Champion (A Legend Novel, Book 3)

Marie Lu’s future world where climate change has utterly changed the world’s geography and the U.S. had been split into the Republic and the Colonies reads less like science fiction and more like inevitability. The world of the three-novel series Legend is dystopian, to be sure, but there is a sense of believability too, so that the characters and their lives start out seeming more than plausible. The government of the Republic is headed by the Glorious Elector, and although there is a nominal Senate, it is clear from the beginning that the Republic is an absolute dictatorship.The two main characters are June and Day, teenagers whose relationship forms the heart of the trilogy. June is a Republic prodigy, a perfect, privileged student soldier who will follow her older brother into unwavering service to the country. Day is an outsider, a rebel, who has come to stand and speak for the underprivileged and downtrodden citizens of the Republic. His daring deeds of athleticism and anarchy and the white-blond hair atop his attractive face have made him a poster-boy for the resistance. He is a thorn in the Republic’s side, and June is sent the neutralize the threat...except that when she encounters him in the flesh she sees that all is not exactly as she has been led to believe.War, dissent, confusion, victimization, righteous sacrifice and suspense characterizes the journey June and Day must go on, where nothing is ever as simple as it might appear. Bad and good, noble and ignoble, the powers that control the world battle each other for dominance and Day and June endure losses that might break them—and their world—apart.I won’t include spoilers her, but I will reveal that my tears kept flowing through the last fourth of the final book, despite the fragile hope that infuses the finalpages. This trilogy is fantastic, and I recommend it unreservedly.

Champion continues where Prodigy ends, with June accepting her position as Princeps-Elect after Day tells her this is the best decision. We also discover at the end of Prodigy that Day is dying as a result of the experiment from the Republic following his failed trial. This scene broke my heart and I was seriously hoping June would find out the truth quickly in Champion. The final war with the Colonies is quickly approaching, and we unfortunately see that the Republic is not the all-powerful empire they claim to be. They are outgunned and outnumbered and in desperate need of an alliance. There is also the issue of the plague ravaging the Republic. The entire city of LA has been quarantined, something that is virtually unheard of in the rich sectors. Our beloved characters certainly start this story in a desperate situation and I admit I did not see a happy way out for all of them.Champion is well-written and well-paced, just like the other two. While there is still great character development from Day and June, I think this installment focuses heavier on the plot and the war with the Colonies. Day continues to struggle with his illness and it becomes quite debilitating as the story goes on. One thing I appreciated about this book compared to the others was the world-building! We previously only saw cities within the Rebublic or the Colonies, but in this book we got to see Antarctica as well. Their city is definitely more technologically advanced and the citizens generally seem more content than the Republic. They also use a virtual reality that displays numbered scored above each person’s head. Every time you do what is considered a ‘good deed’ for the country, you earn points. June is intrigued by this concept and I certainly agree that it is very interesting.Lu also presents an interesting concept with the idea of the Colonies and the Republic. I appreciated watching Day’s transition from someone who would do anything to live in the Colonies to someone who defends the Republic. The old Republic was completely government-run with a heavy military influence, while we learn the Colonies consist of a completely decentralized government and is run by corporations. Both territories seem to be wrought with corruption and violence. Which is better? Is one the lesser of two evils? Luckily, the new Republic seems to want to address the issues of the old Republic. Lu’s expert world-building definitely had me thinking about June and Day’s world long after I finished the book.If you enjoyed the previous two books in the series, you will enjoy this one as well. It has all the familiar action-scenes and we see development from some supporting characters I really enjoyed- Eden and Pascao. Eden was so brave and adorable throughout the book and I love how Day would do absolutely anything for his younger brother. Pascao is our loyal Patriot runner who helps Day throughout this book. Although brief, I really enjoyed his action scenes with Day. Day and June continue to love each other and attempt to reconcile their differences as they fight to win the war against the colonies.And finally, that ending! It was a huge surprise to me and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first. After I had some time to digest it, I think I understand why Lu chose to end the series that way. I’m not sure I love it, but I also don’t know how else she could end it while still being true to each of the characters. Overall, I was very pleased with this series. I enjoyed the third book, but I still think the second is my favorite. I definitely recommend if you are a fan of dystopian books. I am sad to say goodbye to Day and June!

Okay, where to begin with this one?This is the third book in a series.I read Legend, the first book, after a recommendation from a website based on my love of Dystopian Fictions.My review of Legend was... lacklustre. I enjoyed the storyline and the premise of the plot. I did not believe the love story at all and I didn’t feel that any of the characters were relatable or real.However, because I enjoyed the story itself, I read the second book.I LOVED Prodigy, this was an excellent book. The characters were more believable, the love story felt real, I really enjoyed it and wanted to find out more.Then I got into Champion. It started well, continuing from where Prodigy left off. However, it quickly went downhill, with the characters returning to their former, unbelievable and unrelatable selves. As it happened, I got to about 60% of the way through and gave up. I just lost all interest unfortunately.It’s a shame because the idea had so much potential.

