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The Young Elites
(The Young Elites #1)
by
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 on ...more
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 on ...more
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Hardcover, 355 pages
Published
October 7th 2014
by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)

I know who you really are. Who will ever want you, Adelina?
My fury heightens. Everyone. They will cower at my feet, and I will make them bleed.

Two words. Fuck, yeah!
I don't even know how to describe this book. Maybe William Shakespeare's Mistborn? It is not without its flaws, but the love of a book, much like the love of a human, is completely chemistry-based, and for me, this book just clicked. Every so often, the planets align, and Khanh completely loves a book. It happens!
This book has so ...more


Want to know what happens when Marie Lu does darker and sexier?
Then read this book.
Contrary to what I first believed, this book is not dystopian or post-apocalyptic, but is actually a dark fantasy set in a bleak world full of magic, complex villains and princes looking to reclaim their throne. And it's damn good.
Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of a blood fever that swept through her nation when she was a child. The fever left only a few survivors and those survivors remained permanently scar ...more

I grew to enjoy this book! At first I was hesitant, but the darkness of the characters eventually sucked me in and I will definitely be reading book 2. Here's my full review/discussion/booktalk: http://youtu.be/JMy_wjZDV7E
...more

i love marie lu, so i had no idea i could love her more than i already did. but i honestly think this is my favourite book (and potentially series) she has written. its dark, twisted, powerful, and it surprised me in so many ways.
her other two series have either a sci-fi or dystopian feel to them, with both taking place in the future. so assumed this would be similar - imagine my intrigue when i realised the story takes place in renaissance italy?! i am totally on board with that. i just wish t ...more
her other two series have either a sci-fi or dystopian feel to them, with both taking place in the future. so assumed this would be similar - imagine my intrigue when i realised the story takes place in renaissance italy?! i am totally on board with that. i just wish t ...more

This was... disappointing?
It feels weird writing this negative review when everyone I know is absolutely raving about it. It makes me feel like maybe, I missed something. I even debated rounding up the rating or letting go of some of my issues with the novel but that would just wouldn't be me.
So, here's the honesty.
I went into this book with the highest of all the hopes. I finished it feeling entirely unfulfilled.
First let me say that this was a very interesting book to read after reading Vici ...more
It feels weird writing this negative review when everyone I know is absolutely raving about it. It makes me feel like maybe, I missed something. I even debated rounding up the rating or letting go of some of my issues with the novel but that would just wouldn't be me.
So, here's the honesty.
I went into this book with the highest of all the hopes. I finished it feeling entirely unfulfilled.
First let me say that this was a very interesting book to read after reading Vici ...more

”His words remind me of the strange whispers that have accompanied my illusions – something dark and vengeful, tempting and powerful. A weight presses on my chest. I am afraid. Intrigued.”
As it seems 2018 is not only the year in which I’ll finally finish a few series I’ve been reading for years, but also the year in which I hand out my v-card to new authors I’ve never read before. *lol*
Last week it was Holly Black’s “The Darkest Part of the Forest” this week its Marie Lu’s “The Young Elites” and ...more
As it seems 2018 is not only the year in which I’ll finally finish a few series I’ve been reading for years, but also the year in which I hand out my v-card to new authors I’ve never read before. *lol*
Last week it was Holly Black’s “The Darkest Part of the Forest” this week its Marie Lu’s “The Young Elites” and ...more

Sep 24, 2018
Kayla Dawn
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
series-i-wont-continue
Still waiting for a hyped ya series that won't disappoint me..
I seriously don't get why people say the protagonist is an anti hero. She literally is a typical ya fantasy protagonist that tries too hard to be dark and twisted. It's hella annoying.
The other characters were pretty boring and I can't even remember their names lol.
There wasn't much backstory to any of them except for the main character. I hope there will be more in the second & third book.
The plot itself wasn't very original, there ...more
I seriously don't get why people say the protagonist is an anti hero. She literally is a typical ya fantasy protagonist that tries too hard to be dark and twisted. It's hella annoying.
The other characters were pretty boring and I can't even remember their names lol.
There wasn't much backstory to any of them except for the main character. I hope there will be more in the second & third book.
The plot itself wasn't very original, there ...more


Edit 03/23 : There's no denying that I was disappointed in The Young Elites, but I thought I'd point that I absolutely loved The Rose Society, its sequel. So, you know, fellow minority readers - I hope it will be the same for you^^
► My review of book 2 : The Rose Society ★★★★★
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Hey YOU! BOOK! You pretended to be right up my alley! You said I will love you! You said you were dark and captivating!

