The Young Elites

by Marie Lu 

Goodreads Summary:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

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. 

My Feelings:

I listened to this on an audio book and I was very glad I did or it might not have held my attention in the beginning.  

Though I felt that Lu, did a good job of catching the readers up with what is going on in Adelina's world, it just wasn't very interesting to me.  I have mixed feelings on Adelina as well.  

Part of me felt it was a brave thing to do, to give the protagonist a deformity, it would definitely stand her character apart from others and help readers to connect on more of real level, but part of me felt like that branded her character in a negative way, because most other protagonists are perfect by reputation.  Adelina was not a very stable character but I hope to see her become more stable in books 2 and 3.  She has had a rough childhood and is just coming into her own.  However, it's still a little annoying to read about a girl who can't make up her mind, about anything.  

I thoroughly enjoyed some of the terminology in this book.  Malfetto's isn't a term I've ever heard before and it was a refreshing term to calling mutants, well, mutants.  Lu, has a way with words, that's for sure. 

The other protagonist Enzo, is a dream to have as a character to focus on.  Your heart is drawn to him and you only want to see him happy and prosperous. 

Teren, the antagonist however, is not one to be desired.  What a ruthless character with no real justification as to why he is the way he is, at least not one that I understood to well.  A Malfetto himself, he has turned on his own in order to complete a personal agenda.  I don't like him at all, though Lu wrote him rather well also.  I really felt like I knew him and at many times I wanted to jump right in and smack him through the pages.  

Many unexpected things happen and with this, The Young Elites has drawn me in.  The ending is one to make you ready and go buy The Rose Society, like right now.  I plan to.  Thank goodness The Midnight Star is due out soon, so I won't have to wait long for that one either.  I do recommend this read for those who love fantasy.  

 *Duh, duh duh duh!***

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