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The Young Elites (The Young Elites, #1)

Marie Lu

Start date: December 1, 2014

Finish date: December 31, 2014

Discussion: Series

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Series

The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner
By deleted member · 7 posts · 31 views

last updated Jul 29, 2015 08:23PM

Legend Trilogy
By deleted member · 1 post · 5 views

last updated Apr 23, 2015 03:15PM

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What Members Thought

Jun 06, 2014 Sakina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amazing, fantasy, must-read, captivating, 2015-read, favorites, addictive, beautiful-writing, young-adult, romance

Re-reading this again before starting The Rose Society. I wish GR had an option for re-reads. Anyways so excited!!

Actual rating-4.5

What the hell happened?!? Wow! Marie Lu sure knows how to create and write a fantasy-dystopian novel! First Legend series and now this! The Young Elites has to be among one of the best books I read this year. Btw Marie Lu I AM NOT ACCEPTING THAT ENDING. A MIRACLE NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN The Rose Society

*calms a little* Okay Reasons why I loved this book:

The plot-line: Am ...more

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Apr 15, 2016 Shannon Phelps rated it liked it

I actually liked this book. But it took me a while to get into because it was such a huge departure from the Legend series which I LOVED!

Call it high fantasy, call it alternative history, whichever, the concept was still interesting enough for me to sit and read it. Maybe it's because I identify with Adelina, that affection comes with strings, but it was a very interesting start to her world.

Being sold off because she was tainted by the blood fever, running away and being saved by these Young El I actually liked this book. But it took me a while to get into because it was such a huge departure from the Legend series which I LOVED!

Call it high fantasy, call it alternative history, whichever, the concept was still interesting enough for me to sit and read it. Maybe it's because I identify with Adelina, that affection comes with strings, but it was a very interesting start to her world.

Being sold off because she was tainted by the blood fever, running away and being saved by these Young Elites who again wanted something from her. Everyone wanted a little piece when it suited them so I could understand where she was coming from.

I just didn't like how I couldn't pin down a mental image of these characters. The first person present tense is still fairly new to me but it made the dialogue a little stilted and I had to reread some passages to orient myself. Adelina was supposed to be like, what, 16? But she so often sounded and acted much younger. Like feeling petty about her sister or got her feelings hurt because she was eavesdropping and ran out to cry. But then I had to remind myself that for the most part, her upbringing was jilted by her crazy father.

She grew up in a constant state of fear, of wanting to please her father. It left her in a little girl mindset. So meeting up with the Young Elites, it wasn't hard to see that "please like me, I'll do what you say" attitude remained.

AND this is truly an origin story. We're not seeing her at the height of her powers, she hasn't become some beacon for a rebellion, she's forced to grow up much quicker in the few weeks that she's been there. This is truly the beginning. And while it's been alluding to darkness, she's done some questionable things, but it wasn't until that last chapter that she's realized she has something no one can truly take away from her. At last, she has power and she can command some modicum of respect. She doesn't have to be used anymore. She can grow up and do things on her own terms. Which I found interesting. Finally, a character that isn't interested in becoming the hero or even being a reluctant hero. It's simply someone who is taking a more active role in life.

But honestly, I didn't see the appeal with Enzo. We were in his head for barely a page. I don't know where this trend of "super hot guy, filthy rich, a huge jerk, tortured soul" became so popular but it should seriously stop. They barely talked and most of it was in her head, wondering at the small gestures he did give her, only to find out he was still mourning someone else. They had like??? Two kisses?? And him NOT killing her somehow equaled to love? I didn't quite get it so I didn't feel much when it happened at the end and I was like well, I wonder what book 2 has in store!

Teren started out as a interesting character but there was so much emphasis on him hating himself yet he relished the fact that he couldn't be harmed. He spoke as if he had a direct line to the gods but it was only two encounters with the queen that made him turn his back on his best friend growing up?? I think what irritated me most was his lack of motivation or valid reasoning behind what little there was. Ok, he hated Malfettos. Ok, they all had to die. Simply because he was one? Because the gods said so? Because the queen did? What made him hate himself so much? I never quite understood that. It never talked about after he got the blood fever, how he felt after Enzo did, how it was growing up knowing he couldn't be harmed. Like I didn't get it, maybe I'm just slow.

I did like Rafaelle, I thought he was a cool character. But he seemed fake in the end. Like he was just waiting for the right moment to yell, "I told you so! I told you she was no good and that we should kick her out!" It'll be interesting to see Adelina and Rafaelle interact from now on. I think something awakened in her when she realized he was kicking her out. I do think he cared for her, just not in the way she did for him. So it'll be great to see them become enemies of sorts, if that were to happen.

The other elites weren't necessarily bland to me, I just didn't know enough about them. Like Gemma, the daughter of a noble. Or Lucent from the Skylands. Or Michel. Or Dante. Like Adelina's interactions with them were so limited that I didn't understand how they felt so betrayed. Like, they didn't want to get to know her outside of how she could use her powers to advance their plans. And now they're afraid?? Of???

I did like this book, I would even reread it to catch some things I missed, and I'm excited for book 2. Those things just genuinely confused me. ...more

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Jul 16, 2014 Leah rated it liked it · review of another edition

I'm going to be the minority here. This book just didn't do it for me. I'm really disappointed that I didn't like it more than I did, but it just wasn't the book for me.

For my full review, check out my blog --> Southern Bred, Southern Read. ...more

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