"Perfect Ruin" by Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 356

From Goodreads: "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."

While I only consider myself to be a mild fan of Lauren's "Chemical Garden" series (liked "Wither", hated "Fever", LOVED "Sever"), I was beyond excited for this. Why? Because Lauren's way with prose is like no other (I do, in fact, measure all other prose against hers) and because she is able to create worlds never seen before. That being said, that excitement did admittedly begin to wane the further and further I got into this novel.

I think that this book's biggest pitfalls were it's pacing, it's overall world building, and it's main character. It took me near a week and a half to get through this book (something that is almost unheard of before me, typically able to finish one or two books a day). Why? Because I found the plot to be so drawn out, almost coming to a complete standstill at times. I found that the book only really started to pick up towards the last 3/4 (if not 5/6). Additionally, I thought that the world created in this novel was a tad too similar to her "Chemical Garden" series for myself. I would LOVE to see Lauren branch out from dystopian, truly stretching herself as an author/ putting her talents to work- perhaps a hardcore science fiction or fantasy (or *gasp* a contemporary)? My largest complaint with the main character, Morgan, was that I found that she had little to no personality and, at times, leaned too much on others around her.

That being said, I LOVED the character of Basil. He is, without a doubt, my most favourite of Lauren's characters to date (out of both male and female characters). He was just so gosh darn good and you couldn't help but be swept off your feet by him. Furthermore, I did really like Morgan's brother, Lex, and his wife. While their relationship wasn't perfect, it was extremely relateable.

All in all, despite my complaints, I do believe that I will continue on with this series as I'm sure that, like her "Chemical Garden series, each book in this series will get progressively better and better.

Rating: 3/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way. 

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ARC Review: "Sever" by Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 384

From Goodreads: "Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered."

While I was a fan of "Wither" (not a super fan like some, just a fan, fan- while I did enjoy it there were a number of things about it that irked me) I WAS NOT a fan of "Fever" (I couldn't, for the life of me, get into it, with the crazy carnival, Rhine continuously going in and out of consciousness,  and so forth), and, as such, I was quite hesitant to read this book. That being said, after finishing it all I can do is shake my head at my earlier stupidity- it was as if this book took all of my favourite characteristics from the previous two books and increased them by tenfold.

My most parting prominent thought about this book is, "Wow, Lauren knows how to write." I know that that may sound silly, her being an author and such, however, it wasn't until I read this book, really read it, that I understood what people are talking about when they say that an author has beautiful prose. Lauren? She haz it. And then some. Lauren is to make the most simplest of thing beautiful, all while not overwhelming the reader, making them feel that her writing is too heavy or detailed. Furthermore, the thought processes that Rhine goes through are second to none.

My second parting thought? "HALLELUJAH! WE HAVE CHARACTER GROWTH!" While I did like Cecily, to a degree, in the earlier books, it was nothing compared to this. While Lauren has beautiful prose like no other, Cecily has strength like no other. Numerous times while reading this book I forgot that Cecily is only 14 years old because she exuded such strength and maturity (as icky as I feel like writing this, I do truly believe that having a child was the best thing that ever happened to her). I also really, really, REALLY liked Linden in this novel. I loved that he saw the light and assumed responsibility for his father's actions in this novel.

That being said, like the previous two books I do also have a few problems with this. Namely, I find the ending to be quite a cop-out. Rather than the characters truly getting the opportunity to take control of their lives that, which they are so deserving of, fate intercepted, ripping it from from them. I feel like there was such a build-up of epicness and that the ending fell flat. However, as becomes evident from my 5 star rating, that fact didn't wreck this book for me as the other elements were able to make up for it.

All in all, I think that despite its ups and downs this is overall an enchanting series by Lauren. I personally cannot wait to see what she has in store for us with her "Internment Chronicles" series, slated to be released in 2014!

Rating: 5/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.

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