{Review} Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Perfect Ruin
by Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Internment Chronicles #1
Pages: 356
Release Date: October 1, 2013
by Simon & Schuster

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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.

*A copy was provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review*

After reading the Chemical Garden trilogy I had average expectations for this book, but I actually really enjoyed it.  The writing was very good, and I liked how the story line flowed perfectly, the romance and society issues working very well together.  The idea was very good, in my opinion, and the world building and explanations were very well done.  However, I did feel like some things were stolen from other books, [SPOILER: like people being killed at age 75 Matched  or Stung  and being betrothed to someone from a young age (I think that was Matched too, but this one is okay really because that happens in a ton of books) ].  But dystopian books are so over-done these days that they all seem the same.  I really liked how the romance was shaped in this book, and the action was very interesting and thrilling, and there were parts in the book where I was completely engrossed.  The plot twists were crazy and I didn’t see them coming.  Also the ending set up a second book really perfectly, and it feels like the story is only just now beginning.

I really liked this cast.  Like I mentioned before, I liked how the romance was shaped.  [SPOILER: What I mean by that is Basil and Morgan are betrothed, and I was expecting Morgan to fall in love with someone else and leave Basil, but I’m really glad that she stayed with him because he seems like a really great guy. ] Basil was a really great character and a really nice guy.  He was sweet, smart, obviously loved Morgan, and was a strong love interest.  I also liked Morgan, because she was a strong character and defied the world she was in and was spirited and independent.

All in all, I really did enjoy this book, and I loved how this book ended and set up the second book perfectly.  I am expecting great things from this series, and this was a great way to kick it off.

4 stars