Legend by Marie LuMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was actually the second time I've read this book, the first being years ago when it first came out. I'm excited to get to read the entire series this time. :)
Pick this book up if you like:
- dual narrative POV
- enemies to lovers
- YA dystopia
- "special one" characters
Legend is a dual narrative told in first person present perspective, which always trips me up a bit. I like the immediacy that present tense gives, but I still find it jarring on occasion where a phrase will throw me out of the flow of the story. I seem to have that issue with all present tense books, so I'll chalk that up to reading preference.
Lu's world is a post apocalyptic, dystopian version of our own. In a future where natural disasters have swallowed a good portion of the world's land mass, the country that was once the United States has been split into two factions warring over the remaining land--the Colonies in the east and the Republic in the west. Legend takes place in the Republic, a militaristic society ruled over by Elector Primo. We start in LA, where the wealthy enjoy luxuries in the city's gem districts while lower class families starve in crumbling ruins and fall victim to endlessly mutating plagues.
The two main characters in this story are June and Day. June is a prodigy of the Republic. Perfect scores, accelerated education, a bright military future. June's parents are dead well before the book starts. She's been raised by her older brother, whom she loves very much.
Day is the Republic's most illusive criminal. Through no fault of his own, he found himself on the wrong side of a failed murder attempt and has since lived outside the law as a sort of Robin Hood character--not a hardened criminal, but a thorn in the Republic's side who inspires hope and rebellion among the lower classes. Day's family consists of a mother and two brothers at the beginning of the story, but only his older brother knows he's still alive. He keeps his distance from his family in order to keep them safe.
June's and Day's worlds collide when Day's attempt to steal medicine for his family puts him in the path of June's brother. June's brother ends up dead, which motivates June to hunt Day down and bring him to justice by any means necessary. The author did a fantastic job of creating believable motivations for both characters. Motivations that twist and grow as circumstances change, creating complex, evolving characters and a story that's easy to lose yourself in.
Overall, Legend is a fast-paced YA adventure full of action and heart. I can't wait to see what happens next.
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