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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
probably really a 3.5. a bit predictable but overall a very fun light read.
This book I was unsure of at first. I was worried that it would be too similar to the author's other series. I was actually pleasantly surprised because I liked it much better.
I think I shall be reading the next book in this series to see what happens next in the story.
I think I shall be reading the next book in this series to see what happens next in the story.
This was one of the slower books to get into, though I’m not sure I could specify why. I want to love the main female character, I want to appreciate the chance and lost love with Enzo, but to be fair I felt like there is a fair amount of drama missing to “hook” me into either one. I do like the idea of Raffael, and I feel like her sister re-entering the story with her own unique twist of power is a nice touch. I’m ready to live on to book two to see if it gets better and more loveable!
“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.”
This book hooked me from start to finish! It was so unique! Marie Lu did it again! The characters were so amazing! and I can't wait to read the second!!!!
“Everyone has darkness inside them, however hidden.”
This book hooked me from start to finish! It was so unique! Marie Lu did it again! The characters were so amazing! and I can't wait to read the second!!!!
“Everyone has darkness inside them, however hidden.”
I belong to no one. On this night, I swear to you that I will rise above everything you’ve ever taught me. I will become a force that this world has never known. I will come into such power that none will dare hurt me again.
This was pretty awesome actually. In the wake of a devastating blood fever that swept through the population, the survivors are left physically marked, and in some cases have developed powerful abilities. Those malfettos who have powers are referred to as Young Elites, and of course there are a lot of people unmarked by the fever who fear them, sometimes not without reason. Think X-Men in a Renaissance Italy inspired fantasy world, and you've pretty well got the picture.
The best thing about this book is that it is filled with ambiguous characters. The main character, Adelina, was treated horribly by her father and finds out that her power to weave illusions is based on drawing on fear. There is a real question throughout the story as to whether she will be able to control her darker side, or will it ultimately consume her?
The so-called "villain" of the story, Teren, is equally divided, and by turns both sad and terrifying. Again it seems unclear whether he is fully committed to the path he is on, or whether there remains a spark of possible redemption.
There were some intense emotional scenes that never really became a full blown romance in the story, as well as a wonderful platonic relationship between Adelina and another Elite. Adelina's relationship with her sister Violetta also gets an interesting treatment, as even she is not the same person we think from beginning to end.
In short, this was a great dark fantasy story. It took some familiar themes and characters and then turned them around enough to keep me guessing pretty much right to the end.
This was pretty awesome actually. In the wake of a devastating blood fever that swept through the population, the survivors are left physically marked, and in some cases have developed powerful abilities. Those malfettos who have powers are referred to as Young Elites, and of course there are a lot of people unmarked by the fever who fear them, sometimes not without reason. Think X-Men in a Renaissance Italy inspired fantasy world, and you've pretty well got the picture.
The best thing about this book is that it is filled with ambiguous characters. The main character, Adelina, was treated horribly by her father and finds out that her power to weave illusions is based on drawing on fear. There is a real question throughout the story as to whether she will be able to control her darker side, or will it ultimately consume her?
The so-called "villain" of the story, Teren, is equally divided, and by turns both sad and terrifying. Again it seems unclear whether he is fully committed to the path he is on, or whether there remains a spark of possible redemption.
There were some intense emotional scenes that never really became a full blown romance in the story, as well as a wonderful platonic relationship between Adelina and another Elite. Adelina's relationship with her sister Violetta also gets an interesting treatment, as even she is not the same person we think from beginning to end.
In short, this was a great dark fantasy story. It took some familiar themes and characters and then turned them around enough to keep me guessing pretty much right to the end.
I don’t love how morally gray this group of avenging rebels is. They want to liberate the people who have been cast aside by the kingdom. But have no real interest in saving them currently as they are being executed and then kill people who don’t qualify for their group. They have one of their members sell their body in order to gain information and another that’s just a bully (although formally a bully now). Enzo, the assumed love interest, is also frequently cold, not in a stoic teen romance way, but in a hateful, belittling way. It’s odd and unsavory for a vigilante group in a YA book.
As for the plot, I suppose it was intriguing enough with some of the unique powers. Although I didn’t feel any real connections between the protagonist and any of the Elites in order to feel sad when she was banished. Even with the MC and MMC, their romance felt baseless and so the emotional impact when Enzo dies is lesser (especially knowing that he’s just going to be immediately revived). The only characters I had any real interest in seeing develop were Raffaele and Violetta.
As for the plot, I suppose it was intriguing enough with some of the unique powers. Although I didn’t feel any real connections between the protagonist and any of the Elites in order to feel sad when she was banished. Even with the MC and MMC, their romance felt baseless and so the emotional impact when Enzo dies is lesser (especially knowing that he’s just going to be immediately revived). The only characters I had any real interest in seeing develop were Raffaele and Violetta.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one or not, but I'm always up for giving something a try - especially if it's by an author I've wanted to read for a while. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. The characters and plot are strong. The premise is solid. But I'm still ambivalent. I don't know if it was the overly elaborate names for everything and everyone, the fact that I disliked the main character, or the fact that the epilogue made me already able to figure out the entire series . . . yeah. Three stars for quality but not for my entertainment.
I enjoyed this. It's darker than most of her other stuff and I can't quite figure out how I feel about the main characters and the path the story is staking, which is nice. On to the next one.