nannahnannah's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ like 6%
yeah, that's a little awful. But so was my reading experience. I feel like this book has so much extreme ableism and violence against disabled people disguised as representation.
I initially picked up this book because of the many good reviews and recommendations -- and because the MC has a missing eye. Representation! Yay! But it wasn't long before things started to become really icky.
A severe fever wiped out much of the people of Adelina's country. Survivors often don't come through unscathed (such as Adelina, whose eye had to be removed). These survivors with disabilities are called malfettos, and treated as second class citizens, shaming their families, blamed for their failing country, usually unable to get suitors, abused constantly, and are even burned at the stake.
ok. Read that again. As a disabled person, do you know how awful it is to read a book where there's this much violence against disabled people? People like me are already treated as second class citizens. I don't need to read about a world where we're villainized even more (you can't get disability, what about our family reputation? our taxes are wasted on the disabled! you can choose either medicaire or marriage, but not both [which really happens]. And don't even get me started on the violence against disabled people that happens in real life).
Not to mention that the title, The Young Elites, refer to those malfettos who somehow got superpowers from the fever that almost killed them. And they only rescue the disabled people who also have superpowers - as in, who can also do something for them. At least that's how I read it. It feels like how in real life disabled people are only "worth something" when they have something to "give society," like an autistic person who's an amazing artist or something.
In any case, this is all I'm gonna say about this book now. I can't read any more.
yeah, that's a little awful. But so was my reading experience. I feel like this book has so much extreme ableism and violence against disabled people disguised as representation.
I initially picked up this book because of the many good reviews and recommendations -- and because the MC has a missing eye. Representation! Yay! But it wasn't long before things started to become really icky.
A severe fever wiped out much of the people of Adelina's country. Survivors often don't come through unscathed (such as Adelina, whose eye had to be removed). These survivors with disabilities are called malfettos, and treated as second class citizens, shaming their families, blamed for their failing country, usually unable to get suitors, abused constantly, and are even burned at the stake.
ok. Read that again. As a disabled person, do you know how awful it is to read a book where there's this much violence against disabled people? People like me are already treated as second class citizens. I don't need to read about a world where we're villainized even more (you can't get disability, what about our family reputation? our taxes are wasted on the disabled! you can choose either medicaire or marriage, but not both [which really happens]. And don't even get me started on the violence against disabled people that happens in real life).
Not to mention that the title, The Young Elites, refer to those malfettos who somehow got superpowers from the fever that almost killed them. And they only rescue the disabled people who also have superpowers - as in, who can also do something for them. At least that's how I read it. It feels like how in real life disabled people are only "worth something" when they have something to "give society," like an autistic person who's an amazing artist or something.
In any case, this is all I'm gonna say about this book now. I can't read any more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Child abuse
samhackett's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was alright. Unfortunately I found the epilogue to be the most exciting part of the book. Definitely not bad, but I didn't find the characters that interesting and there just wasn't enough detail in the story to hold my interest. A solid three stars though!
Also just my opinion, not entirely sure I'd recommend this as YA considering there are certain scenes that are quite dark and violent.
Also just my opinion, not entirely sure I'd recommend this as YA considering there are certain scenes that are quite dark and violent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
vaniavela's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Adelina Amouterou is a malfetto, marked in more ways than one.
I loved the concept of The Young Elites and the different powers and abilities each Elite has. I can't believe Marie Lu always writes such amazing stories. I am so in love with her mind.
One of my favorite aspects is that the "special" characters, the ones with powers, are not treated like heroes or royalty. They are cursed and cruelly killed. Even if you're just marked, with no sign of powers, you can end up dead in the worst possible way.
These characters yearn for more. Whether it's love, power or revenge, they all need something. I love complex characters, they constantly make me hesitate between loving them or hating their existence. This time, Marie Lue has achieved both.
The diversity is this book has been well written, finding not only different skin colors, but sexualities and disabilities.
The Young Elites has exceeded my expectations, giving the perfect start to a trilogy.
TW: ableism, abuse (during a sexual encounter, off page), blood, body horror, child abuse, confinement, death, death of a parent, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, (minor) gore, self harm, suicidal thoughts, torture, violence, disease, bigotry, imprisonment, physical abuse, ableism, eye removal due to illness, ableist slurs, child selling, mention of stoning, mention of fire, mention of putting people the stake, child abandonment, bigotry, mass death, mention of death of parent, stabbing, soldiers brutality, mobs, murder, cheating, manipulation, vomiting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Murder
a_walton18's review
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Violence
zoe_mh's review
The pace of the book felt so slow, I didn't care for any of the characters and, while I understand the plot needs to unravel and the MC needs to develop their character, I was bored by how bland she was. The only times I liked the MC was when she would mentally comment on things (but of course never say them which made me find her too submissive for someone who we are meant to like). I skimmed to the end and was bored by the ending even though it seemed her character could get a backbone.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
madsthewriter's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse and Self harm
lizzyc_16's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i finished this like 1 minute ago and...
what the frick.
what the frick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Domestic abuse, Gore, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Xenophobia, War, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Grief, Genocide, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Cursing, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship
readtildawn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
ducklingh's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've read this book a couple of times now and each time I really enjoy it. It's darker than I normally read, but I can't stop thinking about the characters and the world it's set in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, and Death
spaceofspades's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this book was really interesting and the ending didn’t go where I expect at all! I can’t think of much else to say haha, but I’ll definitely be reading the next book at some point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse