Perfect Ruin
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Internment Chroincles #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Dystopian
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Children
Summary:
Your life is yours to embrace or to squander.
There’s only one rule: you don’t approach the edge.
If you do, it’s already over.
Perfect Ruin is the first book in Lauren DeStefano’s riveting new series, the Internment Chronicles.
First Sentence: We live encapsulated by the trains.
My Review:
When I first heard about Perfect Ruin, I was feeling a bit iffy about it, even before I even heard what the book was about. I’ve read Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden Trilogy and didn’t really like it. I thought Wither was plain okay while I suffered through Fever, almost DNFing it at least ten times, but didn’t. After that, I couldn’t even pick up Sever, the last and final book in the Chemical Garden Trilogy. I didn’t want to know how the Chemical Garden Trilogy series ends; I could even care less about it. However, I couldn’t help but pick up Perfect Ruin after seeing the gorgeous cover, even after reading and remembering the mess that Fever was. In the end, picking up Perfect Ruin was a huge mistake of mine.
Let me start with the good parts of Perfect Ruin first. I love how the setting of Perfect Ruin is set up in an island floating up high in the sky, higher than where the airplanes fly. In fact, I love the idea of the island of Internment so much that I can’t help but wonder, why hasn’t any other authors wrote about islands floating up high in the sky before? It should be done many, many times.
“He’ll return,” she says. “Internment is only as big as the king’s fist. If you’re going to hide, you have to circle the same places over and over again.”
I wonder what makes her such an expert on hiding. (100)
That leads me to talk about the world-building in Perfect Ruin. The world-building was okay, but didn’t really satisfy my curiosity. I wanted to know things like how high was Internment up in the sky and how can the people of Internment survive with so little oxygen? I also want to know things like who decides who is betrothed with who and what happens if it just doesn’t work out? Where do they get the materials and resources to build all their buildings and get electricity? And simple things like is twenty or thirty seconds (I don’t remember the actual number used) to get on and off the crowded train really enough? I live in New York City and believe me, it’ll definitely take more than thirty seconds to get off a crowded train. Plus, unlike what Morgan said, standing near the train doors is not lucky, it’s the worse, especially when everybody tries to rush out. You’ll be seen as blocking the people trying to get out if you stand near the train doors because the train doorways are always narrow. Believe me, I know. I think Perfect Ruin needs to have more research done on the little things.
Throughout the book, I was wondering when something interesting would actually happen in Perfect Ruin. I can count with my fingers how many times that actually happened: once, when the truth I figured out about a hundred pages earlier was finally revealed. That excitement lasted for only four short pages out of the entire book. Keep in mind that Perfect Ruin is 356 pages long. I literally had no other feels while reading the other 352 pages. I wasn’t squealing over with excitement, I wasn’t fanning myself like crazy, I wasn’t plotting how a character I hated should die, I felt nothing. I suffered through those mind-numbing 352 pages.
I love you.
Is this what love means? That the rules aren’t the reason you stay together? (241)
Which brings me to talk about Morgan, the main character and narrator of Perfect Ruin. I was constantly annoyed with her throughout the book. Morgan is so weak and clueless. Throughout Perfect Ruin, I was screaming at her to actually stop and think instead of blindingly follow the rules. I wanted her to stop being a mindless follower for once and do something rational. But sadly, no, I didn’t get what I wanted. Morgan doesn’t know when to shut it and how to think on her feet. She constantly relies on her betrothed, Basil, for everything.
As for Basil, Morgan’s betrothed, he has absolutely no personality, except for one trait. In fact, I can pretty much sum him up all in one sentence: Basil will do anything and risk anything for Morgan. That’s it. Throughout Perfect Ruin, that’s the only thing that rang true about him: Basil loves Morgan. The other characters in Perfect Ruin aren’t any better. After reading the book, I still have no feel for them besides basic words like mysterious and too nice and evil.
