Book Recap: Legend by Marie Lu

Cover Inspection:
No frills? No like. 

SUMMARY (book description based on 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 keep its secrets.
Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	2.5
Plot	3.5
Writing	3.5
Characters	3.5
Ending	2.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
The book is dystopian and futuristic. It is set in Los Angeles.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
The two main characters in this book are Day and June. Day is the most wanted criminal. The government was having a hard time catching him because they really do not know what he looks like - he changes his appearance often. He lives in the slum area of the city as it was said that he failed the trial test - sort of like an aptitude test. Then there is June. She is Day's complete opposite. She's the government's pet as it was said that she is the only one who scored perfect in the trial test.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
In this futuristic book, there is a plague epidemic. Soldiers are raiding and marking homes of those infected with the plague. Day's home was marked because a family member is infected. So he went to the hospital pretending he was stabbed so he can get plague medicine. When Day escapes, June's brother Mettias, a high ranking soldier, caught him. Fighting ensued. Day got wounded, and Mettias was killed. Now June, after having been accelerated and graduated, was tasked to hunt or track Day.

LOVE:
What I loved about this books is that it is action filled from the first page! And this went on until the very end! It's just so exciting, and it will keep you on your toes. I love the amazing, yet slightly predictable twist in this story. I can't really say much about this without giving the story away. I also love June. She's got an eye for the tiniest details. She notices even the buttons in the uniforms of spies. Not only that, she's beautiful and strong and brave. She also retained that idealism of youth, and is inquisitive. She can set aside her emotions to analyze things with all the logic she can muster. I'm impressed, really, by her brilliance! This is also one of the very few books where did like the alternating POVs. (The book was written in the POVs of Day and June.) I just love the way Day and June are trying to analyze and figure out each other. It's cute the way they treat each other like a puzzle that should be solved.

NO LOVE:
It's strange to me out the way Day calls almost everyone "cousin." A small thing, I know, but I found it weird. I also did not like the prejudice and stereotypical view June had when she first arrived at the slums. She was a bit snobbish thinking that all those living there barely passed their trials. I also did not like Day and June's slightly drunken first kiss. I'm a romantic, what can I say. But what irks me the most is the ending. It ended so abruptly.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
June. Like I said earlier, she's beauty, body, brawn, and brains. She's all that a woman should be.

FAVORITE LINE:

Who said anything about you sweetheart?

MUSINGS:
To say that I did not like the ending is simply an understatement. And this is not about cliffhangers! There just wasn't enough resolution for me. It felt as though the book lacked a chapter that should have wrapped everything up. Nevertheless, this book remains to be one of the most exciting books I have read. I would still very much recommend it to those who loved Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.

DOODLES:

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Marie Lu

SIMILAR READS:
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: moderate
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: moderate
age recommendation: 13+