The Young Elites

Actual rating 4.5 stars I was simply blown away by this book! This was my first Marie Lu novel, and suffice to say, I'm hooked! Let's just say, she has a new fan ;) I have been going back and forth about reading Marie Lu's Legend, and after reading this, I will definitely be checking it out. Everything about this book was spectacular, from the world building to the characters to the story itself. The writing is phenomenal, and I felt as if every scene played out in front of me. In my opinion, these are the best types of books as you can imagine every single detail, and feel like you are actual there with the characters. I'll start first with the writing and world building as they tie together. Ms. Lu shows wonderful creativity and imagination with this new world. I am assuming this classifies as dystopian (but don't hold me to that because it could purely be fantasy/action). This novel is set in a different world, where after an illness swept through the nation, death and tragedy was left in its wake. While many died, there were others who were affected in ways that people have come to fear. These people are disfigured/different looking, and some have strong powers that can be beneficial or deadly. I was never once confused while reading the story. Everything is clearly laid out for the reader as you progress through the story, and it makes for an even better, more enjoyable reading experience. Additionally, you can feel the danger of the world emanating off the page. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this reading experience. My favorite aspect of this novel though is the characters. Ms. Lu embraced the idea of flaws. Not a single one of these characters is this perfect person, nor are any of the characters classified as the stereotypically "beautiful" person. As one of my favorite characters in this book said, "Embellish your flaws," he says softly. "They will turn into your assets." I honestly think this book is a fantastic parallel to how our society is today, that many are afraid of what is different, and instead of embracing and celebrating our differences, many criticize/ostracize these people. The same is in this book. However, what I loved is that the Young Elites banded together and did what needed to be done. None of the characters faced dilemmas or was "poor me" after killing someone. This might make me sound crazy (and I swear I'm not a psychopath haha), but in other books this tends to get to me after awhile. I understand that it's difficult to kill someone (not to mention the moral dilemma the person faces from it), but when characters continue to cry and harp about it, I get annoyed. However, in this novel, the characters are used to it (with the exception of Adelina), and they do it for specific reasons. Adelina was a great lead female character because she was extremely realistic and relatable in many ways. I loved watching her growth over the course of the novel, and she is definitely a different person than at the beginning of the story. Enzo was another one of the favorite characters, and first introduced as a possible love interest, the romance between Enzo and Adelina never is mushy gushy (which I greatly appreciate as it would have been grossly out of place in this story). Teren on the other hand, I couldn't stand. He is pure evil, and I want him taken down. I am extremely intrigued as to where this series will go. This is a story of adventure, magic, heartbreak, betrayals, and danger, and provides an amazing reading experience. You do not want to miss out on this novel, and you won't be disappointed you picked it up. I can't wait to see what happens next! Happy reading :)

This and other reviews can be found on my blog: My Friends Are Fiction The Story: This book was awash in darkness and hurt. Go into this one expecting a story full of action and characters that reside fully in the grey. There are no good or bad characters- everyone was squarely in the middle. I have only read the first book in the Legend series (though I own them all, thank you Stephanie!) and yet I was ecstatic about The Young Elites because of that amazing summary. I was beyond thrilled when I won a copy in a giveaway. This book did not disappoint. Lu’s writing was incredibly easy to get immersed in and I was eager to learn more about the world she created. A horrible fever swept through the land killing many and marking the survivors with physical abnormalities and varying skills. I thought that the idea of an illness scarring its victims as well as ‘gifting’ them with powers was a wonderful concept. I loved that it was as much a curse as a gift and the details Lu gave into the powers and where they derived from. We get just enough details to give the powers credibility and interest but I can’t help but be excited to see even more about them in the next books. The book set a moderate pace with areas of action as well as flash backs to the main character’s past. I thought these were perfectly done and gave me insight into her character and the world. I really enjoyed the scenes focusing on Adelina’s training and her honing her skill of illusion. They were written clearly and were very easy to picture how her magic worked. That says a lot because it would have been very easy for her illusion ability to become very confusing in a less skilled author’s hands. The Characters: To me, the characters were the strongest element in The Young Elites. I found Lu’s main character, Adelina, to be so damaged though relatable. She had lived through so much at an early age which gave her a darkness but also a strength that really made reading about her a pleasure. I loved that she struggled with her inner darkness. I felt that this gave her the potential to grow and develop. I loved her progression through this first book but I’m most excited to see what happens next. Enzo was swoon-worthy with a side of tension. I wasn’t a hundred percent sure of his motivations in the beginning. I thought that Lu’s representation of an elite group of teens with abnormalities was right on and intensely compelling. The fact that she made their ‘gifts’ derive from a life threatening illness was timely as well as unique. Because each character was affected differently it created an intriguing secondary cast. Final Thoughts: I think Marie Lu has created a surprisingly unique storyline and characters based on a somewhat typical trope (teens with remarkable powers) I felt that this novel was incredibly strong and was delightfully dark. The way Lu ended this novel gives me utmost confidence that this series will be amazing.

