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    DystopianFictionPolitical FictionThrillerYoung Adult

    Prodigy

    by Lu, Marie
    “Prodigy” by Marie Lu is the second installment in the dystopian “Legend” trilogy, following the gripping journey of June and Day as they navigate a fractured society. After escaping the Republic’s clutches, the duo allies with the rebel Patriots to overthrow the oppressive regime, but their trust is tested by shifting loyalties and hidden agendas. Themes of power, sacrifice, and identity are explored against a backdrop of political intrigue and revolution. Lu’s taut prose and intricate world-building heighten the tension, making “Prodigy” a compelling exploration of morality and resilience in a divided world. The novel advances the series’ narrative while deepening character arcs and societal critiques.
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    Prodigy

    Chapter 25: June 13

    by Lu, Marie

    The chap­ter opens with the pro­tag­o­nists rac­ing toward the Republic’s bor­der in a high-speed jet, trav­el­ing at over 800 miles per hour. Day shares crit­i­cal infor­ma­tion with June about the Patri­ots, Razor’s betray­al, and the polit­i­cal tur­moil sur­round­ing the Elec­tor. Despite the ini­tial dis­ori­en­ta­tion from their sud­den escape, June’s mind clears as they ascend, allow­ing her to assess their dire sit­u­a­tion. Kaede, their pilot, reveals they are near­ing the war­front, marked by dis­tant explo­sions, and maneu­vers the jet to avoid ground mis­siles while join­ing a Colonies squadron for cov­er.

    As they climb high­er, June observes the chaot­ic bat­tle­field below, filled with Repub­lic and Colonies air­ships engaged in fierce com­bat. Kaede’s jet is soon chal­lenged by a Colonies con­troller demand­ing an imme­di­ate land­ing, but she defi­ant­ly refus­es. The ten­sion esca­lates as two ene­my jets pur­sue them, lead­ing to a heart-stop­ping aer­i­al chase. Kaede exe­cutes a dar­ing split‑S maneu­ver, caus­ing the pur­su­ing jets to crash into a Colonies air­ship, cre­at­ing a diver­sion that allows them to cross into Repub­lic air­space. The adren­a­line-fueled sequence leaves June momen­tar­i­ly uncon­scious, high­light­ing the per­ilous nature of their escape.

    Approach­ing Den­ver, the group faces anoth­er hur­dle: the city’s impen­e­tra­ble Armor, a mas­sive wall lined with mis­siles. Repub­lic jets now tail them, fir­ing relent­less­ly. Kaede remains con­fi­dent, insist­ing she can nav­i­gate the dan­ger, but June is skep­ti­cal, fear­ing they’ll be shot down before breach­ing the defens­es. The chap­ter builds sus­pense as the jet descends toward the Armor, with June brac­ing for the worst. Kaede’s reck­less yet skill­ful fly­ing keeps them alive, but the odds of sur­vival seem slim as they close in on the tow­er­ing bar­ri­er.

    The chap­ter ends on a cliffhang­er, with the group’s fate hang­ing in the bal­ance. June’s inter­nal mono­logue reflects her doubt and fear, visu­al­iz­ing a mis­sile strike eject­ing them over the city. Kaede’s deter­mi­na­tion and audac­i­ty dri­ve the nar­ra­tive, but the over­whelm­ing defens­es of Den­ver leave the read­er ques­tion­ing whether their dar­ing plan will suc­ceed. The intense action and high stakes under­score the des­per­a­tion of their mis­sion, set­ting the stage for the next chapter’s res­o­lu­tion.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What key revelations about the Patriots and Razor does Day share with the narrator during their flight?

      Answer:
      Day reveals critical information about the Patriots and Razor’s true motives, including their involvement with Eden and Congress’s determination to remove the Elector from power. These revelations add context to the political turmoil in the Republic, suggesting deeper conspiracies at play. The narrator processes this information while in flight, indicating its significance to their mission and the broader conflict between the Republic and the Colonies.

