Publishers Weekly
09/07/2020
When the Karensa Federation invaded Basea a decade ago, Talin Kanami and her mother fled north to Mara. Now 18 and using sign language due to emotional and vocal cord scarring from that night, Talin is a Striker, the sole refugee on an elite squadron deemed “the last defense Mara has against the Federation.” Strikers battle Ghosts, formerly human “monstrous war beasts” whose bites inflict transformation. Despite rampant xenophobia, Talin is determined to protect “the last free nation on this side of the sea.” But when Talin protests an execution order for Federation defector Redlen Arabes, her commander, the Firstblade Aramin Wen Calla, imposes a punishment: Talin must take Red as her Shield, a fighting partner bonded for life. As Talin gets to know Red, she learns he is the Federation’s greatest experiment: the Skyhunter, a “half-man, half-machine weapon.” Soon, Talin, Red, and fellow Strikers Rooke Min Ghanna and Jeran Min Terra devise a plan to destabilize the empire. Lu (The Kingdom of Back) creates a devastating, war-torn world, built upon the wreckage of a technologically advanced society. Readers will eagerly await a follow-up to this engrossing dystopian novel, which searingly interrogates traumas of war, immigration, and imperialism. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
A New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestseller
"Cinematically imagined... An exciting, layered, action-filled tale." —Kirkus Reviews
"Paradoxes abound and readers will glory in them all." —Booklist
"Suspense and high-action fights make this plot-driven story both fast-paced and brutal." —School Library Journal
"Lu (The Kingdom of Back and Legend) creates a devastating, war-torn world, built upon the wreckage of a technologically advanced society. Readers will eagerly await a follow-up to this engrossing dystopian novel, which searingly interrogates traumas of war, immigration, and imperialism." —Publishers Weekly
"Lu ably balances lightning-fast action and stirring battles with romance, weaving in enough bits of cultural history to give the story some grounding... This hearty but small group of Talin, Red, and a few more allies face formidable odds in the next outing, and readers will likely eagerly await news on how they fare." — The Bulletin
"This tale of intrigue, alliances, and love will draw Legend fans and new readers into a fascinating world whose combined layers of privilege and surveillance draw comparisons to many present-day social ills." —Publishers Weekly
"Lu opts for a high simmer of intrigue in her sequel to Legend . . . taut and insightful.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The well-drawn worlds, political undercurrents and the believability of the characters make it all feel fresh.” —Los Angeles Times
“Clear your calendar to allow yourself the luxury of reading this book in one or two sittings. You will be shaken.” —New York Journal of Books
“[Lu] has given this beautifully crafted series the ending it deserved.” —Booklist
School Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2020
Gr 7 Up—Talin is part of a fighting force that helps defend the last free nation of the world. Because she is a refugee, she understands the terrible things the Federation has done to nation after nation. Soon after losing her partner, she steps up and defends a prisoner who has been brought to Mara's capital. She doesn't know who he is and what secrets he might have, but he is now her partner and her responsibility. In Lu's sci-fi series launch, life happens in the middle of a war; there are many fight scenes and hard choices to make. Talin is a fierce fighter, yet no one is perfect, and she must come to terms with what she is willing to do to save the ones she loves. Lu leaves listeners with a satisfactory ending instead of a cliffhanger, but fans will still be looking for the next installment when it is released. Natalie Naudus's narration is languid and may confuse listeners who expect a more active reading style for such an action-packed book. VERDICT The strong story means that Lu's latest will make a good addition to a middle school, high school, or public library collection.—Elizabeth Kenyon, Merrillville H.S., IN
School Library Journal
10/01/2020
Gr 9 Up—The nation of Mara is fighting a losing war against the Karensa Federation and its superior technology harnessed from the Early Ones—a fallen civilization readers will recognize as our own. Mara was supposed to be a safe haven for Talin and her mother; instead, refugees are kept outside the city walls. Talin is proud of the features that signal her as Basean—light brown skin, "eyes green and slender and long lashed," black hair that shines blue—though many Marans refer to refugees like her as rats. As a Striker on the warfront, Talin fights Ghosts—humans who have been horrifically re-engineered by the Federation to become monsters intent only on killing. When Talin saves a mysterious prisoner of war she may have also found the key to beating the Federation—but first she has to decide if the prisoner is a potential weapon or an ally. This post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure is a visceral exploration of the emotional and physical costs of war. Poison gas scarred Talin's vocal chords leaving her unable to speak; she instead communicates with the sign language used by Strikers. Talin's narration is caustic as questions of allegiance and loyalty move the plot forward, with Talin and her friends struggling to save a country that offered refuge while withholding common decency. At the cliffhanger end of this book Mara's fate is far from secure, leaving readers to wait for answers in the conclusion to this duology. VERDICT Suspense and high-action fights make this plot-driven story both fast-paced and brutal.—Emma Carbone, Brooklyn P.L.
NOVEMBER 2020 - AudioFile
Natalie Naudus turns in a blockbuster performance of this riveting saga. A far future world has risen from the ashes of the past, only to be crushed by its federation’s monstrous war machine. Talin, an elite warrior, may be mute, but her rich inner monologue shines in Naudus’s distinctive vocal choices. Naudus captures her ambivalence at feeling like an undesirable refugee while at the same time feeling compelled to defend her new home. Naudus’s words are crisp and bright, laced with intuitive touches of personality that create a cast of compelling characters. Her performance demonstrates how a strong, consistent narrative voice can amplify the intricacies within a text. Fans of Marie Lu will not be disappointed. E.M.U. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2020-07-27
A group of young soldiers defend their home against the evil Karensa Federation.
Talin is a Basean refugee in Mara, treated with xenophobic cruelty by many but recognized for her skill by her battle partner, Corian, and friends Rooke and Jeran. The capture of a former Federation fighter named Redlen with magnificent, strange abilities forces her into new territory and life-altering decisions. Redlen exposes details about the Federation’s genetically engineered army of Ghosts, zombielike creatures, leading Talin and the rest to hatch a desperate scheme to infiltrate their stronghold and sabotage their production—against explicit orders. Their mission and its aftermath help Talin understand more about her role in Mara and her reasons for defending a nation where she is often persecuted. In this cinematically imagined dystopia, Talin uses sign language to communicate since early trauma in her homeland at the hands of the Federation resulted in the cessation of her speech. In a deftly plotted first-person narrative that is both expansive and detailed in its depiction of the setting and includes quick-moving battle sequences, Talin’s trajectory is convincing. In a few instances, her earnest realizations about her own motivations can feel a bit pat, but this is a mostly nuanced and poignant story that is left wide open for a welcome sequel. Characters have a range of skin tones; one male character is in love with another man.
An exciting, layered, action-filled tale with a cast of sympathetic characters. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)
