Champion

by Marie Lu
4.5/5 stars
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013
369 pages
YA Dystopia Finale

Source: Library

Finally I have a chance to finish the Legend trilogy! I was quite impressed with Legend and Prodigy so of course I had to see how it ended, clutching my hopes for June and Day close to my chest. I also must mention that I expected this cover would have red for the color and I was correct (ahem). I believe I managed to avoid spoilers for this book but this probably won't make much sense if you're not familiar with the first two books of the series.

Like the previous books, Champion alternates narration between our two protagonists who have been separated for some months but who still maintain a steady love for each other. For real, the June/Day relationship has been a big part of my enjoyment of this book. I was so nervous to pick it up because I feared that someone was going to die. I don't want to spoil the ending but the way that everything unspooled with their relationship left me pretty satisfied. Is it what I would have written? Well, no because I go unrealistically happy with my writing but it is fitting for the tone and in line with the events of this book. Furthermore we go deeper into the inner life of each character with Day's relationship to his brother taking up more space because they're finally reunited and June discovering what she wants to pursue in life and making tremendous sacrifices.

While that romantic relationship was important in forming a bond to this series, it is not the only element of interest. The struggling government of the Republic and its historical repression of its people but also efforts to change implemented by new Elector Anden caught my attention too. The very existence of this nation is in peril over the course of this book and naturally Day and June are integral to the fight. As we approached the end of the story, the chapters got shorter and shorter, causing me to clutch it closer and almost bite my nails (I have managed to break myself of that habit) because I just had to know how everything would turn out. Things look bleak at points and, again sadly for me, there is no unrealistic crazy happy ending. Rebuilding and changing takes time and this book recognizes that fact.

Overall: A suspenseful conclusion to the trilogy that kept me on the edge of my seat and managed to please my huge shipping of Day and June.

Prodigy

Prodigy by Marie Lu
4.5/5 stars
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013
371 pages
YA Dystopia
Sequel to Legend

Source: Library

Legend was one of my favorite books from 2012 so I was heavily anticipating this second book especially after seeing so much positive buzz for it. My feelings about this book are also largely positive but there may be some SPOILERS so be forewarned.

June and Day are on the run: the prodigy and the criminal, united in a common purpose against the Republic (which reminded me very strongly of North Korea in this book). They are recruited by the resistance to assassinate the new Elector, June's old compatriot Anden. But on their quest to accomplish that, they uncover some surprising realities and keep the reader on the edge of her seat.

Now of course there is so much more to this story than the romantic parts but that has been my favorite section. June and Day are an amazing, smart, powerful (would-be) couple. And the fact that some people got in the way of that made me angry. Gah, I wanted to cut Tess! Anden was less irksome, I think because he didn't know June had Day but Tess knew and a girl I thought I liked in Legend became absolutely loathsome to me. I know that these two kids do not have an easy road ahead of them (made all the more difficult by the decisions of the last few chapters) but I'm rooting for them!

Like the first book, this is again told in alternating chapters, which were very easy to fly through. Day's font is blue instead of gold this time and I found that much easier to read while it also has the bonus of matching the cover. Also like the first book, this is filled with action, tough decisions, and stunning revelations. The world of June and Day is only getting darker and murkier-there are no easy paths and the ending left me near heartbroken but relieved that there will be a book three to hopefully give some resolution.

Cover: I am wondering if the third book will have red in the cover? Could look cool with the gray/yellow and blue/black covers.

Other Opinions:
Debbie's World of Books
Gone with the Words
Holes In My Brain
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Tripping Over Books

Legend

Legend by Marie Lu
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2011
305 pages
YA; Dystopian
4.5/5 stars

Source: Library

I saw quite a bit of buzz around this book so I wanted to pick it up and see if it lived up to the hype. I was surprised to reach the first page and discover that the font was in gold (I did enjoy the matching color font in Maggie Stiefvater's Forever trilogy). Even more surprised was I to finish the first chapter and discover a different font, color, and narrator for the second chapter. And that is how the whole story is told: in alternating perspectives. Now this can be difficult if you end up preferring one narrator to the other and then you're just waiting for her to return but I was pretty evenly split.

Our first narrator is most-wanted criminal Day, a fifteen-year-old kid from the slums who has been bothering the Republic for five years ever since he failed his Trial. He causes great disruptions but seems to run alone and make a point of not killing anyone. Until the night he does kills Metias, brother to our other narrator June.

I really loved June (just the teensiest bit more than Day). She's a military prodigy, who earned a perfect score on the Trial (the only to do so) and has enjoyed a spectacular career at military school, where she is preparing to join her older brother in safeguarding the Republic until his tragic death leaves her alone in the world (she was already orphaned) and starts her off on the path to track down Day. Of course, because she's brilliant and innovative, she manages to find Day and have him arrested. But is Day as bad as the government says or is there more to the story?

I think what appealed to me about June was, well actually a lot of things, but two in particular. First her brains made me think of River from Firefly, a show I am currently savoring rewatching. This connection makes me happy. The other main reason is I love when characters think their government is so great and then slowly discover that major things are being covered up. Because then this character gets to go in high-gear and kick some major butt as June does!

Now don't get me wrong, I liked Day too. I loved their similarities-how both are so smart and can easily adapt to various situations; how they don't want to hurt people; how they're so protective of their families; how they want to do the right thing. This helped me root for their romance, which ended up taking a bigger role than I would have liked by the end but I'll forgive that.

Overall: A splendid time was had by me as I devoured this book-I would very highly recommend it!