Casting The Characters (Legend)

Hey guys!

So I read this really cool feature post, over at A Day Dreamer's World, called 'Casting the Characters', and it's basically you choosing the cast for a soon to be book-to-film adaptation. Now, I don't know much about this particular adaptation, actually close to nothing really, but I know there's going to be one!

I'm going to be casting 'Legend' by Marie Lu! I've only read the first book in the trilogy, and plan to read the sequel next week, but I love it already!
Alright, here we go!

June Iparis - Emma Watson 

• 15-year-old prodigy 
• 1500/1500(100%) on her trial
• Elite Republic family. Parents mysteriously killed in a car crash, leaving older brother to care for her
• Day's love interest
• Very analytical and smart
• A bit of an uptight tense person

Okay I know Emma Watson isn't 15, but she's how I pictured June, deal with it! Haha
Hollywood rarely casts based on age anyway, I mean, look at the Divergent movie.. *wink wink*

Daniel "Day" Wing - Alex Pettyfer

• 15-year-old prodigy 
• Born in the slums of the Republic
• He is led to believe that he failed his trial, but during the events of Legend, discovers he scored a 1500 (100%)
• Republic's most-wanted criminal and the prime suspect of Metias' murder
• Extremely agile, even more so than June. He, like June, is confident and stubborn

Again, the age doesn't exactly match, but they could make it work, right? He's more or less how I see Day, despite the whole long hair thing!
I think he'd be great as Day!

Tess - China Anne Mcclain

• 13 years old 
• Day's partner in crime and caretaker 
• Abandoned by her parents at 10
• Goes missing after Day is taken into custody by June 
• Joined the Patriots

This one was kinda hard, and came to me a little while into the book. Tess had to be tanned and younger than the others, but still not too young, you know?
It'd be cool to see China play her!

Metias Iparis - Tom Welling

• 27 years old when he died
• June's older brother 
• Murdered one night while pursuing Day
• Knew he would be killed by the Republic for uncovering a conspiracy

This one was just beyond easy! For some strange reason I imagined Metias as a sort of Superman figure, and Tom Welling fits the description perfectly! Haha

Thomas - Ben Barnes

• Metias's old friend 
• Infatuated with June 
• Special hatred of Day
• Responsible for Metias' murder
• Also murdered Day's Mother

I didn't really put a face to Thomas' name before making this post, I didn't like him enough. But I guess he's a pretty important character and whatnot, so yeah, Ben Barnes is probably it for me!

---

Well, what do you guys think of my casting? Do you agree? Disagree? I really want to see the actors/actresses you guys have in mind!
I think I was pretty spot on, if I do say so myself haha!

Thanks for reading!

Legend by Marie Lu

Title: Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Penguin
Published: November 29, 2011
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopia
Source: Bought - Easons

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

 From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Well, what can I say that hasn't been said already? Simply, 'Legend' kept me happy throughout the book, ecstatic I should say, and finishing it was like finishing a large meat-laden pizza.
After the story was up and going, it got seriously addictive, and had I the time, I probably would've finished it in one sitting. The story, characters, world-building and plot-flow were all near-flawless.

Legend starts off with one of our two protagonists, Day, who is supposed to be dead to everyone but his brother John. While waiting for the Republic's soldiers to examine and pass by his family, he watches his worst nightmare unfold, and the door of his old home is marked with an 'X'. The Plague's signature. But this case is special, with a vertical line splitting the X in two. Of course, Day can't sit still while one of his family members succumbs to the Plague, and decides to steal medicine to help them. And.. that's how the glowing splint is sparked into a fire. You know, a fire that you don't get burned by or anything, but you're so intrigued by.

Anyway, though I love when books are straight to the point and don't waste any time, I couldn't help but feel behind in the beginning. When you're reading a dystopia, you want to be given enough insight to understand the first few chapters, and then build on the knowledge of the unique world and all that. Or at least that's how I am. I kinda felt like the author, Marie Lu, forgot how unique her novel was and didn't give us enough time to fully adjust to the flow of the book before setting things off. It's not much, but it did take a little longer to get into the book because of that.

