Customer Reviews

Prodigy: A Legend Novel

5 star:		(291)
4 star:		(91)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Day and June are the resistance's new Bonny and Clyde taking on the republic and inspiring a nation. But when the Elector Primo dies the fledgling couple finds themselves entangled in an assassination conspiracy that will test their loyalties and love.

Marie Lu delivers an engrossing followup to her debut novel. Prodigy takes all the intrigue and heartbreaking developments of it's predecessor to the next level. Day and June's past exploits and diverse backgrounds add complexities and questions to their relationship that exposes new layers to their characters and how they evolve throughout the story. Lu intertwines the plot and emotional development beautifully. The unlikely love in Lu's hands not only drives her characters but manages to create a lot of complications for them to overcome. The author's world gets a boast with a glimpse into the colonies and a surprising setting for the resistance. The story is mostly built on semitransparent threads. Yet a couple of huge twists I didn't see coming, and another heart wrenching ending will leave readers ready and wanting the third installment now.

The narration by Stephen Kaplan and Mariel Stern was a little stiff and formal but it grows on you and somehow manages to fit the world and personalities of the characters well. Kaplan and Stern have get voices for YA. I'm glad they returned to voice this installment and hope they continue to do so.

It's hard to live up to a Legend but Prodigy manages to entertain. The evil genius of Marie Lu will captivate readers and listeners alike while planting enough yummy possibilities to make fans groan over the long wait ahead.

Scared and on the run, Day and June turn to the Patriot Rebels for sanctuary. But their assistance comes at a price, the assassination of the Republic's new Elector, Anden. Considering how cruel the previous one was, Day and June don't object, and quickly agree to the plot. But as things start in motion and June is placed close to the new Elector, she starts to question whether they are doing the right thing. Anden doesn't seem to have the same agenda and genuinely seems to want to help the people. With more on the line than she ever could have realized, June will have to decide where her loyalties lie once and for all.

I've always thought the best books were the ones where the line between the good guys and bad isn't so clear cut. In LEGEND, the Republic was labeled as the bad guy, and considering the atrocities they committed, it was a well earned title. Just the simple fact that June, their most loyal soldier was turned from them speaks volumes. So, in PRODIGY, both June and Day are on the run from the Republic and have hooked up with the Patriots, the underdogs from the first book. Since they are against the oppressive nature of the Republic, one would think that they were the undisputed good guys. However, the lines quickly got blurred in PRODIGY once the new Elector took over the Republic and seemed to have a different path. Yet despite this, the Patriots continued on their quest to assassinate him, making their path seem more like destruction was their only goal rather than doing what was best for the people, thus making their good guy status questionable and only further twisting the plot, vamping up my enjoyment tenfold.

I have a love hate relationship with love-triangles. Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that I love to hate them. There is just something that draws me in about them even while the drama involved typically makes me want to grind my teeth. That being said the scales of my love/hate opinion hang by a delicate balance as if not handled well that triangle can easily become a tired plot ploy. The thing about PRODIGY is that two separate love triangles seemed to start developing. Although there was one central character to them both, making it even more twisted and complicated. It was a daring move, but one that Marie Lu pulled off beautifully, to the point where I honestly couldn't tell you how I want things to play out. She has me so torn between all of the characters that I can't possibly choose, and honestly that was what made this book really stand out to me.

Whenever a debut book really impresses me, there always is the worry that the second book won't live up to the first. Also, a lot of times the middle book in trilogies can suffer from a sophomoric slump, but that just isn't the case at all in PRODIGY. In fact, other than a slightly slow start, there wasn't a dull moment in this book. Fans of the first installment will be more than pleased. Every bit as good as the debut, PRODIGY is not to be missed!

After plowing through Legend without taking a breath, I was very excited for Prodigy, especially once I saw the great reviews. Having finished it, I'm on the fence.

In my mind, the best choice Lu made in this book was to humanize Thomas. Given his history with the Iparis family, I had trouble with his character in Legend. Lu could have left his relationship with Metias as it was--merely mentor and protégé--but she chose to give him much more depth, and it works. Even that little moment when he [***SLIGHT SPOILERS***] knows where June is hiding and [***END SPOILERS***] meets her eyes speaks volumes about how well he knows her and the relationship they've had over the years. I'm anxious to see what future role he'll play.