5 Stunning Stars... I can't even begin to express my love for THE YOUNG ELITES! Seriously, there is no words to put on my feelings for this book!! The only thing I can think that comes even close to putting my feels into words is that it was a dark spellbinding, adventure, that will have you on your toes, holding your breath, and screaming for more!! And those words really does no Justice for THE YOUNG ELITES!! It was just amazing!! I mean it blew me away!!! I was actually amazed at the dark turn Marie Lu took in THE YOUNG ELITES. I'm use to her, mild writing, with life compactions, and yes, war and death, but what Marie Lu brought to the table in THE YOUNG ELITES goes far and beyond anything she's ever written, and I LOVED IT!!! THE PLOT... In a world full of darkness and destruction, a virus known as the blood fever has brought a county to it's knees. Throughout a decade, the blood fever has swept through in waves, leaving no city untouched by it's deadly wrath. The blood fever has killed thousands, leaving others scarred and marked for life. The ones that came out scarred and marked were known as the malfetto's. But there were others that bore the scars and marks, and they were either blessed or cursed depending on how you looked upon it. They came out with unique powers, powers that were not of their world, and with a power and control that could either save them, or doom them all. And they were known as The Young Elites... The Young Elites were feared by the royal family, and thus ruled unfit for this world, and ultimately, they were hunted and killed if ever revealed and seized! ~ Adelina Amouteru is one of the survivors of the blood fever that swept through her country when she was young. She survived, but barely, and didn't come out unmarked. She has a jagged scar over the left side of her face, and lost her left eye from the disease. She is considered a malfetto that was left scarred, but with no special powers. She is shunned and treated with disrespect by those around her, especially by her father, who now owns damaged goods, her! Her father is determined to make some use out of her one way or another. For she is unworthy scarred and marked. So he persistently reaches for a darkness deep within her, twisting and nurturing it, allowing it to manifest inside of her, hoping to push her to the breaking point and release some unrevealed power. Adelina, twisted from being used and abused, she has a hatred that runs deep, a darkness within that is eager to unleash the wrath, and wreck havoc on all opposing sides. Adelina unwillingly unleashes a darkness within that she did not know existed. A power so strong it can bring a man to his knees. The power of Illusion is what she possess, and that is when she is revealed no more as a malfetto, but as a Young Elite. And now she will be hunted, captured, and burned at the stake like all other unruly malfetto's and Elites. But when her world collides with other Elites all set on a common goal and eager to recruit her, she decides with nothing or no one else to turn too, she recruits into the Dagger Society. Their goal is simple: Bring The Young Elites out of hiding and dethrone the king and queen that has killed and tortured so many, and create a new world for them all. But of course that is easier said then done, especially with the Inquisition Axis's hunting and killing them off little by little. ~ Enzo Valenciano was deprived of his birthright when he was marked by the blood fever, possessing elite powers that are not of their world. He fills his days fighting for the malfetto and Elites. He wants equality for the marked and unmarked. To claim his birthright he was given at birth. To take control of Kenettran and rain hell on their tortures and dethrone the queen and king. To end the suffering that the marked and malfetto's have endured at the hands of the royals and Inquisition Axis's. He wants a change, and he is the only one who can bring it, and bring it he will, or die trying! ~ Teren Santoro is the leader of Inquisition Axis, and the queens right hand man. He will do anything for his precious queen, he will turn away from his people to appease her, he will kill and torture if it pleases her, he will hunt the earth for the very last Elite and rid them of their wretch life if it satisfies her. He will, and he has, and he is not done yet, he is only beginning!! All three of these lives will collide and wreck havoc on the world. They will either be the downfall of their world, or bring peace and lightness to the darkness they call earth. But not all of them want the same thing, and their are some who are willing to do the