Review: Legend

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Date Released: November 29th, 2011
Pages: 305
Rating: 5 out of 5

Description:
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' 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.

Review:
Legend was just absolutely full of intensity.  Fast-paced and full of adrenaline, it was told between the alternating view-points of Day, a Robin Hood kind of criminal, and June, a prodigy working for the Republic.

Their story is told in the future when California and several other states in the West have formed the Republic and are at war with the Colonies, the other half of what used to be the United States.  Living in the city of Los Angeles, Day has been wrapped up in a horrible murder of Metias, June's older brother, while trying to steal some cures for his sick little brother, and June has been sent on the case to arrest him and avenge her dead brother.  June assumes the identity of a person that would live in Day's district, and eventually befriends him and his friend, Tess.  From there, things become very thrilling and revelations are made.

Legend was a very dystopian-ish book.  So, if you're looking for a great dystopian novel, all arrows are pointing this way (to the book... just imagine an Asian girl pointing with lots of excitement to a copy of Legend!). 

The premise was really cool: two nations that were once a single country now fighting against each other, and one of them, the Republic is just filled with either desperately poor people, or insanely rich ones.  Did I mention that every kid has to take a test at the age of 10 called the Trial?  It's pretty scary.  If you score a perfect score, you get into the top college and get a pretty top job.  If you score average, you get an okay job, and if you fail, you basically die.  Basically, Marie Lu created this incredibly cool (but slightly insane) world.

The characters were just as amazing as well.  Day was incredibly cool and reminded me of like a dystopian Robin Hood because he was actually doing bad things to help others, not just himself.  He wasn't selfish, he was strong and courageous and had to live with his mother and littler brother knowing he was dead.  June was an amazing heroine.  She was super smart and definitely defied the rich girl stereotype.  The relationship that builds between the two is just full of surprises as the story progresses.

The plot was very thrilling.  It completely sucked me in and the book was completely unputdownable.  Marie Lu definitely knows how to create one heck of a roller coaster ride! 

Overall, I absolutely loved Legend.  I loved the thrill you get while reading it, not just from the action, but from the romance that grows between Day and June as well.  You want to know what will happen to them and their budding relationship because they're actually enemies.  The world that Marie Lu built was really cool and the storyline was just simply intense.  I would recommend this to anyone who's been searching for a read after The Hunger Games or even Divergent.  You'll definitely fall in love with it.

Cover Review:
I think that this cover really fits the book.  It's not a cover that I would typically like and it's a bit simple, but it has this dystopian feel to it and the Republic flag logo is really cool touch. 

Cleo :)

*Description and cover from goodreads.com
**Review copy purchased.