Book Review: Restore Me by Tahereh Mafi (Spoilers)
I wasn’t ready. But boy am I ready for the next book!
Juliette is Supreme Commander of North America. She quickly realizes that she might be better as a killing machine than as a diplomatic leader, unlike her ever-loving and fully supportive boyfriend, Aaron Warner who was born and bred for the job. He speaks multiple languages, knows how to defuse bombs, and has led armies all at the ripe age of 19 but still wholeheartedly believes that Juliette would make a better leader and encourages her along the way. He has never wavered from the quote in Ignite Me,
“And if I do something incredible, he’s not even surprised. He expects it.”
Which is why I love him and Juliette together (Even though I honestly think he’d make a better leader too. But don’t tell Warner that cause he’s highly defensive of his girlfriend.) The way this couple stands up for each other is beautiful and sometimes frightening. When Haider puts Warner down, Juliette threatens to tear his heart from his chest. I mean, Juliette did assassinate Warner’s dad for him and Warner struggles with the death, despite there being no love lost between him and his father. Adam and Warner share some brotherly grieving over this and James adorably tries to comfort Warner with a hug (Tahereh Mafi, please let James know that Warner is his half-brother so there are more people who love Warner)
While Juliette is trying to restructure her new government, enter the children of the Reestablishment (I would read a whole series on these kids and Warner growing up. Bring them on, Mafi!) The children of the Supreme Leaders are all around Warner’s age with well fleshed-out backstories and complications such as religious freedom, depression, and transgender issues. They are highly intelligent, world-wise, and lethal (reminiscent of the Careers in The Hunger Games). Warner doesn’t want to share his past with Juliette as he fears it would destroy their relationship. He once shot all of his “friends” in a training exercise so they would know how bullets felt, he tortured Juliette’s sister (unknowingly...sort of...), and he dated/slept with Lena for years (that was the real shocker, to be honest). And yet, some of the Reestablishment children do seem to be friends. Warner had helped Haider when he had wanted to attempt suicide and Nazeera saved Juliette when she was shot by an anonymous assassin.
Oh, by the way, Juliette is a child of a Supreme Leader. Or should I say, Ella? Turns out the Reestablishment knew about the “Unnaturals” and used their supernatural gifts for political power (Nazeera also has powers, one of them being invisibility like Kenji. I want these two to be in a relationship so bad!) Ella and her sister, Emmeline had their memories erased and were used as laboratory rats. Juliette finds out all that Warner had been keeping back from her and questions if she can ever trust him again. Upon thinking that he lost the love of his life, Warner has a panic attack and is aided by Kenji who gives him his medication (I love Warner by the way)
Juliette emerges the next day with her shorn head and seemingly new self-confidence as a leader. Finally! As the reader, you rejoice. Juliette is going to kick ass. Her and Warner will reunite eventually (honestly I’m all for some good angst. They still love each other. It’s fine.) But then Juliette loses control of her powers when she is angry at a symposium and instantly kills 554 people. Yeah... ... ... ... ...
Warner’s reaction was also my reaction. Juliette was then captured by her birth parents aka the Supreme Commander of Oceania and taken back to her childhood bedroom (ala the dollhouse episode of Pretty Little Liars) There she discovers childhood pictures of herself, her family, and the other children of Supreme Leaders; including a picture of baby #warnette.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️stars out of 5. Gimme more, Mafi.
