Prodigy: a Legend Novel

Prodigy: a Legend Novel by Marie Lu, 373 pages

Feels very similar to the first book in the series, Legend, in that there are parts that are very good, and parts that are very bad. The overall plot arc is quite good, and while it won't absolutely stun you with any of its plot twists, it also doesn't follow the exact trajectory that you'd expect. The characters are relatively well fleshed-out, and some of the plot points that at first seem a little head-scratching, end up making more sense as the story progresses.

But it's not without its blemishes. First off, I'm fine with makeout sessions, but... maybe when one of the characters is bleeding out from a leg wound is not the optimal time to be swapping saliva? That these scenes are here is not the problem. The problem is where they're placed. If you've got a sense of tension and immediacy that you've been building for the past few chapters, maybe don't put in a blatant red "Stop" sign and take a detour for sloppy makeouts. It ruins both.

Also... the big bad boss we meet early in the book is named... Razor? Honestly... Razor? You couldn't think up anything better than... Razor? It sounds like something a 10-year-old boy would name a supervillain. I listened to this as an audiobook, and when they first mentioned his name, I laughed out loud. Unless you're trying to make this book an awkward commentary on a gaming peripherals company, the name Razor is just... not good. And you're not fooling anyone (nor making your universe more interesting) calling the princess-like position a "princeps."

There are times in the book that the tension will grab you, where the plot will take a turn you weren't entirely expecting, and you'll be invested. And it will be immediately followed by a passage so cheesy and out of place that you'll facepalm. Overall, this is a solid series (and I'll certainly read the final book), but there's just so much room for improvement - and often in ways that could have been easily fixed. Alternately engaging and disappointing.