An Iranian-American author of young adult and middle-grade fiction, Tahereh Mafi was born on November 9, 1988, in Connecticut, the youngest of five children of immigrant parents from Iran. She grew up in Northern California and later Orange County, and studied at Soka University of America. Before publishing her debut, she wrote several practice manuscripts to teach herself how novels are built. She is best known for the Shatter Me series, which began with Shatter Me in 2011 and grew into multip...
Release Me
Release Me
Synopsis
The conflict between the New Republic and the surveillance state of Ark Island deepens as the second chapter of Shatter Me: The New Republic picks up the threads of its predecessor. Rosabelle Wolff wants revenge: to save her sister she needs to get back home and tear down the system that made her into a weapon. Her greatest strength has always been the ability to deaden her mind and body, the only way to endure Ark Island's relentless surveillance, but now her heart is beating harder, her thoughts are spiraling, and the defenses she relied on are coming undone. James Anderson, the younger brother of Aaron Warner Anderson, had a plan of his own, and now has nothing but problems. Forced into an uneasy alliance with the boy she nearly killed, Rosabelle is caught in a race against synchronized terror attacks and the threat of a weapon that could reshape the balance of power. Told through multiple perspectives, including those of Rosabelle, James, and Warner, the novel continues the fraught, slow-burning romance and high-stakes intrigue of the series while pushing its characters toward harder choices. Set a decade after the original Shatter Me books, it widens the story of a world still fractured between freedom and control.
Vibe
Genres
Characters
Rosabelle WolffProtagonist
Ark Island assassin seeking revenge and a way home to save her sister; her hard-won emotional numbness is beginning to fail her.
James AndersonProtagonist
Younger brother of Aaron Warner Anderson, drawn into an uneasy alliance with the assassin who nearly killed him.
Aaron Warner AndersonSupporting
Ruler of the New Republic and James's older brother; one of the book's point-of-view characters.
Subjects
Edition
Release Me (Deluxe Limited Edition)Hardcover, 2026
384 pages
HarperCollins PublishersLanguage: EnglishISBN: 9780063480339You May Also Like
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Frequently asked questions
Is Release Me a sequel?
Yes, it is the second book in Shatter Me: The New Republic and continues directly from Watch Me. It picks up the threads of its predecessor.
Is Release Me written by Tahereh Mafi?
Yes, it is written by Tahereh Mafi and published in 2026. It continues her Shatter Me spinoff series.
Whose perspectives is Release Me told from?
It uses multiple points of view, including Rosabelle Wolff, James Anderson, and Aaron Warner. The shifting viewpoints widen the conflict between the New Republic and Ark Island.
What does Rosabelle want in Release Me?
She is driven by revenge and the need to get home and dismantle the system that made her, in order to save her sister. Her usual emotional numbness is failing her as the story unfolds.
How does Release Me connect to the original Shatter Me series?
It is set in the same world about a decade after the original books, and Aaron Warner, a lead from the original series, is among its viewpoint characters. The New Republic he co-founded is central to the conflict.
Do I need to read Watch Me before Release Me?
Yes, it is a direct continuation, so Watch Me should be read first. The alliance and stakes carry over from the first book.
Is Release Me the final book in the series?
No, Shatter Me: The New Republic is planned as a trilogy, with a third book expected to follow. Release Me is the middle entry.