Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend
by Marie Lu
Hardcover, 305 pages
Published November 29th 2011 by Putnam Juvenile
Glasses: 4.4 

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.

My Thoughts

One of my friends had been bugging me to read this, so when I picked it up I had very high expectations. My first impression of the book was how pretty it was. There were different fonts and interesting colors plus a whole bunch of stuff that make it completely different from your normal run of the mill printed novel. Next was the story.

And can I just say, how adorable was the whole June/Day thing?! Awwww!!!! >.<

The plot was complex, interesting, exciting, and definitely kept you guessing. I loved this book a lot, but I wasn't completely enthralled. As June, a child prodigy for the Republic, tracks down Day, one of the nation's biggest criminals, she finds out just how twisted of an era they live in. One of the particular things I loved about the book was how it kept my guessing. I never knew what was going to happen next and when it did, I was really involved with the story. I got made when June got mad and got really upset with Day.

Overall, it was a really interesting and well worth read. However, there was a few things that I wasn't a big fan of. First and foremost was that their society was almost like every other tyrannical corrupt society in any other distopian novel out there. It was a weird mix of The Hunger Games with Across the Universe (minus the space stuff). Also, the ending was sort of off for me. I could live with that ending, despite it not being entirely conclusive, it was enough to make me feel closure. So to know that there's a second book kind of puts irks me. There are so many series coming out that I think it would be nice just to have a couple books be by themselves. Just simple non-series. As much as I love series in general, I think this would have been really good on its own.

But despite all that, I loved reading it. Check it out before the summer ends! :D