to the pending war? No.

Ugh! I can't decide which fella I like better, at the moment it's a tie. Warner surprised me with his emotional depth in this one. He strummed Juliette's heart strings like a pro, thoroughly confusing her more than she already is. Warner is a complex character and I'm starting to like him. Adam seems more unstable emotionally but he is going through a lot that is putting a strain on him. He is scared that he may lose Juliette.

The leading lady, Juliette, in the beginning of this book, seemed the same. She doesn't seem to have grown much outside of her own personal bubble of uncertainty and confusion. She's too afraid to accept herself and the power that has been gifted to her. Juliette is more focused on the harm she can cause instead of the good she can do if she makes the effort to harness her powers. Towards the end, I began to see a glimpse of a new Juliette, sort of like a rebirth...maybe. O Juliette, Juliette! wherefore art thou, Juliette?

My favorite parts of the book are the scenes with Warner and Juliette's notebook. I like her thoughts in the notebook because she sounds more certain of who she is in the world and what she wants. And my second favorite part is when Kenji told Juliette off, priceless. She needed to hear all of it. Unravel Me is full of surprises and action and I loved them as they are unexpected. I look forward to seeing Juliette grow into the fighter that I know is simmering to get out and stop internalizing everything.

Some funny thoughts while I was reading:
"If this girl faint one more time!"
" That boy does not look that good, Dang it's like her brain gets all befuddled around hot boys. Jeez!"
"Well played Warner, you sneaky rascal...I think, I like you."
" Whoo-hoo! Kenji, about time someone told her about herself! High-Five!"
"Finally, Juliette *sigh*, sheesh." ( )

STOP. Below are spoilers for Shatter Me and Destroy Me. If you haven't read either of these books, DO NOT CONTINUE. Go back, read the books, then read this review. Okay, now you may continue.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW AT: ( )

Sometimes it is possible to read the second book in a series, and deduce everything that happened in book one. This is not one of those books, so if you haven't read the first one, I strongly suggest that you do that first.
Juliette has escaped from Warner and the Reestablishment, but there are serious complications preventing her from being happy. Something is the matter with Adam, and it is connected to Juliette, Warner wants her back, and she still can't control her power. She is going to have to make some changes. Thankfully, she has some people who are willing to help her, such as Kenji and Castle. ( )