Champion Review

Champion 

Title:Champion
Author:Marie Lu
Genre:Dystopian
Publication Date:November 5th 2013
Publisher:Putnam Juvenile
Pages:369
Add on Goodreads

Synopsis:

He is a Legend.

She is a Prodigy.

Who will be Champion? 

June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps-Elect, while Day has been assigned a high-level military position. 

But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them: just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything. 

My Rating:

Review: 

If I can breakdown the things that made me love this book, I probably end up writing the whole book. Everything was just satisfying and wonderful. First of first, Champion picked up what Prodigy left 8 months later. Day & June were apart for 8 months because of Day's goddy reason. Day also has Eden to watch an eye for and he will do anything just to protect his little brother while June has to train as a contender Elector-Pricep. With the plague that caused the Colonies to go ballistic over Republicans, the two government set in into a war of power, territory & governance. This war needed Day. Day needed June. Republicans needed everything they have to stop the Colonies taking over them completely. Will they make it?

Marie Lu never disappoints her reader in feeding us a very vivid writing and exceptional world building. It was the way she crafted and weaved the politics and romance that made me gush over the series over and over. It's so hard not to be sucked into her writing when I feel like the scenes in the books just lay infront of my eyes in play mode like a movie. That's how descriptive and technical her writing can be. But on the other hand, she molded the characters in a way that they stay true to their form all through out the story. Especially in Champion where the characters were bent into their extent almost breaking them.

Plotwise, Champion is no different from the other books in the series. It had the same struggle of the Republican against the Colonies, but it was the wild twists & more vehement action scenes that will put the readers into the verge of grabbing a chair. Antartica and its futuristic cool jeebus. I was in awe while reading that part. What can I say? Some time later in the future, a dystopian book might came into reality. It is not hard to immersed myself in Champion's set up for it provides all the details that wipes away the confusion of any reader. Action-packed and more kickass stunts from the characters. Well done. Hats off.

The main storyline of the republic becoming more than it was under the regime of Anden’s father and being broken but change taking some time was steady with what I expected from the trilogy. June and Day’s continued involvement against the new threat was engrossing and I felt like they were both in real danger multiple times. Day got to go back to his roots from Legend where he pulled stunts for the republic now against the colonies instead of the other way around. June really grows into the woman she is going to be. There are some very hard choices she makes and her emotions sometimes broke my heart as she struggle to do the right thing.

Some people get to redeem themselves against the mistakes made in Legend and Prodigy while others continue down more destructive paths. Thomas and June had quite a moment in the book reliving the death of Matias and it is a very well written argument where you could see the motivations behind what Thomas did even if you can’t forgive his betrayal. He really did strive protect the republic in his own twisted way. 

There is also some good time spent on the June/Day relationship. Their lives have been intertwined in love and pain. Each trying desperately to do what is best for the other.

“Do you have any idea,” He says in a soft broken hoarse whisper, “Do you know how, how badly I wish?” He pulls away long enough to look me desperately in the eyes. “If you don’t love me, just say it. You have to help me. It would probably be for the best. It would make it easier to stay away from you. Wouldn’t it?” 

June really proves how unconditionally she loves Day how much she is willing to sacrifice for him. It was beautiful and heartbreaking.

Marie Lu gives us a look 10 years in the future at the end and I think that ties up all the loose ends rather well. I liked how the entire story really comes full circle. The last chapter is really beautiful and full of hope for a better future. 

  

“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time. -Day” 

Please read this series you guys... It was amazing

-Alex