The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
Like Legend, it pits a resourceful teen against a brutal regime that exploits the poor, with relentless pacing, survival stakes and a growing awareness of how propaganda keeps citizens in line.
12 books to read next
Books Like Legend
If you loved Legend by Marie Lu
Legend grabs readers with its alternating voices: June, a brilliant military prodigy from the Republic's elite, and Day, a street-smart outlaw from the slums. Fans love the cat-and-mouse tension between two equally clever teens, the fast, cinematic pace, and the slow realisation that their militarised government is hiding ugly truths. Add a simmering enemies-to-allies romance and a near-future dystopian America shaped by class divides, and you get a tight, action-driven story that keeps readers turning pages.
More dystopian rebellion
Divergent
Veronica Roth
A rigid society, a heroine trained for combat, and secrets buried by those in power. Fans of June's military world will enjoy Tris's initiation and the fast action set in a ruined Chicago.
Red Queen
Victoria Aveyard
A girl from the poor underclass is thrust into the elite's world, mirroring Legend's rich-versus-poor divide, with political intrigue, betrayals and a tense romance across class lines.
Dual voices, opposite sides
An Ember in the Ashes
Sabaa Tahir
Alternating chapters between a soldier of a militarised empire and a girl from the oppressed, much like June and Day, building tension and an unlikely bond under a cruel regime.
Scythe
Neal Shusterman
Two teens trained for a deadly role tell the story in turns, questioning the system they serve. Readers who enjoyed Legend's moral awakening will find sharp ideas and plenty of suspense.
Shatter Me
Tahereh Mafi
A controlling military government, a dangerous gift and a charged romance. Its intense voice and themes of being used as a weapon will appeal to fans of June's position.
Brilliant teens outwitting adults
Six of Crows
Leigh Bardugo
A crew of clever, scarred outcasts plans an impossible heist. If you loved Day's daring stunts and quick thinking, these schemers and their banter will deliver the same thrill.
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
A child prodigy is groomed by the military, like June, and slowly learns what his leaders are really asking of him. A classic of tactical brilliance and uneasy truths.
The Maze Runner
James Dashner
Teens trapped by a mysterious authority must solve deadly puzzles to survive. Its breakneck pace and drip-fed secrets suit readers who raced through Legend.
Fresh near-future thrills
Cinder
Marissa Meyer
A cyborg mechanic from the margins collides with royalty in a plague-hit future city, blending class tension, a slow-burn romance and government secrets much like Legend's.
Warcross
Marie Lu
Marie Lu's sleek, high-tech thriller follows a bounty hunter hacker drawn into a conspiracy, with the same propulsive plotting and clever protagonist that made Legend so gripping.
Illuminae
Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Told through files and messages, two exes uncover a corporate and military cover-up in space. Its urgency and distrust of authority echo Legend's mood in an inventive format.
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