I must say, I enjoyed Marie Lu's debut novel Legend enough that I took the time to read its sequel, Prodigy. I've found myself becoming pickier and pickier with the books I'm reading - what with school and writing my own books and keeping up a social life - so I haven't picked up a genuine YA novel in a while. I was reading Life of Pi when I decided I was in the mood for something else. I think I was actually looking up another novel's release date when I remembered "Oh yeah, wasn't Prodigy supposed to come out around now?" So I got on my library's website, searched for the title, and put the book on hold. I think I finished it in about four days.
Legend wasn't one of my favorite books, but it held my interest enough that I wanted to know what happened next. Remember how I said I haven't read anything for a while? Well reading Prodigy in four days was a feat for me, so take my word that it held my attention.
Marie Lu stays true to her writing style by switching point of view every other chapter. First you're in June's head, then Day's. The novel picks up basically where we last left off, and our protagonists are both on a Las Vegas-bound train. Circumstances don't leave them with many options, so they must rely -again- on the people that Day swore he would never join: the Patriots. Soon they find themselves enlisted in an assassination attempt on the Elector. But it's not the Elector Primo that we were introduced to in the first novel - that Elector has died. In his place is his son, Anden.
To carry out the plan, June and Day must be separated for the time being with no contact. During that time Day finds himself enjoying his new position with the Patriots, and June feels her loyalty for the Republic begin to renew. Day has sworn that he will be the one to kill the Elector and start the revolution, but June cannot help but feel that this new Elector is not like his father and that he may be the one to bring about the revolution.
Everything works out in the end, obviously. I just won't tell you in which way. Do the Patriots succeed, or does June convince Day that Anden is their only hope?
I'm kinda bummed. One of my favorite characters dies.
Oh, and the last couple chapters will have you gaping at the pages. Just a warning.
If you love dystopians, Legend and Prodigy are books for you.
I give this novel three and a half stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment