📘 Legend
by Marie Lu
Genre Fiction ◦ YA ◦ Dystopian
Format & Source Print ◦ Library
Publication Putnam Juvenile ◦ 2011
Dates Read August 14 – September 7, 2014
Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
📝 My Review
This was the August pick for my Forever YA book club and I thought it was pretty good!
Legend is a YA dystopian novel set in a futuristic United States which has been torn into two warring sides: the Republic and the Colonies. The story is narrated by two teens: June, a military prodigy born into a wealthy sector, and Day, an elusive criminal born into the poor lake sector. While June has heard of the infamous Day, she doesn’t become interested in him until her brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. While June is sent on a mission to track him down, both for the military and for her own vengeance, Day is scrambling on the streets trying to avoid authorities and search for a plague cure to help his sick family. What no one expects is that these two forces will uncover a secret that has been safely guarded by the Repbulic’s authorities for many years that will change everything.
I have to say, this book kind of bored me for the first 80 pages or so but then the pace really picked up and hooked me in. I know a lot of people say dystopians are overdone, but I don’t read a whole lot of them and found this one to be enjoyable. I enjoyed the turn of events and surprises that came with the two teens uncovering a dangerous secret, and enjoyed watching their relationship change over time, several different times. I found both characters to be likeable in their own ways, and even enjoyed the slight romantic aspect which many people tend to complain about when it comes to dystopians. For those of you who DO hate romance in their dystopians, please note that romance is not the main story line here, so don’t let it deter you.
There are many interesting factors that come into play in this novel such as a deadly plague which tends to strike the poor sectors, and a “trial,” that each child takes at the age of 10 to determine their life fate. The book is action-packed and suspenseful, and will keep you guessing quite a bit.
All in all, this was a good one and I will read the rest of the trilogy when I get the chance.
“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.”
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