He’s strong; one of the most promising athletes in the academy. I’ve seen him lift weights half as heavy as I am, and he can climb a rope in record time. But what is all of that worth, really? Can it protect against something that steals you away and leaves your dead eyes gaping at the moon? (190)
Is Perfect Ruin an unique dystopian? As of now, I’m leaning more towards the no side. Perfect Ruin still has an oh my god, our government is corrupt! element to it with the added rebellion side like most other dystopians do. The only really unique thing about Perfect Ruin that makes it stand apart from the rest of dystopian books is that it takes place in the sky, but I’m pretty sure that would not happen in the next book.
Perfect Ruin leaves off with a sort-off cliffhanger. The sad thing is, I can care less. I highly doubt that I would be reading any of Lauren DeStefano’s other books ever again. In fact, I’m pretty sure I won’t be reading the sequel to Perfect Ruin; I’ll be avoiding the books like its the plague.
I’ve been seeing mixed reviews on this one, but I definitely want to read it. The premise definitely sounds like something I’d be interested in. After reading your review, mentioning the plain characters, lack of world-building and all that, I’m a bit hesitant right now.
Christie recently posted…Pivot Point by Kasie West
Hmm, maybe you should read this one Christie, especially if you’re really looking forward to reading this one. Who knows, maybe you’ll actually like it. o:
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
Sorry this book sucked, especially since it’s by an author that you gave a second chance to. I had no interest in reading this until I learned that the author was Lauren Destefano, than I was a little bit interested since I liked Wither, but now I don’t think I’m going to read it. I’ve read a lot of other reviews that said the same thing you said, the main character is annoying, the rest you don’t care about and it’s the same thing as the other destopian books. So unless i’m gifted this book I don’t think I’m going to get it.
Great review Kelly :D
Kimberly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves (62)
Yeah, it just sucks. D:
Well, at least I gave the book a chance.
Ha ha, I couldn’t really stand both Wither and Fever. They were just so uninteresting and boring. ):
Ohh, I never saw other reviews like that. I’m glad I’m not the black sheep with this one. I hate it when I’m the black sheep with books.
Thanks Kimberly! (:
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
I can’t seem to get inspired to read this book. From what I’ve read so far (a whopping 13 pages), it’s incredibly bland. :( Oh well, it doesn’t look like things are about to improve based on your review.
Joy (Joyousreads) recently posted…Hoarders, Books Edition: Episode 91
YES! Exactly! A chapter in into the book, I was like should I even bother to continue with this? I decided to continue to read it because of the beautiful cover, but boy, do I regret doing that.
If you do continue to read Perfect Ruin, I hope you’ll enjoy it more than I did Joy! (:
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
I’m sorry that you didn’t like this. I haven’t read the Shiver series but I have the gorgeous Perfect Ruin on my shelf. I have no idea what to expect from this author and I see mixed reviews for Perfect Ruin. I’m having second thoughts about reading the book, but I’ll get to it eventually. There is just too many books in my TBR pile and I can’t put this on the top spot yet. Thanks for sharing your review. :)
Ha ha, I think you mean The Chemical Garden Series. ;D
Ohh, I recommend that you avoid the reviews and try reading Perfect Ruin without anyone influencing your opinion, especially since it’s your first Lauren DeStefano book.
I also hope you’ll enjoy this one more than I did Anne when you get to reading this one! -crosses my fingers for you-
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
Sorry you didn’t like it! I’ve heard a lot about Perfect Ruin’s lack of plot, until the end and it’s worrying. I liked Fever much more than you did though so I’m hoping I’ll enjoy Perfect Ruin more than you did. I do love the idea of living in the sky!
P.E. @ The Sirenic Codex recently posted…The Weekly Progress: Good Times Edition
To me, Perfect Ruin didn’t really lack any plot; it was just boring and slow and unamusing. It was just plain blah and plain meh.
Ha ha I couldn’t stand Fever. I wanted to sleep so bad while reading it.