unthinkable to get what they want. The battle between marked and unmarked has begun.... THE YOUNG ELITES is one of the best books I've read this year!!! I know I'm being repetitive, but I just loved this book!! Every single thing about it!! The characters were rigid and complex, with layers and layers of depth and personality that just won me over from the beginning to end!! I loved all the characters, especially the main ones, Adelina, Enzo, and Teren! They were just so interesting with their dark powers that was fascinating and devastating at the same time!! I was never bored with this book. Even the slow parts like the beginning wasn't enough to make me want to put this book down. I thought it was paced just right, with enough of everything to give it the balance it needed!! Overall, THE YOUNG ELITES is a MUST READ for any supernatural/dystopian fan out there. If you want a book that will WOW the pants off of you, THE YOUNG ELITES is it!! It will not disappoint and leave you yearning for more!! NOTE: I received a physical ARC from Putnam Books (Penguin Books) for reviewing purposes! All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

Overall, The Young Elites is pretty enjoyable, quick read. Adelina is the most fascinating element, as she's a character that really just pops off the page after you first meet her. It's not a series I'm particularly invested in right now, honestly. But I'm a little curious curious about where Marie Lu is going to choose to take this story next, which means I'm likely to try the second book at some point. Things I Liked: 1. Adelina Amouteru Marie Lu has managed to successfully craft a complicated main character. Adelina has desires and emotions that many readers will relate to, and a core of good running through her that manifests in her actions time and again. But Adelina also demonstrates flashes of a flawed, fearful, conflicted girl, one who revels in the power of her abilities and the desire to get back at those who dared to hurt or malign her. Trying to keep up with her is definitely something that will keep readers on their toes! 2. Secret society The Young Elites are a band of malfettos, young people who endured a terrible fever and have the marks (and powerful abilities) to prove it. They develop their abilities and recruit new members, but they’ve really just got one major goal (and you’ll need to read this to find out what it is). Secret societies are always fascinating to read about, particularly if they’re as skilled, well-funded and well-organized as The Young Elites are. They also give characters, like Adelina, a cause to fight for and allies to work with. What sets The Young Elites apart, however, is how much they stay in a gray area when it comes to certain things. 3. Supernatural abilities Malfettos, in the world of The Young Elites, occasionally manifest special, powerful abilities. It’s fascinating to see the scope of abilities that Lu has chosen to include in this world, and how there are never two that are very alike. Readers will be really intrigued by the endless possibilities for malfetto abilities here, and perhaps will even be prompted into thinking about the pros and cons of the abilities certain characters have. Things I'm Not So Fond Of: 1. Pacing The pacing shifts a lot, picking up and slowing down in various bursts. It doesn’t necessarily take too much away from the story, really, particularly since curiosity about Adelina and what she will do next is definitely a compelling reason to keep turning pages. But it does make for a slightly awkward feel during some transitional chapters, which might throw off readers who notice that sort of thing. 2. Recognizable tropes Okay, let’s get this out of the way first: almost all books have character or plot tropes we can recognize. That they are a part of this novel is not a flaw in The Young Elites. It’s the fact that the reader may occasionally find themselves pulled out of the story to think, “So, so-and-so is that kind of character” or “Ah, this is what that twist in the plot might mean”. Tropes are alright, but the fact that identifying them could possibly break the reader’s engagement with the story at times is slightly bothersome. 3. The “romance” Clearly, the romantic aspect of The Young Elites did not have the intended effect on this reader. While it’s not at all difficult to see initially what draws Adelina to that person, the speed with which everything intensifies and the level of involvement is slightly off-putting. There are readers who will almost certainly feel differently, but personally, it just never felt like a relationship I could believe in.

