ARC Review--Legion by Julie Kagawa

The legions are about to be unleashed, and no human, rogue dragon or former dragon slayer can stand against the coming horde. Book 4 of 5 in The Talon Saga from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa.

Dragon hatchling Ember Hill was never prepared to find love at all--dragons do not suffer human emotions--let alone the love of a human and a former dragonslayer, at that. With ex-soldier Garret dying at her feet after sacrificing his freedom and his life to expose the deepest of betrayals, Ember knows only that nothing she was taught by dragon organization Talon is true. About humans, about rogue dragons, about herself and what she's capable of doing and feeling.

In the face of great loss, Ember vows to stand with rogue dragon Riley against the dragon-slaying Order of St. George and her own twin brother Dante--the heir apparent to all of Talon, and the boy who will soon unleash the greatest threat and terror dragonkind has ever known.

Talon is poised to take over the world, and the abominations they have created will soon take to the skies, darkening the world with the promise of blood and death to those who refuse to yield.

I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Julie Kagawa has been one of my most favorite authors ever since I picked up The Iron King, when I heard about her dragon series, I knew it was going to be epic and for the past four years now, it’s proven to be absolutely true! Legion continues the story that follows Ember, Riley, Garret, and Dante; dragons and dragon hunter all from different ends of the track. The looming sense of danger that’s been brewing pretty much since Rogue is finally coming to light, but since we still have one more book to go, we’re only just seeing the finishing line in sight!

So things pick up pretty much where we left off in Soldier and since I just finished that right before starting this one, I was pumped and ready to go! Garret’s life was hanging in the balance when we last saw him after he defeated the Patriarch in a duel to prove his innocence. And since they’re in the middle of nowhere we’re talking no hospitals. And since this is Julie Kagawa we’re talking about here, I honestly didn’t know how things were going to turn out! She’s one of those amazingly awesome authors who delights in tormenting her readers. Lol. But as I was telling myself as I read, this series is far from over and this is Garret. Think things practically and you’ll know how things will turn out.

We start to see inklings of what Talon has planned for…everyone. I feel like this time, Dante gets a few more chapter time and even though some of that included flashbacks to a time when he and Ember were still kids or even going back to the very beginning of their time at playing human, we see things a bit differently through his perspective.  I’d like to say it put his character into more defining light, but honestly, the boy still confuses me and worries me. I know I said last time his position was made clear, but I guess a part of me still hoped for better. Dante is almost a bit scary in this one, at least I thought he was in his ways of thinking.

Seeing Talon’s plans of course was just as frightening. What it really adds up to is knowing that Ember and her friends are in for one heck of a finale! We even get to know why Talon is so keen on getting Ember back in their clutches and let me tell you, I wasn’t prepared for that kind of scary! It’s twisted and insane and just so dark!! I mean man!! But yet, I can’t help but love it all the same!

Needless to say that Legion was full on incredibly awesome! The tension is so thick you could cut a knife through it! The pacing is spot on! We’re lead deeper and deeper into this story and more characters step up to join the cause in helping Riley and Ember defeat Talon. It’s going to take a lot of work and lot more manpower and dragon-power than these two can provide alone!

Onto the romance of the story, because it has to be mentioned. I’ve liked how subtle the romance is in the story. I mean it doesn’t encompass who Ember is or what she is setting out to do. And even then, it’s still so subtle there’s hardly any there at all. Because when you think of it, things are much too chaotic to be taking time out for a make out session! But it’s still there, in those little stolen moments between Ember and…someone. I won’t mention names, even though I think we all know who she’s going to choose, who she chose in fact in Soldier. But there’s that. It is finally settled and resolved in this one though. At least I am 99% sure! As I said before, with Julie, you never really know for sure until it’s all said and done! But I do like how things were left off in this area of things. I think this was the best resolution for everyone. We’ll see.

I can’t help but feel like there might be something BIG on the horizon with the final book. And I am not just talking about the big showdown with Talon, because since there is one more book left, we know things are far from over with all the enemies on all the fronts. There was something that happened in this one, pretty early on too. And the results that stemmed from it had my mind whirling at full speed wondering what it will mean. Sadly, it’s not addressed full on. But there are hints. Teeny, tiny little hints. And I paid attention to those, oh boy was I!! And now after finishing the book, I was perturbed by it not really being addressed. It’s possibly I saw something from nothing that’s not really there at all. Or it’s also possible that it won’t be addressed until the final book! Read the lines carefully, my friends, and see if you can see what I saw and determine if it means anything! That’s another thing I love about reading, developing all these crazy and sometimes, not so crazy, theories!

Legion was full on excitement!! The pages were rife with action, suspense, dire circumstances and toe curling events! It’s a read that will have you staying up way past bedtime determined to finish it because it is just that un-put-down-able! I had very little experience with dragons before Julie Kagawa, but ever since Talon, my heart has been won over by them! I am both ecstatic and sadden to read the final book next year, but it will definitely be a read to surpass all reads as every book I’ve read but Julie Kagawa has been pure magic and one amazing adventure!

Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Legion releases April 25, 2017