The Maze Runner Trailer

I’ve been meaning to post a link to this trailer for quite some time now. I finished Maze Runner by James Dashner more than a year back and was exceptionally curious as to how the book would be adapted into a movie. Especially the Grievers. Because I pictured a dinosaur-ish creatures. But I’ve got to say the maze looks exactly the way I’d pictured it to be. And I’ll definitely be picking up Scorch Trials, the sequel to Maze Runner, very soon.

And oh, Bonus! Dylan O’Brien as Thomas. I mean just look at that fine male specimen.

Prodigy by Marie Lu – A Book Review

Author: Marie Lu

First in the Series: Legend

Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction

Prodigy on Goodreads

Prodigy

Warning: This review May contain spoilers for those who haven’t read the first book, Legend.

Plot: After helping Day escape from the execution, June is now the Republics most wanted traitor. Day, who has lost his mother and his elder brother John, is now desperately trying to get Eden back from the clutches of the Republic. Injured and anguished, they turn to the Patriots while chaos ensues in the Republic. Love and Loyalties are tested in this epic sequel to Legend.

I am so happy that I pre ordered Champion, the sequel to Prodigy, because it would have been agonizing to wait for it for a week.

In fifteen word or less: Prodigy does not let down Legend. It delivers much more than it promises.

Finally. It feels like its been forever since I read a good sequel to an equally good first book in the series. Matched, Delirium none of them managed to live up to the expectations in the second book quite like Legend. I am ecstatic to say that Prodigy does not disappoint. At all. Au contraire, Prodigy carries the story forward with explosive twists and cliffhangers. If you think that the sequels will be somewhat of a Hunger-Games rip-off, you’re sadly mistaken. Prodigy has something different to offer, with conspiracies, adversaries and suspicion full to the brim.

Another unparalleled aspect in Prodigy is how Marie Lu has addressed June and Day’s relationship without making it cheesy or oversentimental. Its not easy for Day to completely forget what June has done or for June to leave all her luxurious comforts behind. They do trust and love each other, but their relationship isn’t completely devoid of suspicion and guilt.

The Jay Ship

Also, Marie Lu has this incredible ability to make me shout at the characters.

Another praiseworthy aspect is how sibling relationships have been portrayed. June’s love for Metias and more importantly, Day’s concern for Eden. I have read so many books that attempt at establishing a unique association with other characters but in the end it gives a very fake and pretentious impression. Prodigy on the other hand genuinely strikes a chord with the reader with the characters feelings. Apart from the Harry Potter and Hunger Games series, Prodigy is the only other book that manages to recreate a unique type of love for parents, siblings, friends and family.

Marie Lu also corrects a mistake that she made in Legend: June and Day’s perspectives, unlike Legend, are now distinct. Day is sarcastic while June is more thoughtful.

The only problem was that there were a few chapters right in the beginning from Day’s point-of-view that were too action-packed. Of course Prodigy is meant to be a fast paced book, but action like “jumping over a wall” doesn’t really transcribe into books the way it translates into a movie. But thats a very minor problem.

Overall Prodigy is one of the very few dystopian books that do not disappoint. And I highly recommend this book to those who have read and enjoyed the Hunger Games. I would have said that the book left me satisfied, but the Climax!!

The Climax!!

Marie Lu stop messing with my feels.

Legend By Marie Lu – A Book Review

Set against the backdrop of a futuristic dystopian Republic in the Western United States, Legend is the story of June and Day. Fifteen year old June, born into one of the wealthiest families, is the Republic’s prodigy. Born into one of the poverty-stricken sectors of the Republic, Day is a notorious criminal. 

However, when June’s brother Metias is killed, June sets out to bring her brother’s killer to book and thus crosses paths with Day, who is desperately trying to fight for his family’s survival. Amidst plagues, unfaithful friends and adversaries, June uncovers the truth – truth that could destroy the very foundations of her Republic.

I have to admit, Im a sucker for Young Adult Dystopian books. But biases aside, Legend lived up to every expectation I had. Action? Check. Romantic subplot? Check. Cliffhangers? Check. This is definitely the book to read if you enjoyed The Hunger Games and Divergent.

Marie Lu has delivered all the ingredients in just the right amount to her readers. Alternating between June and Day’s perspectives, Legend juxtaposes two different point-of-views with several twists. With feisty characters and dramatic cliffhangers emerges an explosive and action-packed plot with captivating twists and turns. Despite mutual suspicions, June and Day are drawn towards each other and we find ourselves rooting for this ship already.

The only time when I faced a problem with this book was when Day was described having “unruly, long white blond hair” that “hangs over his shoulders”. Not to sound prejudiced or anything, but for some surreal reason, every time I tried to picture Day that way, Lucius Malfoy popped into my head.

Excuse me? Am I not pretty?

So I decided to picture Day with short black hair. Other than that and the fact that authors love to mess with our feels by just killing off characters (“a necessary evil” as they put it), Legend is definitely worth a read. I will definitely be picking up its sequel, Prodigy.