Legend

Hmmm I reserve my five stars for books that make me sit in the parking lot for lengthy periods of time instead of entering the office/house/store because I just have to find out what happens next. Although I never had a 'just can't put it down' moment with this book, I still found it pleasant and entertaining. I like the dystopian genre and this one has wonderful descriptions of how America may be during that time - I actually wish the author had gone further with some of the descriptions. I also like YA novels because they aren't filled with graphic love scenes etc. Thankfully this book didn't push that envelope with the kids either. Overall, I would recommend it for a beach read/listen or since it isn't too long you could probably fit it into a lazy rainy day.

Good start to another dystopian series. If you liked Divergent - chances are you will like this as well. Loved the dual narration as well - made it much more enjoyable to hear the first person perspectives of the protagonists from different voices.

yet not completely in mine. I enjoyed this story overall, and the writing is good. Yet, somehow the characters remained a bit flat and unconvincing for me. I was more "won-over" by Day than by June, though I came to like them both a little bit more by the end. I found June a bit "Princess-y" and annoying. I'm not sure how much that had to do with the choice of narration. Mariel Stern has a fine voice, it's just that with this story she didn't quite make the character believable to me. She was supposed to be physically trained, (strong), and very smart, yet she came accross as spoiled, sheltered and naive for most of the story. She seems to grow a bit by the end, though, I must say. And I came to like Day. Kaplan's portrayal of him is a little more matched to the character, as far as I'm concerned. Thomas was very convincing by the time you got into the meat of the story because of his sheer stepford-evil. He was "real" enough to make me mad.
I like the overall premise and story, and again I'd like to say the writing is good. By the end it did make me care enough that I will check out the next installment of June and Day's story when the time comes.

Of the (many) recent dystopias I have recently read, Legend is definitely one of my favorites. The only one I can remember liking better is Divergent. I found it really difficult to put this one down. I liked the characters a lot; June and Day were so much fun and I really felt for both of them and hated the situations they were thrown into. I liked the romance and the athletic elements of the story. A cool story.

I liked this. It was a bit short, but it had a good bit of action and suspense. It was predictable, but still interesting. Even though I knew, in general, where it was going, I was curious to see how Lu was going to get the characters there. And I'm curious to see where the story goes next. I'll definitely give the next book a try and see where June and Day go from here.

I loved both of the main characters (Day and June). They were both strong individuals with heart. Although, it did seem like their ages should be a bit older to match their actions and history.

I thought Steven Kaplan did a wonderful job of narrating the male lead character, Day. He was believable. I had a hard time matching Mariel Stern's interpretation/voice for the female lead character, June. But, Marie Lu's story was so captivating I quickly got over it.

This book motivated me to exercise, as I mainly listen to audio books when out hiking. I was eager to get out on the trail, so that I could get back to the world and characters that Marie Lu created.

I hope there will be a sequel. The ending left me wanting to know how things will develop or get resolved.

Overall a good book and we can't wait for the next one!!

I like the way the narrators switched off in this reading of Legend. Their voices added good character to the readings.

Before downloading it, I told myself I'd pace it out so I'd have a month worth of story... Ha. That totally didn't work :) Instead, I ended up listening to 5 of the 7 hours of it at once. Though it may not be an example of literary excellence, it's not bad either. I wasn't a huge fan of the narration, especially the woman's voice, but the story and plot were gripping enough to waste my Saturday for. Definitely worth a download.

In a shakespearean twist of fate, poverty and privilege find common ground in Legend.

Two districts, each unlike in prosperity,
In the Republic, where jurisdiction is to demean,
From governmental grievance to societies mutiny,
Where civil blood makes military hands unclean.
From forth the mutual losses of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take control of their fate;
Whose misinformed sorrows and woes
Do with their lives bury their caste's disparate.
The fearful passage of their souls-mark'd free,
And the continuance of their rebellion's rage,
Which, but their sacrifices' end, nought could flee,
Is now the first tomes' traffic of our page;
The which if you with patient eyes attend,
What here shall miss, Lu's series shall strive to mend.

It's hard to make anything sound bad written in Shakespeare's footprint. But Marie Lu's debut novel is a wonderful blend of WOW inducing words that makes you want to live, fight, rebel, and know love in all it's forms.

Legend isn't the type of book you put down and think, well I didn't see that one coming. Lu employed a lot of basic and typical devices used in most popular YA fiction today. While there were pops of the unexpected here and there the real strength of Lu's Legend is in it's relationships. She's built a harsh world and isn't afraid to make some sacrifices. This book is as much about tragedy as it is triumph and maybe Lu could have delved deeper into the bonding and betrayal sequences drawn them out a little more. But nevertheless the emotional connection is there. Her characters are steadfast and interesting. Day and June really draw you in with their personalities. The most compelling aspect is the goodness in the characters and their motives. You can't help but want them to succeed, to win, to overcome.

I experienced Legend through the wonders of audible. Mariel Stern narrated June's chapters which started off a bit jarring at first. Stern had that Type A personality spot on, but the annoying overbearing quality of her performance soften as I became more acquainted with June. Steven Kaplan does a wonderful job narrating Day's chapters. Day has a more quiet personality, he's not as noticeably intense as June, and plays he's part perfectly. Their readings really brought the words to life and drew me in.

Any fan of Hunger Games and Divergent will love this world and it's characters. Legend is a well crafted emotionally stunning thriller. The book's biggest downside is having to wait for the sequel.

This was a novel that I thought I would like better than I did - a strong female character and an interesting male character that wasn't typical romance alpha male. Set in dystopian Los Angeles with a lot of action and intrigue. Fortunately, the story really picks up in the second book and characterization missing from this first book is greatly expanded upon in the second novel Prodigy.

For me, the first book left me flat - the characters were ciphers and not relatable or developed. We weren't given a lot of information about who they were - only what they were thinking as it related to the plot. I didn't have a feel either for June or Day (but especially not June) by the end of the first book.

I was conflicted on whether to continue with the second novel but I'm glad I did. Prodigy continued the story but finally deepened both the characters and the world. As well, Lu has managed to eschew so many romance cliches by the next book. Side characters will especially be developed, grow, change, mature - and not be obviously good or bad as we learn more about them in the continuing story.

The narrators really did a great job - I felt the characters were 15 year old in how they talked and reacted.