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Shatter City

(Impostors #2)

Scott Westerfeld (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 2,422 ratings · 274 reviews

When the world sees Frey, they think they see her twin sister Rafi. Frey was raised to be Rafi's double, and now she's taken on the role . . . without anyone else knowing.

Her goal? To destroy the forces that created her.

But with the world watching and a rebellion rising, Frey is forced into a detour. Suddenly she is stranded on her own in Paz, a city where many of the citi ...more

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Hardcover, First edition, 416 pages

Published September 17th 2019 by Scholastic Press

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· 2,422 ratings · 274 reviews

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Feb 28, 2020 ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So 'fierce' it's almost 'brain-missing'!
What in the name of bubbling drizzlies have I done? Now I'm gonna have to read the 'Uglies'... Ugh.... As if my reading list needed this.

Q:
It’s brain-missing, gathering in the rain to eat and drink and buy. They could be home with their holes in the wall, fabricating whatever they want. But Pazx love to cluster, to make noisy, collective theater out of every exchange. (c)
Q:
We roll out the door into the reeling gray sky. (c)
Q:
I am a descending hawk, inesca ...more

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Jul 06, 2020 Monica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another great novel by Westerfeld! From the Uglies series until now, I've not read one of his books that I did not thoroughly enjoy. The dialect that he incorporates into this world building really sets the tone and helps me see this as a completely different reality. Keeps you on your toes - no skimming allowed! (Personally, I always need that.)

I strongly recommend this YA novel to science fiction fans of all ages. Enjoy! ...more

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Nov 29, 2019 Phoenix2 rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fantasy lovers YA Uglies universe

Shelves: fantasy

The second book of the new series based in the Uglies universe was not as good as the first one. That said, however, it was enjoyable, and it had less refrences from the Uglies (thankfully). My main problem with the book was the main character, Frey. Even though she started as this strong, active, fearless youngster who was ready to kill her father and save her sister and the boy she loved, at times, like after the earthquake, she was like a kid, being told what to do and just doing it. I mean, ...more

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Oct 01, 2019 Mitchell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, liked-reviews, science-fiction, library, series, published-2019

I keep on waiting for Scott Westerfeld to become an overnight success - which I guess would have to be a movie. Goodreads has me as having read 28 of his books. 5 3's, 2 5's and 21 4's. That's pretty consistent. I had forgotten that he had started a new series in the Uglies world. I was worried that I didn't remember enough. No matter, this book managed to remind without an info dump. And with just a fast fun sometimes dark read, with just enough interesting sf to keep it interesting. And hover ...more

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Sep 05, 2019 K Whatsherface rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, novels, 2019-challenge-read

Is this the best book in the series? No. Did it leave me craving more? Yes. It did what a second book in a 4 part series should do. Make you want more. Also I really wouldn't mind getting this book again but from Rafi's POV. Maybe even Col's? Frey is interesting and I love her POV but she cant see everything and there is so much going on. There is a twist in this I kind of figured. Once found out about part of the twist....yeah dont want to spoil it and if I even refer to it for real I probably ...more

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Jun 07, 2020 Brooke W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Lia Carstairs, Zainab

Recommended to Brooke by: Myself ;)

Shelves: owned, clean-ya, cover-love, favorites

Impostors ended with a cliffhanger. Scott Westerfeld style(which makes sense). I LOVED Impostors. To the point where I was rereading my favorite parts and ended up reading half of the book. Scott Westerfeld does that. He is so so talented!

Characters:
eMotIoNs. Ahhhhh *confliction*
Frey: I love Frey. I relate to Frey, she is like a best friend to me. (view spoiler). I appreciate Frey's character and her development.
Rafia: I don't re ...more

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Oct 06, 2019 Scarlett rated it liked it · review of another edition

I wanted to love this book SO MUCH. The Uglies series will always have a special place in my heart as one of the best dystopian series I've ever read. Maybe it's because it was one of the first I read as a teenager of that genre, but to this day I still really think it was as amazing as I remember. I've read the original trilogy at least 3 or 4 times and I never get tired of it. It had incredible characters, an extremely well-imagined and unique world, and a twisty edge-of-your-seat plot that ac ...more

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Oct 23, 2019 CJ rated it really liked it

I love that Scott Westerfeld gives personalities to cities, not just people. It's a great element of this universe.

I really liked his exploration of Feels--how they can make you feel better, but also make you dependent. Quite an interesting concept.

