Review: Prodigy

Prodigy (Legend #2)
by Marie Lu
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Goodreads summary:
June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.


What I thought:
Wow! I actually liked Prodigy as much, if not more, than Legend. It definitely didn't feel like some second books in a series do sometimes - just filler before the final book or event that everything is building up to. There was a lot more character and plot development, which is like a lot of second books, but there was also a lot going on. Definitely not a lot of lag time in this one.

June and Day get involved with the Patriots and then get split up. They know parts of the plan, but not the whole. They also don't know everyone involved and exactly what the truth is. Makes it a little hard to know exactly what to do and who to trust and there is a lot riding on what June and Day decide to do.

We also get to see a little bit of what it is like in the Colonies and I thought that was really interesting. Lots of political intrigue. It's amazing how different a place can be on the other side of a wall. It made me think about the Berlin Wall that came down in Germany in 1989. I actually remember that happening and watching it on tv, although I didn't completely understand all that was going on (I'm going to date myself here and tell you I was 10-years-old at the time).

Then there was just a whole lot going on between Day and June. They are from such different worlds and have such different personalities. They haven't known each other very long and they are already bombarded with their past relationships and lives. They struggled a little with just being open and honest with each other because of their own doubts and the circumstances surrounding them. It made it a little frustrating, but also realistic. Things just didn't fall into place for them and I thought it was good to see them try to work through things.

I loved all the characters! Lu did such a good job with them. They aren't characters that you can take at face value because they all have depth. Kaydee was one that I ended up really liking. You have your heroes and your villains, but they aren't strictly bad or good, well, except for maybe Jameson. I loved June and Day even more then I did in Legend! Lu also isn't afraid of killing off some characters, which made me sad, but worked for the story (I'm not going to give you any more than that). The ending is bittersweet and I'm wondering what twist Lu will have in the next book.

If you haven't read this series yet and you like political dystopians, I highly recommend it! I would say it's for those 16+. Great characters and plot! Can't wait for the next one!

Content: Some innuendo, violence, brief language
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publication date: January 29th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile
Source: Library
Rating:



 
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