Susan Carpenter, writing in the Los Angeles Times calls Legend "a taut and exciting romp for all readers with enough inventive details to keep things from becoming cliché",[11] and The New York Times' Ridley Pearson called it "[a] fine example of commercial fiction with razor-sharp plotting, depth of character and emotional arc."[12] In the University Wire, SUNY Oneota student Claudia Corneyea reviewed the novel, writing, “This novel has everything a young adult dystopia is expected to have: an avenging heroine, a loving bad boy and a corrupt government that brings them together.”[13]
A review in Bookmarks magazine has a mixed position on the book citing the rapidly moving plot as enticing but has draw backs because they believe that the characters are not fully formed.[14] Elizabeth McDonnell’s review in the Boston Examiner, agrees with the fast paced plot makes the book an appealing read, but points the clichés present as negative aspects of the book.[15]
