Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Book Review: Perfect Ruin by Lauren Destefano

Perfect Ruin

Lauren Destefano

356 Pages

Published October 1st, 2013

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.
Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.
I really enjoyed the Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren Destefano. Her writing style is unique and absolutely captivating, I'd go as far as saying her words have a lyrical tinge to them. Of course I was super excited about this one when I first heard about, months ago. When I saw it on sale for $1.99 for my brand new Kindle I snagged it up immediately.

Perfect Ruin is about a 16 year old girl named Morgan who lives on a floating chunk of earth, or island as some might call it. The whole premise of this was so different from anything I'd ever read before, it really helped draw me into the story asap. People are free to do almost anything they want here, but there are rules and regulations as there are in any society. It is said that no one can leave, due to the wishes of the "sky gods". People really believe in these gods and it keeps them from jumping off the edge.. that and anyone who jumps off the edge is seriously messed up for life afterwards and they never make it off the island.

One of these jumpers is Morgans brother, Lex. He's kind of crazy, an author who has now gone blind due to jumping. He's supposed ot be on medication; the whole family is; but none of them take it. Later in the story a girl is found murdered on the train tracks, something that never happens in Morgan's society. Soon the governmental forces are trying to figure out what is going on and.. things get crazy.

I loved the characters in this book, though Morgan wasn't my favorite. I loved Basil, her best friend who she's set up with to marry. He was calm in the most heated situations and you could tel he was truly in love with Basil; he'd probably do anything for her. I also loved her best friend Pen, a spunky and at times over emotional character who always tried to stick by her side.

There is a lot of action in this tale and it was confusing at times, but I still ripped through it in a day. Lauren Destefano has done it again, and I can't wait for the second in the series!! Especially with that huge cliff-hanger..

2 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this one too - though I think I'll like the sequel better mostly bc I wanted more answers. I loved the inner world building though how the city worked and the secrets/mysteriousness of it all, too. Glad you liked it! Great review! :)

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  2. Oh gosh the cover. * ^ * It kind of was persuading me like a drug at the bookstore but since the premise didn't intrigue me too much, I didn't get it. But damn that cover is just so gorgeous.

    Ehmm, the whole island thing as a world is very inventive. I think Destefano has one of the most creative minds out there for Dystopia. She kind of sets a whole new stage to this whole thing. I haven't read her Chemical Garden series but with a series name that amazing, I think I will give it a go.

    I loved hearing your thoughts<3

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