Review: Champion (Legend, #3) by Marie Lu

Spoiler warning! This is the 3rd and final book in the Legend trilogy and this review will contain spoilers for the previous two books. You can read my review of Legend here and Prodigy here instead.

Champion by Marie Lu

Author: Marie Lu Website|Twitter
Published: 5 November 2013 (Penguin)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 353
Buy the paperback: Amazon|Hive|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic - and each other - and now their country is on the brink of a new peaceful existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles while Day has been assigned a high level military position.

My Review:
Champion is the third and final book in the Legend trilogy, and picks up the story with June in her position of Princeps-Elect and Day struggling to look after brother Eden whilst facing his own health battles.

I've loved this trilogy so far. I enjoyed Prodigy even more than Legend, and with the cliffhanger the last book left us hanging on, I was desperate to dive into Champion. I'm disappointed to say that this was my least favourite book in the trilogy. A lot of things just didn't come together for me, but I think the biggest problem I had was that I was expecting it to be a lot different. There were things I was hoping to see that never came to fruition.

I'm going to start with the positives, because there was still a lot I did like. My favourite scenes were those that took place in Antarctica. Throughout the trilogy I've always had that curiosity about life outside the Republic, and I loved the glimpses we got at that. I thought the descriptions of the city in Antarctica and the technology introduced there were exciting and clever. I would maybe have liked to see more of the Colonies (one of the things I was expecting after reading Prodigy) so I was sad there wasn't more focus on that.

The trilogy has always had its strengths in the political side of the story, and Champion certainly played to those strengths. There was a lot of focus on tactics, plotting and negotiation and it took a hundred pages before you really got into the action. That made the first third of the book a bit slower paced and so it was a while before I was really hooked in. Once the action kicked in I could really immerse myself in the story.

The relationship between Day and June was obviously something I was looking forward to, and there were some wonderful moments between the two of them during the story. I was hoping for more of a solid conclusion to their story, but there was a lot left open ended. It's hard to talk about the ending without spoiling anything, but I did like the closing scenes. I think it appealed to my soppier side with this romantic idea it had going on and I left the book feeling slightly uplifted. I just would have preferred more closure and a less open ending, although I guess I can always use my imagination to fill the gaps!

In terms of things that didn't work so much, I didn't like the more subdued version of June. She only really comes into her own in the last hundred pages where she becomes the quick thinking, intelligent, slightly rebellious June we all know and love. I also had problems with the pacing in the quiter moments that had me skimming over bits to get to more exiting scenes. Because of that, I think I'll have to re-read at some point to pick up on a few plot points I missed or misunderstood.

I did enjoy Champion, particuarly the last hundred pages and the closing few chapters had me glued to the pages and my heart pounding. It didn't quite have the same spark as the previous two books, but I've still come to love the writing and characters. It's a trilogy I'd like to revisit and Marie Lu is still an author I will continue to follow in the future.

Rating: 3*
What to read next:
Books like this: Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, Reached by Ally Condie

Book Trailer: Champion by Marie Lu and Unhinged by A. G. Howard

In today's post I wanted to share these fantastic book trailers this week for two sequels I'm really excited about. Enjoy!

First up is the trailer for Champion by Marie Lu, the final book in the Legend trilogy. Check it out below:


Champion by Marie Lu Published: 5th November 2013 (Penguin) Amazon|Goodreads My reviews: Legend|Prodigy
And second up is the trailer for Unhinged by A. G. Howard, the sequel to the wonderful Splintered:


Unhinged by A. G Howard Published: 1st January 2014 (Amulet) Amazon|Goodreads My review: Splintered  

Are you excited for these books? Are there any book trailers you've come across recently? Let me know in the comments!

Waiting on Wednesday (#8): Champion by by Marie Lu

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted over at Breaking the Spine and gives bloggers the chance to feature upcoming releases we're excited about.

Champion (Legend, #3) by Marie Lu

Published: 5th November 2013 (Penguin)

Amazon|Goodreads

 Plot summary: 
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic - and each other - and now their country is on the brink of a new peaceful existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles while Day has been assigned a high level military position.

So I loved Legend, and then Prodigy blew me away even more! So I'm SO excited for the final book in the trilogy. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments! 

News Round Up! 1st June

Each week I post a recap of news stories that have popped up on my radar. Here's the news for this week. Enjoy!

Book Expo America kicked off this week. This is where book industry types and authors gather together for panels and signings, and it gives readers a sneak peak of the books to be excited about later this year. You can read more about the conference on the website here and keep up with all the latest happenings on Twitter.

One thing to come out of BEA was the cover reveal for the new US cover of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. You can see the new cover over on the Scholastic blog.

Several photos from the Divergent set emerged  this week, featuring extras and the main cast dressed in faction clothing. You can see all the photos on Examiner.com.

Percy Jackson fans were treated to a new poster and a second trailer for Sea of Monsters this week. See the poster over on Hypable and watch the trailer below.

