Where to start with Marie Lu's backlist
Teen reader Tracy Hwang describes how Marie Lu drew her into the wonderful world of YA, and shares advice on where to start reading with this brilliant author’s backlist.
The first time I picked up a Marie Lu book was more than three years ago. I was not yet an avid YA reader as I was barely a teenager myself, but finding the Legend series is what drew me into the wonderful area of YA and Lu’s books are a constant reason why I have never left.
I came across the first book in the series, Legend, in a second-hand book sale and devoured it in one sitting the next day. I remember staying up in the early hours to finish it and oh, how my emotions were played with. Anyone looking to delve into a Lu book needs to know this: Lu will put you on a rollercoaster of emotions that ends with you sobbing and your heart in pieces, but you’ll be thanking her for it.
Here is a breakdown of her book series.
Legend series
Legend is a dystopia that ticks all the right boxes: complex protagonists that you’ll be rooting for every step of the way; a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat; action scenes that cause your heart to race; and writing that is admirable in its power. Trust me when I say that this trilogy is a heartbreaker.
The writing of Legend is powerful yet uncomplicated, making it a great starter for younger teens interested in YA books. This series is also often overlooked within the dystopian genre, so I implore every teen to read this because you have not read a dystopian series like this before.
Find the first book of the series here
The Young Elites series
As a die-hard fantasy fan, The Young Elites was everything I could have asked for. I love this series with all my heart and I’ll often revisit it because I’m so invested in the characters and story. Lu’s writing blew me away – her world-building is rich, thrilling and achingly beautiful.
While the darkness of the main character surprised me, I also found myself relating to her at times. I’m really pleased that her character exists because it puts The Young Elites in a place no other fantasy series can reach. Reading this series, I fell in love with the characters, and their goals, desires and heartbreaks became my own. When I finished the final book it was like saying goodbye to good friends and I’m not ashamed to say I did my fair share of crying because of them.
If you enjoy high-fantasy, immersive writing and anti-heroes galore, this is the series for you.
Find the first book of the series here
Warcross series
This is Lu’s most recent series, and only one book has been released so far. This is also by far her most light-hearted one, but no less fantastic for it. I’m adamant on my opinion that Lu can tackle any genre and win – she has certainly done so with this book. Warcross is a sci-fi story but it’s also so much more than that. The way Lu describes virtual reality and technologically advanced gaming is done perfectly. Due to the VR worlds in the game of Warcross, there are nuances of fantasy elements in the book which was a thrill for me to read.
The protagonist is an excellent example of a strong female role model – fierce, bold and lovable. It was also really enjoyable seeing Lu’s newly imagined future Tokyo, intertwined with VR, through her eyes. The first book in this series is simply amazing, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
While perfect for new readers of Lu, there are winks to her previous series if fans look closely enough which was giddily fun to find.
Find the first book of the series here
DC Icons series
With Batman: Nightwalker set for release in early January, fans of the DC universe will be thrilled.
This is the second instalment in the DC Icons series which sees different authors explore the stories of iconic superheroes. (Leigh Bardugo wrote about Wonder Woman for the first book and Sarah J. Maas will be writing about Catwoman for the third.) Lu’s book is about Bruce Wayne before he became the infamous masked hero of Gotham, and in her hands, I’m sure it will be nothing short of extraordinary. Being a huge fan of Batman and anything to do with superheroes, I’m definitely excited.
