Disintegration

by J.E. Purrazzi

What comes after surrender?

When Bas willingly returned to the Compound, Menrva swore his sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain. As Bunker hurtles toward an uncertain future, she determines to do whatever it takes to give humanity their best chance.
All Cowl can think about is rescuing Bas. He incites riots among the citizens in hopes of breaking down the doors, not knowing that Menrva’s abusive husband is staging a violent coup. Civil war breaks out in the Compound and Bas and Menrva are caught in the middle of it.
But something far more dangerous already stalks the corridors of the Hub. Something that is already taking control of Bas’ mind.

The second book in the Malfunction trilogy ramps up the tension and action, as Cowl, Menrva, and Bas must find the will to fight a battle that seems to have been lost from the beginning.

Genres: Science Fiction

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2018

About the author

I grew up on a steady diet of adventure both real and imagined. It was never quite enough. So what is a girl to do? The answer: live in a fantasy world.

Reviews

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this book is so intense, but in the best possible way! I enjoyed Malfunction, but Disintegration definitely took it up a notch in terms of smooth world-building, an action-packed plot, and strong character development. This is a sci-fi series that involves terrifying aliens that are set on destroying humanity, Cyborgs, and (in book 2) space travel.

The three central characters, Menrva, Bas, and Cowl, are all very different but care deeply for each other. And they make decisions that feel very in line with what their characters would do, even if I'm internally screaming at them sometimes! Not everyone can make characters feel so real and fleshed out, delivering strong emotional impact alongside brutal action sequences. There is lots of political intrigue, twists and turns, and emotionally devastating moments.

A key thread in the series is this issue of Cyborg humanity. Bas is a Cyborg, created to be a supersoldier controlled by Guards who view him as a creature to be used. He was also my absolute favorite, super sweet character in books 1, so seeing the impact of the trauma he has been subjected to is incredibly tragic in this book. Cowl, who is very rash and tends to act before he thinks, has an interesting arc of being thrust into a position of leadership and we get to see whether he can rise to the occasion. Menrva is a complex female character, her life and choices also informed by trauma, and it is sometimes heartbreaking to watch as she makes very difficult choices.

In terms of content, there is a LOT of gory violence and combat against humans and aliens. There is also the death of an infant that occurs and is very emotional. Oh, and Menrva has a super creepy ex who assaults her and attempts violent sexual assault as well. So be aware what you're picking up, but I was so impressed with the writing and need to know what happens in book 3!

[T.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. E. Purrazzi delivers yet another exciting cyberpunk adventure with the latest installment of her Malfunction trilogy. I was so excited to see what would happen to Cowl, Menrva, and Bas after the events of Malfunction, and it took me a little longer than I expected to get around to actually reading this, but I was excited to dive in. The story picks right up with instant conflict and questions as each of the three protagonists deal with the consequences of the events of the first book in their own way. For me, Menrva's story was particularly interesting, and I definitely felt like she had some of the most difficult decisions to make as things progressed. While I didn't always agree with some of her decisions, there was never a time where I couldn't understand her perspective and her choices, and I think that speaks to how carefully and how well Purrazzi has crafted her characters. Not just Menrva, but all of them.

This is a series where there are no easy answers. There's no black and white and no clear-cut Good vs Evil. But man, are the antagonists scary! Eris was a fantastic adversary and I loved the chaos that ensued every time she showed up. (In hindsight, anyways. In the moment, I was terrified for everyone involved.) I'm not someone who really gets scared by monsters and ghosts and things of that nature, but there was definitely something unnerving about her that made me feel unsettled, and that's the kind of thing that tends to scare me more. So that was fun. And then there's Nolan, who is absolutely The Worst™ and who works so well as an antagonist - and a scary one - because there are plenty of people just like him in real life. Pitting the characters against such terrifying foes definitely made for a wild ride, and no one makes it out without their fair share of scars, both visible and invisible.

