So I bought this book a year ago. Read first few pages and then just left it there on my bookshelves with no intention to continue reading it. I remember buying the sequel because the cover was so cool and it's hardcover!
Then couple months later, I decided to give it a try again and read more pages and gave up again because I was in my worst reading slump ever. Until now... To be exactly two days ago.
Prodigy.
Written by Marie Lu, the author of the famous dystopian trilogy; Legend. I loved the first book, Legend. My reaction for the first book was like, "This is a really good book. Better than The Hunger Games. I guess I'm gonna read the next book.". Well, guess what my reaction after finished reading Prodigy was like, "OH MY FUCKING GOODNESS THIS BOOK IS GOOD I NEED THE NEXT ONE RIGHT NOW!".
Swear to God, I almost got myself changed and went to the nearest bookstore that has Champion - the last book of the trilogy - and buy it. But then I realized it was crazy because it was 5 in the morning.
Yes people. This book is that good.
If you haven't read the first book, you have to! Don't waste your precious time doubting yourselves whether to buy it or not. Believe me you won't regret reading it.
Prodigy continues with June and Day attempts to find Day's brother and move themselves to the Colonies; hoping there's a better future there. But with Day's wounded legs, they have no chance. Desperate; they go to the Last Vegas - the military state of Republic - to find Patriots and ask them for help. Later they discover the death of Elector Primo and that Patriots don't do charity by giving them free helps. In exchange, Day and June have to do the mission Patriots is currently working on; Kill the new Elector Primo who non other than the former Elector's son which will lead them to the revolution; Republic and Colonies become one just like the old days. Well, at least that's what they being told.
The first thing you notice when you read Prodigy is the writing. It's really good. I think it's even better than Divergent or The Hunger Games. Correct me is I'm wrong but I think it is.
There are like tons of surprises waiting ahead in each pages. Reading this book is like experiencing a roller coaster that not only goes up, but surely goes down in a high speed which will make your heart stopped and scream out of frustration. (Wait until you find the shocking truth about Metias and Thomas!)
There are few new characters here but they don't really have roles in this book. They just pass by like any other supporting actors or actresses in a really good movie. You see them, you either love or hate them and then you just sort of forget who they are and what they're doing in this book.
The pacing.
God, it's so fast. It's like I'm actually there when Kaede flies the Colonies's military jet and do her best split-S! The last thing you'll realize is that you've been reading all night and you've reached the last page.
The romance. This is the one thing I really love from this book. Romance? Fuck it. There's a little bit touch of Romance in this book but not too much. Just the enough amount that a dystopian book needs. I hate it when an author writes a dystopian book, with this promising premise but when I read it, it's all about the protagonist characters love story, including the triangle love, sometimes a rectangle love and I'm like, "Go write some romance novels! Don't ruin my precious dystopian!". Yes, I'm not a big fan of romance.
I just love how June keeps saying things like, "We just know each other for less than a month. How could I fall in love with this guy?" which makes here kind of resist saying that she loves Day. It does make sense you know. Romance in young adult dystopian book is sometimes forced. Move to fast that you find it doesn't make any sense.
It goes like: "Hey, I just met you yesterday. You seem hot. Let's make out! I will betray everyone and leave what I have for no reason. Well, I think pretty much because I 'love' you."
Totally not happening in Legend trilogy. Everything happens for a reason and the romance just so good that I find myself loving it.
Marie Lu is a kick ass. She succeeded with the two point-of-view. She took advantage with this writing style to explain lots of stuff. Put all the characters emotions. Making us, the readers, so related with June and Day. Most of writers just failed taking advantage from the first person POV, but not Marie Lu. She nailed it!
If you've done reading Legend, go ahead buy Prodigy and read it immediately! This is so much better than the first book.
I rate this five out of five stars. (DUH!)
Prodigy is the second book I read on 2014 after The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, which was a reread and I gave it five out of five stars as well. I'm happy that I'm starting 2014 with amazing books. A good start, yeah?
I've ordered Paper Town and Looking For Alaska, both by the same author, John Green from Periplus online and I'm gonna get Champion, the last book of the Legend trilogy, around next week. So yeah, I'm officially out of my reading slump and currently enjoying my holiday with good books.
Book Haul and more reviews are coming!
