Champion (novel)

Champion

Champion
Author	Marie Lu
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Legend series
Genre	Dystopian, young adult
Published	November 5, 2013
Publisher	G. P. Putnam's Sons
Media type	Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book
Pages	369 pp.[1]
ISBN	978-0-399-25677-6
OCLC	855507153
LC Class	PZ7.L96768 Ch 2013[1]
Preceded by	Prodigy

Champion is a dystopian young adult novel and the third and final book in the Legend trilogy written by American novelist Marie Lu.^[2] It was released on 5 November 2013.^[3]

Plot

After the events of Prodigy, Daniel "Day" Altan Wing now lives as a free citizen at Los Angeles with his younger brother, Eden Bataar. Following several months of no communication, Day is contacted by June Iparis about a "feast" held by Anden Stavropoulos for him and Eden at Denver. In reality, Anden wants him to hand over Eden as part of the Republic's search for a cure for their man-made virus, which has been breaking out inside the Colonies, causing the latter to give an ultimatum for the cure, lest they and Africa will invade them. Day denies the request, and the Republic's cause is further eroded when Thomas Bryant and Commander Jameson, both in death row for the attempted coup, escape. The next day, Day tells June about his terminal illness, whose diagnoses include retrograde amnesia, just before the city is attacked by the Colonies' airships. While the population is being evacuated to Los Angeles, Day collaborates with the Patriots in hijacking the Colonies' airships. During the event, Thomas abruptly appears and sacrifices himself to save Day from a fatal shot.

Day is sent to the Los Angeles Central Hospital due to a flareup of his illness and is contacted by the Chancellor of the Colonies, who blackmails him into defecting to the Colonies and convincing the masses to do so, or else he will kill June and Eden if the Colonies win the war. He gives him three days to consider the offer. He remains unconvinced and instead spreads messages through graffiti to make the Republic's population support Anden against the Colonies. He also decides to let Eden go with the latter's approval. Meanwhile, June accompanies Anden to meet with the President of Antarctica to request help for the war. She is informed by Day about his decision once she returns back; the two promptly have intercourse. The next morning, June tells Anden her refusal for nomination for the Elector Princeps position.

The Colonies has conquered Denver and is now landing their airships near the Los Angeles harbor. Day meets with the Chancellor of the Colonies to give an answer for the blackmail: a resolute no. He escapes as the Colonies starts attacking Los Angeles. With the war ensuing in the streets of the city, June speeds up the search for the cure when she offers her blood to be tested, as she realizes that she is the missing link required to patch up Eden's blood. Once the testing is done, she assists the Republic's cause. She confronts Jameson, who has shot Day in the stomach, and lets her get shot by a Republic soldier and fall to her death. Though the invasion is finally ended with Antarctica's help, June sees Day fatally wounded and prays for his survival in exchange for "anything". Day miraculously survives both the shot and his illness but is put into a coma; when he wakes up, his amnesia has rendered him to forget about everything in the past few months, including June. Relieved although heartbroken, June decides to leave him for good.

In the epilogue, June narrates the events afterward: the Republic manages to neutralize the virus as well as opening up and establishing relations with the Colonies by building transborder cities; June continues to serve in the Republic's military, rekindles her friendship with Tess, and briefly dates Anden; while Day, now known by his given name, Daniel, leaves the Republic to accompany Eden to attend military academy in Antarctica after the latter has regained his eyesight. Ten years after the invasion, June is about to have dinner with Tess when she hears that Day and Eden are coming back to Republic. Just as she dashes her hope to meet Day, June accidentally stumbles on him and Eden, realizing that Tess has deliberately made them reunite. Day stops June thinking that he remembers her. He does not remember her at first, but then he begins to recover some memories, though they are scattered and in pieces. He wants to know her further and introduces himself, an action foreshadowed in Prodigy, and June responds back to him.

Characters

June Iparis- A seventeen-year-old prodigy, who scored a 1500 on her trial. She decides at the end of the book to not tell Day whom she is, as she thinks that his suffering and pain is caused by her. When he appears dying, she pleas for his survival. She lets go of Day, telling herself that it is for the best. She is good at appealing to other's emotions and understanding people's backgrounds, as well as observing things around her. In the epilogue, Day and June meet again, when they are both twenty-seven, and re-introduce themselves.

Daniel (Day) Altan Wing- A seventeen-year-old boy, who is also a prodigy but mostly considered the "Legend", who also scores a 1500 as well. Throughout the book, he experiences several headaches, which comes from the experimentation on him when he was ten. During the ending sequence, he is shot twice. He ends up in a coma, as he also needs surgery on his hippocampus.

Eden Bataar Wing- Day's younger brother, who Day will do anything to protect. Day is adamant of not letting the Republic experiment on Eden again, but Eden agrees to do it.

Captain Thomas Alexander Bryant- KIA by the colonies soldier.

Anden Stavropoulos- The current leader of the republic. Friend of June's.

Tess- Grew up on the streets with Day, but starts to feel attraction towards Day.

Commander Natasha Jameson- Main antagonist in the series who also killed Day's mother.

Pascao- A member of the Patriots

Chancellor of the Colonies

Azir

Reception

Critical reception to Champion was favorable and gained a favorable review from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.^[4] Commonsensemedia gave the work four stars, writing that "Action-packed sci-fi series reaches rousing conclusion."^[5] Publishers Weekly gave the work a starred review, comparing Lu to Charlotte Brontë.^[6]

References