      2. How does Kaede’s piloting strategy demonstrate her skill and the risks involved in crossing the warfront?

      Answer:
      Kaede employs advanced aerial maneuvers, including a high-speed climb, a sudden engine kill during a nosedive, and a split-S maneuver, to evade pursuing Colonies jets. Her tactics showcase her exceptional piloting skills but also highlight the extreme danger of their situation—nearly blacking out from G-forces and narrowly avoiding missile fire. The successful destruction of the pursuing jets by tricking them into crashing into a Colonies airship underscores both her ingenuity and the high-stakes nature of their escape.

      3. What does the description of the warfront’s airspace reveal about the scale and intensity of the conflict between the Republic and the Colonies?

      Answer:
      The narrator observes over 150 airships engaged in battle, with distinct markings (gold stripes for the Colonies, red stars for the Republic) and chaotic dogfights filling the sky. The “empty airspace” between the two forces, filled with sparks of light and smoke, acts as a no-man’s-land where destruction is constant. This vivid imagery emphasizes the massive scale of the war and the relentless violence, reinforcing the peril the characters face as they navigate through it.

      4. Why is Denver’s Armor described as a nearly insurmountable obstacle, and how does Kaede plan to overcome it?

      Answer:
      Denver’s Armor is portrayed as a towering, heavily fortified barrier with missile defenses lining every side, making a direct aerial approach suicidal. Kaede, however, remains confident, stating, “No city’s impenetrable,” and opts for a low-altitude approach to avoid detection. Her plan implies either exploiting a gap in the defenses or using the Republic’s confusion (after the Colonies jet collision) to slip through, though the chapter cuts off before revealing her exact method.

      5. How does the physical and emotional strain on the characters during the flight heighten the tension of the chapter?

      Answer:
      The narrator experiences disorientation, blackouts, and overwhelming G-forces, while Day struggles to stay conscious, his voice detached. Kaede, despite her gunshot wound, maintains a strained but determined demeanor. These details immerse the reader in the characters’ visceral suffering, making the high-speed chase feel more intense. Kaede’s pained yet defiant laughter after the split-S maneuver adds a layer of vulnerability, reminding readers of the human cost behind their daring escape.

    Quotes

    • 1. “A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GET INTO THE REPUBLIC’S border. That means, at the speed we’re going (easily more than eight hundred miles per hour; we all felt a sudden pressure change as we broke the sound barrier, like being dragged out of deep mud), we’re only two dozen or so miles from the warfront and several hundred from Denver.”

      This quote captures the intense urgency and physical toll of their high-speed escape, emphasizing the precariousness of their situation as they approach the warfront. It sets the tone for the chapter’s action-packed sequence.

      2. “Airships (easily more than a hundred and fifty, as far as the eye can see) dot the sky like miniature daggers soaring through the air, stretching in lines off into the horizon.”

      This vivid description paints a striking image of the scale of the conflict between the Republic and the Colonies, highlighting the overwhelming military presence in the sky. It underscores the danger and chaos of the warfront.

      3. “‘Negative, DesCon. I’m gonna shoot you out of the sky.’”

      Kaede’s defiant response to the Colonies’ order to land showcases her rebellious and fearless personality. This moment marks a turning point in the chase, as she fully commits to their risky escape plan.

      4. “‘Best split-S you’ve ever seen, I bet,’ Kaede says with a laugh. It sounds more strained than usual.”

      This quote reveals Kaede’s skill as a pilot and her determination to protect her companions, even while injured. The strain in her voice hints at the physical toll of their escape, adding tension to the scene.

      5. “‘No city’s impenetrable.’ Kaede sends the jet lower even as the Republic jets continue to pursue us. ‘I know what I’m doing.’”

      This line encapsulates Kaede’s confidence and the theme of defiance against seemingly insurmountable odds. It sets up the climax of their daring approach to Denver’s heavily fortified walls.

    Quotes

    1. “A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GET INTO THE REPUBLIC’S border. That means, at the speed we’re going (easily more than eight hundred miles per hour; we all felt a sudden pressure change as we broke the sound barrier, like being dragged out of deep mud), we’re only two dozen or so miles from the warfront and several hundred from Denver.”

