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A review by literarystrawberry
Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano
3.0
I think the thing that first made me really like this book was the world building. Rather than randomly slapped together "THEY'RE ON A FLYING CITY THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW", it all seemed really well thought through to me. It has a lot of elements common to various dystopias (arranged marriages, known as "betrothals", pills to keep you complacent, euthanasia for the elderly when they reach a certain age, etc.) but instead of just "because reasons" or "the government is mean", the things actually made /sense/. ...And before you really get in to the darker dystopian stuff, the world is just pretty. I loved all the little customs and decorations and general atmosphere. The world was just really well developed and I liked it a lot.
The main character was refreshingly non-angsty. All the characters were pretty well developed, honestly. And although I thought I smelled a love triangle from a mile away (that's the only reason most authors would have introduced an arranged marriage, right?) it actually DIDN'T HAPPEN which was pretty amazing. Of course, there were a few vague hints, so I don't know what will happen in the future books, but still, it was a nice surprise. Basil, her betrothed, is a legitimately nice guy.
I loved Lex and Alice, her older brother and his wife, and Pen, her best friend.
The writing was pretty lovely.
It isn't really an action packed book; things move rather slowly and quietly, especially in the first half. Still, it kept my attention, and I enjoyed it enough to want to see where the next book will go.
and I'm sorry I fail at this review my brain is so tired
maybe I'll come back and try to re-write it in a more coherent way at a later date
but anyway yes. If you'd like a quieter, more thoughtful dystopian with lovely world-building and prose, I think you should give this one a go.
The main character was refreshingly non-angsty. All the characters were pretty well developed, honestly. And although I thought I smelled a love triangle from a mile away (that's the only reason most authors would have introduced an arranged marriage, right?) it actually DIDN'T HAPPEN which was pretty amazing. Of course, there were a few vague hints, so I don't know what will happen in the future books, but still, it was a nice surprise. Basil, her betrothed, is a legitimately nice guy.
I loved Lex and Alice, her older brother and his wife, and Pen, her best friend.
The writing was pretty lovely.
It isn't really an action packed book; things move rather slowly and quietly, especially in the first half. Still, it kept my attention, and I enjoyed it enough to want to see where the next book will go.
and I'm sorry I fail at this review my brain is so tired
maybe I'll come back and try to re-write it in a more coherent way at a later date
but anyway yes. If you'd like a quieter, more thoughtful dystopian with lovely world-building and prose, I think you should give this one a go.