This was a no brainer, right? We had to pick Marie Lu‘s “Prodigy” because it’s just THAT good!

WHAT IS IT ABOUT? June and Day are finally in Vegas and what happens? the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place.

With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long. But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT? Forget the fact that JJJ chose the first book “Legend” as our fave book of 2011 and take “Prodigy” for what it is — an unbelievably, well-written action thriller with a bit of a Romeo and Juliet romance thrown in. We recommend that you definitely read “Legend” first, but if you don’t, that’s okay too. “Prodigy” is so good that you’ll pick up the story right away and won’t be able to put it down until it’s done. We just want to know what’s going to happen to June and Day after this. What will happen in the new Republic? Will the war still go on? Book #3 please, now.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: “Catherine” by April Lindner, “Through The Ever Night” by Veronica Rossi, “Shades of Earth” by Beth Revis, “Crash” by Lisa McMann, “Rise” by Andrea Cremer, “Altered” by Jennifer Rush and “Falling For You” by Lisa Schroeder.