Book Review | Prodigy by Marie Lu

Featured on Entertainment Weekly's MUST-LIST! The highly anticipated second book in Marie Lu's New York Times bestseller, LEGEND—perfect for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT! June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

-Amazon

This freaking novel. This review will either be extremely short because I cannot adequately describe how awesome it is, or really long because all the little bits I love about it have clicked. Prodigy is a spectacular sequel to Legend. One never knows how a sequel will fare in the wake of a highly anticipated series, but Marie Lu is marvelous.

Prodigy picks up right where Legend leaves off, with Day and June on the run from the Republic. The adventure heightens all the more when they join the Patriots and are asked by the Patriot leader to assassinate newly elected dictator, Anden. As June and Day are separated once more, they both have the opportunity to question where their allegiance truly lies, and whether they're on the right side.

I loved that, instead of making Day and June destined lovers, Marie Lu allows them to stumble through it. They question the good and bad sides of each other, and wonder at times whether they should continue on together. It's so entertaining and heartbreaking at times to read the thoughts that they have, the second guesses, suspicion, etc. I loved June's approach to love. She is so truthful in her opinions that it can be awkward in an awesome way. I find that many of us will relate to her levelheadedness in this area. Meanwhile Day, is overcome with concern for his little brother, June's safety, and his best friend Tess who is an ever present challenge towards his relationship with June.

Of course, I expected to think that Anden is slimy, slippery, and two faced. But he, as of now, is wonderful. I did not expect the quiet sincerity that would come from him, whilst also admiring his attempts at standing his ground in his newfound position as dictator of the Republic. I love when authors throw in such wild card characters! Another character that really rises to the occasion is Kaede. She is a rock star, who seems to be fearless in every respect.

I love that Marie Lu was not afraid of taking action to the hilt in Prodigy. It's great to see female authors unafraid to explore this form of action has hard as any male would. I've never read such smooth, fantastic action sequences in a novel before. The last huge sequence in the novel is not to be missed! Talk about breathless, and rushing to keep up with everything happening. (The Film Better Be Brilliant.)

Bare in mind: Legend contains violence and some sensuality.

I'm still shaking my head in wake of this fantastic novel. Marie Lu gave us a taste with Legend, but she really kicks it up a notch in Prodigy. Nothing is as it seems. Nothing. And that ending? Oh that ending. The only horrible thing is the time we will have to wait until the third novel releases.

 

I give Prodigy by Marie Lu five out of five cups of Prince of Wales tea...and a fast ride in a jet.

Book Review | Legend by Marie Lu

A New York Times bestseller! 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.

-Amazon

I'll admit that I had no intention of reading this novel. For some reason, I simply wasn't drawn to it at first. And upon spotting it in all of its beautiful hardcover glory, I decided to give in, hoping that it lived up to its acclaim. Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to smack myself for even considering giving this series the brush off.

Legend is a high octane Dystopian novel set in a civil war torn country that once was the United States. June is the wonder prize of the Republic, that seeks to mold her into a kind of exemplary model of loyalty. She is honored to get out and fight the Colonies, the other half of the US who threaten Republic Territory. However, when her brother, and Republic officer, Mettias, is June sets out on a mission to hunt down the only possible suspect, Day.

First off, this novel is highly ambitious. I would never, in most cases, want so badly for a novel to be adapted to film, but Legend written in a sweeping, cinematic way that begs to be filmed. I loved Marie Lu's portrayal of the overwhelmingly intimidating Republic. Lu does such a beautiful job of painting this frightening dictatorship, along with shedding light on the secrets they hold back from their people. I also adored that it was set in a war ravaged Los Angeles.

Legend is written in the dual point of views of June and Day. Though I have read of some who found this off putting, I found it fascinating to see the Republic through the eyes of a girl on the inside, and a guy on the outside. One of the things I also heard around the blogosphere is the positive impression that June leaves on readers. I have to agree. With the trend of seemingly childlike and naive female protagonists in Young Adult fiction, June puts all of our arguments to rest. She is a prodigy, whose military background has turned her into a calculated, well thought, highly observant fighting machine. She is confident of her abilities, and really only ever seems unsure of herself when it comes to Day.

