"Legend" by Marie Lu (N2)

This is a Legend?

Legend

By Marie Lu

 

# Pgs: 336

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Overview:

A New York Times bestseller!

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

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Review:

Over warm cups of hot chocolate and under the cozy covers of many blankets, I settled down to read Marie Lu's Legend. As a book that recommended to me by fellow book-readers, I must admit that once again I underestimated the power that words can have if used properly. Marie Lu certainly proved that to me throughout the story of Day and June; the two main characters on very opposite sides of the law, but who nonetheless found something worthwhile.

While personally I thought the "romance" aspect of the book seemed to jump from nonexistent to suddenly, irrevocably In Love, the individuality of the characters seemed to breach boundaries and the plotline stayed strong and consistent throughout the first book in the Legend series. The book was absolutely addictive with such passionately strong emotions, at moments it had me smiling and laughing right along with it, and at others I felt absolute rage and miserable (read the book yourself to see why-).

This book, in a few hundred pages, has captured my complete attention and curiosity. The truth that is revealed about Day and June's government perhaps reveals the heart of what we all worry about regarding our own politics. Or, perhaps, of what could happen. So is shown in the complications of this intricately written novel, the adventure and underhanded tricks of power, can be (much like this book) completely addictive.

Once you get started in abusing a position of power (or in reading this book) it becomes difficult to stop.

While the plotline did remain strong and concise from beginning to end of this first book, the ending was predictable. And, one thing I've found with books is, Marie Lu's Legend didn't answer the 'how' and the 'why' certain... event... happened. The best books always dangle what you don't know on a hook right in front of your face in the last couple pages, or the best books reveal a sudden, dramatic plot twist (on a hook) to make you take the bait. When I get something that I don't know shoved in my face, or I'm faced with a dramatic twist, I generally find that I need to find out the answer. Marie Lu, however, seemed to downplay the how and why to a point where, while I'm still interested (because I'm an extremely curious person), I became distracted with information that wasn't at all important. The information wasn't even all that "wasn't at all important" in a good way that's meant to distract for a purpose (usually leading up to a big plot-twist at the end). The downplayed, distracting information was just... there.

This is a dystopian, sci-fi, adventure, romance fiction. All in all, I'd rate this book a three and a half out of five. The plot was strong (but predictable), the words within the pages drew me in (and became very addictive), the romance faction wasn't all that plausible (I didn't like how she wrote that part out), and I'm still entirely curious as to the how and why the government did just what it did. With all that in mind, I need to read the next book in the series, which I believe is Prodigy.

Hope this was helpful (and I'm sorry in that way that I'm really not all that sorry for writing with an excessive use of parenthesis; I found I couldn't help myself after a friend made a comment in class today about it).