Legend

LEGEND BY MARIE LU

REVIEW BY BOOKINABAG OFFICIAL

SYNOPSIS:

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.

REVIEW:

With a good topping of hype, a side of booktube news and a sprinkle of author interviews, Legend has done more than enough to catch my eye. Legend is based on a Dystopian America congregated into to sides, The Colonies and the Republic from the corresponding East and West coast of the once know country of The United States of America. Legend focuses on what's happening in the Republic, more specifically with our two protagonists June and Day.

I found both June and Day to be both such unique individuals. June was more observant and speculating in her POV's whereas Day was always on the run in midst of action and emotion. Both were excellently individual and I never had to check who the POV was as both voices were distinct (I had this problem with Allegiant). Both learn valuable lessons through their actions, June's being not to trust everything she's told and Day's lesson being to always let the past go and move on.

The plot in this book was action packed. With duo POV's there is double the action and with different circumstances to be dealt with. June fights more strategically with calculated plans but Day is more stealthy and attacks from high-rises or in crowds.  However, my favourite action sequence occurred in the Lake sector when peasants fought for money, with its raw, intense vibe.


The pacing, being a Dystopian, was obviously fast paced. The characters are always planning, moving or fighting orchestrated by Marie Lu's enthralling writing, and at the end of every chapter there's either a cliffhanger or a dramatic conclusion, urging you to flip those pages. The pacing definitely picked up towards the end so fast that Usain Bolt could not compare, leaving me breathless and muttering "What? Wait what? That's not the end. Second book? GIVE IT TO ME!"

Overall, Legend succeeded pretty well in all bases. With a creamy rich plot, (my first time using that phrase, mehehe) investing characters and Fast and Furious pacing, this book was definitely one of the best Dystopians I've read this year. This book has built the world exquisitely and I can't wait to devour the next two.

4 out of 5 stars.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee - whose thoughts Todd can hear, too, whether he wants to or not - stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden - a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

Review: 

I read this book as a part of a school project but I have had my eye on it for quite a while. It's a futuristic, science fiction thriller with a male protagonist Todd escaping from Prentisstown. 

This book is 150% action. Frantic battle scenes and choices confront Todd during his journey of flight and he meets some peculiar people along the way too, Viola being one of them. Viola was one heck of an interesting character. With a torn past and new surroundings, Viola is both strong willed and quick witted, pairing her and Todd to be two great characters. Throughout the novel Viola and Todd grow stronger together through all of their experiences and develop to become stronger, resilient and tough. At first, Todd is hard to relate to and I couldn't quite connect with him but through circumstances Todd shines through to be an amazingly diligent character who I learnt to live through the series.

The pacing of this book was electric fast. Todd was always active, moving, petrified. His situation was so compelling and thrilling that the pages flipped themselves. I could not get over the jittery excitement of his journey that had me on the edge of my chair in suspense. Ness really knows how to build a climax...and then end in a cliffhanger.

World building is essential in Science Fiction/ Dystopian and this book builds it all up. We learn about the Spackle and the humans who invaded the planet and were greeted by war. However there are still millions of questions left hanging that leaves the reader to only wonder what action will pursue.

Another aspect of this novel that I enjoyed was the grittiness of it. It did not hide or over fluff any of the drama. It was blunt and realistic which made the story just more intense.
Thrilling and dotted with character development, The Knife of Never Letting Go is a suspense book like no other.

5 out of 5 stars.