    This quote captures the intense urgency and physical toll of their high-speed escape, emphasizing the precariousness of their situation as they approach the warfront. It sets the tone for the chapter’s action-packed sequence.

    2. “Airships (easily more than a hundred and fifty, as far as the eye can see) dot the sky like miniature daggers soaring through the air, stretching in lines off into the horizon.”

    This vivid description paints a striking image of the scale of the conflict between the Republic and the Colonies, highlighting the overwhelming military presence in the sky. It underscores the danger and chaos of the warfront.

    3. “‘Negative, DesCon. I’m gonna shoot you out of the sky.’”

    Kaede’s defiant response to the Colonies’ order to land showcases her rebellious and fearless personality. This moment marks a turning point in the chase, as she fully commits to their risky escape plan.

    4. “‘Best split-S you’ve ever seen, I bet,’ Kaede says with a laugh. It sounds more strained than usual.”

    This quote reveals Kaede’s skill as a pilot and her determination to protect her companions, even while injured. The strain in her voice hints at the physical toll of their escape, adding tension to the scene.

    5. “‘No city’s impenetrable.’ Kaede sends the jet lower even as the Republic jets continue to pursue us. ‘I know what I’m doing.’”

    This line encapsulates Kaede’s confidence and the theme of defiance against seemingly insurmountable odds. It sets up the climax of their daring approach to Denver’s heavily fortified walls.

    FAQs

    1. What key revelations about the Patriots and Razor does Day share with the narrator during their flight?

    Answer:
    Day reveals critical information about the Patriots and Razor’s true motives, including their involvement with Eden and Congress’s determination to remove the Elector from power. These revelations add context to the political turmoil in the Republic, suggesting deeper conspiracies at play. The narrator processes this information while in flight, indicating its significance to their mission and the broader conflict between the Republic and the Colonies.

    2. How does Kaede’s piloting strategy demonstrate her skill and the risks involved in crossing the warfront?

    Answer:
    Kaede employs advanced aerial maneuvers, including a high-speed climb, a sudden engine kill during a nosedive, and a split-S maneuver, to evade pursuing Colonies jets. Her tactics showcase her exceptional piloting skills but also highlight the extreme danger of their situation—nearly blacking out from G-forces and narrowly avoiding missile fire. The successful destruction of the pursuing jets by tricking them into crashing into a Colonies airship underscores both her ingenuity and the high-stakes nature of their escape.

    3. What does the description of the warfront’s airspace reveal about the scale and intensity of the conflict between the Republic and the Colonies?

    Answer:
    The narrator observes over 150 airships engaged in battle, with distinct markings (gold stripes for the Colonies, red stars for the Republic) and chaotic dogfights filling the sky. The “empty airspace” between the two forces, filled with sparks of light and smoke, acts as a no-man’s-land where destruction is constant. This vivid imagery emphasizes the massive scale of the war and the relentless violence, reinforcing the peril the characters face as they navigate through it.

    4. Why is Denver’s Armor described as a nearly insurmountable obstacle, and how does Kaede plan to overcome it?

    Answer:
    Denver’s Armor is portrayed as a towering, heavily fortified barrier with missile defenses lining every side, making a direct aerial approach suicidal. Kaede, however, remains confident, stating, “No city’s impenetrable,” and opts for a low-altitude approach to avoid detection. Her plan implies either exploiting a gap in the defenses or using the Republic’s confusion (after the Colonies jet collision) to slip through, though the chapter cuts off before revealing her exact method.

    5. How does the physical and emotional strain on the characters during the flight heighten the tension of the chapter?

    Answer:
    The narrator experiences disorientation, blackouts, and overwhelming G-forces, while Day struggles to stay conscious, his voice detached. Kaede, despite her gunshot wound, maintains a strained but determined demeanor. These details immerse the reader in the characters’ visceral suffering, making the high-speed chase feel more intense. Kaede’s pained yet defiant laughter after the split-S maneuver adds a layer of vulnerability, reminding readers of the human cost behind their daring escape.

    Note