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
karelidz's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Honestly better than I expected. I was expecting it to be very distopian and maybe "hunger games-esque", and I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that it wasn't. It reminded me a bit of Six of Crows a bit at times, in the sense of being a "band of outcasts" and being in a type of secret society.
I liked the magic aspect of it and the tiny bit of romance that we got. I also LOVE that it's basically a villain's origin story, it's so tragic - it's so good. It makes me excited to see what happens in the next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 will be continuing the series
I liked the magic aspect of it and the tiny bit of romance that we got. I also LOVE that it's basically a villain's origin story, it's so tragic - it's so good. It makes me excited to see what happens in the next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 will be continuing the series
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
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
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
princess_azula's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Genocide, and Fire/Fire injury
robin_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death and Death of parent
itshardizzy's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a refreshing take on the usual book that goes for the hero journey trope. Our MC Adelina is not a hero, she fits more as villain actually. she is rage driven and the one thing that she wants is revenge. her powers do not come from the stuff people consider good, she actually have powers that comes from fear and anger two dark feelings.
The book isn't focus on romance which I personally like. We are focus on Adelina facing her own fears and her own self, and as she experience things we start to understand more what she feels. Adelina has deep trust issues and a deeper problem with her self esteem – she personally doesn't think that she is loveable and she doesn't think someone will ever love her.
We also have the point of view of three other characters throughout the book: Enzo (the usual hot, powerful leader), Raffaelle (my personal favorite, a very attractive men) and Teren (our villan and antagonistic mal who is the floor where the queen steps on). Their POV are not 3rd person while Adelina's 1st person, which do clarify who is the true protagonist.
We have a plot twist in the end that kinda of shocked me, and honestly it felt very good for the plot and for our character. The hook in the end made me a little confused and interested to see what that was all about, and what the author has reserved for the continuation.
The book didn't really made me that interested but I want to read the other 2, only to know what will happen to Adelina and Raffaelle (please I need more of him).
The book isn't focus on romance which I personally like. We are focus on Adelina facing her own fears and her own self, and as she experience things we start to understand more what she feels. Adelina has deep trust issues and a deeper problem with her self esteem – she personally doesn't think that she is loveable and she doesn't think someone will ever love her.
We also have the point of view of three other characters throughout the book: Enzo (the usual hot, powerful leader), Raffaelle (my personal favorite, a very attractive men) and Teren (our villan and antagonistic mal who is the floor where the queen steps on). Their POV are not 3rd person while Adelina's 1st person, which do clarify who is the true protagonist.
We have a plot twist in the end that kinda of shocked me, and honestly it felt very good for the plot and for our character. The hook in the end made me a little confused and interested to see what that was all about, and what the author has reserved for the continuation.
The book didn't really made me that interested but I want to read the other 2, only to know what will happen to Adelina and Raffaelle (please I need more of him).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, and Violence
rekilluv's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
I've only read this book one time in 7th grade, and since I'm a high school junior I forgot a lot of detail. I will be re reading this book soon and updating my review but I remember enjoying this book a lot so I recommend it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Xenophobia
midnight_rose_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence