Rebel by Marie Lu

The Legend trilogy by Marie Lu is probably my favorite dystopian of all times, so I was both happy and a bit afraid of being disappointed when I heard that there was a new add-on to the series. And even though I didn’t feel disappointed in the end (Rebel was all in all a really good book) I still probably would have preferred to keep my own picture of what happened to June and Day after the end of the original trilogy.

Rebel takes place ten years after the original plot in Legend’s timeline, and tells the story of Daniel (Day) and his younger brother Eden as they are trying to heal in their different ways in the aftermath of the war and in a new gamified society. Eden is at the verge of adulthood and about to graduate university, and Daniel is a secret agent, still putting his life at risk on a daily basis, and still trying to get his memories back and understand the depth of his feelings for June.

June and Day are some of my favorite OTPs ever and it was wonderful to meet them both again and to take part of their epic love. And also to, once again, getting angry at the universe for not just letting them get their happily ever after without throwing all these obstacles at them…

“I bled the last time I allowed myself to love her, and she had bled the same.”

The Legend trilogy was one of the first series where the boy and the girl were equals in every way and where June was allowed to be the tough, logical and not so empathetic action hero and Day the kind, more emotional character. That was one of the things I loved most about the original trilogy, and I’m so happy that they were continued to be portrayed this way also in Rebel. Once again, I fell completely in love with June and Day and their struggles with their feelings for each other and their grief, responsibilities, trust issues, nightmares and their need to do what they believe in, which made them such real and relatable characters. Eden on the other hand, was a much less likable character at first. I really had problems rooting for him at the beginning, as he came across as quite whiny, immature and selfish. But all that changed completely about halfways, when he made a lot of right decisions and grew as a character.

To be honest, this is a book I could have done without, but I’m still very glad I read it. And all in all, it was a fast-paced, compelling and utterly enjoyable read!

Rating:
​4 stars

Get your own copy:
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Book Depository

​Author info:
Marie Lu