I love the idea of living in the sky too! It is so imaginative and so fun! :D<3
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
I’ve read a few reviews for this one, and everyone seems to agree with most of your points. It is a nice cover, but I’m starting to think it’s one of those that sucks you in and then traps you in a horrible story. The concept sounds really intriguing to me – floating island in the sky? How have not more authors thought of that? I hadn’t even thought of that! I would totally jump on that train right away. And love interests that solely exist to protect their other half? Sounds like another Edward Cullen to me. I’m thinking I’ll stay away from this one for sure!
Kayla @ The Thousand Lives recently posted…Weekly Update 1 (10/20/13 – 10/26/13)
Lots of gorgeous covers are like that nowadays. They trick you into reading it/buying it because of its gorgeous cover and then BAM! Disappointment.
Yes! Floating island in the sky needs to be done A LOT more.
Ha ha, Basil isn’t a stalker though, thank goodness. Otherwise, Perfect Ruin would definitely be a book that was thrown across the room.
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
Good review! This is the first review I have read for this book. I really liked Wither, but that was the only book that I liked in that series. I think I will give this book a try. ;)
Thanks Cali! (:
Same, I only liked Wither. Fever was too awful for me to continue on with the series. It was everything I didn’t like in a book: slow and dreary.
I hope you’ll like this one better than I did Cali!
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Best Books To Read For Halloween
great review, sounds interesting! def adding to my mountain :)
Thanks Dimka! (:
I hope you’ll like this one more than I did. :X
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: September + October 2013
I haven’t read Chemical Garden Trilogy, and despite the mixed reviews,
I decided to add it on my tbr list, and hope to read it soon.
Perfect Ruin sounds… interesting, but it does not makes me excited to read it,
you know? And besides, as I said in another review, I’m a bit tired of dystopians.
great review!
I hope you’ll enjoy The Chemical Garden Trilogy Kassi! o:
Ha ha, I’m a bit tired of dystopians too. There are so few good ones out there. ):
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: September + October 2013
Aw, sorry this one didn’t work out for you that well. I enjoyed it for the most part. It was pretty slow paced and the characters and setting lacked some detail and connection. I have high hopes for the next book. Fingers crossed it is an improvement.
Kristen@My Friends Are Fiction recently posted…Stephen King’s It in Blocks
I wish I could have enjoyed this one, but everything was just SO slow for me. I was literally almost put to sleep while reading it. :l
I hope you’ll enjoy the next one; I don’t think I’ll be checking that one out.
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: September + October 2013
This is so disappointing. Mainly because of the cover being so beautiful and the idea of Internment itself. I tried reading Fever, and did not get even half the way before I put it down and never picked it up again. Don’t plan to. But I was interested in this one. Sounds like I might be better off just passing it by. It doesn’t seem to have much of anything. Why would I read a book with no feels? No reason, at all. Yeah, this one will be a pass. I would like to see that awesome cover in person, though!
The awesome cover of Perfect convinced to me to give another one of Lauren DeStefano’s book a try, but alas, I didn’t like it.
And ha ha, I wanted to DNF Fever so bad. I can tell you, it won’t get any better until the cliffhanger. Then it’s like WHOA WHAT.
The awesome cover is even more beautiful in person! ;D
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: September + October 2013
I haven’t read any of Lauren DeStefano’s books yet but I did buy this one so hopefully I’ll like it more than you did!
Ohh, I hope you’ll like this one more than I did Susan! (:
-crosses my fingers for you-
I’ll love to know what you think of it once you’ve read it. o:
Kelly recently posted…Monthly Wrap Up: September + October 2013
I’ve read this book , and it’s so amazing ? Really really one of favorite books xx
I was really interested to read this review to see if I should give Perfect Ruin a chance. Everyone told me I HAD to read Wither, so I picked up the audio book to listen to at work. I made it about 80% of the way through and I was pretty unimpressed. I didn’t purposely put it down because I didn’t like it, another book I really WANTED came out in audio and I couldn’t wait to listen. Then, I just kind of forgot to go back to Wither? At least, I think I did? It’s never a good sign if you can’t remember if you finished a book, right? So, I really wanted to know if this was going to be worth picking up. Now I know I should just avoid it. Thanks!