Plot-wise, I went back and forth. The Colonies were a big negative for me in this book. I said in my Legend review that the Republic was basically a caricature, because it was a huge, purely evil institution with no redeeming qualities. With Anden now humanizing the Republic a bit, it seems Lu felt she needed to insert a different bad guy caricature What's worse is that, given how separated they turned out to be from the events of this book, the Colonies seem like they don't have a real part to play in the story. That makes me nervous for how they'll function in the next book. I don't know that Lu has enough time to do justice to the political situation in the Republic AND resolve the conflict with the colonies, but she has set herself up so she can't leave one undone. However, I like the political situation with which the book ended. It sets up book three to be very interesting.

The main trio is similarly hit-and-miss. I was pretty lukewarm on Day in this book, but June remains strangely non-irritating for being such a Mary Sue. Anden has potential, but he wasn't represented well. For someone so desperate for someone to trust, I didn't feel desperation. I felt suave, pretty, politician boy-toy perfection. Right now, he's just too perfect for my liking. Given the not-at-all subtle references to him being a politician and being able to get in people's heads, I'm hoping his character becomes something more substantial in the next book.

The supporting characters were also difficult for me this time around. There always seems to be a Kaede--a fan-freaking-tastic female character with some connection to the main guy, and [***SPOILERS***] she always ends up dying. Le sigh. I'm going to miss her in book three. [***END SPOILERS***]. Razor has heretofore untapped potential, but Baxter was just irritating on every level. Tess was cool in Legend, and I liked the obvious respect, love, and trust she and Day had for each other. Her emotions/actions in this book were understandable, but something was missing. She gave him the same speech three or four times, and each time it just went from 0 to 60. I'd like to see some middle ground here--some tension simmering below the surface that doesn't explode into a yelling match.

I'm still undecided on the ending. The lead-up to the Day revelation was well-done, but I fear it means a lot of tedious angst is coming in book three. I'm interested to see the aftermath of June's decision, but again, I'm worried that Lu has bitten off more storylines than she can chew in one book. I hope I'm wrong, because this one in particular could be great.

All in all, this was a decent book that was disappointing mostly because of how awesome the first one was. I will be reading the conclusion, but not with as much anticipation as I had going into this one.

I loved Legend, the first book, but Prodigy left me with a ho-hum feeling. In typical second book fashion, this book was a filler. There wasn't a lot that happened. Sure, there was an assassination attempt on the Elector but other than that it was dull. Even the assassination attempt was over and quickly done with.

I enjoyed the relationship between Day and June in Legend but this time around it was totally flat. No sparks and no chemistry. June did a terrible job of conveying her feelings to Day. After everything they went through in the first book I expected them to be a bit more passionate about one another. Instead they spent most of the book acting like they weren't even sure if they liked each other. Of course, they are only kids so maybe that is true to life. However, I assume that the author wants the reader to feel that Day and June aren't your average kids...that they grew up fast because of the life they lead. If that is the case, they shouldn't act like tweens with their first crush.

I also didn't like the kiss/relationship between June and Arden. He's supposed to be 20, right? What in the world is he doing kissing a 15yr. old girl? Just kind of creeped me out. I am fine with them being good friends and supporting one another but any romance between them borders on pedophile behavior to me. Sure, maybe if he was 25 and she was 20 it would be ok. A relationship between a 15yr. old girl and a 20 yr. old man is not. A lot of growing and maturing happens between 15 and 20.

The relationship between Tess and Day was also a downer for me. We all knew that Tess was into Day...had a crush on him. However, her bratty behavior in this book makes me dislike her. I liked her character in Legend but in this book she acted like a whiney little kid. I suppose she is just a little kid, but like I said before, if the author wants us to believe that these characters aren't your average kids then she needs to stay consistent. I also didn't appreciate how Day kept feeling drawn to Tess. If the bond between June and Day is so epic then why is he kissing Tess? Sure, June kissed Arden but she was undercover and in a position where her life was on the line. I just think the author threw in the chemistry between Tess/Day and June/Arden to do your typical angsty love story. Enough of that!

