Book

Legend by Marie Lu by Victoria Marian B. Belmis

> He is the most wanted criminal in The Republic of America. Day, File no: 462178-3233, is wanted for assault, arson, theft, destruction of military property, and hindering the war effort. She is the Republic’s favorite military prodigy. June, the only person in the entire Republic with a perfect 1500 score on her Trial. Set in the post-Apocalyptic Los Angeles, Legend opens with Day checking on his family, only his brother John knows that he is still alive, and making sure that they have not caught the plague that is wreaking havoc in the slums of the city. Day is worried about his mother as well as to Eden, his younger brother who is turning 10 and going to take the trial soon. Told in alternating perspectives of two different teenagers, Marie Lu’s Legend is not just your typical dystopian fiction considering the concept, writing style, plot, character build-up and twists, however, it still falls short below Divergent and The Hunger Games in terms of impact—admit it, it’s 2017 and you are still figuring out what faction

best fits you or mourn Rue’s death. Hunger Games has been the benchmark of today’s commercial dystopian fiction, it started the hype on the said genre, and compared to it, Legend is a little bit more realistic (this is for those who really love to go wandering in extremely fictional worlds). There is non-stop action. Lu masterly describes each action scene in the novel: the skiz fight between June and Kaede, a female bartender in the slums, was so thrilling that you can hear the blow-by-blow punches they throw each other while you read. There is teen romance, of course what is a young adult fiction without a little romance. There is the dystopian feel. The characters were made very relatable however, the protagonists are too perfect; in looks, intellect, and physical strength. Marie Lu’s debut novel can move you as much as it can make your hair raise in its actionfilled scenes. If you are a new to dystopian fiction, this novel is a good start. Legend is a complete package if you are looking for a new flavor for dystopian novels and more realistic feel. joust

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