Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Source: Purchased
Goodreads | Purchase
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.
❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦
CATCHALL
For so long, I would hear such awesome things regarding Legend. Most people seemed to agree on its general amazingness. But, me being me, I'd never really gotten around to reading it. But, now that I have, I am completely in a agreement with these people. Legend was fantastic. The characters were gorgeous, and the world was lovely. There's pain and love, suffering and joy, and nothing is ever as it seems.
THE HERO
DAY
Day is fabulous. The way he's introduced does its best to make him seem like a bad boy. In many ways, he is. But more than that, Day is also really just a regular boy, and I like that. There is much that is special about him, but he doesn't have to be exceptional in every single way to be extraordinary. I also like the way he's an open book. He doesn't have a difficult time saying what he thinks, and he's very free at expressing himself.
THE HEROINE
JUNE
I have a total girl crush on June. She's such a badass. Obviously, she isn't perfect, and she makes several mistakes in this novel. But once she realizes that she'll do anything to fix them. She doesn't try to forget about them. June has a difficult times expressing how she's feeling and just kind of closes off after her brother's death. It's Day that slowly opens her eyes to the world around her. I liked the realism in that.
THE PLOT
Okay, so if I had to sum this up in one word: intense.
There was so much action. It never stopped. And there were always truths we couldn't quite discover, hidden just around the corner. Always something we didn't know, and yet something I was always eager to find out.
I really, really, liked all the secrets.
I also loved how the trust between the two characters is dynamic and changes constantly throughout the book. For a long while, the trust between them fluctuates. But eventually, it cements.
For all its action, this book also had a lot of emotion. I can't even begin to tell you how much, only that there were so many feels. It was absolutely marvelous. I haven't felt this much from a book in ages, but this one really took me on a roller coaster and made my emotions come to life.
It's crazy, really. Wild. But very, very alive.
It rang so real and true to me. I just have nothing but good things to say here, and nothing but praise to give. So. Much. Love.
THE ROMANCE
Day and June are easily one of my favorite couples. I didn't think that this was instalovey at all. They form some sort of bond the moment they meet. Although it isn't love at first, somehow I think it truly grows into that. There's a level of mutual respect between them, and I love and appreciate that. Also, I think that they have excellent chemistry. Day and June take care of each other, and always do their best to keep the other safe. They're strong separately and even stronger together.
THE WRITING
I adore Marie's writing. I especially love the alternate POV. Day and June take turns telling the story, and both sides are equally important. Save for their circumstances, Day and June are very similar people in opposing positions. June is privileged while Day is not, and that was interesting to see the gap there. They think similarly a lot of the time, but reach different results. I also adore the way the world is described, so harshly beautiful, and everything about that.
THE ENDING
Wow. Talk about lovely. It was nothing I could see coming, that's for sure. Honestly, it was unexpected. I really was not expecting it at all. I loved it, though. There's this measure of truth that comes out, and we finally know why some things are the way they are. It also sets up the next book. It left me breathless, dying to know what was going to happen next. It was fabulous. Day and June have plans for what's next, and though they don't agree on everything, they'll stick together.
WRAPUP
So, I loved Legend. Loved, loved, loved it. It certainly deserves the rating it got. It fascinated and thrilled me with its words, and I fell in love with the world and the wonderful, wonderful hero and heroine. I've already read and loved Prodigy and will most definitely be reading the last book of the trilogy with high hopes. I absolutely recommend that if you haven't picked up a copy of this book yet that you do so and give it a try. Chances you'll love it are high.
FINE.
*****FINAL RATING: 4.75 RED ROSES*****
