Legacy by Ellery Kane Book Review

A realistic, believable dystopian novel all YA fantasy/scifi fans are sure to enjoy. Kane introduces us into a world where a new emotion-altering drug called Emovere, is taken too far by a mysterious government-appointed military police force. I was hooked on LEGACY from the Prologue – beautifully written and captivating. Read it yourself and I have no doubt you will push it to the top of your TBR list.

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Prologue
The first time I kissed someone, it wasn’t at all like I had imagined—and trust me when I say that I had spent hours imagining it. It was a summer night just after my seventeenth birthday. We were sitting side by side in the empty football stadium. I can still feel the bleachers, cold and hard beneath my legs. My elbow was touching the side of his body. I could feel how warm he was. He didn’t move, but just let me touch him. The air between us was thick with anticipation. And then, just like that, his lips were on mine. In a few seconds, a wall that had once seemed impenetrable was crossed. I was no longer unkissed.
* * *
The first time I killed someone, it wasn’t at all like I had imagined. It was as quick and as effortless as snipping a string. I squeezed the trigger, and the man fell back. It was so dark that I could barely see the outline of his face. I watched him for a long time, waiting for something. What was I waiting for? The man didn’t move, except for a brief shudder. It seemed for a moment as if I too had stopped breathing. But in the cold I could see my breath visible in small white puffs. I waited for the world to open up and swallow me, but nothing came. In the corner where I hid, I saw a small brown bird hopping. He reached the edge of my vision and took flight. It was only me who had changed.

From Lex’s first kiss to Lex’s first kill all in the first 262 words. My excitement for reading Legacy was through the roof after reading this.

However, I found the excitement that I experienced in the Prologue to dwindle as I continued throughout the book. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great story, just somewhere along the way I lost the hype that I started with in the beginning. I believe it was from the lack of constant surprises, mind-bending twists, or crazy intense ‘oh no’ moments that I need to keep my attention. I did feel like some of the scene were rushed, and would have preferred for the story to unfold in greater detail (hey, maybe I would have even ended up liking Quin – I will get into that later). It might have had to do with the really short chapters. Now don’t get me wrong, I like short chapters because I always end up telling myself ‘oh I can read a few more pages / one more chapter’ aka it’s not a big 20+ minute commitment to read one more chapter. But, I feel the shortness of chapters here left us as readers feeling rushed along the storyline. For example, there was multiple scenes where characters were traveling from the safe town to the dangerous, abandoned city, but yet it seems like after a short page the trip was over with no run-ins with any kind of danger. It was almost too easy, yet in the first chapter it talked about how dangerous Lex’s journey across the bridge was. Even at the end scene (not going to give anything away) everything just seemed, again, like it was too easy for them.

Characters: I didn’t really connect much with the two main characters, Lex and Quin. I found myself connecting more with Edison and Elana, with Elana being my favorite by far. I didn’t understand Lex’s obsession with Quin – I honestly didn’t think he was that special. I honestly likes the scared little girl at the end, she was pretty cool.

Overall Legacy’s story is a great one. This book is true to the old saying “never judge a book by its cover”. Where Legacy lacks in graphic appeal its makes up for it by taking you an unforgettable journey.

Ellery Kane has delighted me with the opportunity to read not only LEGACY, but also be able to continue the story by providing me with PROPHECY, the thrilling second book in this upcoming trilogy. I am excited to continue this story so, look for my review on PROPHECY coming in the next few weeks. And go to Ellery Kane’s website to sign up to be notified when REVELATION, the third and final book in the LEGACY series is released! Can’t wait!

In case you need more reasons to read this book:

  1. Super Soldiers
  2. Jumping Off Bridges
  3. A Dog (who does not die – yes, I will spoil that for you, because there is nothing worse than reading a book where the dog dies. – I’m still not over Manchee)
  4. Secret Flash Drive
  5. Secret Files
  6. Secret Letters
  7. Secret Video
  8. #EverythingIsASecret

legacyOverview

How do you want to feel today?
In 2041, the choice is yours.

San Francisco is deserted, the Bay Bridge bombed, and the BART subway trains grounded. The Guardians, members of an elite and mysterious government-appointed military police force, are maintaining order at all costs–thanks to emotion-altering drugs like Emovere that suppress fear and anxiety. Lex Knightley, daughter of a prominent forensic psychiatrist, risks entering the devastated city to partner with the Resistance, a group of rebels intent upon exposing the dangers of Emovere. Lex discovers an ally in Quin McAllister, a magnetic Guardian Force recruit with a haunting past that binds them together. As she uncovers the secrets of the Guardian Force and confronts the truth about her family, Lex begins to realize that even those closest to her are not quite who they seem.