Marie Lu Books in Order (Legend series, The Young Elites, Skyhunter, Warcross…)

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Marie Lu (born Xiwei Lu) is an American author who is known for the New York Times bestselling series Legend and The Young Elites. Before becoming a full-time writer, she had a career in the video game industry, working for Disney Interactive Studios as a Flash artist. Now, Lu specializes in Young Adult books beginning with the dystopian Legend novels, then with The Young Elites series, the Skyhunter series, the Warcross duology, and more recently with the historical fantasy book The Kingdom of Back.

How to read Marie Lu’s Book Series in Order?

Reading The Legend Series in Order

In a violent, futuristic, half-flooded Los Angeles governed by martial law, fifteen-year-old Day lives on the streets as the country’s most wanted criminal. When a murder forces him to cross paths with June–a wealthy, brilliant fifteen-year-old girl loyal to the state–the two are thrown into direct opposition and combat. But are they truly meant to be enemies? Or is there more to their society than meets the eye?

0. Life Before Legend (Prequel novella, 2013) – Find out more about June and Day in this never-before-seen glimpse into their daily lives before they met. As twelve-year-olds struggling to survive in two very different worlds within the Republic’s stronghold, June was starting her first day of school at Drake University as the youngest cadet ever admitted, and Day was fighting for food on the streets of the Lake sector.
1. Legend (2011) – What was once the Western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, 15-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, 15-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
2. Prodigy (2013) – Injured and on the run, it has been seven days since June and Day barely escaped Los Angeles and the Republic with their lives. Day is believed dead, having lost his own brother to an execution squad who thought they were assassinating him. June is now the Republic’s most wanted traitor.
3. Champion (2013) – June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic – and each other – and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high-level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again.
4. Life After Legend (Short Story, 2017) & Life After Legend II (Short Story, 2018) – available on Instagram.
5. Rebel (2019) – Eden Wing has been living in his brother’s shadow for years. Even though he’s a top student at his academy in Ross City, Antarctica, and a brilliant inventor, most people know him only as Daniel Wing’s little brother. A decade ago, Daniel was known as Day, the boy from the streets who led a revolution that saved the Republic of America. But Day is no longer the same young man who was once a national hero. As the two brothers struggle to accept who they’ve each become since their time in the Republic, a new danger creeps into the distance that’s grown between them.

The Legend Series: The Graphic Novels

1. Legend: The Graphic Novel (2015)
2. Prodigy: The Graphic Novel (2016)
3. Champion: The Graphic Novel (2017)

Reading The Stars and Smoke Series in Order

1. Stars and Smoke (2023) – Global phenomenon Winter Young is the pop star of a generation. With sell-out tours and smash-hit records, everyone wants him, or wants to be him. That’s why a top-secret government organisation think he’ll make the perfect spy. His target is infamous business tycoon, and all-round bad guy, Eli Morrison. Because Morrison’s daughter has just one birthday wish: a private concert with Winter Young. Winter must use his stardom to crack his target’s inner circle and bring Morrison down. With him will be expert spy, and expert bad-ass, Sydney Cossette – and she’s convinced Winter doesn’t have what it takes. But as the stakes get higher and the tension ramps up, Sydney and Winter might find their best chance is each other…
2. Icon and Inferno (2024) – A year has passed since superstar Winter Young last saw secret agent Sydney Cossette. After barely surviving their first assignment together in London — and their intense chemistry – the two haven’t spoken at all. Though they’re never far from the other’s thoughts, or fantasies. So when Syndey shows up at Winter’s studio one day with a new mission from Panacea, he has no choice but to accept. With the clock ticking, the duo prepares to head to Singapore to rescue an operative in danger — only to learn he’s none other than Sydney’s ex, a rogue agent known as the Arsonist.

Reading The Young Elites Series in Order

Set in a sweeping fantasy world where some survivors of a deadly disease come out of it with fearsome powers, The Young Elites tells the story of a girl named Adelina who spirals into darkness and vengeance after she discovers her own abilities. How does a person turn evil? And can a villain ever find her way back to the light again?

1. The Young Elites (2014) – Teren Santoro works for the king. As leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
2. The Rose Society (2015) – Adelina Amouteru’s heart is set on revenge. Now known and feared as the White Wolf, she and her sister flee Kenettra to find other Young Elites in the hopes of building her own army. Her goal: to strike down the Inquisition Axis, the white-cloaked soldiers who nearly killed her.
3. The Midnight Star (2016) – Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all she’s gained.

Reading The Warcross Series in Order

Set in the near future, where a game called Warcross has taken the world by storm, Warcross tells the story of Emika Chen, an eighteen-year-old bounty hunter struggling to get by in New York City.

1. Warcross (2017) – When Emika hacks into Warcross, she is shocked when she gets a call from the game’s creator with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job.
2. Wildcard (2018) – Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now she can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, the one person she thought was on her side – Hideo Tanaka. His plan: to wipe out all crime on Earth by ending the free will of its citizens.

Reading The Skyhunter Series in Order

1. Skyhunter (2020) – Strikers are loyal. With unparalleled, deadly fighting skills. With a willingness to do anything-including sacrifice their own lives-to defend Mara, the world’s last free nation. But to the very people she protects, Talin is seen as an outcast first and a Striker second. No matter what others think, Talin lets nothing distract her from keeping the evil Federation and its army of haunting, mutant beasts at bay. Until a mysterious prisoner shows up and disrupts Talin’s entire world.
2. Steelstriker (2021) – The world’s last free nation has fallen. And behind enemy lines, Talin stands alone. With her friends scattered by combat and her mother held captive, Talin has no choice but to submit to the Federation’s experiments and become their most deadly war machine-a Skyhunter.

Reading Other Novels & Comics by Marie Lu

• The Evertree (Spirit Animals, Book 7 – 2015) – The world of Erdas will be changed forever. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan were once ordinary kids. Then they discovered that they had spirit animals-wise and powerful partners who granted them with amazing gifts . . . and a legendary responsibility. Together, the team has journeyed across Erdas, racing to stop a merciless foe. They have laughed and fought together. They’ve won challenges and lost friends. Some have even lost themselves.
• Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons, Book 2 – 2018) – The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list. Bruce is turning eighteen and inheriting his family’s fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Industries and all the tech gadgetry that he could ever desire. But on the way home from his birthday party, he makes an impulsive choice that leads to community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison. There, he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer with ties to the Nightwalkers. A girl who will speak only to Bruce. She is the mystery he must unravel, but is he convincing her to divulge her secrets–or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees?
• The Kingdom of Back (2020) – Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish – to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age – her tyrannical father has made that much clear. And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true – but his help may cost her everything.

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If you like the Marie Lu reading order, you may also want to see our Suzanne Collins reading order, or our guide to Kiera Cass Books. Don’t hesitate to follow us on Twitter or Facebook to discover more book series.