“If you want to rebel, rebel from inside the system. That’s much more powerful than rebelling outside the system.” Legend by Marie Lu is yet another dystopian novel of a government with too much power, and its people finally ready to take a stance against it. Set in the Western part of the United States, The Republic of America is everso the corrupt government engaged in a long war with the Eastern part of the United States, The Colonies of America. This is an exciting, action packed novel that follows the story of two teenagers from completely different worlds as their lives clash in epic ways.
Day is a handsome teenager born in the scum sector of the Republic only living with his mother and younger brother after his father died fighting in the war. Day has transformed himself into the Republic’s most-wanted criminal by breaking into Republic banks and stealing money, vandalizing Republic government facilities, destroying fighter jets about to be sent to the warfront and stealing food to give to quarantined families.
June is a young fierce teenager from one of the finest, richest families in the Republic, a determined girl trained to fight for the Republic; she is the Republic’s latest prodigy soldier. She lives only with her older brother Metias after both her parents mysteriously died in a car crash.
When June’s brother is killed and Day is the main suspect, she makes it her priority to find him and punish him for taking away the last of her family. When they meet on the streets of the Republic neither realizes who the other is and they form a relationship. The question is-what will happen when it comes down to the end, the Republic vs. Day and all the people who can’t stand up for themselves in this corrupt society. The Legend and the Prodigy’s lives will become entwined in ways no one expected as one takes on to fight the Republic, and the other fights to defend it.
This is a book definitely worth reading that all dystopian fans will love. With amazing characters and a strong plot line, Lu has truly created a masterpiece. This story is both exciting and emotional as Lu takes readers through pain, death, destruction and evil; but also life, happiness and light.
This book captures the essence of a rebellion as something both big and small. Throughout the book readers will get to understand what drives the motives of each character they meet and how in a society of ruthlessness and corruption, one must try to see right from wrong and try to right each wrong one day at a time. “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.’ He looks toward the railway car’s open door, where streaks of dark water blanket the world. ‘You try to walk in the light.”