So I know I said Monday...but yesterday I left my apartment for one thing then kinda didn't come home until bed time. But better late than never. Let’s
discuss this little series that starts with Legend
by Marie Lu, who is ubber sweet by way.
I’ve read the entire series at the end of last year and WOW. The last book, the whole series if I’m
honest, made my top books of 2014 and today I am finally getting my thoughts
about the first book, Legend,
and the series as a whole down. I’ll
keep the first part spoiler free for those who are as behind as I was.
The
story is a futuristic dystopian that takes place in what used to be the United
States, now it’s divided into the Republic and the Colonies. Both are perpetually at war. The story is told from two sets of view, one
from one of the Republics wealthiest districts, June, who is a prodigy and is
expected to rise to success in the highest military ranks. And then we have Day, the country’s most
wanted criminal who was born in the slums.
They are from very different worlds but their worlds collide when June’s
brother is murdered and Day is the prime suspect. Day races to stay alive and save his family
while June is looking for revenge. But
as things progress the two uncover secrets and the truth about what sinister
lengths the country will go to keep its secrets.
June
and Day. Okay I admit one thing that in
the first part of the first book was that they were so young, 15 I
believe. That seemed a bit young for me
with everything they were going through but once I ignored the age thing I
pictured them a bit older and all was right in my internal picture. Though I think that may just be a me
thing. Also, something I thought was
pretty cool, in the physical copy of the books (I don’t know if it would do
this on e-readers) is that as it changes from Day to June it changed ink
color. I found it pretty interesting
that the ink color also matched the books covers (Legend= Gold, Prodigy=
Blue, and Champion= Red). Noting to do with the story really but the
attention and unique detail made me smile.
The
first book is packed with so…much. We
fall into this world and we have two characters we see the world from, two
completely different people. The way the
world of the Republic is for someone on the poor side and someone raised with
the best of everything. We see the
motivations behind each of their actions as we go along their journey. It’s hard to pick a side when you want to
agree with both of them. Each one is
biased over their past experiences both good and bad. I loved the dynamic there. Getting to know both June and Day, seeing
what made them tick and watching as they developed over the course of the
series was great. The entire world is
like one big nightmare but still I couldn’t help trying to figure out if the
system would work for me or against me.
Action
galore. Day the criminal is always
working on a plan, always coming up with something to provide him and his
friend and family with food and supplies but also ways that fight against the
Republic and make him the people’s hero.
June on the other hand is a finely tuned machine ready for action, just
itching to use her schooling and show she the best. Be it brawls, chases , flash backs,
break-ins, break-outs, whatever these two characters like to be moving and
doing.
With the action comes
plenty of meat on the bones of the story.
There is a lot of political motivation, revolution and rebellion in the
story that spurs it along. And still there
is a balance with learning about them and watching as the characters get to
know one another both before either knows the other and after.
That’s all I can really
say without being a bit spoilery so if you haven’t read the whole series then
you should skip right to the comments to share your thoughts and come back to
finish reading once you’re all caught up!
*****Slight spoilers ahead if you haven’t read the
first 2 books yet*****
LOVE! I had to share. I LOVED this series. Everything from the characters, June and Day,
down to the lesser supporting characters, the ones we keep and the ones we
lose, the different structure, the world itself and what devastation it has
fallen into. It’s hard to pick a
favorite part but some of my favorite parts include the way the world was
portrayed. Neither system, the Colonies,
the Republic, Antarctica, each system seems to have its own flaws, there is no
system that is 100% great to everyone.
To be able to write a balanced world and not skew it one way or the
other for the reader is a real treat; to be shown so much and allowed to make
up my own mind with the characters.
Another
favorite is the development in both Day and June. They go from complete opposites, enemies
really, with such skewed views of one another to be much closer. They both have lost so much, and in the war,
in a place where everything isn’t sunshine and rainbows that is important to
the development. Now yes, I do feel Day
suffered more losses than one should have to in their life. But it changes them into who they are through
each book, they continue to grow and change.
Amazing. And one last thing. The ending!
I won’t spoil it but the last little bit I was beyond myself thinking it
just could not end that way, then we get that fast forward and it was a balm to
my heart.
*****End Spoilers*****
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| She is super sweet and stylish! |
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