As you all might know, Marie Lu is one of my favorite authors. I thought her Legend series was pretty stellar, ESPECIALLY the concluding volume, CHAMPION. When I found out that she was starting a new fantasy series set in a world that has a Renaissance Venice vibe with secret societies and young people with superpowers, I basically was drooling immediately. THE YOUNG ELITES sounded so excellent: the dark gifts bestowed upon survivors of the deadly blood fever, the Inquisition Axis’ determination to eliminate those survivors, and the Dagger Society (HELLO, BEST NAME)–a secret sect of fever survivors trying to save as many of the gifted as they can. I was like, *NEEDS*. THE YOUNG ELITES is such a great beginning to a series that I’m REALLY stoked about. So as I mentioned, THE YOUNG ELITES is about a few things. We see this world through the eyes of a troubled young fever survivor named Adelina Amouteru. She has some pretty scary gifts, a lingering mark of the fever. Her family life sucks: Her father is trying to pawn her off to another man so that he can make as much money off of her as possible, her mother is dead, and her younger sister is the apple of her father’s eye. When Adelina unwittingly uses her gift to do something pretty horrible, albeit deserved, she’s taken by the Inquisitor and prepared for execution. Until, that is, the Dagger Society comes to her rescue and she meets Enzo, their leader. The Daggers want to train Adelina to harness her gift, but they’re also wary of her and a little afraid. Her gift isn’t like anything else they’ve ever seen. Discovering her gift and learning the full reach of her power will lead to all kinds of dangerous, deadly, frightening things. First of all, Adelina. This girl is tortured, and you could honestly say that she’s tortured figuratively and literally. Her father is a bear, mistreating Adelina constantly, and as a result of this horrible treatment, Adelina is broken. Her society looks down on fever survivors, and that’s putting it mildly. They are feared, hated, and are the targets of the Inquisition Axis. Adelina remembers a better time before the fever when her mother was alive and she and her sister were closer and her family wasn’t on the brink of financial ruin. But now, she’s just trying to get out from under her father’s nasty thumb. Adelina is dark, you guys. Vengeful and angry and unpredictable. She’s bitter and lonely. None of this is good when you combine it with her gift and her inability to control it. It’s really interesting to see a world through the eyes of someone like Adelina. It gives THE YOUNG ELITES a distinctly disturbing feeling. You know that, over the course of her training with the Daggers that something bad is going to happen. That makes for a very gripping story, and Adelina is one of those characters that you pity and want to slap at the same time. Except you’re kind of scared of her so mostly you just feel bad and have panic attacks. There are a few major moving parts in THE YOUNG ELITES: Adelina, the Dagger Society, and Teren Santoro. I have to say, THE YOUNG ELITES suffers just a bit from “first book in a fantasy series” syndrome. Which is to say that the characters are excellent–Marie Lu always has very well-realized characters–but that the world building has some rough patches. Since there only seems to be those three major groups though (for now, at least, and that’s part of what’s keeping me so excited for book 2), it all works. I’m very, VERY intrigued by Teren Santoro, who’s boffing the queen and is just full of self-hatred and secrets. The Daggers and Enzo are really fantastic as well, and the way things end up with them and Adelina is heartbreaking. Adelina herself is in a BAD place when THE YOUNG ELITES ends. But the foundations of a really intriguing world are here, and that mixed with the great characters makes me a happy girl. One of the reasons that things end up so devastatingly for Adelina is that she begins to make connections–connections without fear–with the other Daggers. Because of her treatment at the hands of her father, she’s wary always of being used, and that’s something that she continues to struggle with as she grows closer to all the Daggers, but especially to Raffaelle, Adelina’s main instructor and a courtesan (seriously, LOVE HIM), and Enzo, the leader of the Daggers. Her relationships with these two guys are different, but wonderful and sad as well. Raffaelle is the closest thing Adelina has to a friend and she comes to rely on his calming presence. Enzo, on the other hand, is enigmatic and serious and his relationship with Adelina is fraught with that “we shouldn’t but I can’t fight it anymore!” feeling. All of this combines to make me heartsick for Adelina by the time THE YOUNG ELITES draws to a close. Speaking of that close, GIMME BOOK 2 NOW. There’s something about fantasies that I love and that’s the expansion of the world in which our story takes place. Take me–and the characters–to someplace we’ve never seen before. Make their world bigger, and therefore the stakes higher. Marie Lu does that at the end of THE YOUNG ELITES. If this series is anything like Legend, the books are only going to get better, and I can’t wait.