Disintegration is a good book, and there were several things I loved about it. But honestly, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the previous book in the series or its prequel novella, Infraction. One of the reasons I loved those stories was that the relationships between the characters were such a central focus of the story, serving as a driving force for all of their actions and choices. We got to see those relationships grow and change and develop to account for whatever was happening externally, but the focus always seemed to remain on the character relationships. While that's still true to some extent in Disintegration, Menrva, Bas, and Cowl aren't actually together in the same scene very often, and when they are, there's so much else going on that we barely get a chance to see them interact with each other. Or at least, not as much as I would have liked. And that kind of goes along with the other thing I struggled with in this book. The pacing, or more specifically, the action. It just felt a little...off to me, and it's hard to explain exactly why. I felt like I was being rushed from one heart-pounding action scene to the next, but then once we actually got there, the action itself almost seem to drag or become repetitive and tedious. I found myself wanting a little more reflection from the characters, a little more of an opportunity for them to interact with each other and see those relationships I loved so much, especially towards the end of the book. That's probably not what every reader wants, and I'm sure it's just a matter of my own preference more than anything else, but those were some of the things I personally struggled with while reading Disintegration.

For me, I'd probably give the book 3.5 stars. But I think the 4 stars I'm rounding up to are easily justified. It's well-written and the characters feel authentic and three-dimensional. I really appreciate how the author is able to give each POV character their own distinct voice so that you can tell exactly whose perspective you're in at any given time. The ending brings both a satisfying sense of hope and an equally powerful sense of dread, leaving readers to wonder what's in store for the characters in the next book. I look forward to seeing all the excitement that is sure to unfold in the final book of this trilogy.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purazzi has already proven to be quite amazing at writing series openers and short stories, and now she has proven she can nail sequels as well!

Whereas Malfunction was a book strongly dedicated to developing its 3 main characters, setting up the conflict of the series, and building a picture of the world (though, that's not to say Malfunction was mere setup), Disintegration is all about taking all those things and putting them on steroids.

In this book, there is no such thing as fully black or fully white. Almost everyone is, to some degree, gray. Each having their own different views and motivations, and each one having some messy reasoning behind it. There also is no correct view, every single one has pain written all over it. And even in the end you aren't sure whether or not the right decisions were made.
Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen a war quite as well drawn as the one in Disintegration. So many different sides are taken, worldviews are changed, and even some alliances between different sides are made when need be.
Even our 3 protagonists, Cowl, Minerva, and Bas very often end up taking different sides.

Another thing I really loved about Disintegration is the character development. While Cowl, Minerva, and Bas were already beautifully developed in Malfunction, they're maybe even more so in this. Each are put in impossible situations and forced to make impossible decisions, and each end up coming out a slightly different person than they were. It's hard for me to get into it extensively without giving away spoilers, but Cowl is forced to be less impulsive and start focusing on the big picture a little more, Minerva (and Cowl as well) has to learn about the big responsibility of leadership, and Bas...... He's a bit harder to get into without spoiling, but suffice it to say, his development is great as well.
As another reviewer mentioned, the secondary characters aren't the most well drawn (except Capricorn of course), but you still care about them. Viktor, Titan, Dennis, and even Lanay-if only for his arc- they're all great! And, as much as I hated them, Nolan and Eris were pretty great villains. They've gotta be two of the most creepy and rage inducing antagonists i've ever encountered.

The action was incredibly well writtten too. While I'm not all that into as much action as Disintegration containes, I actually didn't mind it at all. The action in this made me fully anxious and rushing through the pages. Perhaps because I was incredibly unsure of who would make it out in the end. After all, this is definitely a series I could see killing off mc's.

As far as dislikes go, the only thing I can think of is that I wasn't fully invested in the story until the 30% mark. However, I'm not even sure why this was, because by all accounts I was fully enthralled with the story and characters. Yet I wasn't in that full, "I love this book so much!!" Mood until that point.

That thing aside though, Disintegration is one of the best sequels I've ever read. Lovers of Malfunction will not be dissapointed!

[S.M. M. Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one was amazing, so I was thrilled to read book two and see the author took it to a whole other level.
Spoilers....
I enjoyed watching the characters develop more, especially Cowl, but not in a way you would think he would once being stuck back in the hub... which is now in outer space. The revolt he incites is gutsy, even for Cowl... considering, like I said before, they are flying through space... Nerve and Cowl are at odds with each other, until Cowl sees past his own selfishness. And Bas.. well... You have to read Disintegration to see what's up with him.. so I won't write anymore spoilers...
I am BEYOND excited for book three. I NEED it!

[Beth Wangler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing! Review coming soon.

