Review: Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Perfect Ruin
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Internment Chronicles #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Find it here: Goodreads, Amazon

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.

My thoughts: 

Perfect Ruin is a beautifully crafted novel that caught my undivided attention early on. Lauren DeStefano has once again wrapped me up in her world-building, leaving me on the edge of my seat and definitely wanting more. The first book in her sophomore series is imaginative, inventive and creative, quickly making her one of my favorite authors.

Perfect Ruin is about a city called Internment and it is literally in the sky. It is surrounded by high intensity winds making it impossible for people to jump off. The main character, Morgan, describes the city as small enough for their train system to circle the city in about two hours. The citizens of Internment are made to believe that the Sky God has chosen them to live in a somewhat perfect society. There is hardly any crime and everything is regulated by the government. It’s all really fascinating. And then a murder disrupts everything!

I really loved the characters. Often time the characters’ attitudes and personalities are what really make or break a book for me. Morgan, the protagonist, is a very likable character. She doesn't make snide remarks, she’s not sarcastic and she’s really trying to see the reality of the world she lives in. She’s clearly struggling with thoughts of what’s on the ground and what it would be like to jump off Internment. She’s able to strike a balance with her curious side and her rational side which is what makes her such a great character.

Even though DeStefano writes with beautiful imagery, Perfect Ruin has very dark undertones that stay consistent throughout the novel. If you were a fan of her Chemical Garden trilogy then I recommend you pick up her new series. I will definitely be looking for the rest of The Internment Chronicles!

Teasers!!!!

Two of my  most anticipated movies have dropped their teaser trailers and they look so awesome!!! I'm not gonna lie, I've already watched both about 17 times! Now I'm just chomping at the bit for the studios to release the full trailers! Enjoy!!

Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters




Divergent!!

Waiting on Wednesday (97)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Title: The Troop
Author: Nick Cutter
Hitting the Shelves: January 07, 2014

Boy Scouts live by the motto “Be Prepared.” However, nothing can prepare this group of young boys and their scoutmaster for what they encounter on a small, deserted island, as they settle down for a weekend of campfires, merit badges, and survival lessons.

Everything changes when a haggard stranger in tattered clothing appears out of nowhere and collapses on the campers’ doorstep. Before the night is through, this stranger will end up infecting one of the troop’s own with a bioengineered horror that’s straight out of their worst nightmares. Now stranded on the island with no communication to the outside world, the troop learns to battle much more than the elements, as they are pitted against something nature never intended…and eventually each other.

Why I want this: The cover is totally unsuspecting but I've heard this is the horror novel to be watching for.  I've also heard that it's absolutely terrifying which means I totally want to read it! 

'Bout of Books Read-A-Thon 2013

I've decided that I need a really good, intense read-a-thon to get me through a whole bunch of books and hopefully catch up on my Goodreads challenge. There's a lot of other fun things going on like challenges and giveaways but I'm only going to be reading.  Reading as much as I possibly can when I'm not working or sleeping.

So I decided that 5 books is a pretty noble goal and if I get through 3 of them then I will be happy! So here's what I tentatively plan to read during the read-a-thon:

So a bunch more ARCs from last year and a few books I got for Christmas that I still haven't read. Wish me luck!!

Review: Gilt

Title: Gilt
Author: Katherine Longshore
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Source: Library/Purchased

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

My thoughts:

There is just something about historical novels that just enrapture me! Especially the Tudor Era! I love discovering more about kings and queens and beheading people for the smallest of actions. It’s a quite fascinating.

I was definitely enthralled by this story of Catherine Howard told by one of her closest friends named Kitty. Catherine Howard is one of King Henry VIII’s later wives and this story just goes to show how old he really was and the long term effects of his jousting wound had on his marriage and the country in general. Anyone who ever working in his court was always under scrutiny and their every action was watched under a microscope. They never knew who was going to turn who. It’s all very interesting!

Kitty is an interesting character. She’s the plainer more subdued version of her friend Catherine Howard and she’s not obsessed with getting to court like all the other girls her age. But, of course, when the opportunity to go to court arises she does not turn it down. The whole book is pretty much about keeping Catherine Howard’s affair a secret from the King’s spies. I knew what was going to happen in the end but the getting there was really intriguing! I sometimes found myself hoping that they wouldn’t get caught but like I said, I know the history of King Henry VIII and his wives. But I still loved it!!

All in all, Gilt is one of my favorite reads of this year so far! It is definitely a great story to get myself lost in!

August TBR Jar!

I loved pulling books out of a jar so much last month, that I think it's a new staple of how I'm going to choose the books I read for the month. I like it better this way because it's all by chance! So now every month I'm going to randomly select two books out of my regular TBR jar which contains all the finished copies of books that I own and have not yet read. And then I choose two books out of my ARC TBR jar which contains all the ARC I haven't read yet.  And then I have the book club book for the month, maybe a library book and also an e-book.  So that's about seven books every month which is pretty good!

So here are the books I have randomly selected for this month:

I'm so excited to read these books! I remember really enjoying Immortal Beloved and I pretty much bought Hemlock as soon as it came out and I have yet to read it! Both of the ARC are books I picked up at ALA 2012 and I'm glad I can be moving them off my shelf soon. 

Book Club book for August: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Already read it and it's absolutely amazing!! I was literally weeping by the end!

Currently reading: In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters because it is due back at the library on Tuesday! Pretty good so far! 

My Book Haul: August 3, 2013

Hey there! Welcome to this week's Stacking the Shelves! This awesome meme is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and we get to show each other the books we acquired this week whether bought, from the library or for review!

Welcome to my book haul for the last 2 weeks! I literally have zero internet access most of the time so I'm trying to get this in fast!

Bought: 

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (AKA JK Rowling)

Library:

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Shadowcry by Jenna Burtenshaw

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

The Murmurings by Carley Anne West

For my Nook:

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

The Secret Language of Girls by Francis O'Roark Dowell

Shelf Candy!!!

My sister bought me this amazing clock! It blends so well on my shelf that most people can't even tell! Love it :)