Sacrifice, Hope, and a Review of Champion by Marie Lu

Add to Goodreads Buy on US Amazon Buy on Book Depository

Let’s Make Some Waffles

⇢LU’S WRITING HAS MORE DEPTH. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the glow up that this series experienced? I was pretty on the fence about Legend when I initially read it back in high school, so much so that I didn’t even bother with the subsequent books (SHAME ON ME). But Champion was a strong finish to a series that I ended up thoroughly enjoying, years after I first picked it up. Not only did the writing improve, but the plot matured into something that stretched beyond the average dystopian novel, subverting many of the more trite and familiar tropes.

⇢JUNE AND DAY’S RELATIONSHIP BECAME MORE COMPLEX AND REAL. When June and Day first met, I thought that their relationship was going to be plagued by the dreaded instalove syndrome that infects so many books in the YA genre. But Champion proved me completely wrong – and I’m SO GLAD it did. Day and June’s romance is layered, multifaceted, and fraught with moral dilemmas that don’t magically disappear just because they are in LOOOoOOooOvvve. This book is an excellent example of what instant attraction looks like; sure, June and Day’s feelings for each other are quickly developed, but they have a realistic depth to them that many books do not.

⇢THE ENDING WAS BITTERSWEET AND BEAUTIFUL. We, as human beings, are constantly searching for that Hallmark-esque, ride-into-the-sunset “Happily Ever After” ending. We love it, we crave it, we need it. And although those endings can be satisfying, they can also feel artificial. In real life, there isn’t always a Prince Charming waiting for you at the end of the day; in fact, there might not be rainbows and unicorns and wedding bells in the picture at all. And that’s exactly what happens in Champion, and while some people will scream and rage at the unfairness of it all, I personally think that Lu crafted a beautiful ending that perfectly encompassed the series’ themes of sacrifice and hope.

⇢EDEN LACKS IN THE PERSONALITY DEPARTMENT. Day’s younger brother, Eden, has always played a major roll in the series, but his importance was even more pronounced in this final installment. The sad thing is this: Eden’s existence feels more like a plot device than anything else. He is Day’s motivation throughout the story, and at times, he seems to function as nothing more than a helpless prop. That being said, it looks like we’re getting a fourth Legend book almost entirely dedicated to Eden, so maybe that will change my opinion of him in the future.

⇢THERE WERE ASPECTS OF THE PLOT THAT FELT FAR-FETCHED. *WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD* So, you’re telling me that Day’s amnesia allows him to remember the deaths of his brother and his mother (both of which are events heavily tied to June), along with the fact that he no longer despises the Republic with his whole soul, but HE CAN’T REMEMBER JUNE HERSELF??? Honestly, that whole aspect of the plot was too contrived for my tastes, but I can overlook it because it produced the most sadly-sweet ending (see above for more details).

Marie Lu’s conclusion to her bestselling Legend series did not disappoint (though I’m definitely disappointed that this series is over). With plenty of political intrigue, angsty teenage love, and bittersweet goodbyes to go around, Champion was one of the best dystopian books I’ve read in recent memory, with a cast full of complex characters with even more complex motives.

My Rating: Me Likey

Book Aesthetic

Have you read Champion or any of the Legend series? What did you think of them?

What was your reaction to the ending?

Do you need a book to have a perfect “Happily Ever After” in order to enjoy it?