The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites by Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Series: The  Young Elites, #1
Genre: Fantaasy, Romance, Young Adult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

"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."

My Thoughts:

I must say, this absolutely amazing book showcases the writing versatility of the author. Marie Lu went beyond the style we'd known her for and definitely outdid herself. This is totally different and exquisitely darker than her first series, Legend, yet just as undeniably good!

“She will be able to fool a thirsty man into drinking liquid metal. She will be able to make someone feel pain that isn’t there.”

The characters are powerful and raw and edgy. I've never read about a main female character as terrible and fascinating as Adelina; a girl who is so flawed not just because she's missing her left eye, but because of the all-consuming darkness in her heart. She feeds on her fear and churning fury, an intoxicating and distressingly dangerous combination. She's so beautiful, so terrifying. I could honestly picture her as a reckless villain in some parallel universe (which makes sense because Marie Lu mentioned in acknowledgments that this is a villain's story and not a hero's.) The other characters, Enzo, Teren, Raffaelle, and the other Young Elites are just as interesting and impressive, but I must admit it's really Adelina who takes the center stage.

“I’ve somehow managed to unsettle him. He has unsettled me. The unspoken secret sits heavily between us, a dark abyss.”

The romance is not subtle, just barely present, which I think is fitting to the dark and gritty tone of the story. It's loud and quickly growing, yet never commonplace. It's not overpowering but enough to make the readers crave and ache for it.

“Explosions, the roar of flames, the shouts of thousands of people—it all swirls together into deafening chaos. Never could I have imagined panic like this. Their fear pools in me, a black and powerful current.”

Marie Lu has created a very outstanding and beautiful world that reminds me of Italian Renaissance. While the cities are full of darkness and destruction, they are impressively vibrant and alive. The story dragged a bit in the beginning but in a fantasy story as big and complex as this, I think it's justifiable, especially since I sometimes struggle with historical and complex fantasy narration. When it started to get more intense and build momentum, it never stopped. Everything moved along quickly. Everything happened unpredictably. The ending is so unexpected, full of exciting possibilites that makes me so thrilled for the next book!

Overall:

“Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.

Some fear us, think us demons to burn at the stake.

Some worship us, think us children of the gods.

But all know us.”

Hate or love The Young Elites. Fear them. Worship them. Read this book and be one of us who know them. :)

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