Overall, I thought this book was bland and nothing like Legend. I will read the third book simply to find out what happens. Of course, I am sure in the third book there will be a miracle cure for Day and he and June will get back together and everything will have a happy ending. The author started off being unique but is finishing lame.

3.5 stars

It's been over a year since I read Legend, the first novel in the trilogy. Legend was no doubt my favorite dystopian and one of my favorite books last year! I loved everything about it, and I eagerly anticipated the release of the sequel. Now having finally read Prodigy...

Unfortunately, it didn't do it for me the way the first book did. It was a much more different reading experience for me. While Legend was engaging and had me hooked from the very beginning, I felt detached throughout Prodigy. I had hoped that feeling would ease by the time I was halfway, and I really wish I could have shaken off that feeling entirely. However, it never happened. And it greatly determined how I felt about the novel overall.

I think I can pinpoint what exactly bothered me while reading. It was the characters. In my review for Legend, I go on and on, praising the main characters Day and June and some of the secondary characters. This time around the characters didn't quite work for me. In fact, they either irritated me or I didn't care about them at all. Even when something horrible happened, none of them could get me to shed tears or root for them passionately. (Except maybe Metias, but sadly he's not of the living.) My problem with June and especially Day in this book stems from the fact that after everything they went through in the previous book, it seemed all they could do was question each other and question why the other would want to be with them. I understand why they would have doubts though. They haven't known each other long, and they met through heartbreaking circumstances. That's something they brought up throughout the course of the novel. But for me, all that did was make it seem like what they shared in Legend wasn't...real. I couldn't bring myself to believe in their relationship this time around, which is sad because I loved what they had before.

Another problem I had with the characters AND the romance was how Day and June attracted other characters' attention. I know these things happen, especially considering a lot of people look up to them, but it was a bit too convenient that both of them had specific characters vying for their affection. I don't want to reveal too much of what happened; however, I can't help mentioning that Tess, Day's best friend, was involved. And she really annoyed the heck out of me. She pretty much wasn't the same character I came to care for in Legend. It was a bit of a shock to be honest. Basically, the romance in Prodigy wasn't what I had hoped, and I feel everything that happened with it only caused unnecessary drama that I didn't find entertaining one bit.

In the end, Prodigy left me feeling indifferent and uncaring for the characters and their struggles. I know I'm being harsher with this book than others, but it's hard not to be when its predecessor was a favorite of mine. Although right now I'm not feeling particularly enthused for the final book in the trilogy, I think I might still read it. Just to get some closure. Hopefully I appreciate it more than this book.

There were definitely some weak moments in this book. I found myself skimming over a lot of it. Too many filler scenes or set up that I didn't care about. But I never stopped reading b/c I had to know what happened. And the end made me cry... so that gets some points.

Holy, holy! I have all the feels and I can't put them into words! I simply cannot wrap my head around the roller-coaster of emotion that this book took me on! I'm still reeling.

Marie Lu's amazing ability to deliver a phenomenal story between two perspectives is back in the sequel to her amazing debut. Picking up two weeks after where its predecessor left off, PRODIGY begins with Day and June's arrival in Vegas and the stunning revelation that the Elector Primo is now dead. His son, Anden, has taken his place. But they quickly realize that they have no other choice but to help the Patriots to ensure their own survival and safety, thus they find themselves twisted in a nasty scheme to assassinate the new Elector to make the Republic truly crumble. While on course, Day struggles with his hatred for the Republic for hurting his family as well as his desire never to kill and June struggles with the concept of right and wrong and whether this new, young, handsome Elector is the same man his father was. Full of more amazing twists, this story stresses the importance of loyalty and love.

I want to start off by saying how amazing it was to learn more about Lu's futuristic world. As much as I was able to learn from LEGEND, we actually get more history as to why the Republic and Colonies were created at the hands of Anden. We learn what the Colonies are, what's going on in the rest of the world, and how all other countries view the Republic. All of the concepts were truly fascinating, thus enhancing Lu's already amazing and solid world-building.

