Thursday, November 17, 2011

LEGENDary review and two-ARC Thanksgiving giveaway!

Next week, as you laze about in a post-Thanksgiving food coma*, feeling as though you'll never be hungry again, why not read a book so chock-full of action that you'll feel like you're burning calories via osmosis?

Marie Lu's debut YA novel, LEGEND, is the perfect dystopian novel to pull you out of your tryptophan-induced haze.

Why? The description on Marie Lu's website should be enough to convince you:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

But just in case you need a little more convincing...

Back in August, I gobbled up LEGEND in about two days.

Oh hey, cheesy Thanksgiving pun!

To be honest, I was a little leery of reading a dystopian with such buzz and so many starred reviews (was I setting myself up for disappointment?), but I wrote this post to tell you why I think it's worth the read! Without a doubt, LEGEND sucked me in, and the post-civil-war Republic that Lu created intrigued me. (For the violence-averse, be forewarned that the Republic's methods are brutal -- this is a truly villainous, sinister government.)

Primarily, though, I enjoyed the contrast between Robin-Hood-esque criminal mastermind Day and drinks-the-Republic's-Kool-Aid military darling June. Two prodigies with two opposing viewpoints and motives made for a unique read, and the teen genius element reminded me of Millicent Min and Jarod from The Pretender. I'm interested in seeing June and Day's relationship progress to a more nuanced level (LEGEND didn't provide much time for that, considering that June's hunting Day for much of it).

Looking forward in the series, I'm personally fascinated with the idea of the U.S. as we know it broken into separate, warring countries (though let's keep that safely in fiction, ok?), so I can't wait to learn even more about the neighboring "enemy" nation in the next book.

Lastly, I want to tip my hat to whoever decided to print June's and Day's narrations in different colors. I'm a fan, and I especially love that it was in my ARC, which made it feel all fancy. Just saying.

Marie, congrats on a great debut!


Are you ready to read LEGEND? It comes out November 29th, but from now through Thanksgiving Day (11:59pm EST) you have a chance to win one of two ARCs in an international giveaway right here! PLUS... each winner gets a SECRET ARC! There's something to be thankful for! (And we're thankful for the lovely Penguin folks at BEA, who provided our ARCs! We <3 Penguin!)


Have you read or reviewed LEGEND? Leave your thoughts and a review link in the comments! (Oh, and this is the first time we're using Rafflecopter instead of Google Docs for a giveaway, so let us know what you prefer!)

* For non-US readers: I know you won't be celebrating Thanksgiving next week, but all you need to do to get that Thanksgiving feeling is by eating more in one day than you ever thought you could eat...and then going back for seconds. Presto! Food coma!


55 comments:

  1. Ive heard really positive reviews on this one!
    Sayomay
    tirnanog77@gmail.com

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  2. Thanks for the giveaway and for opening it to worldwide entries.

    Much appreciated.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

    I Follow via GFC - buddyt

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  3. Thanks so much for this opportunity! And wow! I had heard good things about LEGEND but didn't know that it got five starred reviews!
    -Christina
    christinabejjani@gmail.com

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  4. I've heard a lot of great things about LEGEND so I'm very eager to read it. Sounds like it's up my alley - I love YA dystopian novels.

    Komal

    komal_kant15(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  5. Thanks for the giveaway, i love yours reviews and this blog very much

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  7. I've been wanting to read this book for quite some time ! Thank you for this giveaway <3

    starlight023(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  8. I read this months ago but had to pass on the ARC to someone else, but would love to have my own to stare at my on shelves. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  9. I have had LEGEND on my reading list for a while now. Fabulous thank you!!

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  10. I've been eagerly anticipating LEGEND for quite a while, it sounds so kick a** and I've read only positive reviews from my reader (blogger) friends! Oh, and I didn't know that June's and Day's narrations are in different colors. Yay, that's so cool! Counting dawn the days now...

    Thank you for the giveaway!:D
    xoxo

    andreea.c88[at]gmail.com

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  11. I'm looking forward to reading Legend.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  12. I so want to read Legend. Can't wait. I'd love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  13. Ooh, dystopian. I'm simultaneously fascinated by the idea and put-off by the hyper. I'd love to see how this book sits in me. (More cheesy puns, anyone?)

