Marie Lu

"June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic--and each other--and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic's border cities"--

a Legend novel

Champion

I always knew, on some level, that I wouldn't live long. It's simply not written in my stars.

When the medics try again to pull me from Day, I shove them roughly away and scream. I scream for everything that has gone wrong. I scream for everything broken in our lives.

 Echoes of the philosophy of the Republic's own former Elector— echoes of something that, no matter what country I'm in, never seems to change.

I can't decide if he's "looks like he could kill you, is a cinnamon roll" or "looks like a cinnamon roll, would kill you".

Anden returns my look, as if hearing my unspoken words... and for the first time in months, I see some of that dark cloud lift from his eyes, the blackness that gives birth to his moments of furious temper.

Without his father's shadow in the way, he's beautiful.

"I'm sorry I followed you, but i had to know. I had to see that I was the one causing all the grief in your eyes."

 all because of her, that I love her so desperately that I'm terrified of the feeling. But I can't. 

There's a conflicted look in Day's eyes, a joy and a grief, that makes him so vulnerable. I realise then how little defense he has against my words. 

"You drive me insane, June," he murmurs against my hair. "You're the scariest, most clever, bravest person I know, and sometimes I can't catch my breath because I'm trying so hard to keep up. There will never be another like you. You realise that, don't you?" I tilt my face up to see him. His eyes reflect the faint light from the JumboTrons, a rainbow of evening colours. "Billions of people will come and go in this world," he says softly, "but there will 

I can't be the only one who feels he didn't deserve it.

Shot through the head. He's been shot through the head. 

As someone who read Warcross before Legend, THERE ARE SO MANY REFERENCES THAT FORSHADOW WARCROSS AHHDHHDISCHSKDBS

"Life in Ross City is a game, and we are all its players."

There's love in her tragic words, in the folds of that thin metal ring. Isn't there?

Finally, I take a deep breath. "Sometimes, the sun sets earlier. Days don't last forever, you know. But I'll fight as hard as I can. I can promise you that."

Author really raising our standards of mens' devotion with Day and Teren.

Please don't ask me to give up my brother. I would do anything else for you. Just not this.

," he says in a low voice. "There's nothing in the world they could've said to convince me, except that 

 wanted me here. And I can't turn down a request from you. They told me you had personally..." He swallows. There's a familiar war of emotions in his expression that leaves me with a sick feeling— emotions that I know are 

, for desiring a girl who destroyed his family.

I can't decide who fell harder (not literally.)

From the corner of my eye, I see Day turn to look over his shoulder. My hands tremble at this momentary glimpse of his face– have I really forgotten how beautiful he is, how his eyes reflect something wild and untamed, free even in the midst of all this order and elegance?

raia – inactive

Then Day reaches out and touches my hand with his. He encloses it in a handshake. And just like that, I am linked with him again, I feel the pulse of our bond and history and love through our hands, like a wave of magic, the return of a long-lost friend.

“I’m twenty-seven today,” I continue in a whisper. My voice catches for a moment. “We’re the same age now.”

For the first time in my life, I am no longer his little sister. Next year I will step across the line and he will still be in the same place. From now on, I will be older than he ever was.

Someday, perhaps in the far and distant future, we’ll find each other again. Until then, I will remember him. I reach out to touch one of the walls, imagining that I can feel his life and warmth through it, and I look around again, up toward the rooftops and then all the way to the night sky where a few faint stars can be seen, and there I think I really can see him. I can feel his presence here in every stone he has touched, every person he has lifted up, every street and alley and city that he has changed in the few years of his life, because he is the Republic, he is our light, and I love you, I love you, until the day we meet again I will hold you in my heart and protect you there, grieving what we never had, cherishing what we did. I wish you were here.

My wandering has led me to the beginning of our journey together. I suppose it’s only fitting for me to be here at that journey’s end.

Not long ago, the city patrols would have arrested him on sight. Now, he’s leaving the Republic as their champion, to be celebrated and remembered for a lifetime.

Mom smiles, but shakes her head. “You still belong on the other side of the looking glass. Someday, when you’re ready to take the step over to our side, I’ll come see you again. Live well, Daniel. Make that final step count.”

Medics bend down over his body. His eyes are closed now, and I can’t see him breathing. When the medics try again to pull me from Day, I shove them roughly away and scream. I scream for everything that has gone wrong. I scream for everything broken in our lives.

“Billions of people will come and go in this world,” he says softly, “but there will never be another like you.”

Somehow, in the midst of these aristocrats who blend into one blurry portrait, my eyes catch her silhouette and pause. June.

Helena Herruzo

** spoiler alert **
           4.5*

I was going to give this 4 stars because I struggled to get through some parts but that ending..... marie lu really said “how to make someone cry”, and I did, for half an hour.

I loved the ending, it was perfectly coherent, but also emotional and not drawn to the dramatic death of one of the main characters. 

June is an amazing character, her story was incredibly well written, her growth.. everything was just perfect.
And Day.. I just want him to be finally happy forever.
I loved these two so much !!

Hanna Rybchynska

4,5 stars!
Almost perfect! I really enjoyed this last book. This has it all conflict and teenager drama, some action and difficult decisions. The ending could be a little different, but it was fun to read.

chloe rae

THAT ENDING. AHH MY HEART.
Man, what a way to finish off the series.
This series took me by surprise. I was never all that interested in reading it and I'm not sure why. It wasn't that I didn't find the story interesting, I think I was just always more interested in something else. BUT, when they had all 3 books at my used bookstore, I thought I'd try it out and see what I thought. And I'm SO glad I did.
I was impressed by the first book but not nearly as much as I was by this book. This book was AWESOME. It was incredibly thought out and intense; the character development was amazing. The story arch across all three books worked super well and I felt like I really understood this world.
I just adore Day and June. I love them so much. I just want them to be so happy. And I LOVE ANDEN. I think he should end up with me (if he actually existed, that is).
Overall, a really great read. I feel like I flew through these and I'm so glad I gave them a chance. I can't wait to check out more of Marie's work!

Tatiana

Champion: 4.5/5

Alexa, play pain by Nessa Barret.

I am writing this review with tears rolling down my face. Never in my LIFE have I cried this much over a book and a damn paper clip ring.

Honestly, I don't even know what to say. Everything about this book was perfect. Marie Lu outdoes herself every. Single. Time. The plot, action, pacing, characters were excellently executed, all under 400 pages. This is writing at its very finest.

Will I ever be the same? No. Day, June, Eden, and Tess have wormed their way into my heart and will forever be lodged there. This changed me. I am NOT EXAGGERATING. 

I have been crying for a full hour. Read this series.

Jade Lexi

THIS BOOK TORE ME INTO A MILLION PIECES I HATE YOU.

nina 

** spoiler alert **
           3.75 stars

HE KEPT THE RING

Hannah Yang

I have waited forever to write a review for Champion. I still don't think I can write one that matches the perfection of this book. It is achingly, painfully good. Heartbreakingly sad. Beautifully romantic. Absolutely amazing. The whole series has already been amazing, but this was just.


  “You drive me insane June. You're the scariest, most clever, bravest person I know, and sometimes I can't catch my breath because I'm trying so hard to keep up. There will never be another like you. You realize that, don't you? Billions of people will come and go in this world, but there will never be another like you.”



I think the best part was definitely the ending. Oh my god. I cried. I was a water fountain. It was so beautiful I can't even explain. I feel like I have such a close bond with Day and June that the ending absolutely killed me. Champion has won a place in my bookwormy heart forever. But before I talk so much about how beautiful everything was, let me write an actual review. Sort of.

The writing was flawless. The way it is written is not flowery or fake, but not needlessly raw and real. It struck a perfect balance. It summoned my tears, practically. I felt my tears being called forth. The characters were flawless, too. Day and June are likable, logical, and perfect for each other. They're adorable together. They'll always find a way back to each other. The ending oh my gosh. 

"Hi," he says. "I'm Daniel."
"Hi," I reply. "I'm June."
OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH.

Everything about this book is pretty much just exactly what you expect, need, and want in an ending to a good trilogy. Everything is just so deliciously satisfying and ahhhhhh it's just amazing. You have to read this. I would buy this book for you if you would read it. It's amazing. You won't regret it. Be sure to check out the first two (also amazing) books first, though!

The final book in Marie Lu's best-selling Legend trilogy draws to a thrilling conclusion in this vibrant graphic novel adaptation. June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic--and each other--and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high-level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic's border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country's defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has.

Champion: The Graphic Novel

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government's elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic's border cities.

Julia

I'm so happy that I finally finished this! So good, love Marie Lu!

Fatima Kadri 

I loved this series so much. Marie Lu is just so good at writing epic, cinematic stories with intricate worlds and brilliant, badass characters. This trilogy (not counting the fourth book, obviously) was nothing short of a masterpiece and I am so glad that it exists.

M.G Derio 

No escuchan mi corazón rompiéndose este libro es la distopia que he leído

Jamieson

“I can feel his presence here in every stone he has touched, every person he has lifted up, every street and alley and city that he has changed in the few years of his life, because he is the Republic, he is our light, and I love you, I love you, until the day we meet again I will hold you in my heart and protect you there, grieving what we never had, cherishing what we did. I wish you were here.
I love you, always.” 


Woah, woah woah woah wow. We're going to go from the end to the start because this book has one of the most satisfying ends of a series ever Like, I am SO picky about series ends but I absolutely ADORE how this one ended up. 

Every issue I had in Prodigy got addressed and I'm so glad. I'm so glad that the problems and problematic aspects of these characters relationships got addressed and aaaah. Marie Lu, she is a genius and I love her.