Actual Rating 4.5 StarsWow. This book was a fast-paced roller-coaster-ride of a read from start to finish. I found it extremely difficult to put this book down, and it was a real page turner.My heart bled for June and Day as circumstances conspire, yet again, to keep them apart. I could really feel the emotional turmoil that both characters felt. Day is also dealing with the impact of his health problems and grows increasingly frustrated with the limitations it imposes on him.Day is caught in the crossfire between the Republic and the Colonies and no matter what decision he makes someone he cares about will suffer. Definitely stuck between a rock and a hard place, if you can forgive my blatant cliché.I loved the power struggle, and the story-line was epic; full of twists and turns, moves and counter-moves, as June, Day, and Anden, battle to stay ahead of their enemies.The battle scenes at the end were incredibly well written; nail-biting and genuinely explosive. My heart was in my mouth the whole way through.Then we come to the last couple of chapters, and the book lost some of it's appeal for me. I'm not going to outline why, as I don't want to give away any spoilers but I was disappointed with how things were left for June and Day.Overall though I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend this series. I note in the acknowledgements that she talks about film rights, so I'm wondering if the movie has come out yet, or is it still in the planning phase? I'll have to check it out as I'd definitely be interesting in seeing this series on the big screen.

Definitely one of my favourite series. Marie Lu is such an amazing author. This is my second time reading this series so and yeh it definitely is worth rereading.I love to see June and Day together, even not in a romantic relationship, their friendship is so amazing. How they worry and care about each other is so lovely.Maybe in a year or so I might reread it all again. It definitely is worth it.

Excellent ending to a superb trilogy. Great writing, sympathetic and raw characterisation and an engaging plot. The style of narration, both from Day's and June's point of view, was fitting with the Legend world - stark, matter-of-fact, bleak and awful but not in any melodramatic way. The Republic of America and the Colonies are both frightening pictures of a potential future - pure dystopian terror. But Marie Lu immerses us into these worlds with a wonderfully distant, cold and atmospheric style of story-telling that is very in keeping with the plot's major themes and ideas. This is just the way it is, she's telling us. She's not trying to shock us. She's not trying to be clever. She's simply presenting a horrendous future and the two young people who are drowning in it.I'm not a lover of romance, but the Day/June relationship touched me deeply. They are two teenagers who understand that the world is bigger than them, and that love isn't about flowers and meaningless declarations. It's about caring for another person more than yourself, putting someone else first, protecting that person with your own soul. It's about holding on and letting go. I adored Eden. What a cutie. Lu perfectly presents an enviable relationship between him and his brother Day. I'd die for him, too. That's love. And that's good writing.Champion has good emotional closure. It's what I like to call a three tissue ending. I have mixed thoughts about the epilogue. The picky writer in me thinks the book would have been perfect without it, that it in no way needed it. But the emotional wreck of a woman who has a very delicate and breakable heart, needed it like a kicked puppy needs a hug and a promise. It doesn't matter, though, because I loved the book either way.

Champion begins 8 months after "Prodigy" ended. At the end of "Prodigy", June and Day broke up and went their separate ways, and the war between the Republicans and the Colonies continues.June is now one of three Princeps-Elect to Elector Anden, his confidant and right-hand woman. Anden has feelings for June and even though she does like him, she is still in love with Day.Day has a position within the Republican army as a high-ranking officer. His strong, determination and loyalty to the cause has paid off, and he is seen as a hero in the soldier’s eyes.The pair are reunited when a deadly plague is infecting the colonies and the Republicans are being blamed. With war imminent, the only hope of stopping conflict and saving the people is by using Day’s brother, Eden, who they think may hold the cure.Can Day let his brother be used as a guinea pig to help save the colonies’ people?This is the last book in the "Legend" trilogy, by Marie Lu.Right from the first page I became hooked once again by June and Day’s story. Their love for one another, even when they can’t be together, radiates of the page. These are two people, who had such different experiences growing up, and should hate each other, but have found solace in one another instead.The war between the Republicans and the Colonies kept me intrigued as to how the two opposing sides could find a solution for peace between them. The action between the two sides kept me entertained and engaged with the story, which was full of twists to the plot."Champion", had my emotions running wild. From anger and upset that June and Day had separated, wanting the pair to work through their dilemma, and back in each others arms, to sadness at Day’s illness and his weakening body.The ending was beautifully written and is heart-wrenching, showing how much Day means to June as she’s willing to sacrifice everything that they have ever had together, to save his life.Marie Lu manages to absorb the reader into the lives of the characters. She writes such vivid scenes, that you can visualise standing right in the middle of the action, and keeps you on your toes with surprises in every chapter.I was sorry that the trilogy had finished and wished that it had gone on, but all good things must come to an end.