Review: Legend

Legend by Marie Lu

Book: ★★☆☆☆
Cover: ★★☆☆☆

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (November 29, 2011)

       

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.

                                       
  This was an exciting, well paced read that I took in in one sitting. The characters, June and Day, are very well developed, as are the other characters. In fact, the characters are definitely the high point of the entire book. June's grief for Metias is very real and painful to you, and even though you only encounter him living once in the entire book, you find yourself caring deeply when he dies. Day is very mysterious at first, but eventually you learn his story and his motive for being the Republic's most wanted criminal.

  Like I said, I think the character development is this books high point.Other than that, I did find this book to be extremely predictable. Part of that was foreshadowing that was not so much foreshadowing but more like giant, neon flashing billboards. For example: "I got the sense that he was going to do this particular thing that is bad." and then "Oh no, look, wow, I was right. I can't believe that at all." The other part that made it so predictable was simply that it is a rather classic plot. Pretty much, you saw things miles before you came to them, which is a big negative point for me. I love not knowing what to think in a book and having and ending that hits you in the gut. I didn't really get that with this book.

 Another drawback for me was the lack of description. I think the world of Legend had some serious potential to be an amazing place, but you just don't get to know enough about it to see that. The sectors- how much space and how many people do the consist of? The war between the Republic and the Colonies- why did that happen? So much more was aching to be explained but was never touched. I think that if the author had elaborated on the world, the book would have been that much better.

 I also wish the book had more exploration. I love adventure in books. I feel like it adds volumes of... I don't know, mojo to a book. And when a book is set in one place (how boring would a book be if it were about a person in a concrete box who only thinks of tin foil? I should write that just to see how many times my brain would implode on itself in the process.), it is sort of stripped of that many-layered mojo.

 Overall, an okay read. If you're see it at the library, I say give it a swing. Maybe you'll like it more than I did. On terms of creativeness, this book scored pretty well. Like I've said about a trillion times, however, I wish there was just more complications and stuff.