November 25, 2014

Wicked Review: The Young Elites by Marie Lu


Published: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Putnam
Series: The Young Elites #1
Acquired: Paperback






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.


*Originally posted on my Goodreads on November 17, 2014*

A day later and I am still reeling from the greatness that is Marie Lu's world. I mean, this woman has no boundaries. The world she will weave will draw you in whether you like it or not and you are stuck there for the rest of your sorry little life.

So Adelina Amouterou is our heroine. Now, she's got some issues. I mean, seriously dark issues. Surviving the blood fever and coming out as a malfetto has brought her nothing but misfortune. She lost her mother and her father has grown distant and vicious, taunting her to show the darkness inside her.

And show him she did. She was captured by the Inquistion Axis, the army set out to capture malfettos in an attempt to rid of them before the secret organization known as the Dagger Society captures her. Teren Santoro is the Lead Inquisitor. Hungry for power, he is out to find all of the malfettos and the Young Elites and wipe them from the face of the earth.

Enzo Valenciano, the former heir and malfetto prince, saved Adelina on that fateful day that she unleashed her power and took her under his wing. The other Young Elites were scared of her. The power she yields is nothing they have ever seen before and it strikes fear to the enemy.

Marie Lu has a natural prowess when it comes to plot twists. And I think that's what makes a really good author/writer, that you can bend your stories and make you readers stop for a moment and think about the outcomes of the next chapter. Not only is she gifted with plot twist power, she's gifted with making characters real. I mean, Adelina is so young and broken. She doesn't know what to do with herself, with her powers. I felt the darkness inside her. It scared me so much. How can a young lady be possessed with such fearsome power? Just. How.

This is a must read. LIKE SERIOUSLY. I am telling you. Reading this will be the best thing that will happen to you. I swear it on my life.
 





She writes young adult novels, and has a special love for dystopian books. She was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, she was an Art Director at a video game company. She shuffles around at home and talk to myself a lot. :)

She graduated from the University of Southern California in '06 and currently live in LA, where she spends time stuck on the freeways.

Send your love to Marie Lu here: Twitter || Facebook || Goodreads

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