Really liked Boss X, and I really liked Essa as well. She didn't get a whole lot of page time, but she had an impact for sure.

And wow, the insights into Rafi's personality...just wow. No spoilers. Eager for book three! ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Libby McDermott Voight rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-sci-fi, 2019

I know I'm going to love everything Westerfeld writes and Shatter City is no exception. I think a main reason I love his books is that while they're super YA-tropey (in all the best ways) those tropes also get called out on the page. For example in the Uglies series Tally is the typical unaware, selfish teen MC, but Shay especially routinely calls her out on it and we get to see her character growth as Tally becomes more thoughtful and self-aware throughout the series. This book starts with Frey I know I'm going to love everything Westerfeld writes and Shatter City is no exception. I think a main reason I love his books is that while they're super YA-tropey (in all the best ways) those tropes also get called out on the page. For example in the Uglies series Tally is the typical unaware, selfish teen MC, but Shay especially routinely calls her out on it and we get to see her character growth as Tally becomes more thoughtful and self-aware throughout the series. This book starts with Frey putting Col, a boy she just met and fell for, ahead of herself, her sister, and in some ways the war effort by staying in Shreve and pretending to be Rafi. But that's called out on the page in the first chapter and we get to see Frey struggle with her relationship with Col and what it means to protect her sister (or try to) and how to balance her relationship with her sister, with Col, and obligation to the fight against her father.

In Shatter City I love the world-building and the glimpses we get of other cities and societies as Frey goes to Paz. In true Uglies fashion this book deals with the themes of conservation, environmentalism, capitalism, and government control versus freedom. Frey is especially struggling with the idea of identity (for good reason as she has to go back and forth between pretending to be her sister and then various versions of herself), found family, and we delve into her emotional intelligence (or lack-thereof.) In a world where you can get surgery and modifications to look and be whatever you want it makes sense that people came up with a way to feel whatever emotions they want with little emoji buttons on their arms to control how they feel. I appreciate that characters do discuss depression and the chemical imbalance that can cause mental and emotional issues.

My other favorite part of Westerfeld's writing is that we get so much character development and background without sacrificing the fast-pace of the plot. The story is constantly moving and keeps you on the edge of your seat and I can't wait to read what happens next, I for one hope we get to see more of Frey working alongside Col and her dynamic with Rafi. ...more

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Sep 05, 2019 Mari Johnston rated it it was amazing

This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.

Content Warnings: earthquakes, emergency medical needs

Holy guacamole. And I thought Imposters was good…..

Filled with action that continuously keeps the stakes at an all-time high, Scott Westerfeld gives an incredible examination into self-discovery, family, and the regulation of emotions.

Shatter City is the perfect continuation of the Uglies series. Imposters was good but this second installment takes the series to an enti ...more

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Dec 19, 2020 rafia ✿ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: cried, distopiaaaaaaa, bubbly-making-asf

5 stars ✧ "I was born to be sniper bait. My body resists sitting here motionless, letting a drone spray on my makeup. Dodging bullets was better."

✦ Another 5-star book for me written by Scott Westerfeld!! Not disappointing in the slightest. I do think I enjoyed this one much more than the first Imposters book because there's just something different about physically reading Scotts amazing writing style versus listening to the audiobook, so I am really glad I got to borrow this from the library! ...more

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Jul 22, 2019 Melanie Dulaney rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, ya

“The Smoke Lives!” (Yea!!) In Book 2 of Scott Westerfeld’s Impostors series, readers are going to get plenty of hover board action and some pretty outstanding AI and cool gadgets to entertain and intrigue readers who are new to the world after Tally Youngblood and those who have loved it since the Uglies first hit the YA dystopian shelves. It is highly recommended to wait on this installment until after reading Impostors, but it is not necessary to have the foundations from the four book Uglies ...more

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Sep 23, 2019 Renata rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, ya, sci-fi

fuck!!! why is Scott Westerfeld so good!!!! I didn't love Impostors but this one builds up the world and its technologies in such a SMART way, I'm obsessed. I also sort of thought the switched-twin dynamic would get old but honestly????? It kept working??? What the fuck????

Also the REVEAL at the end aaaaaaaa

(view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 25, 2020 Charlie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I managed to get sidetracked a quarter way through the book, but damn I flew through this when I picked it up again. Within 3 days, I finished this incredibly action-packed read (save the huge gap between months) and it was awesome. Couldn't put it down.

Probably not as good as the first book, but it flourished in it's own way.

