Destroy Me by Tahereh Mafi Series: Shatter Me #1.5
on 2 October 2012
Genres: Dystopian, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 103
Source: Kindle Purchase
Buy on Amazon 
Warner is weak and hurt, his father is back to haunt him, and all he wants is to find Juliette again. The only thing he does find is her notebook, and he keeps it as a treasure - learning about her inner thoughts and loneliness makes him feel close to her.
One day when he's out among the civilians, he suddenly thinks he sees her, but as he blinks his eyes, the hallucination disappears as quickly as it appeared. Another side of Warner, one that you'd never guess even existed.
Destroy Me picks up right after Shatter Me, and it is all written in Warner’s point of view. If you haven’t read my review, you don’t know that I really hated Warner in Shatter Me – he hardly even seemed human. A stone-cold heart, only using others to get more power, killing people on a whim, wanting to use Juliette against her own will… I could go on and on.
Then, I picked up Destroy Me, and wow. I realized that Warner might have a soul, that the way he is now has everything to do with the way he was raised, and that while he first wanted to use Juliette for nefarious reasons, he actually fell in love with her. Warner is still the ruthless leader we got to know and hate during Shatter Me, but there is more substance to him in Destroy Me, an explanation, and also in a way the possibility to get to know him better.
While Warner is hurt, his father shows up unexpectedly, and he is the last person on earth Warner would ever want to see. Destroy Me is a short novella, but it really does give a lot of important insight into Warner, and I am sure it will also help while reading Unravel Me. Seeing his reactions to the words Juliette had left behind in her notebook was awesome! And he felt like he got to know her and understand her better, while at the same time he got that she would never be his pet killer.
If you’re a fan of the Shatter Me series, you should definitely pick up Destroy Me – both so that you have a little something to keep you hanging in there while you wait for the next novel in the series, and also so that you can see this different side of the main antagonist! Masterfully written, with a depth to the character I had no idea existed, Destroy Me really hit the right spot 🙂
I look up, my eyes carefully devoid of emotion. I hate his face. i can’t stand to look at him for too long; I don’t like experiencing the full impact of how very inhuman he is. He is not tortured by what he does or how he lives. In fact, he enjoys it. He loves the rush of power; he thinks of himself as an invincible entity.
The warm water makes me feel weightless. It carries my burdens for me, understanding that I need a moment to relieve my shoulders of this weight. To close my eyes and relax.
I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground. Gone right through it. never in my life have I felt this. Nothing like this. I’ve felt shame and cowardice, weakness and strength. I’ve known terror and indifference, self-hate and general disgust. I’ve seen things that cannot be unseen. […] Love is a heartless bastard. I’m driving myself insane.
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I absolutely loved this novella! It gives you so much more information about Warner’s character that was missing from Shatter Me.
True, Eveline, and it also made it so that I can’t completely hate Warner anymore… he became human in Destroy me, whereas I thought he was soulless in Shatter Me.
Thanks for stopping by.
Great review!! I remember hating Warner in Shatter Me. I couldn’t understand anyone being Team Warner. He was a psychopath!! But Destroy Me was amazing and gave me so much insight. Rereading Shatter Me while knowing Warner better was an entirely NEW experience.
Destroy Me is the biggest reason why I’m now on the team warner bandwagon. He is so complicated.
🙂 can’t wait for your unravel me review!!!!!
I agree, Destroy Me changed my view on Warner completely, and I actually really like him now 🙂 I haven’t done a re-read of Shatter Me, though, but I can totally get how it would be a very different experience when you know more about him.
Thanks for stopping by Megan.
Wonderful review, Lexxie! It’s impressive that Ms. Mafi could change your opinion of Warner when you felt so very strongly about him after Shatter Me. This really has become a MUST read for me! LOL 😉
YAY *cheers for Brandee* hurry up so we can read the 3rd book together 😀
Lexxie, are you talking book #2 as the third in the series or book #3? I need to know how much time I have! 😉
Book #2 is the 3rd in my mind… I count the 1.5 too 🙂
So when do you have slated to read #2? I have several books I’m committed to reading but I’d love to do a read-together. 🙂
oh, sorry, that was all wrong, then… I mean book #3 in the series that is not out yet. I have already read book #2 – I’m confused today 😀
I’m actually excited because that means I’ll be able to finish in time to read #3 along with you! 🙂 Yay!!
I look forward to having a buddy-read with you!! 😀
I would pick up this book in a heartbeat if it was available in paperback. I don’t know why publishers can’t offer print on demand for novellas.
Yeah, that would be a good idea! I know a lot of readers who don’t like reading e-books at all, and so, the publishers miss out on sales.
Thanks for stopping by Liz 🙂
I just bought this other day, right after I finished Shatter Me (which I loved!), and I’m waiting for my copy of my Unravel Me to arrive so I can read them back-to-back. I know Warner is deranged, but there was still something about him in Shatter Me that intrigued me. I guess I wanted to know what made him so ruthless. I’m glad to hear that Destroy Me really gives some insight into his character. 🙂
Oh, you will find all of that out in Destroy Me, Lee! I hope Unravel Me will arrive soon so you can get to know Warner better 🙂
It’s amazing how Mafi managed to show Warner in a completely different light.
Thanks for stopping by.
it’s great that the novella is as good!
Yes, that’s always a nice surprise. But I think book 1 in the series should be read before the novella 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Melliane.
Though I haven’t yet read Shatter Me (it’s still buried under my TBR pile), I have a good feeling that I will love it particularly that Warner is an interesting bad boy, Lexxie. <3
Am I right to assume that you're slowly liking Warner? Hmmn.
Your review makes me salivate. I really need to finish all my ARCS.
Oh, yes, I am really warming up to Warner, which is kind of scary, because he really and truly is bad! But Destroy Me helps the readers understand him better, and realizing the why behind the horror really helps.
I know what you mean about too many books to read – but what a great problem to have, right?
Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte.