Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Scifi
Publication: Penguin Books Ltd
Release Date: November 29th 2011 (hardcover)
Pages: 295 (paperback)
Spoilers: Not really! Keeping it clean here 🙂
If you have ever read my blog before, you’d know that I need more than 24 hours per day to do all the things I want to do. (See:http://dutchbookchick.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/update-on-my-to-read-list/) And that includes reading books. I was, and am, really busy with school. I wanted to take a break from my maths, bio and chemistry books, so I decided to start reading the book that was on top of my ‘To Read’ list.
And here’s the thing: I was planning on not reading this book within 24 hours. But I did it, accidentally. I started last night around 11 p.m. and 2 hours ago I already finished it. I know it is stupid, since I have two test coming up this Friday, but I did it anyway (don’t bother to tell me how wrong it is, people have tried to tell me that before, didn’t work).
My friend who works at a bookshop, had already read this book way before I did. She also read the sequel (Legend #2 is called Prodigy) and even though she’s not always enthusiastic about telling people she loves reading, she told me anyway. I got so excited and bought Legend and Prodigy.
So, last night, I started reading. The book is set in a future California. There’s been a flood and the Republic is in war with the Colonies. The Republic is corrupt and you are either very poor or very rich. At the age of 10, children must take a trial to determine whether they are worthy to the Replublic or not. The highest score you can get is 1500/1500. That’s very rare.
The story revolves around both Day (the most wanted criminal in the Republic) and June (the perfect rich girl with a score of 1500/1500). Things work out really strange and Day and June become enemies, without knowing each other. They meet but have never seen one another before so it takes a while to realize that Day actually is the criminal that June is looking for (to avenge her borther’s death) and that June works for the government that Day is trying so hard to avoid.
I don’t know what it is in these stories but I always find myself hoping that things doesn’t turn out the way they do. I keep hoping for a happy ending. But Marie Lu isn’t one for happy endings, that’s for sure. At the end of the first book, June en Day are a live, but they face an even bigger danger than they ever did. Will their love be strong enough?
I’m not gonna spoil anything more. I must admit that the characters are a bit superficial and everything is happening super fast, but the story is so exciting, emotional and overwhelming, I found myself reading every free (and non-free) second I had today. The book kept hunting me while I was at school and when I got home I had no other choice but to finish this thrilling book.
The book has twists and turns I didn’t see coming and I found myself crying at the last pages of the book. All the emotions coming out. (Yes, I cry over books. A lot). This book has it all: a future America, two teenagers falling in love and an impossible world to live in. The book contains things we can all recognize: love, fear and hope. Desperation, happiness and above all strength.
So, since I’m a good girl, I want curse or anything. But if you’re not jumping out of your chair to get your lazy ass over to the book store to buy Legend (and Prodigy): I WILL JUDGE YOU.
Since I’m an obsessive reader, you’ll see my next review about the sequel “Prodigy” online without a couple of days (I guess that’ll be Sunday). To tell you the truth: I’m afraid to read the second book, because the third (trilogy) book isn’t released yet. I can tell you guys by experience, the second book always has the BIGGEST CLIFFHANGER.
GO GO! Read this book!
