Many weeks ago, I decided for my English Language Arts (ELA) that I was going to read a juicy, good book (besides any graphic novels like Diary of A Wimpy Kid series). The only problem was that honestly, I’m a picky reader, so some of the books were either too childish or the blurb was just too boring for me. I then scrolled through the Fantasy section of Sora (the book app, not the video game character) and found a book for myself. The book was out of copies, so I placed a hold on the book for later.
A few days later, I finally got the book that I wanted to read (I also got the graphic novel version of the book to compare to the original version ). And all I have to say about the book is.. IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! The book was keeping me hooked to read more and more of the book. When I was done, I decided to read the sequel of that book as well. After finishing the sequel, I decided to recommend this book to others. I recommend this book to people that love and enjoy dystopian books like “The Hunger Games” and “Red Queen”. The book is a famous one called “Legend” by Marie Lu.
In this dystopian book, there are not one, but TWO main protagonists, and “Legend” is entirely written in first person, so the book switches between perspectives each chapter. This book contains mature themes, as do all the other books in the series. Now, let me get the review started!
The story takes place in a now dystopian USA, with the USA being divided into two rivals between each other, the Republic and the Colonies. The story first takes place in the Republic, where many chaotic events are opening the gates…
The very first chapter is narrated by Daniel (mostly known as Day) Altan Wing, the most wanted criminal in the Republic, whom the former is only 15 years old. Nobody knows what Day looks like, and the true reason why he robs banks and other places. You see, Day’s family is poor, so Day only steals things just to give those stolen items to his family, whom the latter tragically think Day is dead. Alongside him is Tess (who soon becomes an important character in the series), who is an orphan, so Day raised her to help him.
When Day finds out that his little brother, Eden, has the Plague (which is a deadly disease in the book), he also finds soldiers spray-painting an X on his family’s door, like all the other houses around the neighborhood. But instead of the usual X, Day sees the soldiers spray a third line, cutting the X in half. What might this mean for Day and his family?
In the Republic Every kid must take a test called the Trial when they are 10 years old. It tests your smartness, stamina, there even is an interview included! Then the Republic scores them out of 1500 points. If one get a perfect score (1500/1500), then they become a Prodigy and they get honored. If one gets a normal score, then they continue their normal life, but if one fails their trial… It’s complicated. What the Republic says is that they get sent to labor camps. But this is only what the REPUBLIC says. When Day did his trial, he failed. BUT, there are no labor camps! The kids that fail get experimented on and DIE. Day survived the experiment and is the only person that knows what happens if one fails the Trial.
Anyway, the second main protagonist, who also narrates “Legend” is the Republic’s 15 year old prodigy, June Ipartis. June is the only person in the Republic who got a perfect score on your trial. Her brother, Metias is a soldier for the Republic and is overprotective of June, which is because both of June’s parents died in a car crash, so Metias is the one who takes care of June. Again, June is the only prodigy in the Republic and her parents died in a car crash. Both of these statements are true. Or are they?
Now, let’s get to the climax of the story. When Day finds out that Eden has the Plague, Day decides to sneak into a local hospital to “steal” some Plague cures for his family, since Day’s family is poor, so they can’t purchase the medicine themselves. When he succeeds in getting the Plague cures, he then finds himself getting chased by Metias (remember him?). To make his escape, Day throws some small knives, just below Metias’s shoulder. With Metias distracted, Day makes his escape.
After the event from the last paragraph, June receives a tragic message from Thomas, another soldier that works for the Republic (and one of Metias’s friends): Metias has been killed.
Commander Jameson, the leader of the Republic army, then leads June and other soldiers to the crime scene, where June mourns the death of her brother. June then finds something that makes her taste vengeance: Day’s pendant. You see, June was amazed by Day’s agility and brains when he committed crimes. But now, it seems like it was just an illusion.
Day is now the prime suspect of Metias’s death. But did Day actually kill Metias? Will June ever find out the true behavior of the Republic? Who is the villain in this malicious tale? And who even KILLED Metias? All of those questions will be answered in “Legend”!
NO I WILL NOT SPOIL IT FOR YOU! You have to read the book for yourself! There is also a second book called “Prodigy”, and a conclusion called “Champion”, and lastly, there is a book truly completing the Legend series called “Rebel”. All of the four are great dystopian books that YOU might love!
Happy Reading!
– Nova Subedi