Review: Prodigy by Marie Lu

Author: Marie Lu
Title: Prodigy
Series: Legend #2
Publication: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Dystopia
Pages: 384 pp.
Rating: 5 out 5
Source: Around the World Arc Tours
Synopsis

Jan. 4. 1932 Hours.

Ocean Standard Time

Thirty-Five Days After Metias’s Death

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 vengence, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

Thoughts: This is edge of your seat good. That news at the end, one word: Bewildering. Needless to say, I am extremely curious how this transpires in book three. June and Day find themselves on a train to the Patriots headquarters seeking assistance in locating Day's brother, Eden,  and medical aid for Day’s  injured leg. Their biggest problem: will the Patriots help them since they have no money to bribe them this time? No, but what they want is much more than either of them are truly prepared for...can they really kill Anden, the new Elector Primo, without giving him the opportunity to be the change that is needed in the Republic . Now, left with this awful choice they uncover a plot more twisted than either can imagine.

June has the making of a phenomenal female heroine. She's tough, calculating, perceptive, and packs a mighty punch. If this does get made into a movie, some starlet has some big shoes to fill. I love the depth of June; her physical and mental capabilities are astounding. She is not a one-dimensional character and I like the different levels that she plays in this book. Day has this magnetism about him that pulls people to him. True, he may not have the skills that June has or even the calming ability of his friend Tess, but he has this presence that commands attention. I guess also helps that he has pretty hair. The attraction between the two of them is so much fun to read. They appear to balance each other out, and I hope that they end up together. Fingers crossed!

The writing is eloquent and detailed. The author truly has a way of giving a sense of the scene that's inviting and visually engaging to the movie theatre in my head. I was emotionally invested in this story. I love the characters and this world that Lu has created. This is going down as one of my favorites!