After that, however, I honestly wasn't able to put the book down. I'm already a late sleeper, but this book definitely made that worse! The flow of the book was brilliant and Lu's great writing is to credit! I freaking adored her writing style, so easy to read and effortless. It was just amazing!
I thought the dual perspectives was a good addition, and though it doesn't really have anything to do with the writing, different font, one for Day, one for June, was really cool as well! Haha

Oh my God, how awesome were these characters? I mean, it was hard to believe that June and Day were both only fifteen, but other than that, they were just perfect!

Day can only be described as awesome. That's the only suitable word in the English dictionary. Even though I loved Day's character, I was just blown away by June. It can be quite annoying when fictional heroines start off strong but completely crumble when they meet their soul-mate, suddenly a damsel in distress. Lu wrote the character of June in such a way that even though she felt something for Day, she was controlled. And when she found out that Day "killed her brother", she didn't feel obligated to forgive him because they're hopelessly in love and all that. It felt realistic and very satisfying to follow another strong fictional heroine.

I think it's obvious that I really enjoyed this book. Personally, the writing was actually the highlight, and I can't wait for my copy of the sequel Prodigy to arrive! Definitely recommend to lovers of YA dystopia!

Thanks for reading guys!

Birthday Book Haul

Books are dangerous.. and bookshops, even more so. 

After holidays in Barcelona, I still had a bit of birthday money left in my back pocket and what better thing to spend it on, than books right? Well that's what I seemed to have in mind when I walked into Easons. Honestly, I had only intended to get Legend, by Marie Lu, but you know, the temptation was just too strong! Haha

No but anyway, here are the books I bought!

The Scorch Trials
By James Dashner

I read The Maze Runner near the end of Summer 2013, which was quite a while ago, I know. I was so satisfied with the ending of the first book, and it didn't end with much of a cliffhanger, so I didn't really want to pick up the second, in case I wouldn't enjoy it. But I'm gonna give it a chance anyway, since I've heard some really positive stuff about the rest of the series!

The Fault in our Stars
By John Green

I've actually already read this, but it was on iBooks on my phone, and being one of my top reads of 2013, I just had to get the physical copy, you know, for re-reads and stuff!

All Our Yesterdays
By Cristin Terrill

You would not believe how long I've been waiting for this book to show up in my local bookshop! And you can only imagine how excited I'd gotten when I finally found it haha! It's a shame that it wasn't the one with the original cover, which was what caught my attention in the first place, but I'm still excited to read it!

Clockwork Angel
By Cassandra Clare

There's this awesome booktuber, namely Katytastic, who has raved about this book, and series, enough to make me want to read it. A few other people I know have recommended it too, so I decided to give it a go!

 &  

Legend and Champion
By Marie Lu

First of all, there was a 3 for 2 sale in Easons today, right? But the problem was, the only book by Marie Lu included in the sale was Champion. So I got that, and because it obviously didn't make sense buying only the third book in a series, I also got the first. I couldn't find Prodigy though, which is kinda sad and ruined all my plans! Haha



 &  

City of Ashes and City of Glass
 By Cassandra Clare

For some strange reason, I've only read the first book in the Mortal Instruments series, the City of Bones. I didn't love it, but I liked it, and really want to find out what happens with Jace and Clary, so I got the next two books! Again, part of the 3 for 2 sale.. haha



   &

Hunger and Lies
 By Michael Grant

This is sort of similar to my Legend series problem, but in this case, I couldn't find the first book of the series! I must have visited like fifteen different bookshops, including shops in the UK and Spain, might I add, yet I found every other book in the series except the first. It was really annoying, but because I had a really good feeling about the series, I went ahead and got the second and third books!

---

So, I guess I won't be buying lunch for school anytime soon, if you know what I mean *nudge nudge*.
Yeah.. I'm broke! Hahaha. Man, I really need to get a part-time job!
Anyway, what do you guys think of my pathetic willpower? Do you, perhaps, have the same problem? Haha

Thanks for reading guys, see you!