HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Title: Prodigy

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Format Read: Paperback

Description from Goodreads: Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic's most wanted traitor. Desperate for help, they turn to the Patriots-- a vigilante rebel group sworn to bring down the Republic, but can they trust them or have they become pawns in the most terrifying of political games?

It took me a lot longer than four hours to read this one (curse you, responsibilities! *shakes fist at sky*) but I finally got it finished, and was once again pleased with Marie Lu and her story-crafting.

As I read, I texted the friend who loaned me the books, giving him my predictions and perceptions of certain things and characters as I read, and while I won't know the accuracy of some of them until I finish book three, I know that the ones that were answered in PRODIGY were right. Usually, this would bother me, as I hate predicting major reveals and twists, but for some reason I was okay with it on this one and actually enjoyed the fact that I'd been right. 

Day and June's continued activities were great, the story-line well thought out and delivered, and the plot just as tight as the first. I love how Lu uses side characters and ties them in in some important way, versus the way that most authors do-- creating characters to serve their purpose as extra characters without intending them to be part of the book in some big way. So many of the characters introduced as acquaintances with few spoken lines are used in some major way throughout the books, and it's so much fun to see them come in when you least expect it-- whether it's a good or a bad thing.

I give PRODIGY 4.5 stars. I enjoyed this one better than the first because it got more into the meat of the trilogy, as the middle book generally does, and really showed the direction that the story is going, as well as put the end-game into view. Dystopian revolt is the best kind of revolt, and if you enjoy it then you definitely need to get your hands on PRODIGY.

Just be sure to read LEGEND first.

Happily,

Stephanie

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS: Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend (Legend #1)

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Format Read: Paperback

Description from Goodreads: 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 to keep its secrets.

I know, that was fast. I just posted about getting this book last Friday. If you think that was fast, then I probably shouldn't tell you that I read it in four and a half hours...

But I did. And now I kinds see what everyone's been talking about-- this book is freaking GOOD. June and Day? Um, yes. Ship. Shipshipship. And the ship is currently sailing, too, as of the end of LEGEND, so I'm just over here singing hallelujahs. Don't mind me.

Moving on!

While the dystopian world that LEGEND placed me in felt familiar, the characters were new, and I easily found myself loving them for their quirks and attitudes. The world was interesting, what with the idea of the Trials and the way at which your future is decided based upon your test scores (But not like in the DIVERGENT world!).  And of course, I absolutely adored Day and his ties to his family and his criminal life being about more than just random acts of defiance.

Four stars, of course, to LEGEND and it's beauty. If you like dystopia and rebel acts against a government force that is much bigger than you, read LEGEND. Don't be slow like me. 

Now onto book two.

Happily,

Stephanie

Finally Friday! (#3): Legend

Finally Friday! is a weekly post on Doodle's Book Reviews that hilights a recently acquired book that I've been waiting to get my hands on. Feel free to leave a comment!

Some of you may know that before I started blogging, my Twitter account was a fandom account. Everyone I followed at that time seemed to be talking about Legend non-stop-- Day! June! Day and June!-- and while I saw the hype, I didn't feel like reading it. 

Flash forward two, two and a half years, and my best friend discovers the trilogy, reading it and gushing about it and making me want to give it a try. Slowly but surely, I decide that I want to read it, and said friend loans me his copies of all three books.

Now I have Legend (And Prodigy, and Champion) on my shelf, waiting on me to read it. 

After my current TBR, I'm diving in, because I think it's about time for me to see what all of you have been raving about. Whether or not I'll jump on the Legend bandwagon remains to be seen, but I can tell you that I've already read a few pages and my curiosity is piqued.

How many of you have read Legend?

Happily,

Stephanie