At a Glance

Title: The Young Elites

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: Oct 2014

Pages: 368

Genre: Science fiction, Dystopian

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

Marie Lu, author of the Legend series, once again captures her audience in her novel, The Young Elites, through the compelling story of Adelina Amourteru, a survivor of the blood fever. The disease killed all affected adults, including Adelina’s mother, and left child survivors with markings that won them the name malfetto, or abomination. Rumors spread of an organization of malfettos with supernatural abilities, known as the Young Elites.

Adelina contracted the illness at a young age, her hair and lashes changing from dark to a silvery white. Worse than the markings, she lost her left eye in a dangerous procedure, branding her even more of a disgrace. Adelina’s father, convinced she is one of the Elites, constantly abuses her, attempting to bring out her powers for his own gain. When he’s not tormenting Adelina, he is spoiling the perfect Violetta, Adelina’s younger sister who also was struck by the disease, surviving with no marks to show for it.

After a series of shocking events, Adelina is rescued and brought in by the mysterious Elites. Raphaele, known as the Messenger, explains to Adelina what she is, but is worried that her power, and the darkness within her, is too great for any of them to handle. Enzo Valenciano is immediately drawn to her talents, ignoring his friend’s grave warning. Adelina is soon pulled into the world of the Young Elites, but her allegiance to the group is at war with another tempting offer from Teren Santoro, Leader of the Inquisition Axis, enemy of the Young Elites. His mission is to wipe out the stain on the society left by the blood fever; the malfettos.

Lu does a magnificent job developing Adelina’s character. In her previous series, she wrote from the perspectives of rising heroes, and while both had rough pasts, they were generally optimistic and didn’t let their past control them.

Adelina, in contrast, is a rising villain, whose past is overwhelmingly powerful over her life. After years of being hurt and abused by her father, she is left untrusting and unforgiving. The transition in her character from a hurt, scared girl to a volatile, dangerous person captures the reader. Her emotions are raw and honest, opening you to her thoughts and feelings at all times. You’re connected to her character, feeling her pain and thinking her thoughts. It’s clear that Adelina becomes a villain, but because of her back story, you want to refuse that that’s her fate.

The characters around Adelina are less developed, but still just as fascinating. Enzo’s past and pre-illness identity create a world of options for the plot, and Teren, the enemy of the Elites, has a mysterious secret that presses you to read on.

Lu takes the reader on Adelina’s journey to becoming a villain, showing you each part of her history that causes what she becomes. Everything in the book is there for a reason; there are no loose ends, aside the questions remaining to segue into the next book. The book ends with a heart wrenching, powerful event that leaves you wanting—no, needing–more.