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Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu

"The overdone "someone from one side of life meets someone from the other side of life and teaches them that the world they so staunchly believe in is inherently flawed" story set in a post-apocalyptic (I'm guessing) world where there is the Republic and then the Colonies, with which the Republic is constantly at war. It had its moments but for the most part this was your stereotypical, teenage angst/falling in love cause they're teenagers story and left me wholly unimpressed."

2 Stars

Pros: Lu's good at hinting at the fact that there was some sort of catastrophe or cataclysm that led to the Country being split into the Republic and the Colonies (so topical it hurts.) 

Cons: Bad boy is actually good boy but in trouble with the law for trying to protect his family. Good girl is actually good girl but wants to be like bad girl and is fascinated by bad boy who is actually good boy. They fall for each other and make each other see the error of their ways cliché. It's been done so much it hurts!

Full Review: 

Day is a renowned criminal, known all throughout the Republic for his sabotage, thievery and violence. He is one of the most wanted criminals in all of the Republic and though the Republic doesn't know this, he's only 15 years old. Having been sent to take "the trial" and apparently failed, he was sent to a "labor camp" where he later contracted Smallpox and died, or at least that's what it says in his file. But that's not the truth. He was shipped off after having taken the Trial and was experimented on but he managed to escape. Since then he's been doing the whole Robin Hood, "steal from the rich, give to the poor" thing and trying to take care of his family. When his house is marked as having the Plague, he goes in desperate search of plague cures, which is how he runs into Meitas Iparis. 

Metias is the older brother of June Iparis, another 15 year old who is currently enrolled at Drake, one of the most prestigious colleges there is. She's 4 years younger than even the Freshman and the only reason she's in College right now is because she managed to score a 1500 on the Trials, a perfect score, which is something that no one has ever done. She believes in the Republic, that the Elector Primo is the official leader and she looks forward to the day when she can serve the Republic, just like her brother Metias. 

Of course, as is always the case, things are not as simple as they seem. And on that fateful night when Day breaks into the hospital to steal Plague cures, both of their worlds are changed forever. Right off the bat I knew it was going to be a rote/overdone/someone from one side of the tracks teaches someone from the other side of the tracks to open their eyes and that the world isn't as it seems, kind of story. It got really old, really fast, but I kept reading, just to see if there were any surprises. There were a few, but none that left me floored. By the time I got to the end, I was glad to be done with this overdone, teenage angst, extremely forced chemistry between two rivals, stereotypical story. If I do continue with the series, which I doubt, it'll be something I get from the library.  

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