Series: (The Young Elites #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.
Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
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.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.
First Sentence: "I’m going to die tomorrow morning ."
My thoughts:
The Young Elites is a dark and heavy read. It was a whole lot different than Legend. But it's Marie Lu, she can write anything badass and mind-blowing. I didn't really know what to expect reading the book but it had again exceeded my expectations. Who could not love the world's Marie Lu creates? It's fictional yes, but it has that element to pull you into it and then you can't seem to resurface again.
The characters. Adelina, poor little Adelina. She is too different from June in such a way that she's broken in all ways June isn't. She has darkness in her and yet we accept her for who she is. We understand her. I can even connect to her personally. She's different from all the heroines in a book that I've read in a book. She's not kind of these goody sweet kind of girls. She has this cruel and brutal past that made her who she is and that kind of makes her the most intriguing. I'm glad Marie Lu made her the star in this book and not the one she was really planning to. The Protagonists, the antagonist, the supporting characters, they are all so different from each other and yet we can understand all their connections and their role in the story.
“You have goodness in your heart,” he says. “But your darkness overwhelms it all; your desire to hurt, destroy, and avenge is more powerful than your desire to love, help, and light the way."
The plot is pretty well orchestrated that I can't seem to guess what's happening next. In some books I'm like, "No surprise there." but in TYE I didn't even realize that a plot twist just happened. It is also fast paced, you can read this book down in one sitting. There are just some chapters that are a bit medium-paced than the others. There is a bit of romance in the story, yes but it's not the main thing here. The main thing is Adelina and her self struggles. you won't get lost in the focus of the plot.
Also, you know you're tired of weaklings if you like the crazy villain in the story. Just like Teren Santoro, of all the characters in TYE he intrigues me the most. I have a different feeling about him. Some people might think he's all evil but I think there's more of him than we really know.
“You don’t belong with them, Adelina Amouteru,” he says. “You belong with me.”
Most of all I know you'd all love the other characters like Rafaelle, Violetta, Lucent, and the others.
If I learned a lesson in this book, it's pretty much about accepting the darkness in you to balance the world and not lose yourself in the process. That we all have reasons and motives for what we do. That we shouldn't let anyone use us but ourselves alone. That who we think we are might not be the real us. It's not all about fighting that can really save from everything but acceptance.
Again Marie Lu wrote a book that's beyond comprehensible ideas and unwritten thoughts. If you're a YA fantasy lover, put hold your other books and read this first. It will leave you real numb and wanting for more.
Rating: 5/5 stars
**Giveaway**
About the Author:
I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and talk to myself a lot. :)
I graduated from the University of Southern California in '06 and currently live in LA, where I spend my time stuck on the freeways.