Gotta say, I love Frey so much. Her character building in this is fantastic. All the people she meets, the tests she passes...man, I really loved it. On the flip-side, do ...more

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Dec 03, 2019 Jodie- Readthewriteact rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I think I might like this sequel more than the original. The plot again, was fairly fast paced but I felt that it also allowed for more of Frey's character development which I was after. The plot is full of many twists and turns with a Sci-Fi edge to it. It is a gripping read that draws into wanting to see the conclusion, which might add did not disappointment. I would like to learn more about Rafi's character in the next book because I don't feel she is as well rounded as Frey. ...more

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Sep 24, 2019 Ilana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It’s been a while since we’ve been in this series but this second book gives us all the feels you could hope for. (definitely an overused phrase in this story though). Anyhow, like the summary says, we are thrown right back into the middle of a war – where Rafi and Frey are against their father because all he has in mind is to destroy the world for motives unknown aside from a need for power.

When we left off, Frey traded places with Rafi in the hopes of saving her love Col, and well, we know how It’s been a while since we’ve been in this series but this second book gives us all the feels you could hope for. (definitely an overused phrase in this story though). Anyhow, like the summary says, we are thrown right back into the middle of a war – where Rafi and Frey are against their father because all he has in mind is to destroy the world for motives unknown aside from a need for power.

When we left off, Frey traded places with Rafi in the hopes of saving her love Col, and well, we know how that turned out. The bomb collar was switched from one sister to the other, meaning that identities had to be faked yet again. Frey at least had the chance to be with Col in these unusual circumstances, all while trying to figure out how they could both get out unscathed. Thankfully, Col has his allies on call and they were able to devise a plan to get them out and hopefully on the road to freedom.

The challenge here is that Frey is on the hunt for Rafi since her entire life she was raised to protect her sister. She learns that her sister is in a city called Paz, the next target for their father, both for the notion that Rafi is there but also because Paz is a city that believes in true freedom and doesn’t conscribe to the notion of dust or spying. It’s truly free. Their father threatens devastation that no one can fathom, a Rusty weapon that appears like natural destruction and then invasion.

What Frey finds when she gets there is a mess. She learns that Rafi is gone and that she’s left everything to Frey in the meantime. she’s set up an apartment, made sure she’s taken care of, but the reasoning behind it is still a semi mystery to Frey.

That’s really what a lot of this story is about. There are semi truths or incomplete pieces of information that everyone’s working with and we don’t yet know what’s intentional, what’s accidental and what the end result here could be.

There’s so much going on that i don’t know where to start otherwise. We spend time in Paz trying to broadcast that their father is evil and is trying to take over the world, yet he’s a step ahead and while he’s destroyed the city, he appears to be the first to help build it back up. There’s a secret there that they don’t yet know the motivation behind, and when we do figure it out, there’s no surprise.

Then there’s the issue of Rafi being out in the Wild, with rebels and we don’t know what her end game is. Trying to locate her gets Frey caught by a neighboring city and held captive in the hopes of securing a stronger network of allies. When she’s freed by Col and his crew, we start to see the story speed up.

there are Easter Eggs throughout this story that trigger questions. The Paz AI tells Frey about something called ‘Iron Mountain’ but there’s no context to what it is ,where it is and what it will do. When we get to the wilds, we learn that a few people have deeper insight and it could be a key to unlocking a lot of information.

Then there’s a hint that someone that the girls know of may be in the rebels, and that there’s a key link there to Rafi’s focus on being out there. She has heard rumors and if they are true then there may be hope. The way that this specific story line plays out is so shocking though that i’m glad i assumed wrong for the bulk of the time.

We are left at a point of hope, yet a point of instability. There’s no clear direction on who will win, if their father can be bested and what that will mean to the world. Relationships continue to grow and build, and there’s something solid and sweet about each friendship and romance. The depth that we get to see psychologically with everyone is really intense as well and that’s a new feature to all of the stories that i’ve read by our amazing author.

There’s an interesting idea here that we get throughout both the Uglies and the Imposters series. Originally when you read Uglies, you see that people are never happy with what they have naturally and as a result, they surgically change or enhance everything that’s possible to change about themselves. What we learned there is that it’s not always better and sometimes tech makes things worse. What we have in this series is a tease of that since most of the modifications are now illegal, with only a few Specials remaining for example, but there’s such fear and mis information on what it was that led to the need for Surg. There’s fear of invaded privacy and that you’re never allowed to be free. It makes you wonder if this is going to be our future. The way that we enhance ourselves and the way that we allow innovative technology to watch all of our activities and even help to make life easier…..just a philosophical question today about what’s good and right and worth the stress. Ponder away until we get book 3. ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Kate Gravelle rated it liked it · review of another edition

A little about trust, failure and trying to do the right thing without know if it’s truly the right thing. Decent book.

