The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

This month’s theme for Saturday Spotlight is dystopian!

I love a good dystopian book and one of my favorites is Legend by Marie Lu.

This book takes place in a future America, where the states have forgotten they used to be united. If I recall correctly, the West and East were separated and there had been some natural disasters that caused some issues.

The story follows Day and June in a dual POV. June is part of the elite circles and is being groomed for sucess in the highest military circles.

Day, on the other hand, was born in the slums and is a notorious criminal. Though his motives aren’t as dark as they appear. He is actually stealing to take care of his family.

Day and June’s paths have no reason to cross, until June’s brother dies, and Day becomes the prime suspect. Day is racing to save his family, and June wants to avenge her brother. But as the story continues, they uncover shocking secrets of what brought them together and how far their country will go to keep them.

This book has a class divide between the two main characters, which I really enjoy. A lot of horrible things are revealed to have happened to Day because of his position in society. This has June look at things in a new light, which is especially interesting because Day and June are actually very similar, so while Day was being punished, June was being lauded.

I will say I love the sibling relationships in this book. There is a little bit more of a focus on romantic feelings, which I really love, but the sibling relationships are really great. I think sibling relationships are missing from modern media, so I enjoy reading a book series with strong sibling relationships, especially for too different characters.

This is a three-book series that takes you through it. All of the books are so good and are just amazing. It tells a wonderful, deep story. The world and government are complex and fun to read. There is a fourth book, which is super good, but it takes place ten years in the future and is from Day’s point of view and his younger brother’s.

I highly recommend giving this amazing dystopian a try!

Summary:

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.
Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.