The truth is, after getting off to a flying start, the tension loosened more and mor ...more

I've never had such mixed feelings about a book before.
Bloody hell.
Pros: it's in the POV of an innocent victim-turned-antihero-turned-villian, which is something you just don't get enough of in the young adult realm (or at least that I've come across). And Marie Lu isn't afraid to take bold decisions here, oh yes.
Cons: the writing. It feels lifeless, like a fellow classmate reading out a scene from your school literature book; you're hearing it, you're understanding it, but you're not really fe ...more
Bloody hell.
Pros: it's in the POV of an innocent victim-turned-antihero-turned-villian, which is something you just don't get enough of in the young adult realm (or at least that I've come across). And Marie Lu isn't afraid to take bold decisions here, oh yes.
Cons: the writing. It feels lifeless, like a fellow classmate reading out a scene from your school literature book; you're hearing it, you're understanding it, but you're not really fe ...more


*Gets into left lane*
I think someone switched my copy of this book with someone else's. I just can't read this mess. I'm about halfway through it and nothing has happened, well except me sleeping. No awesome world building, MC who got on my nerves..the list goes on.

I will give Marie Lu another chance though, cuz I do like her. ...more

What you need to know about The Young Elites, by Maire Lu:
(1) This is not a story about a grey character, nor a dark character, nor an anti hero, it's a story about a needy, confused, selfish and scared little girl screwing up, using her superhuman power in all the wrong ways, making bad decisions and letting her fear get the better of her.
Well... Raffaele or maybe Teren come close to being grey characters, but Adelina, a grey character she is not.
(2) Our main characters: The Young Elites (TYE f ...more
(1) This is not a story about a grey character, nor a dark character, nor an anti hero, it's a story about a needy, confused, selfish and scared little girl screwing up, using her superhuman power in all the wrong ways, making bad decisions and letting her fear get the better of her.
Well... Raffaele or maybe Teren come close to being grey characters, but Adelina, a grey character she is not.
(2) Our main characters: The Young Elites (TYE f ...more

“Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.
Some fear us, think us demons to burn at the stake.
Some worship us, think us children of the gods.
But all know us.
HOLY SHIT this book was that fucking good y'all
iM SHOOK
im so damn SHOOK
This is the first book I've read in AGES where I've been genuinely thrilled about the plot ? where I've been so excited to know what happens next. I couldn't put this down ?? I'm so happy ??
everything about it is just .... amazing. the story, the compl ...more


„Some hate us, think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.
Some fear us, think demons to burn at the stake,
Some worship us, think us children of the gods.
But all know us.”
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Did you ever wished that there was a story about a character so filled with darkness, that she easily could be the villain?
Always mistreated, mistrusted and hated Adelina lives a horrible life with her father and sister.
He hates her because she is a malfetto, a survivor of the blood fever left with a marking on ...more

Nov 04, 2014
Lauren
added it
THE YOUNG ELITES by Marie Lu does something remarkable: take old tropes and archetypes but put fresh, unique spins on them. Reading this made me feel like I was in a world that was already familiar, but then she'd sweep the rug out from underneath me and change things completely!
Adelina Amouterou is a malfetto; meaning, she is marked and ostracized by her community for surviving a virus that made so many others perish before her. She is marked in more ways than one– she lost her eye to the viru ...more
Adelina Amouterou is a malfetto; meaning, she is marked and ostracized by her community for surviving a virus that made so many others perish before her. She is marked in more ways than one– she lost her eye to the viru ...more

Recipe for a awesome YA Fantasy (Young Elites style)

You will require:
-3/4 of a cup of cultured flour
-1/2 cup watery religion
-a dash of magic
-500 grams of Anti-heroine, dark and bitter
-2 teaspoons of Estranged Prince (fiery brand)
-1 package of Interesting Side Characters mix
-3 diverse eggs, separated amongst LGBT free-range, POC jumbo, and disabled cage-free.
-a pinch of death
Instructions
In a bowl, mix cultured flour and watery religion together to create a rich dough of world-building. After the ...more

You will require:
-3/4 of a cup of cultured flour
-1/2 cup watery religion
-a dash of magic
-500 grams of Anti-heroine, dark and bitter
-2 teaspoons of Estranged Prince (fiery brand)
-1 package of Interesting Side Characters mix
-3 diverse eggs, separated amongst LGBT free-range, POC jumbo, and disabled cage-free.
-a pinch of death
Instructions
In a bowl, mix cultured flour and watery religion together to create a rich dough of world-building. After the ...more

In the good years, they wine and dine, laugh and love.
In the bad years, they draw their swords and
slit each other’s throat.
My first Marie Lu book and it did not disappoint. This book was straight up badass. From the plot to the characters, everything was perfect. It really does not deserve anything less than five stars.
It also reminded me of Six Of Crows but if you're planning on reading it don't think it'd be exactly like SOC just that it also has super cool immoralistic group of kids do ...more
In the bad years, they draw their swords and
slit each other’s throat.
My first Marie Lu book and it did not disappoint. This book was straight up badass. From the plot to the characters, everything was perfect. It really does not deserve anything less than five stars.
It also reminded me of Six Of Crows but if you're planning on reading it don't think it'd be exactly like SOC just that it also has super cool immoralistic group of kids do ...more

HERE IS MY REVIEW
COME AND WATCH! SPOILER FREE AND THEN A DISCUSSION! THERE IS A WARNING BEFORE THE SPOILERS HAPPEN!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJVI... ...more
COME AND WATCH! SPOILER FREE AND THEN A DISCUSSION! THERE IS A WARNING BEFORE THE SPOILERS HAPPEN!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJVI... ...more

3.5 stars Surprisingly dark, with a sister dynamic similar to Cruel Beauty's and a feel similar to that of Masque of the Red Death's. I admit that the middle lagged a bit for me, I didn't love the multiple POV structure, and there is a LOT of activity going on in Adelina's heart (many references to energy spiking in it, her feelings, etc), but I quite like this world the author has created, and am intrigued to see where the story goes next.
One thing the blurbs don't tell you that you find out i ...more
One thing the blurbs don't tell you that you find out i ...more

*Minor spoilers ahead*
Okay, this book is literally nothing like the Legend series. This is so much more brutal, intriguing, heartbreaking and crazy.
(i've been dying to do this)
Prince EnzoPrince Zuko who is a malfetto a bender with the power of fire with the ability to control fire and is exiled from the palace and throne and is banished from the Fire Nation. He was obviously my favorite.

Adelina is such a badass character, but sadly I couldn't really care for her. She had a rough childhood whe ...more
Okay, this book is literally nothing like the Legend series. This is so much more brutal, intriguing, heartbreaking and crazy.
(i've been dying to do this)
Prince Enzo

Adelina is such a badass character, but sadly I couldn't really care for her. She had a rough childhood whe ...more

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SHELF AWARENESS
A Game of Thrones meets X-Men in this 14th-century fantasy from Marie Lu (the Legend trilogy), in a world where "fear is power."
Sixteen-year-old Adelina Amouteru is a malfetto, one whose appearance is "marked" by the blood fever that crippled the country of Kenettra and claimed her mother's life. The blood fever took Adelina's left eye, turned her hair silver, and gave her a power that's remained dormant--until the fateful night her merchant father agrees t ...more
A Game of Thrones meets X-Men in this 14th-century fantasy from Marie Lu (the Legend trilogy), in a world where "fear is power."
Sixteen-year-old Adelina Amouteru is a malfetto, one whose appearance is "marked" by the blood fever that crippled the country of Kenettra and claimed her mother's life. The blood fever took Adelina's left eye, turned her hair silver, and gave her a power that's remained dormant--until the fateful night her merchant father agrees t ...more

❝The darkness bows to me, eager for my embrace. I close my eye, open my heart to the feeling, and soak in the delight of vengeance.❞
When I first joined Goodreads, The Young Elites was one of the first books I tried to read. But after reading the first 50 pages or so, I DNFed it because I was completely creeped out by Adelina's one eye malfetto flaw. XD Plus, I honestly couldn't get into the story. As The Young Elites became more popular, everyone praised this book and series to no en ...more

"Some hate us,
think us outlaws to hang at the gallows.
Some fear us,
think us demons to burn at the stake.
Some worship us,
think us children of the gods.
But all know us.
They call us the Young Elites."

Teren, man, you got issues.. man,... you need to get your shit together!
Adelina, my sweet, sweet Adelina! Only god knows what's gonna happen to you now.
Raffaele, dude, how dare you! I expected more from you.
Enzo, my baby, Enzo! I guess, i knew it was gonna happen, it's just the way it wen ...more


It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.
My turn.
Blurb: 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 s ...more

“Everyone has darkness inside them, however hidden.”

When a story isn't told by a hero who goes save the world at all costs and goodness can't conquer darkness, so the hero falls to his knees and his story doesn't end well. This is what I want to say about my expereince with this shocking Young Elites series. I am being in awe right now for Lu. I can't believe that she wrote such an amazing story like this among many typical YA books out there. She didn't even try to make her story feel good ...more

Sep 11, 2016
Ryan
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
august-tbr,
library,
need-to-buy-a-copy,
read-in-2016,
feels-trip,
lgbt,
4-star,
finished-series,
favourites
"But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to be the version of yourself that they like."
If you go into this book expecting a hero with nothing but good in her heart, put this book down right now, and go read Harry Potter, or something. This is a book about an anti-hero, a villain, a girl who has been stepped on, used, and manipulated. This is a book about people with an un-tamable hunger for power. This is a book about revenge.
"Suc ...more
If you go into this book expecting a hero with nothing but good in her heart, put this book down right now, and go read Harry Potter, or something. This is a book about an anti-hero, a villain, a girl who has been stepped on, used, and manipulated. This is a book about people with an un-tamable hunger for power. This is a book about revenge.

"Suc ...more

May 29, 2013
Saniya
marked it as to-read

I'm dancing somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.. and I'm actually pleasantly surprised. I adore Marie Lu's other series (Legend) - but for some reason I didn't think this one would be up my alley at all.
I ended up really connecting with Adelina. I know this trilogy is more or less about her becoming either a villain or anti-hero... not exactly sure which one yet, and I'm actually glad I don't know for sure either way. I felt for her from page one - her story was just gut wrenchingly sad and only ...more
I ended up really connecting with Adelina. I know this trilogy is more or less about her becoming either a villain or anti-hero... not exactly sure which one yet, and I'm actually glad I don't know for sure either way. I felt for her from page one - her story was just gut wrenchingly sad and only ...more

Jan 26, 2015
lily ☁️
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
young-adult,
first-in-series,
science-fiction,
book-series,
tolino,
reviewed,
favorites,
author-of-color,
readathon
One of those rare novels that you want to re-read even before you’ve finished them ...
Blog | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr ...more
“Dark thoughts swim in the far corners of my mind. Something is alive in those whispers, clawing for my attention, beckoning me deeper into the shadows.” // ⚡️
Blog | Bloglovin’ | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
What Enzo said when he died. | 2 | 2 | 8 hours, 28 min ago | |
Addicted to YA: The Young Elites | 29 | 670 | Dec 22, 2020 05:08AM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fantasy. Female lead named Adelaide(?) or something similar. [s] | 6 | 28 | Dec 07, 2020 09:18AM |
[Note: Many apologies, but I'm woefully bad at checking my Goodreads emails! If you'd like to send a note/msg, please catch me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Marie_Lu . Thanks!]
I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and ta ...more
I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and ta ...more
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