Perfect Ruin
Ratings4
Average rating4.3
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Chemical Garden trilogy: On the floating city of Internment, you can be anything you dream. Unless you approach the edge. Children’s Literature says “shades of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1984 inspire DeStefano’s sci-fi/murder mystery page-turner.” Morgan Stockhour knows getting too close to the edge of Internment, the floating city and her home, can lead to madness. Even though her older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. There’s too much for her on Internment: her parents, best friend Pen, and her betrothed, Basil. Her life is ordinary and safe, even if she sometimes does wonder about the ground and why it’s forbidden. 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 once she meets Judas. Betrothed to the victim, Judas is being blamed for the murder, 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 whom she will lose.
Series
Featured Series
2 primary books4 released booksThe Internment Chronicles
The Internment Chronicles is a 4-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by Lauren DeStefano.
Reviews
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This book was a little slow in the beginning, but it picked up and became very interesting. It's a dystopian with a new setting and twist. I enjoyed it and am putting the next book on hold at the library.
I received a copy of Perfect Ruin as a first read through Goodreads giveaways. Before I even get to reviewing the book I just want to say it is seriously one of the prettiest paperbacks I own. The cover is gorgeous! And the font! swoon
Anyways, Morgan Stockhour lives on the floating city of Internment. The city was placed in the sky by the Gods and the inhabitants of Internment are never allowed to leave and getting to close to the edge of the city can lead to death or madness.
On the surface Internment seems like a paradise. Lives are simple and happy and everything is taken care of. Before birth you are matched up with your betrothed, you go to school, you work, you have children and then 75 years later you are dispatched. This is Morgan's life and she has never questioned it until there is a murder in the city. After this, Morgan can't stop herself from seeing the cracks in her world and wondering if perhaps Internment isn't what is seems to be. As you get to know Morgan better you learn that life on Internment isn't always perfect. There are the jumpers, people who have tried to leave Internment by jumping off the edge who are left forever scarred. Morgan's own mother has serious mental health issues. Her family has basically drifted away and Morgan is left feeling lost and longing for her childhood when things were happier.
I really enjoyed Perfect Ruin. As the story progresses, Morgan learns that her entire life has been a lie and her family and her world are not what they seem. I loved that while Morgan was naive she was never weak and as the reader you learn along with her instead of just being told how things are. I also enjoyed her relationship with Basil, her betrothed. It is one of the few not creepy relationships in YA stories. Basil's character could use some more development but I have a feeling that is going to come later in the series.
It is really obvious that Perfect Ruin is the first in a series because a ton of questions are asked and almost none are answered. You get to know Morgan very well, you understand her life and her family and the world she lives in but very little else. Because it is the first book it is also not the most exciting. BUT that doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining and captivating.
And now for the sad part. The expected publication date for book two is February 2015. That. Is. So. Far. AWAY! It doesn't even have a title! There isn't even a pretty cover for me to drool over! Sad...very sad...
