Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publisher: Penguin UK (Imprint: Razorbill)
Publication Date: 28th November 2011
ISBN: 9780141339412
Stand alone or series: Series
Pages: 368 pages
Book Received from: Penguin Australia (Publishers) ARC/Uncorrected advanced proof
First Lines: My mother thinks I'm dead. Obviously I'm not dead, but it's safer for her to think so.
Synopsis: (Penguin Aus)
The United States is gone, along with its flooded coasts. North America's two warring nations, the western Republic and the eastern Colonies, have reached a breaking point. In the midst of this broken continent and dark new world are two teenagers who will go down in history . . .
Born into the slums of the Republic's Lake sector, fifteen-year old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. A mysterious boy with no recorded image or fingerprints. A boy who should no longer exist. A boy who watches over his family until one evening, when the plague patrols mark his family's door with an X - the sign of infection. A death sentence for any family too poor to afford the antidote. Day has no choice; he must steal it.
Born to an elite family in the wealthy Ruby sector, fifteen-year old June is the Republic's most promising prodigy. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country - until the day her brother Metias is murdered during a break-in at the plague hospital.
Only one person could be responsible.
Day.
And now it's June's mission to hunt him down.
The truth they'll uncover will become legend.
My Thoughts:
Legend has definitely lived up to the hype for me. Thanks to Penguin Australia I was lucky enough to receive an ARC/Uncorrected bound proof and I secretly did a happy dance over this.Legend is told from two characters, Day and June. Day is a criminal. Since failing his Trial Day, something that all ten year olds must take to determine where their future lies, he has lived on the streets, his own mother believing him to be dead. Hunted by the Republic, Day is forced to steal and do whatever necessary to both stay alive, and try and raise money for a plague that has hit many including his brother.
June Iparis is on the opposite end of the spectrum. As the only one to have reached the perfect score of 1500 she has moved through her schooling quickly and been labeled a prodigy. June is smart, adventurous and tad bit stubborn and with her perfect score, has been guaranteed a spot within the military. After finding out her brother is killed she is moved up a notch and is placed in the perfect spot to find and arrest the person who had taken her brother away from her. Day.
As far as dystopian's this is the best one I've read so far. The characters are far from your typical naive born under a rock type that sometimes pops up in this genre. Marie has done a great job in created wholesome and kick ass characters that will win you over completely. As it's told in both Day and Junes perspectives I found I really fell in love with both. There are also strong secondary characters including Tess who really do the story justice.
Legend is a fantastic action packed read, where you can't help but cheer for the underdogs in an overpowering government run country. With a splash of romance that doesn't overpower the main story line this has a little of everything.
Recommended read.
