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_nyctophob1a_'s review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Classism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, War, Genocide, Child death, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Racism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Self harm, Confinement, Cursing, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- 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
The Young Elites by Marie Lu is book one in the Young Elites series. This came out in 2014 and honestly I'm sad I slept on it for so long! This was such an excellent villain story! It gave me X-Men vibes.
We follow Adelina, a malfetto girl who is being abused by her father and only has her sister Violetta. One night when Adelina tries to runaway, she kills him with illusions she is able to conjure. She discovered that not only is she a malfetto, she is also a Young Elite, children who caught the fever when they were young and survived and gained powers.
Adelina is arrested and sentenced to execution, but is rescued by the Dagger Society, group of Young Elites fighting against the king and queen's brutal discrimination of malfettos. She finds out she is aligned most strongly with fear and Fury, and passion and ambition. We see her fight to control her power and the pleasure she gets from fear and power.There is a constant battle inside of her, and that makes her a great villain. There is also some political stuff with the main antagonist, Teren, who is an Elite that hates himself and has pledged to rid the world of all malfettos. Dude needs some therapy.
I loved this story. Adelina went from a meek, abused girl afraid all the time, to do gooder vigilante with some morally gray aspects, to complete villain. I want to learn more about the rest of the Daggers! I'm also really looking forward to the extended world-building that's coming up in the next book. I just really love the way Marie Lu writes her FMCs. Plus we get some queer rep in side characters and disability red in Adelina with her missing eye.
I'm very excited to read The Rose Society!
Graphic: Self harm, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Torture
sophieamreacher's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Blood, Torture, Police brutality, Gore, Body horror, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
gracelang_09's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Cursing, and Death of parent
grizzlysnack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is the third series from Marie Lu that I've read. The Legend and Warcross series, specifically. I went into The Young Elites expecting a similar format in pacing and narration. I was sad to see that this book did not grab my interest as quickly, nor made me want to keep listening chapter after chapter.
I will say that this book/series has a very different theme from Lu's other works. You are rarely rooting for Adelina to win in this book, which is the point of the text! Unfortunately, it didn't resonate with me as much of her other novels.
If you are looking for a young adult book that has a villain arc for the main character, and a solid amount of worldbuilding, I'd say this is the book for you! This just wasn't my cup of tea.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Violence, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Toxic friendship and Genocide
theespressoedition's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Child death, Violence, Torture, Death, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual content
a_walton18's review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Violence
chaptersofmads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse and Self harm
lizzyc_16's review
- 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
what the frick.
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
spaceofspades's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse