"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
Why
yes, I am reviewing another dystopian trilogy this month. Is it that
obvious I'm currently number 83 out of 210 on my library's waiting
list for Veronica Roth's Allegiant?
If
you are also looking for a dystopian world to slip into while you
wait your turn, I strongly recommend Marie Lu's Legend
trilogy. In a market saturated with dystopias, this is my favorite
since The Hunger Games.
Lu
gained her inspiration for the series by watching Les Miserables.
The dynamic between the criminal Valjean and the officer assigned to
track him down intrigued her. She decided to play with that dynamic
in a futuristic context.
Legend,
the resulting book, is not a rewrite of the Hugo classic. It was
simply the source of her inspiration for her characters: Day,
dystopian Los Angeles's most wanted criminal, and June, the soldier
assigned to capture him. Throughout the pursuit, the characters
uncover secrets about their authoritarian society, and they come to
question if they truly are the enemies they thought they were.
My
favorite part of this series is June. It takes serious skill to write
a female protagonist that is just as physically tough as the boys,
but still seems very female in her toughness. June is the most
skilled fighter and sharpest strategic thinker simply because of her
intellect and determination.
It
doesn't feel out of place when she has to wear a formal gown to a
fancy event, nor does it feel out of place when she breaks someone's
arm. She's simply tough, smart, and feminine, no explanations needed.
Day
is also an intriguing character. While his skills make him a worthy
adversary, his emotions more strongly guide his actions, for better
and worse. His emotional development is satisfying, and Lu writes the
dynamic between Day and June well.
Lu
wisely chose to have the narration alternate from the beginning of
the series. Some dystopian authors find themselves adding narrators
later in the series when their world building gets too expansive for
one perspective, and I feel like something is always lost when this
happens. Most readers have already created a voice for the character,
and the narration seldom matches. Lu successfully allows June and Day
to develop at their own rate and in their own words throughout the
series.
Champion,
the final installment in this trilogy, came out earlier this month,
so you won't have an agonizing wait for resolution. And as rumor has
it, the ending is much more satisfying than Allegiant's anyway.
Read
this book if...
You
love strong and intelligent female protagonists that aren't trying
to make a girl power statement.
You
want your dystopian worlds nuanced. The authoritarian regime isn't
all moustachioed villains, and the rebels aren't all haloed saints.
You
like your dystopias focused on intrigue and suspense, rather than
unique world building. The world itself isn't particularly
memorable, but the characters are, and it is fun to watch them
unravel the mysteries.
Erin
Cowles is a mother of two, living in the Washington D.C. suburbs.
Before motherhood, she used her masters in library and information
science in a law firm library. Now she uses it to find good books for
her family at her local public library. She teaches part time for a
SAT prep company, where she enjoys the challenge of making rather
dull subject matter interesting and making college a reality for her
students. During women's history month, she profiles Mormon women
that inspire her at ldswomenshistory.blogspot.com.
Erin
currently serves as a counselor in her ward's primary
presidency.