Book Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Prodigy
Legend #2
Author: Marie Lu
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Dystopian
Released: January 29th 2013
Review Source: Big Honcho Media
Available: Amazon
Reviews: Legend - Book #1

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.

Excuse me while I pick up my jaw from the ground! This is seriously one of the best dystopian series I have read so far! Marie Lu’s character development is truly amazing. The emotions you feel while reading Prodigy is heart wrenching. Brilliantly done!

Legend left all of us with many questions - questions about the Republic, about the Patriots and the Colonies. Well, all of those and MORE get answered in Prodigy. Prodigy starts off right after June and the Patriots help Day escape his execution. They are on a train heading to Vegas. There they seek the Patriots help once more because Day was shot while escaping from the Republics and is seriously hurt. June has betrayed the Republic and has nowhere to go. That’s where they meet the Leader of the Patriots, Razor. Something about this man, just, I don’t know, he just rubs me the wrong way. Anyways, I am grateful that at least he hired the best surgeon to help save Day’s leg and made it ten times better than before. But unfortunately, everything has a price right? The Primo Elector has died and his son has taken over the Republic. So what does Razor want in return for saving Day’s life? June and Day now have to help assassinate the new Elector, Anden. Razor tells Day and June what his plan is and sends June off to befriend the new Elector. Everything seems to be going according to plan, until June realizes that Anden, is not like his father. He actually wants to change the horrible things his father put into place. But can June actually trust him? She has been lied to her whole life about the Republic. Will June and Day betray the Patriots and help Anden lead the Republic or will they go with the original plan and assassinate the Elector and start the revolution so the Colonies can take over? You will just have to read Prodigy January 29, 2013, when it’s released!

I cannot express how much I love June's character. She is the epitome of a heroin -she is strong, smart, sarcastic, funny and caring and to top it off, she can kick some mean butt! While reading Prodigy, there were moments where I felt this pride in June and Day and I would get this smirk on my face whenever they would do something against the Republic. They both have been through so much and I love the fact that they have channeled their anger into something positive for the rest of humanity. There aren’t many books that make you feel like you are a part of the story - like you are seeing the character's lives unravel before your eyes and Marie Lu has walked me step by step into this amazingly cruel yet hopeful world.