Legend (Legend, #1) by Marie Lu

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.

• Genre: Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction, Futuristic Earth, Post Apocalyptic
• Age: young adult
• Source: owned ebook 
• Read from February 12 to 13, 2013

FINAL RATING: ★★★★/★★★★★

LEGEND--Realistic Day and June by *mree (Marie Lu)

Officially 400th book i have read. Wow. Anyway, i excepted Legend to disappoint me because i have seen so many mixed reviews about this one. But i stay with those who say this book is awesome. I enjoyed reading it, and i loved the characters. Oh, i adored the fact that Marie Lu has a deviant art and that she took time to draw her characters!

“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time."

The good:

art by me:

Legend - Dayby ~AngelLeila

♦ 1 ♦ enjoyment - i just couldn't stop reading it. And there is just something in this book that literally sucks you in.

♦ 2 ♦ action - there was plenty of it and i lovveeeeeeeee it.

♦ 3 ♦ characters (especially Day and June) - their similarities are kind of interesting, and i am type of person who say that people who are the same attract each other more than the people who are different.

♦ 4 ♦ minor plot twists, usually people who die in the story. Or what happens to some of the characters.

♦ 5 ♦ Dual POV, first person (anything is better than single pov-first person style). This helped a lot.

The bad:

♦ 1 ♦Well, it lacks certain amount of originality. General idea is already seen, which made some parts in the plot totally predictable. I mean, the plot is nice, and happenings and events are cool, but the background story is already seen.

♦ 2 ♦ I also feel that the world building was almost non existent. I got a lot of things, but never crucial parts like: Why are they at war with Colonies? which countries are Colonies? Whole world or just some countries in America? I hope second book will explain that. This map i found in second book, so it answers which countries are colonies.

CHARACTERS:

The main characters of this story are Day, a criminal, and June, a perfect soldier. They are practically the same type of characters: brave, reckless, naïve(not much), smart (a lot), and best in what they do. They are different only in social status, and in family status: Day has his family (mother and two brothers), but is unable to reveal to them that he is alive, while June has only brother, and their parents died when she was very very little.

Oh, and i pity Day for being poor and the most unfortunate character - because in the book he gets: shot in the arm and leg, gets hit by knife and gun, generally gets beaten, he already has one bad knee, one of his eyes is slightly paler than the other, well just do not let me start on the other things that happened to him later...

So the conclusion is: Marie Lu is quite a sadist toward her characters, and poor Day officially gets status of tortured hero.

The “romance” between Day and June is almost to none existent, and I wouldn’t even call it love, more something like attractiveness. They just didn’t have any time to develop any proper relationship, not with the situations they were in and sides they were on (and that is the thing i liked!!!). And they are so fluffy together ♥

Overall:

So why 4 stars? Well, i found it quite awesome while i read it, and it was never boring for me, which is a big plus.

Conclusion: I need second book, now. Because i want to know more about Day and June, especially after that ending. 

Would i recommend it: The answer is yes, i would.

I heard there is going to be a movie ♥♥♥♥

MY REVIEW ON GOODREADS