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle installments of trilogies often prove tricky; too often, they seem like filler. Yet this does not at all apply to Disintegration. All the emotion, intensity, high stakes, and astounding character development that make Malfunction so riveting and enjoyable become amplified in this second installment. Moore puts her characters through some hard crap, and it tears the readers’ hearts apart for all of them. The characters must choose where their loyalties lie and make difficult decisions. This does not amount to the simple, good-rebels-versus-evil-totalitarian-government narrative so common in dystopias. To the contrary, several sides take shape throughout the novel—at least four of them—each with their own competing philosophies. Oftentimes, circumstances force these factions to team up in order to defeat a common foe. Even our three main characters sometimes find themselves reaching markedly different conclusions concerning what is right and which camp to side with. Ultimately, the novel amounts to perhaps the most nuanced and intriguing exploration of the age-old “can the end justify the means” question that I have ever encountered. Pope would answer: “Yes” to this question. Lunany would deadpan: “Whatever Pope says.” Menrva would tepidly say: “Sometimes.” Bas would likely mumble: “I don't know." Capricorn would inwardly retort: “I no longer ask such questions.” Nolan would say: “As so long as the ends are in my favor.” Cowl would proclaim: “This whole question is bullshit!”

Whereas Malfunction sets out to establish and flesh out our three main characters of Menrva, Cowl, and Bas, Disintegration puts these three in situations that draw out their core selves. Moore finds believable ways to make all three of the main characters hugely important figures to humanity in this installment (and all of them for markedly different reasons, too), despite all three of them seeming more or less like nobodies at the beginning of Malfunction. Menrva and Cowl, in particular, both emerge as prominent leaders in Disintegration—but they become markedly different types of leaders, both in regard to who they are leading and how they lead. Through their different criteria for decision-making, we glimpse who each person is at their core and what they most value. Whereas Cowl remains fiercely and relentlessly loyal to individuals, never tolerating any action that compromises the wellbeing of the people who he most cares for, Menrva is primarily concerned with creating the best world she can for as many different people as she can.

Moore’s secondary characters—such as Titan, Dennis, Viktor, Capricorn, and Lunany—stand out, too. Interestingly, however, I would not quite say that any of these characters come across as particularly well-developed in the sense that they possess hugely vivid personalities or in the sense that we find out a great deal about them (except for Capricorn, who proves both extremely vivid and beautifully fleshed out). However, I still cared about all of them. I genuinely like these characters, and I find myself wanting the best for them. G’job, Moore! The antagonists, likewise, continue to shine. Pope becomes more compelling than ever in his complexity—while Nolan stands out if only for how much the reader grows to loathe him. He is certainly a sociopath, but he proves cunning and skilled at hiding his callousness. And Eris’s creepiness truly jumps off the page; she will haunt your nightmares!

If not for one thing, Disintegration would rank among my favorite self-published books that I have ever read, if not my very favorite. However, lengthy action sequences comprise probably 50% of the book—and I got burnt out on them sometimes. As someone who often struggles to visualize action sequences, I would usually much rather read dialogue or the characters’ thoughts and emotions, with occasional and brief action sequences sprinkled throughout. Thus, I enjoy Malfunction a bit more than Disintegration.

However, everything else about this sequel is gold. If you loved Malfunction and have not read this book yet, then go read Disintegration. Now.

[Shannon Hiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following will be a spoiler free review, out of respect for those who haven’t yet had a chance to read Disintegration. However, it will likely contain spoilers for book 1. You have been warned.

When reading the second book in a trilogy, you expect the novel to answer very few questions, up the ante, and begin some serious character development. A good novel will do all of these things, while also opening a whole slew of new questions.

Disintegration did not disappoint.

This book is a roller coaster of emotions from the get go, with no time for either the reader or the characters to sit and ponder what might come next. I’ll willingly testify that Purazzi has no mercy for her characters, and due to the extreme mental, emotional, and physical distress they are constantly subjected to, the character development in this novel is off the charts.

For Cowl especially–a character whose brashness has gotten him into trouble regularly–seeing him grow and take on responsibilities (in his own very Cowl way) was particularly rewarding. I loved the way it began to happen naturally as he was separated from his friends, his comfort zone, and was forced to adapt to survive. Cowl himself doesn’t appear to have realized by the end just how much he has changed over the course of the story and one can’t help but look forward to the moment when he realizes how much he has grown as a person.

