The LEGEND Facebook fanpage just dropped this image about a minute ago and I immediately got over-excited. How cool and amazing is that? This is the cover of the book, Legend by Marie Lu, in Japan which is illustrated by Tatsuyuki Tanaka (Akira, Bubblegum Crisis). I love how Tanaka incorporates his cyberpunk style to the characters and it’s definitely suited to the story. Day definitely works well as a bishounen, don’t you think?

I gotta get me a copy!

Also, listen to our podcast episode with the author, Marie Lu, read ART: Day from Marie Lu’s LEGEND + Book Review & Interviews and check out Marie Lu’s LEGEND Book Launch Party!

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No, I am not referring to the movie staring the sexy Zac Efron. I am referring to the way two books in particular have made me feel. My favorite type of story is one that leaves you feeling bittersweet, lusting for more, and may even have you rolling around on the floor because of the drama. A good story is one that takes you out of your own world and puts you in one where in alternate universe you can be the hero. The last time I felt this way was when I was a teenager reading books like His Dark Materials and Harry Potter, fantasy and science fiction books full of love, fighting, and purpose.

The two books I am talking about are Legend by Marie Lu and Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  I devoured these books. They had everything I want in a story; a strong female character, the fight between good vs. evil, and of course a love interest.

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Marie Lu, author of LEGEND,  joins us in this episode to talk about her life as a writer in Los Angeles. She discusses her characters, her writing process and the success of her book. We throw in a bit of geekery and we figure out which House in Hogwarts would her characters end up in. Also, Nathan Fillion and Batman.

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On December 1, 2011, Marie Lu celebrated the release of LEGEND (which hit bookstores on November 29, 2011) at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in Redondo Beach, California. Gizzy B, Sailor Mizz and I all got to the store a little early to help Marie set up the food – which included cupcakes, brownies and cookies (NUTELLA COOKIES!) from our friend, Just Jenn Designs. It was a successful and fun night. I think it’s safe to say that the core of her growing fan base were all in attendance that night.

See my photos on LAWeekly.com: Marie Lu’s Legend @ Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore.

Marie started the night by reading an excerpt from her book before answering questions from the audience. She even gave away two rare ARC copies of LEGEND to people who asked her questions. She spent the majority of the night signing books and talking to friends and fans alike. We were all very excited and happy for her success. Twilight producer, Isaac Klausner, even stopped by to show his support and to get his own copy of the book signed!

See our video and photos from the event below.

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The Lady Defective Geeks discuss young adult books and the dystopian genre. They discuss several books like ‘Legend’, ‘Hunger Games’, ‘1984’ and ‘The Giver.’ We also try to figure out what we would do if we were thrown into a Battle Royale type situation. Basically, we would all probably die quick deaths and Sailor Mizz just wants to rescue all the cats.

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Marie Lu’s first published, young adult novel finally hits the bookstores today. She is a personal and close friend to Defective Geeks and I hope you are all out there grabbing your copy off the bookshelves crazy-lady-with-pepper-spray-at-WalMart-Black-Friday style! The internet is all a-buzz with articles, book reviews and interviews about LEGEND — especially since Twilight producer, Wyck Godfrey, had declared that LEGEND ‘blows the socks off Hunger Games.’

Read my review of the book and my short interview with her: ART: Day from Marie Lu’s LEGEND + Book Review & Interviews.

You can also order the book from Amazon.com, of course.

This Thursday, December 1, 2011 – Team DefectiveGeeks will be joining Marie at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in Redondo Beach at 7:30pm for the book release launch party. Check out the event page on Facebook and come out to join the fun. Marie will be signing copies of her books available for purchase at the store plus there will be yummy snack foods. See you guys there!

You can follow the Space Pirate Queen on Twitter @punkagogo.

Marie Lu and I made a deal awhile ago. Well… after I threatened that I would break into her apartment with a hanger and steal one of her books if she didn’t give me one freely. Therefore, she was forced to give me an ARC (advanced reading copy) of her book, LEGEND. In exchanged, she requested a watercolor painting and I happily obliged!

On a slight more serious note, when I found out that Marie was a secret, ninja writer and her book is going to be released in November– my mind was pretty much blown. It’s kind of awesome to know someone personally who is a YA author and who is getting published through Penguin Group. Not only that but a movie deal on top of it. Whaaaaaat! Too awesome! Why do I know such amazing people?

The above painting is of Day, the main male protagonist in LEGEND. He also stars in one of her unpublished, past novel (which I also forced her to hand over to me– I’m pretty persuasive, what can I say? ;]) and I found it kind of neat that she brought him back to a new story. In my younger years, I’ve also done a lot of original character recycling in comics, stories and role playing. I can sympathize with a creator’s attachment to their characters.

But back to LEGEND. Read more for an exclusive interview with both Day and the author.

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