I enjoyed this book, devouring the majority of it in three or so hours. The story was good, though I didn't really get attached to any of the characters. One thing I couldn't figure out was how old everyone was. The author referred to them as "boys and girls", which, in my mind, put them at pre-teen, but Raffael (spelling) was a consort which means he had to be older, but it was never revealed what their exact ages were and I kept picturing them as children. Only later on did we find out that Adelina was just shy of seventeen. The book was entertaining and enjoyable. If it wasn't I wouldn't have plowed through it in a few hours and I did purchase the second book in the series. Now for the spoilers, where I felt like there were a lot of things that happened that was more a convenience to advance the plot: *POSSIBLE SPOILERS* Adelina- I didn't like or dislike her, really. I thought she was very reckless with her powers. I didn't quite understand why they suddenly manifested the night she killed her father, or why, fearing for her life and knowing that people are terrified of Malfetto's, did she decide to beg a farm woman for water and a place to stay. She should have known the Inquisition would be called and she would be arrested. That seemed a bit too convenient and a way to propel the story where it needed to go. So, Adelina has the gift of illusion, which is cool. What I didn't understand was towards the end when Enzo and Teren were having their sword fight. She had disguised herself and her sister using her gift of illusion and was having a hard time holding it BUT she was able to show illusions of people from the Inquisition filling the arena where the fight was happening? Nor did I understand the reason why she made an illusion on Enzo to make him look like Teren. It felt like another convenient set-up so that she ended up killing him instead of Teren. Violetta- I wasn't quite sure what her role was in the book, except that of a sister whom Adelina was jealous of. Her being taken by Teren and used as a pawn to get Adelina to "spy" on the Dagger Society again, felt convenient. And then suddenly Violetta, who has no markings, has powers too? What irked me the most about that, aside from the sudden reveal of her "magic", was that she kept it a secret because she was "daddy's little girl" and didn't want that to end. Not only that, but she stood by and watched Adelina be abused by him and did nothing to stop it. Teren- Surprisingly, I actually liked this guy and wished he had more face-time. What I didn't understand about him and the Inquisition, was that they knew where the Dagger Society's hideout was, yet they didn't do anything to try and capture them. I also didn't quite understand how they saw Adelina at the Fortuna Court, and knew who she was, when she wore a mask that covered her burned eye socket, and wrapped her hair up in lengths of fabric, and Teren was able to recognize her when he was at the court where he blackmailed her? And again, he was able to get into the court, he could have brought other Inquisitors, and rounded up all of the "Elites". Raffael- (I know I spelled that wrong). He's a character who took a hard turn at the end, and I didn't quite understand it. Throughout the book, he was fairly likable. He seemed to like Adelina and was watching out for her. He seemed sweet and kind, then suddenly at the end he turned into a jerk? I understand why he would be wary of Adelina after what she did, but his whole attitude and demeanor changed drastically. And his stepping in as the leader of the Dagger Society after Enzo died also felt convenient. Enzo- Another one I didn't like nor dislike (I will say, though, that whenever he was mentioned, I pictured Mysterion from the Coon and Friends episode of South Park). Anyway, I couldn't quite figure him out, nor could I figure out what his intentions were. He was a prince banished because he was Malfetto, and I couldn't figure out if his intentions were to kill the king and queen (his sister), and take the throne. It wasn't exactly clear. What I didn't quite understand in the story was the relationship that was starting to bloom with Adelina. Again, that felt like another convenience to make her have feelings for him so that when she killed him, it was supposed to be a sad tragedy. And, as I said above, the whole "turning Enzo into Teren" didn't make much sense, and felt like it happened only to have Adelina kill him, which in turn made Raffael the leader, and turned all the Elites against her, and she and Violetta were turned out.

If I had to do a one worded review I would say this book is AWESOME! I am a huge fan of Marie Lu and her writing. I love the way she quickly engages me into her stories. Her story telling is vivid, her characters are ones I enjoy reading about, and the worlds she create are just as dangerous as they are enticing. Marie Lu has yet again proved why she's one of my favorite YA authors. First of all, let's talk characters. Lu is one of the few authors whom I feel has mastered the art of story telling from multiple points of views. Not only does this enhance the reader's ability to quickly become engaged with the story, it allows readers to get to know the characters, understand their motives, and see all sides of the story without hindering the story's fluid plot line. Whether the characters are good or not, I liked understanding where each character stood with all that is going on in The Young Elites's world. Each of their point of views add so much depth to the complex story, as well as to their over all character development. It was interesting to see how certain events of their childhoods drove to make the decisions they did, or believe certain ways. Their beliefs only fueled their stance on the events taking place. The world building is awesome. Like with her previous series, Lu once again ranks up there with authors who have this ability to create these incredible worlds that fuel the story. Much like the characters, the world plays a huge rule in the story. I loved how vividly detailed her story's world is. It was incredibly easy for me to picture it in my mind as I was reading the book. Bonus, the published book has a map! YES, a MAP! Y'all know how much I love maps in books. Lu's writing is flawless. The Young Elites is a book that hooked me from beginning to end. There is adventure, magic, secrecy, betrayal, a hint of romance, plenty of danger and the kind of character chemistry I love. You know the kind that makes you want to turn the pages faster just so you can find out when the two characters finally kiss. YES, there is kissing! Don't worry, there's more to the story than kissing. In fact, the romance in this story is not the main point of the story, and it's great! There is so much going on, and so many other elements to this story. There's good and evil, darkness and a drive I got with all four of the characters, though I didn't necessarily agree with each of their actions. The way in which Lu combined all her elements is perfection. I love it when I sit to read a book, and become so engaged with the story that I don't have time to wonder how much longer do I have till the end nor do I want to skip to the end of the book. Don't judge me, you guys know those kind of books I'm talking about. The Young Elites is a book I really enjoyed reading. I'm looking forward to seeing what Marie Lu has in store for her characters next. I need answers after those shocking twists/reveals near the end of the book. Oh, and that ending.... if I could have the sequel now please, that would be great. Thank you!

