Prodigy (Legend #2)By Marie Lu
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
To Sum It Up:
Day and June are on the run from the Republic, and with Day seriously injured, June seeks out the only source she thinks might aid them: the rebel group, the Patriots. The Patriots are not only willing to give Day medical attention, but they also offer to assist with finding Day’s younger brother, Eden, who’s being held by the Republic, plus secure Day and June’s escape to the Colonies. All the Patriots ask in return is for the pair’s help in the rebels’ plan to assassinate the new Elector Primo of the Republic. After all the Republic has done to them, this seems like an easy decision for Day and June to make. June’s role requires her to convince the Elector to trust her, and learning what kind of person he is (or, at least, appears to be) gives her second thoughts about the plan. June must decide where her loyalty lies and if she really has turned her back on the Republic once and for all.
Review:
Last year, I learned a valuable lesson about dystopian novels and me. Most of the ones that I read I did so simply because they were much-buzzed-about titles. I didn’t devote enough thought to how likely I was to buy into whatever premise each book was selling. Shortsightedness on my part resulted in several disappointing reads and the conclusion that I need to be more selective about which dystopians I read. Marie Lu’s Legend was one of the books from the genre that I did enjoy, so I didn’t hesitate to check out the follow-up, Prodigy.Day and June, our teenage protagonists, are back for another round of nonstop action as they find themselves on the run from the Republic following Day’s narrow escape from execution. The pacing of the books in this series continues to be pleasantly brisk; Prodigy moves along at a steady clip but without becoming frenzied. I was happy to see more details of the world filled in with this book, too. One of the biggest questions I had after reading Legend was why the United States split into several different territories. I found the backstory offered here pretty plausible. What really impressed me, though, was how clever Lu was with explaining why that information wasn’t common knowledge in the Republic. You find out that the Republic strictly filters the history of how it came into power; even June, once one of its most loyal citizens, is surprised to learn how censored her education has been. While I still think that the world-building in Legend could have used a few more specifics, Prodigy appeased my curiosity.
Just as they did in the previous book, Day and June alternate narrating chapters, but I felt that Prodigy centered more around June this time. It’s not that Day is relegated to the background because he most certainly isn’t. Day’s story of how he became the Republic’s most wanted criminal was what really drew me into Legend, and with Prodigy, it was June’s struggle to figure out whom to trust that I found riveting. The Patriots’ plan to assassinate Anden, the new Elector Primo of the Republic, hinges upon June gaining his confidence and delivering him to the appointed location at the appointed time. Anden tells June that he wants to be a completely different leader than his father was and is ready to institute change in the Republic. He needs Day and June’s help, though; specifically, he needs the two to rally their support behind him, knowing that the public will follow suit. June is torn. She would like to believe that Anden’s intentions are sincere, yet she cannot forget the Republic’s betrayal of her faith in it, how it shattered her family and Day’s family, and how it tried to execute Day. In addition to the book’s physical conflict between the government and the rebels, there’s June’s internal conflict over whether the Patriots’ operation should go forward in light of what the Elector has told her. Watching June battle with her doubts shows how much her character has evolved since first meeting her in Legend. June the proud Republic military officer never would have found herself in this situation, contemplating the demise of her leader.
One aspect of this series that I’ve never been enthused about is the romance. I was happily reading Legend when . . . bam! Insta-love. For me, it blemished an otherwise very good book. In the months that passed since reading the novel, my initial annoyance had time to fade. I was happily reading Prodigy when . . . bam! Potential love quadrilateral. My school days are long behind me, and I just don’t cope well with geometry anymore, especially when it’s not even in a math textbook. I will, however, give Day and June credit for at last taking a hard, realistic look at their compatibility, and, possibly, lack thereof.
The romance aside, this is one of the more enjoyable dystopian series that I’ve read. Prodigy features plenty of thrilling action, proactive protagonists, and the constant threat of treachery. After finishing the novel, I still wasn’t sure who was trustworthy. If Legend was your kind of dystopian read, as it was mine, then you should be quite pleased with Prodigy.
All in All:
This is a solid second book with a strong plotline that isn’t just a setup for the conclusion of the trilogy. I didn’t realize how much I missed Day and June until I picked up Prodigy.
