The Book Landers: Book Review: Prodigy and Champion

Title: Prodigy and Champion

Author: Marie Lu

Genre: YA dystopian

Review:

Man.....I am definitely suffering from one of my worst book hangovers yet. Does anybody know any cures/treatment for a book hangover aside from curling up in bed and staring off vacantly? Anybody? Yeah...I need help...

3 books in 3 days...yep, you heard right. It took me 3 days total to read the three books in the Legend trilogy. I read Legend about a month ago, but got so caught up in other activities I didn't get the chance to read Prodigy and Champion until now. Today I read Champion...I literally finished the book 20 minutes ago and I'm still trying to get my senses together...BUT GOSH DARN IT...WHY DOES THE BOOK HAVE TO END???

Okay, this review is going to be about Prodigy since I'm still reeling with so much emotions about Champion that if I tried to write a review fo it now it honestly wouldn't make much sense. (side note: at this point I did not know I was writing a duo-review yet) Alright, enough blabbering and let's actually get onto the review, yeah?

I loved Legend so freaking much. Me loving Legend so much is a double bladed sword: since I enjoyed Legend so much, I have a VERY high expectation for Prodigy. Like a ridiculously high expectation. If Prodigy lived up to my expectation, then my mind=blown. On the other hand, if the book fell short, needless to say I would be quite disappointed.

Thank the lord that Prodigy met and surpassed my expectations. The characters are captivating, the plot moves at a break-neck speed, and the writing is as flawless (or as close as perfect) as ever.

In my review for Legend (click here to read), I mentioned how glad I was that Day (one of the main characters) didn't join the rebel group known as the Patriots because it seems that every protagonist does so in YA dystopian books. So I was naturally wary when June and Day agreed to support the Patriots and fight against the Republic near the beginning of the book. But Lu still has some tricks up her sleeve.

25% into the book it quickly became clear that there was a darker side to the Patriots...but Day and June are backed into a corner; they are forced to work with the Patriots and help them assassinate the new Prime Elector...who may be on love with June AND may be more than the eyes meet.

And oh, the character development was phenomenal. Naturally June and Day further developed their character as the strived to discover what they stood for (family? freedom? moral rights?) But there are 2 other characters worth mentioning: Thomas and Tess. These two characters played smaller roles in Legend but they return here to share their side of the story which are as tragic as they are beautiful. Lu does an amazing job portraying another dimension to these characters, and that really enhances everything.

Let me start with Thomas. In Legend, June discovers that Thomas killed her brother, Metias. Ever since, a seed of hatred for Thomas has sprouted and grown in her heart. Now you must understand: Thomas and Metias were 2 peas in a pod--they grew up together, went to school together and work together. So for Thomas to obey his commander and kill Metias was the equivalent of fratricide. Fast forward...Thomas reappears as a criminal and is put on trial. He is deemed guilty and shortly before the execution he asks to have his last words with June...and she obliges his wish. I'm not going to spoil his story completely...but I have to say Thomas' story is heartbreaking. To me, Thomas is the Severus Snape of the trilogy. 2 words that describe him: ultimate loyalty. Everything was oh-so-well written I felt my heart twisting as Thomas confessed to June what really happened and why. And gosh, the way Thomas was killed really drives home the point: Thomas' loyalty is both his strength and weakness.

Tess is a whole other story. (Speaking of the name Tess, I totally called my friend Tessa "Tess" at school today since my mind was still on Prodigy). Tess has always been there for Day--they survived on the streets working together as a team. But then June comes into their lives and before she knows it, Day has slipped through her fingers. As Day and Tess struggle to figure out their relationship, I can help but sympathize for Tess. She's been an anchor for Day, yet she feels as if she has been tossed aside for some goddy, upper class girl. But she still loves Day more than anything; to her, Day is more than a friend or boyfriend. To Tess, Day is everything she has; he is her family.

***1 day later***

Okay, looking back at what I've written, I just realized I have muddled some of the events from Champion with Prodigy. So this book review is going to turn into a double book review :-)

In Champion, it becomes apparent that the Primo Elector is barely holding onto the nation. The people have their loyalties divided. To add to the tension, a plague has broken out and Ethan, Day's brother, seem to be the cure for this lethal virus.

The Colonies (the warring country against the Republic) is winning and Antarctica (another country) won't help the Republic unless a cure is produced. If there is no cure, the Republic will be quarantined from the rest of the world and left on its own to crumble. The fate of millions is burdened on the shoulders of Ethan. However, Day doesn't plan on losing his brother to the Republic's labs again. Because family is family, yeah? Even if it's at the cost of millions of life.

One thing that really stood out to me in Champion is the world building. In the previous two books, world building was pretty minimal. In Champion, I realized that Lu has mislead me much like how the government has mislead June and Day into believing that the military and technology of the Republic is #1in the world. How far is that from the truth...It really opened my eyes (much like June's reaction when she leaves the country for the first time) how small and weak the Republic is. In fact, the Republic relies heavily on foreign aid to keep itself from falling apart!

Also, I find the Colonies' governing system to be very interesting/disturbing. There is no central government. Instead, 4 corporate businesses run everything there is to run. Likewise, Antarctica has their own unique system. To the people of Antarctica, life is a game. And in this game, you want to collect points because points=good jobs=respect=money=power. Points are earned by doing "good" deeds, like watering a plant. Points are deducted for doing "bad" actions, such as cheating on a test. The person with the most points is the nation's leader.

Okay...my hand is really sore from writing all of this so I think I shall stop. All I can say is READ THIS SERIES! You won't regret it, so read Legend, Prodigy and Champion, yeah?

Rating: