THE YOUNG ELITES
by Marie Lu
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pub Date: Aug 25, 2015
Publisher: Speak
Length: 384 pages
Spoilers: Marked
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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.
Predictable
Ugh. Another predictable ass story in the YA fantasy genre. Literally nothing about this story was unique. Everything has been done before, leaving the story uninteresting to read. None of the ‘surprises’ were shocking. They were obvious. They were expected and it really took me a lot to keep reading this story. I honestly debated DNFing this book.
MC
What on earth was that? The main character’s motivation was kind of unbelievable. Just because people have family doesn’t mean that they have to love or care about their family. If you don’t give me a reason to believe that someone cares about their family member in the book, I ain’t gonna believe it and I didn’t believe it here. And because Adelina’s motivation was whack, so was she as a character and so was the entire plot.
Stereotypical
Goodness gracious. Each of these characters was like the token character of a typical YA fantasy story. The brooding male that the MC falls for. The other character who dislikes the main character, but whom the brooding male trusts. The– okay. No spoilers for those who might not have read this, but literally nothing in here is original. Each of these characters was plucked straight out of other stories and while the main character, Adelina, might have had something unique about her, I just couldn’t believe any of it for me to care.
Romance
You kidding me? Honestly, are you kidding me with that pathetic, epically forced, completely fake romance sub-plot? There was NOTHING between them. The only thing between Adelina and Enzo was MAGIC. Every time they got close, it was just MAGIC. No real chemistry. Aka it’s a false relationship. Totally not worth putting in the book.
Teren
This is your main antagonist? A dude who is just like the people he’s hunting except for the fact that he’s a love-sick puppy going after his ex-best friend’s sister?! Good god this is petty and dumb.
Hehe, i haven’t read this book…but your review is pretty entertaining. 😀 Thanks for making my giggle. 😀
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Haha! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 And happy to entertain!
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Great review! This honestly doesn’t sound like a book I would enjoy at all. I’ve had it on my tbr for years, but highly doubt I’ll ever pick it up.
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Thank you, Kelly! I honestly recommend you spend time reading something else. Not worth it. 😅
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I love that you let us know about the spoilers! I hate when I am reading a review and you spoiled the whole thing to me -_-
And these books never called my attention and I think I was right 🙂 I’m sorry this was this bad and that clicheish 😦
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I feel the same way, Satou! As someone who doesn’t like spoilers in reviews, I always ensure I mark mine clearly. 🙂
I read this one and Legend only because there is so much hype around Marie Lu (I don’t judge until I’ve read), but she still writes like she’s stuck in early 2000s YA. Her writing hasn’t changed or grown and it’s really sad. Can’t say I’ll ever read anything from her again.
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And we thank you! or at least me! XD hmmm yes, you mentioned that and I see how YA and Dystopia has changed a lot, so I am not sure what to expect from this title XD still I will not read it. I have heard though that Warcross is really good or just hyped I don’t know XD
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Hahaha! I got a sampler for Warcross (the first 2 chapters) and I don’t think it reads well. I also have issues with everyone saying how unique and amazing it is when the blurb sounds like a ripoff of Ready Player One. Marie Lu is NOT the first author (nor YA author) to write about VR gaming. >.>
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I love how you fight for your cause ❤ and yes, I don’t think they were the first ones to adventure into that kind of books… hmmm I think there were animes about that a few years ago and earlier than these books so… XD
So they hyped it too much… yes, it sounds about right… lets not get into Lu’s books again ❤ hahaha
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Oh yeah! Sword Art Online dealt with VR gaming. Arena by Holly Jennings deals with VR gaming (which I highly recommend.) The main premise was different for both of those when comparing to Warcross, so they aren’t AS similar, but still. The publishing industry needs to do their research before promoting something “new and shiny.”
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That anime! Yes, I have heard of it. I haven’t heard of Arena though, I will check it out ❤
Ah yes, I am not saying there are or were the same haha
Well maybe that is part of their marketing strategy! :3
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Oh. It’s TOTALLY part of the marketing strategy. Ready Player One did REALLY well so now others are jumping on the band wagon. Maybe VR will be the new trend in YA now that fairy-tales retelling have died down?? I’d be game for more sci-fi in YA! 😆
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Fairy-tales retelling was a thing? hahaha I didn’t know XD
I want to study marketing and be that smart XD
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Hahahha. It’s not really about marketing. It’s more about paying attention to what genre or topic is being published a lot. A TON of books were published within a 2 year span all about fairytale retellings. Now, publishers don’t want them anymore because there are so many out there. Unfortunately, trends are difficult to predict because it can take 2 years for a book to get published after a publisher picks it up. So a ton of books could be in the works right now for publication in the future all with similar themes, but no one will really know until they are published. Which is why authors are told not to write based on the current trend because, by the time they finish writing, the trend is dead and no one wants it anymore.
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This book is thoroughly bad.
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Yes. Yes, it was.
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