spoilers for Prodigy and Legend by Marie Lu
The Patriots and the Republic have been enemies for years, the Patriots trying to bring back the old America, and the Republic trying to take over the current-day United States. The old Elector, closest to a modern-day president, has just died, leaving his son in charge. The old Elector had many enemies, as he was a harsh ruler. Because of that, people automatically assume that his son, Anden, will be the same. Commander DeSoto, or Razor as the patriots call him, is the leader of the rebel organization. He is one of the Electors’ closest commanders.
June and Day, the protagonists, one the Republic’s prized prodigy and the other the Republic’s most notorious criminal, joined the patriots. They have been tasked with the assassination of Anden. However, when June goes to lure him into the trap, she learns that Anden isn’t so bad. He actually wants to help Day, and improve his reputation with the lower class. Razor is a high enough class to know this. Yet he still wants him dead. He also told no one about Anden’s true intentions.
So who’s the real villain? I think that Anden is really trying to improve his reputation, not just trying to trick June. There is evidence that he’s trying to do things his father never would’ve done behind the scenes, not just in front of her. However, I don’t think Razor is evil. No matter how kind the Elector is, he will always see the colonies, the Republic’s enemy, as better. Therefore he doesn’t care who the Elector is, he just wants them dead. He’s given up any hope for the Republic, knowing that the only positive for it is its downfall. He’s trying to keep it a secret and convince everyone that Anden’s antics are just acts so that they don’t realize that the Republic might be on the path to a change for the better.
While June used to be the Republic’s star, and so she’s swayed more easily, Day will probably be very skeptical. As much as he wants his brother back, as Anden has said he’ll do, he’s been the enemy of the Republic his entire life. I could see this going one of a few ways. Day might believe this is a trap and stay with the patriots. If this happens, June will most likely keep trying to convince him. He might trust the Elector and go find his brother. While it is a possibility it’s a trap, I don’t think it is. He also might pretend to trust the Elector, but assassinate him instead. If he does this, there’s a very small chance he’ll get his brother back, unless the patriots get it for him, as they said they would.
Good job! I like how this novel uses politics to create a good conflict. Its very intriguing when a book doesn't have a clear villain. I think it makes a story more interesting!
ReplyDeleteAmazing job! I really like the way to keep the reader engaged by asking opinionated questions. I have read this book and it is really good, would yo recommend it to other people?
ReplyDelete-Zoe