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Sunday 29 January 2012

A Review for Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu

Posted by Donna
Expected Published Date: February 2nd, 2012
Finished Date: January 29th, 2012
Publishers: Puffin
Source: ARC, For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
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The Blurb from Goodreads: The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history....
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 Born into the slums of Los Angeles, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X--the sign of plague infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Desperate, Day has no choice; he must steal it.

Born to an elite family in Los Angeles' wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. A superintelligent girl destined for great things in the country's highest military circles. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country--until the day her brother Metias is murdered while on patrol during a break-in at the plague hospital.

Only one person could be responsible. Day. And now it's June's mission to hunt him down. The truth they'll uncover will become legend.

The Review: “You’re brilliant,” he says. “But you’re a fool to stay with someone like me.” I close my eyes at the touch of his hand. “Then we’re both fools.”
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This is the second dystopian book I’ve read this week that has completely surpassed my expectations and I have to say, Legend is a powerful, addictive and fast paced novel that is action packed, with an explosive storyline and a love story that will leave you begging for more.

June and Day are both 15 years old who both live in completely different worlds and both will do anything for the ones they love. The only thing is, Day is the worlds most wanted criminal and June is the super intelligent girl working for the Republic. When Day breaks into a hospital to try to find medicine for his sick brother, he is accused of murdering June’s brother, Metias. So June makes it her mission to hunt down Day and capture him so he can no longer run around the streets of Los Angeles’. However, when June finally meets Day for the first time, he’s not like how the Republic have made him out to be - he’s kind, sweet and not at all a monster but who is the real monster in this story…..Day or the Republic?

I’m so thrilled to have loved this book as much as everyone else because I’d heard a few mixed reviews recently but after reading the first two chapters, I was hooked. Marie Lu captivated me from start to finish and made me want to continue reading about the story and characters even when I finished the book. Now I have a long and painful wait until September for the next instalment.

What I noticed and loved about this book was how very unique the characters were. Both June and Day are portrayed as very different characters but if anything they are more alike than anyone else. They are very smart, very brave and very loyal and even with everything going on in their crazy world; they manage to stay true to themselves. What I had to keep reminding myself through-out this book, was that they are only 15 years old. Sometimes they appear to much older and I personally think 15 is a little young for this book but with June being a super smart kid and Day being Day, I guess it fits with the story and it’s something I can overlook.

Now the romance in the book isn’t the main focus of the story, it’s the back story and something you know is there but doesn’t truly reveal itself until the very last moment. I have to say, I wished for more romance BUT the ending did leave me very content and satisfied, so I have very high hopes for the next book.

Overall, Marie Lu has created a fascinating, dangerous and thrilling world with Legend, one full of exciting twists and turns, full of betrayal and full of hidden secrets that will have you sitting on the edge of your sit until the very last page. A must read for any dystopian fan! I loved it!

7 comments:

Erin W. said...

Great review! I really enjoyed this book. It'll be interesting what happens in book 2.

Sezzy said...

Oh I can't wait to read this now! :)

Hazal said...

definitely want to read this now! June sounds like such an awesome character

Haley @ YA-Aholic said...

Ah this sounds so awesome Donna!!! Your review is seriously amazing!!!!!!!!!! Totally moving this up the TBR list now! (:

Andrea @ Cozy Up said...

I really loved Legend! I like the cover you have here compared to the one on my copy! Great review, I definitely enjoyed the love story between Day and June, and this was definitely action packed! Can't wait to see what happens next :)

Unknown said...

Great review. I just read this and I really liked it but, I found it predictable in a lot of places. I gave it a 4 on goodreads

Alyssa_Susanna said...

Yay for Legend! I read and loved this book! I gave it four stars as well. I loved the double story throughout the book, but I found the climax and end predictable. Not that predictability is always a bad thing. I didn't mind as much as I usually wouls. I think that despite the fact that this book is another dystopia, I like this one more than, for example, Matched/Crossed by Ally Condie, Delirium/Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver, XVI/Truth by Julia Karr, Birthmarked/Prized by Caragh O'Brien, and so on. I like Day, and I like June. Can't wait to read Prodigy!!!!! :D
Thanks for the review!
Alyssa <3

 
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