Review: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368
Source: ARC for review

ISBN-10:  0399167838

Rating: 5 Hearts

Book Description

"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."

Review

Short and Sweet:

The Young Elites is an truly an incredible story. Its unique, dark plot is refreshing and addictingly entertaining!

To Elaborate...

Adelina is not your typical YA protagonist. She's been abused and mistreated nearly her entire life for surviving a blood fever that turned many children into scarred and often powerful outsiders referred to as 'malfettos.' Years of living on the receiving end of fear and hatred has twisted her into something dark and vengeful and the night that she finally tries to escape her spiteful father, her powers manifest and she accidentally murders him.

Adelina attempts to run from her mistake, but is soon caught by the lead Inquisitor, Teren, and publicly sentenced to death. Luckily, she is rescued from her own execution by a group of malfettos, the Young Elites, known for their own dark powers. She is nursed back to health and the YEs begin to teach her to control and strengthen her abilities. Adelina has been told her entire life that she is unlovable and worthless, but she slowly begins to believe that maybe she could belong somewhere after all. Maybe she does have value.

However, Adelina is motivated by ambition and revenge and quite literally draws her power from fear and hate (her own and those around her). Some of the YEs believe that she is corrupt and irreparably twisted. Adelina herself fears she'll be devoured by her own dark potential. But one of the Young Elites stirs something in her heart and she experiences true affection and kindness for the first time in years. However, Teren has once again found her and he has her sister. He blackmails her into spying on her new friends in exchange for her sister's life. And while everyone around her seems ready to use her as a weapon she must decide if she'll be sharpened as such, or if she'll make them pay.

Not for the faint of heart, The Young Elites is a dark, moody collection of antiheroes fighting to control their own fates in a society that views them as demons and villains. An absolute pleasure to read from beginning to end, this is one book you do NOT want to miss!