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  14. *facepalm* Forgot me email there.
    giveaway[@]fb[period]pierian[dash]spring[period]net

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  15. Love dystopian! I've wanted to get my hands on Legend since I first heard about it in the blogosphere. I had no idea it had gotten so many five star reviews though.

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  16. I just recently found out on facebook about the Legen....dary, LOL.
    Happy thanksgiving and thanks for the international giveaway!

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  17. I've never really paid attention to this one (don't even know why!) but now that I see what it's all about, I MUST read it! I thought it was already out, because they had it out on the shelves at Books-A-Million. Good thing I didn't try to buy it, the registers there don't let you buy them until release day (found that out....). Thanks for the giveaway! =D

    claireellegirl@gmail.com

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  18. Thanks for the fabulous giveaway! This book sounds EPIC! Much Appreciated :)

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  19. Looking forward to reading this one!

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  20. We've been hearing a ton of buzz about this and plan to check it out no matter what, but we'd love to win a copy! Thanks for the giveaway, and happy turkey day. :)

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  21. Thank you for the giveaway!
    This looks like such an amazing release. I cannot wait.

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  22. I heard quite a bit of buzz about this book, so I'm curious on how it is! Thanks for this :D

    golfgirl96@gmail.com

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  23. Thank you for this amazing giveaway. <33 I would love to win a copy of Legend :D:D I have read it though (A) And I loved it. <3 My review here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-legend-by-marie-lu.html
    Love, Carina

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  24. Thanks for the amazing giveaway! I'm dying to read Legend so winning this would make my month, LOL.

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  25. Ahhh I'd LOVE a chance to read this!

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  26. Thank you so much! I would love to read legend!

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  27. Thanks for the awesome giveaway. I really want to read Legend. It sounds so good, like the perfect dystopian. I really hope I win. =]
    -Michael

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  28. So intrigued by the set-up of this one, and I do love a good dystopian! Thanks for the giveaway and woohoo, Thanksgiving! I need a day off! :)

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  29. I haven't read Legend yet but I am dying to! Hopefully I get my hands on it soon :) Thank you for the giveaway!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  30. I've been so anxious for this book to come out! Perchance I shall get to read it early? :) Thanks for the giveaway.

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  31. I've heard great things about this book. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  32. I've been reading great things about Legend, plus it got a positive blurb in the new EW! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  33. I read the synopsis and needed to read no more. I must read this book asap! It sounds amazing!!

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  34. I've been hearing good things about this one and looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the chance to win :)

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  35. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I love the idea of a secret ARC!

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  36. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Ahaha, "Presto! Food coma!" :) Accurate.

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  37. Thanks for the giveaway. Legend is really high on my want list.

    Jennelle S

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  38. Hello~!!

    Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway and most importantly, for making it international. Much appreciated! =)

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  39. Thanks for the giveaway! Added Legend to my TBR pile.

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  40. Thank you for the giveaway! I've heard so many positive things about it and would love to get my hands on a copy early! :)

    isamlq (sassyreads)

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  41. Thanks for the giveaway! This book sounds awesome!

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  42. I've heard really good things about this one and can't wait to get my hands on it. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  43. Thanks so much for hosting the giveaway. :)

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  44. I really want to read this book I am very curious about what the surprise ARC is :D

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  45. When I first saw the cover I wasn't all that interested (another dystopian? no pretty cover? meh), but then the reviews started coming in and my attention was firmly grabbed. Day sounds like the kind of book guy I like.

    I love your Thanksgiving pun :)

    Thank you for the giveaway! And secret ARCs? Fun!

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  46. Thanks so much for giving these away! I love reviewing and reading books and I just started a blog!

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  47. I will never be sick of dystopian and of course I'm excited to support a fellow Asian writer!

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  48. It always worries me too to read a book with so much hype. And I've been burned because I didn't find the book as good. I'm very interested in this one. Hope I like it like you did!

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  49. No, I have read Legend, but I would LOVE the chance to read it!
    Lethea B
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  50. Legend sounds amazing.Thank you for the giveaway!

    Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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  51. Thanks for the giveaway !!!
    I've heard good things about Legend. It sounds interesting.

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