And it's always exciting when an author gets a deal for a new book! Marie Lu, author of the Legend trilogy, will be releasing a new YA fantasy series. The Young Elites is set to be published in 2014 and you can add it on Goodreads here!

Which of these stories are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments!

New releases:
Goddess by Josephine Angelini
Amazon|Goodreads

Of Triton by Anna Banks
Amazon|Goodreads

Monument 14: Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne
Amazon|Goodreads

News Round Up! 4th May

Time for my latest round up of the week's YA and book related news! Here are the stories that have popped up on my radar this week.

The most exciting news stories this week were the announcements of guests at Leakycon London. In honour of there being 100 days to go (even less now!) they organisers revealed some exciting names who'll be at the con in August. They include Code Name Verity author Elizabeth Wein, as long as a load of actors from the films. Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley), Scarlett Byrne (Pansy Parkinson) and Alfie Enoch (Dean Thomas) will be joining previously announced guest Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood). On top of that some of the younger cast from Deathly Hallows will be attending including Ellie Darcey-Alden (young Lily), Rohan Gotobed (young Sirius) and Ryan Turner (Hugo Weasley). The graphic design duo MinaLima will also be there. Phew! That's a lot to get excited about, especially as I'm attending this year. I can't wait to get there! Check out all the latest annoucements about Leakycon on the Twitter and Facebook pages.

It seems like every week there's news about The Mortal Instruments series and this week is no different! An international trailer for City of Bones was released this week with extra footage. You can view the trailer below.

The plot synopsis for City of Heavenly Fire (the final book in The Mortal Instruments series) also appeared online this week. It will contain spoilers for previous books so read it over on Cassandra Clare's website at this link.

There have also been some great cover reveals this week. Meagan Spooner revealed the cover for Shadowlark (sequel to Skylark) over on YABooksCentral.com. Read the post and see the cover here. And Marie Lu revealed the cover for Champion, the final book in the Legend trilogy. You can see the cover and read an interview with Marie Lu here on EntertainmentWeekly.com. What do you think of these covers? Are you excited for the release of these books?

It was also announced this week that the cover reveal for Allegiant by Veronica Roth will go ahead on 9th May on The Today Show. Read more about this story and see a sneak peak of the Today Show segment in this article on Hypable.com.

In The Fault in Our Stars film news, several actors have been testing for the role of Gus. They include Brendan Thwawites, Nat Wolff, Nick Robinson, Noah Silver and Ansel Elgort. Interestingly, Ansel Elgort is already starring against Shailene Woodley (Hazel Grace) in the Divergent film adaptation. Do you have any preferences for the role?

And finally the book trailer for If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch was revealed on the Dark-Readers blog this week. Check it out at this link!

New book releases:
As You Wake by Amy Martin
Amazon|Smashwords|Goodreads

Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O'Porter
Amazon|Book Depository|Goodreads

The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise
Amazon|Book Depository|Goodreads

Absent by Katie Williams
Amazon|Book Depository|Goodreads

The Ward by Jordana Frankel
Amazon|Book Depository|Goodreads

The Program by Suzanne Young
Amazon|Book Depository|Goodreads

March's Book of the Month!

Hello April, goodbye March! Time to choose another book that stood out from the crowd. For my Book of the Month I pick one book I've reviewed the previous month (not necessarily released that month) and give it a little extra praise. So without further ado, my Book of the Month for March is...

Prodigy by Marie Lu!

I absolutely loved Legend so I was really excited to read the sequel. And it totally blew me away! The plot so was so gripping and tense and by the end my heart was breaking. There's plenty of action and I think this trilogy is becoming one of my ultimate favourite YA dystopia/post-apocalyptic series. If you haven't checked it out yet then I urge you to straight away! Here's my full review of Prodigy.


 

Runners up: 

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Splintered by A. G. Howard
 

Review: Prodigy (Legend, #2) by Marie Lu

Spoiler Warning! This is the second book in the Legend trilogy so this review will contain spoilers from the first book. If you haven't read the first book, Legend, then you can read my review of that here. You have been warned!

Prodigy by Marie Lu

[Goodreads page]

Author: Marie Lu Website|Twitter
Published: 29 January 2013 (Penguin)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Amazon: Paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: Paperback|e-book
Book Depository: Paperback

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
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. 

My Review:
I really enjoyed Legend  so I've been eagerly anticipating this sequel! Prodigy picks up with Day and June on their way to Vegas to meet up with the rebel Patriots, as the Republic faces a fresh challenge in the death of the Elector Primo.

I'm torn as to where to start with this review because there is so much I want to talk about! Firstly, I was a little nervous starting out because it had been so long since I read the first book, and because I got that from the library I wasn't able to re-read it in the run up and worried I might not be able to remember everything. But Prodigy has the recapping down absolutely perfectly! It managed to jolt my memory and take me right back to the first book without detracting from the current story. It was all weaved in brilliantly because the characters do a lot of reflecting on how they've got to be in the position they're currently in, so I was immediately back in that world and remembering everything that happens.

