Prodigy: A Book Review
Prodigy
Marie Lu
Book series are all the rage. I have heard people say this is a new thing, but I'm not so sure. As a kid I was all about a good series, I mean what kid didn't like Nancy Drew, or The Boxcar Children?I am guessing book series are popular because as people we want to build relationships with other people. And while a book follows fictional characters, we feel like we are becoming friends with the characters in good book series, because we get to glimpse more of their stories the longer the series goes on.
In my opinion, a good series needs great characters we want to know about, a setting that is believable (at least to a degree), and a slow build up in details of the bigger picture of their world.
Last week I introduced Marie Lu's Legend series, and this is a series that totally held up to my hopes for a great collection of books.
Story Overview
Prodigy (Legend)
**
continues to follow June and Day as they decide to team up with the Patriot rebels in hopes of saving the country from a new elector. Tess grows to a new level of interest in this story as she steps up and takes more risks. The tension surrounding the rebels, the plague, the Colonies, and the rest of the country & world is tripled in this second book of the series.
**
continues to follow June and Day as they decide to team up with the Patriot rebels in hopes of saving the country from a new elector. Tess grows to a new level of interest in this story as she steps up and takes more risks. The tension surrounding the rebels, the plague, the Colonies, and the rest of the country & world is tripled in this second book of the series.
Day's motivation stems directly from a strong need to care for his family. June is struggling to deal with the information she found from Metias and being betrayed by the military she grew up trusting like family. The two have deep personal struggles that cannot be truly pushed down while the country rocks with turmoil and strife.
Personal Likes
Again, the characters in this story grab you. You want to know what is going to happen, how their desires for revenge, justice, and freedom will move them forward, and which sides are the right sides to pick. Marie Lu is talented when it comes to creating characters that are deep and complex. She doesn't disappoint with the plot, pace, setting or conflicts.
There is a love triangle that becomes very evident in this second book - yes there were hints in the first, but...- which usually isn't my thing. They are mushy and over the top. Since the characters are so well developed, it isn't that bad, in fact it adds so much to the story line. It was a nice change to see that in a book.
I was also glad that June continued to contemplate how to react to the information she found on Metia's website in the first book. She is smart, and while the circumstances are demanding action, she takes time to think about it and really analyze what her brother wanted.
Personal Dislikes
There was a quite a bit more violence in this second book, probably because the rebels are a central part of this book. And yes, I know that violence is part of this genre, but it felt like there were some scenes that were there for the violence factor more than the story line. But then again, that could be simply because I am not that into it.
While I hinted at it in the last book review, the same-sex attraction/relationship became more prominent in this book. Personally I didn't have an issue with this at all, but I know some who would. It was interesting to see how June dealt with it.
While I hinted at it in the last book review, the same-sex attraction/relationship became more prominent in this book. Personally I didn't have an issue with this at all, but I know some who would. It was interesting to see how June dealt with it.
Reasons to Read
This is an amazingly well put together story. For those of you who are looking for a quick moving book that is well developed and will hold your attention, I cannot recommend this series enough. In fact, if you give it a try, grab all three books, because you will want to move straight on after you finish one.
This is certainly for those fans of Marie Lu, action book, science fiction/dystopian worlds and the like.
This is certainly for those fans of Marie Lu, action book, science fiction/dystopian worlds and the like.
Reading List Rating
I have to give this book a five heart rating. I would read it again and again if time were not an issue, and a list of books I want to read for the first time that wasn't a mile long... It was very entertaining.
My Suggested Audience
I suggest that while this is a YA/Teen book, that teens be around fifteen/sixteen as there are some mature scenes - there are love scenes (nothing too much more than a typical teen book), violence, same-sex relationships, betrayal on a government level, political games, biological warfare... all topics that need a mature mind to comprehend.
Like I said with Legend, this should not be a teen only book, adults will be pulled into this world just as completely.
Like I said with Legend, this should not be a teen only book, adults will be pulled into this world just as completely.
"...All it takes is one generation to brainwash a population..." #Prodigy @Marie_Lu @Reading_List1
How do you feel about books, movies, etc, that put same-sex relationships in the fold just like our society does? Do you shy away? Do you accept it as another characteristic to describe people? Would you keep your kids from reading it?
I'd love to hear from you, please leave me a little note!
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