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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Your average teen dystopian novel, although I will say I was not expecting the twist near the end. An interesting choice for a protagonist with a thoroughly-developed world, typical of Marie Lu. Very refreshing in that everything is gray and there are no good or bad guys; also typical of Lu, though, and similar to "Legend" in that fact. I will say, however, that the angst in this book was weirdly satisfying. So much negative energy (literally the lifeblood of this book) but it was in a good way?
I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I would like to read the second book, though.
I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I would like to read the second book, though.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really love Adelina. She just makes this story so DARK! I mean the things she thinks are freaking insane. She’s freaking insane and I love it. This story was fast pasted and exciting. I loved learning about their powers and how many possibilities there were for our MC to use her powers in a different way. I was sooo shocked when she actually killed Dante and when Enzo died I wanted to cry. And that break from the daggers! and Violetta’s powers and Teren’s psycho self loathing. That ending was crazy and I just keep thinking “oh, no you didn’t!” I really can’t wait to see where the rest of the story takes us bc I did not expect to derail so quickly from the course.
My Rating 4.75/5 Stars
Synopsis:
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.
As a lover of high fantasy this synopsis pulled me in from the beginning! The idea of this story that Marie Lu wanted to convey is what makes a bad guy! Throughout the whole book I am rooting for the good happy ending with maybe a little bit of a twist to make the next book exciting! Do we get that? Well not the happy ending part! You will have to read it to find out, but this is not your typical story!
“Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like.”
Adelina- The Young Elites By Marie Lu
The idea of a small group of people having powers and then being feared by the rest of a community is not unique, but for some reason it is a story line I am willing to read over and over again if it is done right.; and this is done right!!
“I hereby pledge to serve the Dagger Society, to strike fear into the hearts of those who rule Kenettra, to take by death what belong to us, and to make the power of our Elites known to every man, woman, and child. Should I break my vow, let the dagger take from me what I took from the dagger.”
-Marie Lu, The Young Elites
One thing I really loved about this book is the points of view that Marie Lu uses! Adelina's chapters are in first person. This POV really makes the story more dynamic because we can hear her thoughts and that really gave me another dimension of her character development. The other chapters that are focused on Enzo and Teren are from a third person POV, which was different, but I would have liked it to be the first person so I could hear their thoughts on what was going on around them.
“Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.
Some fear us, think demons to burn at the stake,
Some worship us, think us children of the gods.
But all know us.”
-Marie Lu The Young Elites
The relationship between Adelina and her sister is really the best relationship storyline, I have read in a book in a while! The relationship was so dynamic. I feel like in future novels Adelina's relationship with her sister might very well be her number one weakness
Finally the ending was probably the best part about this book! The epilogue was fantastic! It introduces a new character and potentially gives this whole series a completely new storyline! I cannot wait to read the second book that comes out in October of 2015 and will be called The Rose Society!!
Reason why I gave it a 4.75 The bare bones story line of the kids with powers is very over done so that knocked it down a bit, but I have yet to read a YA novel that is the story of the beginnings of the bad guy and the writing style both contributed to why I gave it a higher rating in the end!! Overall this story was so good!!
“Tomorrow, I will take on all of these things. I will be unstoppable.”
― Marie Lu, The Young Elites
Synopsis:
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.
As a lover of high fantasy this synopsis pulled me in from the beginning! The idea of this story that Marie Lu wanted to convey is what makes a bad guy! Throughout the whole book I am rooting for the good happy ending with maybe a little bit of a twist to make the next book exciting! Do we get that? Well not the happy ending part! You will have to read it to find out, but this is not your typical story!
“Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like.”
Adelina- The Young Elites By Marie Lu
The idea of a small group of people having powers and then being feared by the rest of a community is not unique, but for some reason it is a story line I am willing to read over and over again if it is done right.; and this is done right!!
“I hereby pledge to serve the Dagger Society, to strike fear into the hearts of those who rule Kenettra, to take by death what belong to us, and to make the power of our Elites known to every man, woman, and child. Should I break my vow, let the dagger take from me what I took from the dagger.”
-Marie Lu, The Young Elites
One thing I really loved about this book is the points of view that Marie Lu uses! Adelina's chapters are in first person. This POV really makes the story more dynamic because we can hear her thoughts and that really gave me another dimension of her character development. The other chapters that are focused on Enzo and Teren are from a third person POV, which was different, but I would have liked it to be the first person so I could hear their thoughts on what was going on around them.
“Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.
Some fear us, think demons to burn at the stake,
Some worship us, think us children of the gods.
But all know us.”
-Marie Lu The Young Elites
The relationship between Adelina and her sister is really the best relationship storyline, I have read in a book in a while! The relationship was so dynamic. I feel like in future novels Adelina's relationship with her sister might very well be her number one weakness
Finally the ending was probably the best part about this book! The epilogue was fantastic! It introduces a new character and potentially gives this whole series a completely new storyline! I cannot wait to read the second book that comes out in October of 2015 and will be called The Rose Society!!
Reason why I gave it a 4.75 The bare bones story line of the kids with powers is very over done so that knocked it down a bit, but I have yet to read a YA novel that is the story of the beginnings of the bad guy and the writing style both contributed to why I gave it a higher rating in the end!! Overall this story was so good!!
“Tomorrow, I will take on all of these things. I will be unstoppable.”
― Marie Lu, The Young Elites
I read this book because I fell in love with Marie's first series (Legend) and wanted to read more of her work. The idea of a made up world that almost relates to medieval times clued me in it was fantasy and the idea about people gaining powers from a blood fever got me hooked. When I learned the main character was joining a group of assassins I couldn't put the book down!