Sunday 14 April 2013

Review: Lengend by Marie Lu


Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Penguin  
Release Date: 2nd February 2012
Format: Paperback (295 pages)
Series: The Legend Trilogy 

Synopsis from Goodreads

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.

Cover: For once I’m actually glad they changed the covers. The original UK cover had a girl on a rooftop and everything was all golden. Then the covers were changed so that they were pretty much exactly what the US covers looked like, which is good because I actually prefer them as they are a lot more simple and make me think of the DIVERGENT covers in the context of the symbols. Also that and the fact that I hate models on covers. 

The Characters: The main characters are Day and June. Day is a poor boy from the slums hiding out because he’s a wanted criminal (although no one actually knows what he looks like) and he’s family thinks he’s dead (explained in the novel.) June is a wealthy privileged girl who goes to an elite military school. They are quite similar in physical ability and logic.     

The Plot: Set in the future, the country once know as the United States is now the Republic. There is a raging war between them and the Colonies and the Patriots. Kids are tested in Trails on the 10th birthday to see if they are fit to join the military, those with the best scores are sent to the best schools to be trained, others are sent to work in factories and other less prestigious jobs. In certain areas a plague swarms and Day is shocked when one of his family members contact it. In a desperate attempt to save his family Day tries to steal some cures but Captain Metias Iparis is murdered and Day is held responsible. Metias‘ little sister June vows to get revenge on her brother’s murderer and find Day. 

My Thoughts: This book had been getting rave reviews from everyone and I was really excited to read it and I practically jumped for joy when it came in the post. Let’s just get one thing straight, it’s not a bad book, it’s written well, has a good steady pace and things like world building and character development were done brilliantly. It was just there were several mysteries that make up the basis the novel and your basically meant to be kept guessing until it’s revealed in which your supposed to gasp in surprise. This would have been all well and good if I had worked it all out from the get go. None of it surprised me because I had worked it out at the beginning, I so when these big revelations are revealed I just found myself sighing as it took them long enough. Out of all the things that happened there were probably two things that I didn’t work out from the start but that was it. Maybe it’s because of all my day watching Murder, She Wrote that has given me a keen eye when it comes to mystery or maybe Marie Lu needs to be a little less predictable.  

Recommend? Yes. It is a good read.

Final Thoughts: I did enjoy the book, I read it in one siting a was thoroughly engaged in these characters lives and world. I just don’t get all the hype it received.  


Rating: 3.5 Stars 


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