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Mar 19, 2020 Chris rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2020, ebook, done, from-library, scifi

The sequel to Imposters is a little bit less of a cliffhanger, but still... Also, the next two books in the series haven't been released yet, so it will be a while on that cliffie. ...more

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Mar 02, 2020 Adelaide rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shatter City is filled with non stop action. From escapes, to wars, to completely destroying city’s. Fray and her rebel friends work together to take down her father. Well Fray and Col’s relationship is going side ways with all the pretending to be different people.

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Dec 14, 2019 thegirlonfire rated it liked it · review of another edition

listened to this on audiobook and read the arc copy. idk if it was bc i was also listening but idk i liked imposters wayy more.. i still love the world and the tech and the terms. but idk its just an ok sequel. i like frey but the rest of the characters i dont really know much or care much about.the book is fast pace and has cool scenes but didnt love it. still gonna read the 3th book when it comes out ofc.

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Apr 26, 2020 Reading is my Escape rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-a-to-z-challenge, book-owned-physical, dystopian-future, read-2020, middle-school, sci-fi, young-adult

Back to the Uglies universe again. Not as amazing as the original Uglies books, but still fun and enjoyable.

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Dec 30, 2019 Karen Barber rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-kindle-copy

Sometimes the second book in a series doesn’t really capture your imagination, though it sets things in place. I honestly didn’t feel that - as there’s a lot of distractions here to flesh characters out and start to develop the bigger picture.
Having willingly chosen to remain behind, Frey now has to convince everyone she is her sister. She puts in place a plan to marry Col and seems to be in support of her father. The menace coming from this guy cannot be underestimated - when he tells Frey the ...more

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Oct 04, 2019 Wendy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, 2019

I don't review favorite authors.

The first half was a little slow for me, the time in Paz mostly. But I realized by the end it was necessary, to really get a general feel for the city, so we can mourn losing it. The last half I really enjoyed- Westerfeld delivered the action and twists I was looking for, as he always does. It's no wonder Frey longs for the Feels the way she does. It's her way of being able to choose how she can feel, since it seems her whole life, and even now people are still ch ...more

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Oct 09, 2019 Lesr Kew rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was great but not as good as the first one in my opinion. A few times I had to reread what was happening because the actions and words were very “other-worldly”. But it was jammed packed full of adventure and it ended with a bang as well. Emotional.

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Nov 08, 2019 Nathaniel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction

This book. THIS BOOK. Scott Westerfeld outdid himself with it. Everyone needs to read it. I want to reread the entire Uglies series and put these at the end because I love the connections. Agh. My book heart is screaming.

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Oct 22, 2019 Jess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-stuff, dystopian-stuff

Pretty good book, but definitely felt like it was laying the ground work for the rest of the series (as most 2nd in a series do). Will continue with the series.

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Oct 23, 2019 Leah (Jane Speare) rated it really liked it

I think I liked Shatter City more than Impostors! Way cool new tech, good ol' slang, and some separation from gushy romance. I sped through this one. ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 Miranda rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-releases

Whew. What a ride.
I think I enjoyed this more than the last one.

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Sep 22, 2020 Ella rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Wow. This was so good, just like the first one. The feels were kind of strange and unnatural, but seemed to work. Can't wait for the next one! ...more

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Jun 03, 2020 Emmaline Hirschten rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was pretty good!! I liked the fist one a little better because it hooked me more but I really liked how she was on her own most of this book. I do like the ship but I didn't really care about it while reading this book like I did the last one. I think her making friends on her own was great though!! Anyway so I really like this and I am excited for the next one! ...more

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About Scott Westerfeld

Scott Westerfeld

18,787 followers

Scott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling author of YA. He was born in the Texas and now lives in Sydney and New York City. In 2001, Westerfeld married fellow author Justine Larbalestier.

He is best known for the Uglies and Leviathan series. His next book, IMPOSTORS, returns to the world of Uglies. It comes out September 11, 2018.

Other books in the series

Impostors (4 books)

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The creator of the Uglies and Leviathan series answers your questions about his writing rituals, gives NaNoWriMo tips, and talks about Afterworlds,...