Prodigy, by Marie Lu: LEGEN–wait for it–DARY

Read Legend before you read this, or be spoiled like milk.

Prodigy's 370 pages cover the Republic, the Patriots, and the Colonies–the heights and depths of romance–utopia flipped on its head. It operates in contrasts that verify each other. Day and June both, in certain ways, become their reverses.

By DeviantArtist Patsie. 

June comes to shine as much as Day. By the end, I adored her. When Legend left us, she had just betrayed the Republic and escaped with Day to join the Patriots. I don't know if I've ever seen a story so earnestly acknowledge how difficult/confusing/frustrating it would be for a comfortable, respected soldier, who has fought for a community all along, to disavow allegiance. 

The ending is unpredictable and epic. A certain speech involves much sprezzatura. Day becomes even more of a spine-chilling character for his mono no aware (Very slight spoiler, so if you don't want to know, don't look it up.)

Marie Lu's own sketch of Day

These characters give something to aspire to. They are role models without being ideal. What manages to ground these fantastical characters and their inspiring story?

1. Technical text, in the form of date/place headings, news headlines, labels, profiles, etc. - An example from Legend (page 1):
   
   WANTED BY THE REPUBLIC
   FILE NO: 462178-3233 "DAY"
   WANTED FOR ASSAULT, ARSON
   THEFT, DESTRUCTION OF MILITARY
   PROPERTY . . . 
2. Constant death and grief - June never stops thinking about Metias. In the same way that we come to treasure and glorify memories of loved ones, he becomes almost divine. This is such a human example of how a character can become something so much more, so beyond themselves.
3. June's logical maneuvering and analysis An example from Legend: "I study her stance. She steps forward with her right foot. She's left-handed. Usually this would work to her advantage and throw of her opponents, but I've trained for this" (105).
4. The alternating points-of-view, forever verifying each other.
5. So much more I haven't thought of yet.

The Storytelling of Legend by Marie Lu: Sprezzatura

Day is a young vigilante. June is a prodigy. The governments sics June on Day, and uses her prodigious schematics to find him. Character development and story plot are nigh inseparable. *throws party*

Legend was utterly addictive, and I flew through it (and its sequel), in part because of its dual points-of-view. Every single chapter alternates. All of Day’s chapters make you wonder what June is thinking. All of June’s chapters demand updates from Day. 

This analogy is reductive, and possibly just unfair, but it brought to mind Artemis Fowl versus Katniss. With genders swapped. 

But most-wanted prettyboy Day is compelling for his pure coolness. 

The Japanese cover of Legend

He's the character at the top, with the blond hair. (That's a red stripe in it.) He has a good measure of sprezzatura, a fancy term I just learned meaning a sense of “coolness,” or “effortlessness” that English does not quite capture.

Castiglione explains sprezzatura here.

Anime reviewer Gigguk explains it here.

2. Two world-building tricks stand out. 

The integration of the world’s terminology is seamless and simple. This particular future is easy to jump into. Jumbo Tron flashes ads and videos and announcements. Things cost Notes. High school starts when you're 10. Got it. 

Also, Legend's world happens to be structured in a way that lends itself to exploration. We discover it as the characters discover it. It's so strictly socially stratified by class, June illuminates Day's world when she infiltrates it. "I can't believe how filthy the streets are." "No rules? So be it." 

Day illuminates June's world as he infiltrates hers. "Electric lights shine from each floor--a luxury only government buildings and the elite's homes can afford."

3. Slick societal criticism never goes to waste. The Trial is a demented test that irrevocably determines citizens’ life paths. The SATs on STDs, if you will.

4. Last but leaving lasting impressions: With only a few words--a short phrase or a clause--Marie Lu can change a characters’ entire worldview and carry the plot in another direction. 

"My knife hits him hard in the shoulder..." 

"They always work. Don't you find it strange...?"