Menrva, a character whose strength of will impressed me from book 1, also begins to grow and change. Already more mature than her fellow POV characters, she is forced to grow up still more, learning the nature of leadership and the incredible weight of being the one making life and death decisions.

Of the three, Bas is the one who experiences the least amount of growth in his character. This, however, is totally believable as his character has dealt with the most amount of mental trauma. As such, it is all the more impressive that he remains a rock of comfort for his two friends, even as he suffers as a result of who and what he is. His character is clearly set up for the big payoff in book 3, and I for one cannot wait to see it come to fruition.

The cast of side characters both grows exponentially and shrinks considerably during this book, as the high-stakes introduce you quickly, make you attached, and then snatch so many back. Those that remain are a fascinating bunch who could easily carry their own novels.

Plot-wise the story starts in familiar territory. We’re in the hub, we know who the bad guys are, and we are following our main characters through situations and emotions that immediately call us back to the end of book 1. As a result, despite the aforementioned high-stakes, the first half feels a tad slow. However, halfway through the book a new switch is flipped–the red button, if you will–and we go into overdrive.

As promised, the questions answered are few and the new ones posed are distractingly fascinating. You’ll find yourself wondering what’s coming next long after finishing the book.

Overall, this is another excellent read from Purazzi which you’ll be loathe to put down before knowing how it ends.

[Beth Wangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*

What an incredible, powerful follow-up to Malfunction! Cowl, Menrva, and Bas were even better in this sequel. Purrazzi is a master of suspense; there was never a dull moment. I also appreciate how she made the conflict build so naturally out of each character's motivations and foibles.

I can't deny that Disintegration was very dark, and very gory. For my personal taste, the level of brutality was higher than I enjoy, which is why I did not give it a full 5 stars. However, none of the gore or brutality felt gratuitous—I could tell Purrazzi had thought deeply about the ramifications of her characters' actions, and the suffering they experienced and caused both had consequences in the book and I'm sure will continue to have consequences.

This story moves around a lot. A. Lot. So it says something that the entire time, I had a clear picture of where the characters were, even though the setting is largely different than in Malfunction. The book made me cry and feel somber hope for the future of these characters I've grown to love. I am 100% rooting for them, which I view as a sign of powerful writing.

If you like stories that don't shy away from the darkness in life, but who also can look through darkness into hope, the Malfunction trilogy is for you.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 4 out of 5]

So... Disintegration is aptly named. Because at first, the plot's just kinda plodding along--and then everything falls apart. For the characters, I mean. The story's still very strong.
But maybe not AS strong as book 1? Even though I was engaged through the whole thing, I felt like most of the important stuff happened in the second half.
There were a couple of twists that really caught me off guard! One of those was Menrva's pregnancy. To be honest, I didn't enjoy that element at first. Maybe I missed something in book 1, but I hadn't realized she and Bas had gone that far. Since none of the characters seem to know anything about God, it's understandable. It just didn't make me happy. Definitely adds another layer of tension to the story, though.
The action scenes with the Wreckers were so well-written! I felt as exhausted as the characters after the fighting finished.
Speaking of which, how much are these characters going to go through? Poor Bas... And poor Cowl... And poor Menrva, too, but I admit I'm struggling to like her as much with the way it ended. Hopefully, she'll redeem herself in book 3.

[Erin Dydek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was easy to get pulled back into this dystopian universe, and I loved the inner conflicts explored in this sequel to Malfunction. The war inside Bas’ mind was my favorite of the three main struggles. His mental battle has some Jekel-Hyde-type vibes and made for a fascinating aspect that caused problems for Menrva and Cowl. Menrva and Cowl were forced to step outside their comfort zones by taking leadership roles that challenged their perspectives. Overall, the book has a ton of non-stop action that makes for a fast-paced read. I did have a little difficulty believing all the physical damage sustained by the human characters, as they had little rest and recovery time between battles and survival situations. Still, I loved the new characters featured in this book, and I was intrigued to get some additional insight on the Wrecker DNA/research continued from book one. Disintegration set up another fantastic scenario that I look forward to reading about in Connection, the third book of the series.