Thursday 21 January 2016

REVIEW 'Legend' by Marie Lu

'Legend' (Legend #1) by Marie Lu

Goodreads Synopsis:

"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."

5*****

Hi Elementareaders!

‘Legend’ is the first book in a young adult dystopian trilogy by Marie Lu.

In a futuristic America the military Republic rules over the people. At the age of ten all citizens take a trial and their score decides where they get to finish school and what job they can have. In the poor sectors most people score between 1000 and 1249 and they end up with the rubbish jobs that no-one really wants to do. The rich tend to score higher, between 1250 and 1499 and they get jobs in the military or the government. Score below 1000 and you fail and are sent off to a labour camp. Very few get the perfect score of 1500.

June is one of those few. At fifteen years old she is at a top university and is likely to graduate ahead of all her peers. Her older brother, Metias, has high hopes for her in the military. Day is the opposite of June. He failed his trial but escaped from the labour camp and has been living in the slums since. But he has kept busy, independently fighting against the Republic by destroying vehicles and generally causing trouble. Although he always makes sure that no-one gets hurt in his escapades, he is one of the Republic’s most wanted criminals.

Day’s younger brother, Eden, falls sick with the plague and Day breaks into a hospital to steal a cure (which they have run out of), but during his escape he injures Metias who is on patrol. But when the news reaches June, Metias has been killed and she is suddenly graduated early from university and put on a team to capture Day. She goes undercover in the slums to draw him out, but when she meets him he’s not quite as she expected. After strongly denying that he killed her brother, June begins to question whether the Republic is quite as perfect as she has been led to believe.

I’d been wanting to read these books for a while so I was thrilled when I got the trilogy for Christmas, and the first book certainly didn’t disappoint! I loved the story and the characters, and the writing just flowed so well.

The book is written in first person from Day and June’s perspectives in alternating chapters. Both these characters have been brought up very differently, believing very different things so it was great to see this dystopian world from both points of view. I really liked how Day, a boy who June had been led to believe was the worst kind of criminal, managed to make June see her perfect Republic from another perspective.

I really enjoyed the first book and I’m looking forward to carrying on with the trilogy.


I would give this book 5 stars :)


Places to buy:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide!)
Audible.com

Find Marie Lu on:
marielu.org
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