The Young Elites by Marie Lu is a thrilling and dark fantasy novel. In this world, a devastating fever has taken its toll on the population. Most of those infected died but the few who did survive were all children. These children came away physically marked by the fever and are outcasts in society, called malfettos. Of these marked children, a special few have developed unbelievable powers and are called The Young Elites. Most of society fears them as they are far more powerful than your average person, possessing strange and often dangerous powers. The story follows Adelina Amouteru, a teenage girl who came down with the fever as a child. She and her sister were both infected with the disease and both survived. Unfortunately, Adelina, unlike her sister, was scarred for life, losing one of her eyes. Now she discovers that she also possesses the powers of a Young Elite and she must find a way to survive while the whole of society wants her either dead or under control. Adelina find herself among of group of Young Elites called The Daggers, a group with plans to overthrow the king and gain control of the kingdom. Does Adelina throw her lot in with them and try to gain their trust or is it too dangerous? I really love The Young Elites. I’d heard good things prior to reading it so I had my hopes set pretty high. I wasn’t disappointed at all. The world that Adelina lives in is a medieval type of world, with typical strife and poverty. The Young Elites have incredible powers and are a threat or blessing to society, depending on whom you ask. The Inquisition, a religious organization, tries to find and destroy all Elites, as well as control the regular malfettos, marked but otherwise normal survivors of the fever. The kingdom is in a period of conflict and the citizenry is looking for a scapegoat for all of their problems. The Inquisition puts forth the malfettos as the perfect scapegoat and life for most of the marked is pretty grim. The world building and general setting is dark and depressing, very realistic. The characters are well written. Adelina is a fantastic protagonist and very relatable. She was raised by a rather psychotic father who constantly told her that she was worthless and wrong. Growing up with that kind of influence has led Adelina to have a dark, hidden side to herself. She wants to be good but she often relishes violence and power. Though she does not have the self confidence of her sister, an unmarked beauty, she yearns for acceptance and a place in society. As the story progresses and Adelina finds herself with budding powers in new situations, her inner darkness begins to come to the surface more and more often. It’s a real struggle for her to control her passions and her fears. She is a flawed heroine and she is very relatable. The rest of the characters are very well written as well. Enzo, the leader of The Daggers, wants to overthrow the king and take control of the kingdom, giving more freedom and rights to malfettos. He is strong, poised and self-contained, a born leader. He keeps his true feelings and emotions hidden as much as possible, staying strong for the cause. As the story progresses, he develops feelings for Adelina, and vice versa, leading them both into a dangerous situation. The writing style is impactful. The story moves quickly and the scenes are described in a visceral way. The writing is not necessarily poetic or beautiful, but it has a great ebb and flow to it. Once you begin reading you’ll be in the rhythm of the story and find yourself at the last chapter in no time. Each character has their own distinct voice and you grow to care for all of them. The story itself is depressing and rather dark. Society is not a happy, fluffy world for Adelina and her people. Malfettos are being tortured, murdered and burned at the stake. Even The Daggers are a harsh group, willing to sacrifice innocents if it suits the cause. Adelina is a dark character who tries to remain good but really struggles with it. I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but it’s full of twists and turns. By the end you’re on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s possibly going to happen next and who’s going to come out the winner. As this is a series, the book ends with a decent enough conclusion but plenty of story left to tell in the coming books. I recommend this book to anyone who likes dark fantasy. It is not your typical Young Adult novel. If you like your heroines dark and damaged, give this a try! Visit my blog for more reviews! http://www.cayt.com