Legend (Marie Lu)

Legend by Marie Lu is set in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles and revolves around the perspectives of two teens, June and Day, that lead vastly different lives, but are eerily similar. Day is a slum boy, who has accumulated an impressive criminal record and become a wanted criminal by the Republic, after continuous efforts to save his family. His little brother is a victim of the epidemic plague that has taken over America - or the Republic, as how it’s now know after the land was laid to waste by catastrophic floods and other natural disasters.
          Meanwhile. June is a pampered orphan from the top of the Republic’s social and military ladder, a genius and the youngest graduate of the Republic’s most esteemed military academy. When her cherished older brother’s death is blamed on the infamous Day, she sets out for revenge by descending from the Republic’s elite sectors into the slums in search of Day. However, she’s soon taking a step back as Day turns out to be completely different from the cold-blooded murderer she was expecting.
          The plot is set in a world hundreds, perhaps thousands of years in the future. Technology is more advanced than ever, but so is the wealth gap. The Republic’s slums fester in bloody plagues and starvation, living in broken-down ruins of what used to be the USA, while the wealthy quarantine themselves in walled-off, comfortable elite sectors. The Republic is a highly-militarized nation, creating a stark contrast with June touting the army’s totalitarian mantras, and Day for the people.  The post-apocalyptic setting is a fantastical one, for sure, and all too common in science fiction, yet Lu paints so vividly in a way that is hauntingly beautiful, as readers connect it with the present America around them that is the faraway past in the world of June and Day. 
          The only drawback of Legend is its simple prose. However, I felt like the limited vocabulary in the dialogue was a more realistic portrayal of the youthful characters. It gave the book a certain voice - loud and clear, without circumlocutions, and resulting in an easier read that I certainly appreciated.
          Lu portrays Day and June’s ever-changing relationship and shifting desires with skill and style. A typical teenage romance, ‘opposites attract’, is given a fresh view through her clean prose and multi-faceted characters. Perhaps the most riveting facet of Legend is how Lu skillfully contrasts rich and poor, past and present, duty and one’s own heart. It is a difficult task to illustrate two teenage prodigies in a disintegrating society, but Lu does so with ease and style. I would definitely recommend Legend to any reader looking for a thriller intertwined with romance, set in a dystopian backdrop that Lu choreographs to feel fresh and real instead of cliche.


          - Tracy Li


Comments

  1. Wes LSeptember 13, 2019 at 1:35 PM

    Wow! Reading this review brought me back so many memories of when I personally read the series. I think you did this book justice. The way you describe the setting and plot is nothing short of spectacular! Reading this review makes me want to go back and read the trilogy twice over! Thank you for writing such an amazing review about Legend!

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  2. MariamSeptember 14, 2019 at 8:40 AM

    Having read the Legend series myself, I would say you have perfectly described not only the relationship between Day and June, but Marie Lu's writing style as well. I personally agree with your opinion on that although the writing prose is a bit elementary, it does reflect on the inner workings of a teenager, adding an element of realism to the novel. Overall, you have, in my opinion written an excellent review of one of my favorite novels, and I look forward to reading more from you in the time to come.

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  3. SarahSeptember 15, 2019 at 5:48 PM

    I think that you did a really good job summarizing and capturing important parts of the story Legend. I've read this book many times and I agree with your opinion that the author managed to make a cliche romance ("opposite's attract") into something different. I also liked how you said the simple wording also managed to enhance the world of Day and June.

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  4. Emma MurawskiOctober 8, 2019 at 10:06 AM

    This is a great review that is comprised of good points on how the author, Marie Lu, did a good job portraying a common teen relationship between the two characters, Day and June. Your summary also detailed the most important and enticing parts of the book which makes readers of your review even more interested in reading the book itself. Personally, I really like Marie Lu and am now really interested in this book. I plan to check Legend out!

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