  “I scream for everything that has gone wrong. I scream for everything broken in our lives.” 


For me, Champion was a different ballgame to Legend and Prodigy. The stakes were much, much higher but there was more politics then action. While the last 100 or so pages were crazy action, the rest was much more political and subdued and I kinda liked it, 



(by bellaemyblakes on tumblr

I think here the worldbuilding really got to shine. In Legend, I was worried about the lack of worldbuilding but the expansion of the world in this series in incredible. Few dystopaisn I've read have such detailed worlds and institutions. The politics is played out not just in the country where the characters live, but also across the globe as a whole and manifests in the United Nations and other international organisations. The characters visit to Antartica was so cool, and I loved the different politics systems set up - from the Corporate states in the Colonies, to the point based moral democracy of Antartica, to the autocracy of the Republic - each government system was interesting and unique. If you like politics and worldbuilding in books, especially international I think you'd really like this. FR if you study international relations like me by any chance, this book is gonna make u so excited ok .

I just think everything was a massive step up from Prodigy. I was worried about how the relationship between June and Day would play out - I expressed I thought their relationship was problematic and built on alot of unsolved issues and the fact that 1: the characters recognised that and 2: did something about it #shook. I also just loved the mature growth of these characters, and getting to see them years into the future outside of their situation made it so much better. June especially has great character growth and I ended up really liking her and Day's relationship despite my original hesitance. 


  “There's a conflicted look in Day's eyes, a joy and a grief, that makes him so vulnerable. I realize how little defense he has against my words. He loves so wholly. It is his nature.” 


I really don't have much to say negative about this book? Once again Marie Lu's abilities as an author shine. Her writing is great, but what I really love about her is I feel she has an intimate and meaningful understanding of her characters - and that she addresses the parts of them that are problematic. It feels alot like how Leigh Bardugo works with her characters. For me, thats so important because I love character driven stories 


I wish the plot had just been a little more fact paced, the first third kind of dragged for me and thats disappointing, but aside from that, I honestly think this is a great book and such a good, solid and well thought out ending to the series. 

Marie Lu has absolutely solidified herself in my list of "must read authors". I honestly thoroughly enjoy everything she writes, and I love that what she sets up in book 1 is developed and grown so far beyond that premise. 

Her books are consistently diverse, and treat their characters well. Her books tackle important issues and don't rely on stereotypes and cliches to tell the story. 

I honestly really liked this trilogy and even if it won't eclipse my love for THE YOUNG ELITES, it's just a really solid series and I'm glad. 


  “No matter what happens in the future, no matter where our paths take us, this moment will be ours.” 



( by itsiparwing on tumblr 

I LOVE BEING DEAD AND DYING

brianna

this is easily the best book in the series i cried so much i feel emotionally drained

Rachel Braithwaite

tina

why did i force myself to go through this much pain all over again. fucking hate myself for it.

Such a beautiful book. Left my heart a little bit broken but it was so worth it

Melissa

Amy Thomson

such a disappointing ending like come on 😫

aulona

Thais Souza Passos

I was a bit disappointed at the end, expecting for something more, but in a way I was glad it ended that way, but in another...

Isabela H 

Ok ok ok ok I knew what was coming, I saw it coming, braced myself for impact...... and still wasn't ready 
The first time I read this book, I was incredibly frustrated by the ending, but this time, I just really appreciated it. It was such a good way to end and sent the most beautiful message.

June and Day's hopes for peace are shattered by a plague outbreak that renews warfare throughout the panicked Colonies, a situation that forces the Republic to consider a means of defense that threatens everything Day has worked for.

A Legend Novel

Malou Bartlett

Kimberly Burgess 

Well that ending completely wrecked me. Amazing series 💜💔💙

Kirsten Simkiss

This book was a satisfying conclusion to a pretty okay trilogy. I can’t say this is one I’ll be giving a reread any time soon, but I didn’t actively dislike it or anything.

I think my main complaint has stood through all three books: the main characters were too similar. There were chapters where I was reading and forgot which character I was reading from the perspective of. (A question easily answered by the garish red or blue/black typography.) I stand by something I think I left in my review for book two: you should not have to depend on typography to know which character’s perspective you’re reading from.

On the other hand, I’m kind of sad the author chickened out and didn’t kill Day. I think it would have been poetic and honestly good for the state of the world. Without Day holding her back, imagine what June could have become? I also feel that the ending is a little too perfect for my tastes. He remembers just from one quick glance? The world is instantly saved after one speech from Day? Bullshit. I call bullshit. Peace is not something so easily achieved.

I wish we got to see from the perspective of Anden because LORD do I think that would make for an interesting read.

All in all, a decent conclusion, but not something that I’ll be keeping on my bookshelf for the future.

Champion a Legend novel

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