As with the first book, Prodigy alternates between June and Day's perspective. They start out together but spend some of the book separated and I loved how both of their points of view were key to the story. There's a lot of focus on the relationship between the two of them and I really like how complex it is and how much the two of them are still figuring each other out and addressing their differences. I'm reluctant to use the phrase "love triangle" because it doesn't really apply to this book, but there are other interests for both Day and June which shake the story up a bit. Both relate to characters introduced in the previous book so it's nothing too new, but I did like the exploration of everyone's feelings for each other. I really like how it isn't soppy or romantic at all. At the end of the day, it's not a love story. It's a story where people are going through a tremendous ordeal and worrying after their loved ones because of it. I think it had the perfect balance to keep you interested in who cares for who.

On the topic of the tone of the book, I felt this book was very political - almost like a political thriller in its own right in places - and I found that part of the book to be the most gripping. There was all this suspicion and trying to figure out where everyone's loyalties truly lay was incredibly difficult, because as soon as you were sure about someone, there'd be a twist that would make you reconsider. I loved that it kept me on my toes!

Prodigy was packed full of action but I really loved that the heart of the book was with the characters. There were some moments where certain characters were explored that bit more and I loved discovering more about them. It felt like such attention had gone into each character, no matter how small a part they played. I really liked that the focus was on the original characters from the previous book as well, although newer characters were still really well done. Day and Kaede were the two characters who really stood out for me. When the plot and characters were changing and evolving I felt like those two were the two constants.

I loved the post-apocalpytic world this trilogy is set in, and one of my favourite parts was seeing the wider ramifications of events in the Republic and glimpsing other parts of the world/country. I won't spoil too much but it was just great to get a view of the bigger picture. I enjoyed the use of Vegas as a setting in the beginning as well. I think placing somewhere so familiar (as someone who's seen Vegas and LA on TV but maybe not some of the other cities referenced) really helped me get a feel for the place and how different it is under the rule of the Republic.

I definitely enjoyed this book more than Legend (and I adored that!). I was constantly kept on my toes by the twists and turns and there was never a lull in the actions. I was constantly questioning the characters and whenever I tried to second guess what was happening my theories would be blown out the water by another revelation. The ending was utterly heartbreaking and I'm still getting my head around it all and absorbing some of the things that happened. There's plenty of potential for the third installment, although how my heart will cope with it I have no idea! This trilogy has jumped straight to the top of my dystopian/post-apocalyptic favourites pile. I want to run around and recommend it to everybody because Prodigy has truly blown my mind and I need more people to read it and get excited about it. Don't miss out!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Champion by Marie Lu, the unreleased final book in the Legend trilogy
Books like this: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

Legend by Marie Lu

Goodreads page

Author: Marie Lu. Website, Twitter
Published: 2 Feb 2012 (Puffin)
Pages: 304
Amazon: paperback|Kindle
Waterstone's: paperback|e-book
Book Depository: paperback

Source: Borrowed from library.

Plot Summary (from Amazon):

Los Angeles, California Republic of America. He is Day. The boy who walks in the light. She is June. The girl who seeks her brother's killer. On the run and undercover, they meet by chance. Irresistably drawn together, neither knows the other's past. But Day murdered June's brother. And she has sworn to avenge his death.

My Review:

As a huge fan of dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games and Divergent, this book has been one I've wanted to read for a while. Set in the futuristic Republic of America, Day is wanted man, on the run and causing havoc amongst the city. Then there's June. Sister of a government captain and something of a prodigy.

The book alternates between Day and June's perspectives which is something I really loved. The two characters come from different worlds yet on a lot of levels they're similar, so it made for a really great combination. They're both really interesting characters. June scored a perfect score on her Trial, the test each child must take at the age of ten. She's extremely intelligent and perceptive, and has a slight rebellious streak which causes problems for her brother who has raised her since they lost their parents. I really liked her intelligence and how she approaches situations. June has grown up in one of the rich sectors which means her background contrasts that of Day, who comes from the poor Lake sector. Having the alternating chapters between the two of them means you get to see both side of the society they live in.

I liked the world the book is set in. There were enough unique, imaginitive elements which make it stand out among the other dystopian books I've read. The city is constantly threatened by illness and rebels called Patriots provide the anti-government threat throughout the story. There's that sense of unease throughout and as always, there's a lot more to the authority figures than meets the eye. There were some terrific villains in Legend who I loved to hate.

I was completely glued to the book as the drama and tension unravelled. Both Day and June evolve a lot through the story as the plot develops. I found myself both shocked and excited when things started coming to light towards the end and I really enjoyed the action scenes, which didn't feel overdone.

This is the first book of a planned trilogy and the ending of Legend has me eagerly anticipating the next book. If you haven't checked this one out yet and you loved Divergent, Matched or The Hunger Games then definitely seek it out now! Another book to add to my dystopian favourites list.

Rating: 5*

What to read next: Prodigy by Marie Lu, the sequel to Legend released in 2013.

Books like this: Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Matched by Ally Condie.