Karla and Kinsey Book Review: Part II

Legend by Marie Lu

Review by Kinsey Manchester

4.5/5 stars

15-year-old Day is one of the most wanted criminals in a futuristic country known as the Republic, a nation constantly fighting with its neighboring nation, the Colonies. Day lives his life on the streets, countlessly robbing, vandalizing and generally causing trouble in the slums of Los Angeles. As daunting as his record seems, Day does not have violent intentions. His motives are much simpler: to provide for his family. His polar opposite is a girl named June Iparis who was born into the elite part of the city. Her older brother Metias provides for her and helps her in her training, since he is her only family left. June is a 15-year-old prodigy, an agent in training, with her brother as her lifeline. When her brother is killed, her life is shattered. The number one suspect in this crime is none other than Day. June sets out for answers and revenge, determined to stop at nothing to make her brother’s killer pay for what he did. June and Day meet unexpectedly and together, uncover a secret. This secret has been kept from all of the Republic’s citizens. The government will protect it at any cost, even the lives of its own people.

Legend is a dystopian novel that will hook you right away. From the beginning, you will be unable to put this book down. It is full of action, romance, and mystery, enough to satisfy every type of reader. As you race along with Day and June, you will find yourself holding your breath and waiting to find out what happens next. The pace of the book was very fast, so expect it to be a quick but exciting ride. The characters are funny, even in desperate situations. They are relatable. Their emotions are very well displayed and are contagious. Whenever June or Day was sad, I was sad. This was good because I was able to connect with both Day and June’s motivations. Their reasoning made sense to me and I was not left feeling confused, as in other books. I also love the description of the Republic and the futuristic setting, which was wonderfully explained. I was practically in the slums with them and experiencing their adventures and struggles for survival. I was pleased with the conclusion and hope that a sequel comes out! The only setback to this novel was that it was kind of predictable. Other than that, I would recommend this book to many people because it is both addicting and satisfying.