Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 5 November 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Format: hardcover, library copy
Status: Book 3 of the Legend series
Summary:
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 once again. 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 he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.
My thoughts:
Champion picks back up several months after the end of Prodigy. Day and June haven’t seen each other and Day is keeping a HUGE secret. They occasionally talk, but it’s not very frequent. Day is enjoying his time with Eden, who is recovering from the experiments that have been done on him. Day is undergoing treatment and suffering from violent headaches. June is training as Princeps-Elect under Anden with two others.
Things hit the fan (as should be expected) and things keep building and building. I thought it was well done. The action building was enough to keep you reading, but wasn’t so over the top that it was unrealistic for the Republic. One thing is for certain. It’s certainly full of all sorts of feels.
Day’s condition is slaying. The last few years of my great-grandfather’s life, I watched as the tall, strong, invincible man wither away to nothing. All I could do was watch. I really feel for June having to do the same as Day weakens. Watching someone wither is not a fun thing at all.
June continued to amaze me. She’s wicked smart and logical, but is also emotional and able to connect with people. She remains strong every step of the way even though she has ample opportunity to crumple under stress, grief, guilt, etc. She keeps it together and realises her true purpose along the way. She’s definitely a great role model for guys and girls alike. The ultimate choice she makes is one of the bravest things I have ever seen. I don’t even want to contemplate what I would do in the same situation.
Anden really grows as a character and it makes me happy. He has such responsibility thrown on him and he handles it with grace. The Senate thinks he’s incapable due to his youth, and he strives to prove them wrong. His country is under threat and he weighs every option carefully.
Ollie. Oh, Ollie. I love that dog. Ollie is the perfect companion. (:
As sad as I am that this wonderful trilogy is over, I am happy with the ending. Things were summed up nicely and even though somethings are left up to the reader to read between the lines, I am content. The epilogue was great. I think great things are in store for those who survive (no spoilers, I promise!). The fallout from June’s big choice is nicely done. One thing I wish there had been more of was Antarctica. That was definitely a nice and interesting glimpse into somewhere other than the Republic and Colonies.
On another note, Punk loved the few chapters I read to him. Naptime starts curled up in mama and daddy’s bed, curled up with mama, and asking mama to read to him. (: He’s been bringing me a book I’ve been reading or my kindle as his selection. You would think a 2 year old would bring bright and flashy kids’ books, but nope – he’s bringing mama HER books. Making a point to read in front of the kiddos is really making an impact. (:
The Whimsical Mama 