Day is on the opposite side of the coin. He has become the first criminal to ever evade the Republic, because of the great love he holds for his family, and the great lengths he will take to get them the aid they need. He is just as talented, agile, and prolific as June is, and to watch them both meet is like fireworks on the Fourth of July. I loved the dynamic between the two of them. They challenge one another. Marie Lu has captured two awesome characters who are beautifully balanced between their identities toward the Republic and behind closed doors. Both hold such vulnerability that rival their seeming perfect personas very nicely.

Marie Lu has created a wonderful supporting cast as well. Tess, Day's friend, is so precious, and selfless. It made me angry that such a sweetheart even has to endure all that she does. Another character that really blew my mind is Kaede, who is a spitfire. She really adds spunk to the plot. Mettias, June's brother is all that anyone could ever want in a brother, supportive, protective, the works. Thomas. This one is a bit grayer. He seems caring, and protective of June, but is also very robotic a times.

Bare in Mind: Legend contains violence.

Legend is simply one of the best dystopian books I've read since The Hunger Games. Not many books in this genre has thrilled and captured my heart as this series (so far) has. Marie Lu is a master of giving us everything that goes into writing a brilliant, fast paced, epic story without over doing it: Action, suspense, romance, heartbreaking emotion, and that driving spirit that goes into the fight against injustice.

I give Legend by Marie Lu five out of five cups of Cranberry Tonic (because that's what I am currently inhaling).

Lit Rants: Screen Adaptations

So, I'm reading a new novel (hypothetical), the beginning of a brand new series. After I finish, I brimming because I couldn't put it down. I log into GoodReads, and notice the acclaim it's getting. I'm so excited...but then I flinch. Popularity in Young Adult, usually means a series will be optioned for some kind of screen adaptation, and oh, is this bittersweet.

Don't get me wrong, I'm always excited for the author when their work gets optioned. This door opens a new level of acclaim for them. It's every writers dream, even my own. But the business has this way of turning something beautiful and exciting, into something overextended and sickening. Lets look at Twilight. I started reading this series in 2007, right before the madness hit. I remember being highly against turning it into a film, but willing to go along for the ride. Years pass, and not only has the market been steeped in sparkly vampires, and overheated werewolves, we also have Twilight stickers, t-shirts (which I love), toothbrushes, notebooks, and comparisons to other things that it has no business being compared to. I am a rabid Twilight fan, and have been first on line to see every film. I'm even looking forward to picking up my box set. But, the market doesn't seem to know that less is more. A series doesn't have to be plastered along every medium possible to get someone's attention.

The relationship between a series and its fandom (prior to the film) is alluring because you can connect with people who all love the same novel; But you, as an individual can maintain your own unique visioning of it in your imagination. It's commonly said that reading is a personal act, and I can't help but feeling like adapting it to screen causes some of its imaginative magic to fizzle. At once, the fandom stops talking about how awesome the books are. We're now concerned with how attractive the actors are, and the personal lives of said actors begin to intersect with a literary fantasy. Directors/Screenwriters say they want to adapt said novel, but then decide to change the story-line entirely (cue this proposed television adaption of Delirium by Lauren Oliver... appalled, Ladies and Gentlemen). And now arguments ensue between those who read the books, and those who've only watched the film, about things that did or did not occur in said medium. What???

I'm not so much against the adapting of books. There are some series' that are so epic that they, depending on the directors vision, could translate beautifully to film. I am against the commercialized gimmick it causes a book/series to become. I know I'm not alone in saying that I have an even better experience reading something that has not been widespread, nitpicked, and forced down everyone's throat because of a money hungry production company. I wonder if it is possible to turn a highly anticipated book series into a film, without diluting its awesomeness.

What do you guys think of screen adaptions?

P.S. I've just started the Legend series, and I'm thrilled. There's a film coming for this one as well. I think it could be awesome! Review to come....

Have a lovely weekend!