The characterization in this one was amazing as well. June and Day will always be adored. Both are still strong and always on the look-out, but they both experienced extreme inner turmoil with this one, struggling to understand their emotions and desires as well as the desires of those surrounding them. Anden was also interestingly characterized. It was refreshing to see someone on the younger side involved in politics, but act wise beyond his years. And lastly, there's more of Kaede. God, I freaking loved Kaede in this one. Always one step ahead, she's willing to do anything for what is right, no matter what side that means she is on. And she got her moment in the cockpit of a plane. Boy, did she show up and impress. Kaede is the type of ally and friend that is worth killing for, and this book exemplifies that.

Lastly, the plot twists. They are plentiful and completely shocking. My mind was blown countless times as I read through this one, especially in the last third of the book. And the last page...no words. This book made me feel everything from pride, happiness, worry, and heartbreak. It broke my heart into a million little pieces and left me begging for more, and as much as I hate that book three is so far away, I love the fact that I've become so attached to these characters.

The second installment in Lu's amazing trilogy is a must read, though I do recommend brushing up on your LEGEND knowledge before reading it. The little details always count, especially because Lu's world is forever changed.

This book was very good in my opinion....just annoyed with the ending, but the characters grabbed me and I really enjoyed the story in this series.

The first book, "Legend", was entertaining and fast paced. This book is paced fairly well and has some decent action so I am not sure why the author felt the need to inject the big "make out" scene in the bathroom between June and Day...two 15 year olds who just met two week prior to this, and then continually mention the sexual tension between them. Additionally, the revelation of Metias being in love with Thomas was an unnecessary plot twist, as well as one of the male runners hitting on Day (also a male, and Day blushing about it like bisexuality is just a thing of the future as well as homosexuality). And the last straw was when Anden, the 20 year old Elector, akin to being the President of the US, is attracted to, and kisses on June...a 15 year old girl...what kind of message are we sending teens this age with this...it is not OK for a 15 yo girl to be with a 20 yo man no matter how mature she thinks she is! This is just wrong, making this inappropriate for younger teens/tweens, in my opinion. I realize some may not share my opinion, but why, when the author had enough interest without the heavy sexuality issues, would she go there when the age target is 12 and over? Glad I read these before I just hand them over to my kids.

I like this one as much as Divergent and Insurgent. They remind me of each other in a way; teenagers fighting for a better government, finding out that all systems are corrupt because they are run by sinful man, but that there is always hope.

Prodigy is even better than Legend, and I don't say that lightly, as Legend was great. Both June and Day were fantastic as they struggled to do what was right in a society that had clearly gone wrong. This installment was nothing less than EXCITING!

Honestly I am more a fan of romance than action, although I like the two to coexist. The attraction between June and Day can't be denied based on hearing their thoughts through the alternating points-of-view Lu uses to tell the Legend Trilogy and there is also a really HOT kiss in the bathroom that proves it. But there is also a distance that Junes feels Day is constructing between them and the rest of the book is pretty much romance free, with the distinct feeling that they are realizing that they are not meant to be together.

It is really hard to remember that June is only 15 � when she has to deal with so much at such a young age and always seems to be so intelligent and resourceful. This is another Dystopia that explores the fact that no system of government is perfect and while one government may do some things better than another government, it will also do some things worse. The key is to change the error within your own system and not idealize what you haven't experienced yourself.

SPOILER**I spent most of Legend praying that drool-worthy and overall fantastic guy; Metias was not truly dead and would make a miraculous appearance in the end. He didn't, but his memory and guidance does resurface a lot in Prodigy taking on an Asian-type ancestral/advisory role in June's dreams. For no reason that I can see other than "cultural relevance and acceptance", Marie Lu decides that Metias and Thomas were lovers and, just like that, Metias loses his appeal. This came out of nowhere and was really disappointing for the female race. END SPOILER**

The book was packed with action and danger that made both Day and June seem heroic and selfless. It emphasizes the importance of family, the hardship of loss and the need for forgiveness. June especially grows emotionally as she slowly learns to communicate better with Day and begins to understand her feelings for him.