Legend - Marie Lu

Summary:  Once known as the western coast of the United States, the Republic is now a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors, the Colonies.

Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a military prodigy.  Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country, she is being groomed for success in the Republic's highest circles.

Born into the slums of the Republic's Lake Sector, 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.  Now, caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June tries desperately to avenge Metias's death. 

But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets.  (Summary from book - Image from goodreads.com )

My Review: Sometimes the only thing that will save a really crappy day is to disappear inside a book.  I've had a lot of those days lately and so last night, when my kids were in bed and my husband got called into work and I should have been doing something much more important, I read Legend instead.  Cover to cover.  I love it when that happens -- even if it means I go to bed at 3am.

War has fractured the United States.  Now, two warring nations, the Republic and the Colonies, engage in a bitter feud over land, power, and resources.  June is the pride of the Republic, a military prodigy, and the only person to ever acheive a perfect score in the Trials.  Day is a wanted criminal with a knack for sabotage, thievery, and disappearing without a trace.  When Day is accused of murdering June's brother, she will stop at nothing to track him down and bring him to justice.  However, once their paths cross, June discovers that Day is not the callous criminal that she expected, but a smart, considerate family man.  As June wrestles with her doubts and Day tries to save his brother from a vicious illness, they stumble onto common ground and a uncover a truth that changes everything.

Was Legend  the be all, end all of YA dystopian fiction?  Not quite -- but I enjoyed it anyway.  Told from the alternating perspectives of two very different teenagers, this novel was full of enough action, adventure, and romance to keep me more than interested.  June and Day worked well together as "star-crossed" lovers, but were equally interesting characters in their own right.  While their chemistry wasn't quite as electric as I'd hoped, it was still pretty enjoyable without being sexual or overshadowing the rest of the story. 

By the end of this book it was clear that Legend is just the beginning of a much larger story.  While this book does offer a great deal in the way of resolution, there is so much more that I want to know about the history between the Republic and the Colonies, June, Day, and some of the other characters in the book.  One way or another, I will definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

For the sensitive reader:  No profanity and the 15-year-old characters managed to keep their pants on (as in, they only kissed), thank heavens.   There was some violence that I would describe it as brutal, but not graphic.

Sum it up:  An entertaining way to spend the evening (and the very wee hours of the morning).