Audiobook: The Young Elites

The Young Elites is written by Marie Lu and narrated by Carla Corvo and Lannon Lillea and is the first book of the series of the same name.

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 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.

The Breakdown:
1. I am so terribly behind in my reviews, so to my 2 loyal readers, sorry.  So on to the review, I find the world that Lu has created so fascinating in this book.  It is a combination of an alien planet and a culture very similar to that of the Italian Renaissance.  Then there is the disease that has marked the survivors, some of who have developed strange powers from it.

2. I loved the style of the audiobook.  The book alternates from the first person perspective of Adelina and several chapters from male characters perspective.  Corvo does Adelina's chapters and is very engaging in them.  She captures the turbulent emotions of Adelina through this journey very well.  Lillea does all the male characters' chapters, and does an amazing job of giving them each their own unique voice.

3. Adelina is certainly an interesting character.  She goes from a very scared girl to a powerful elite.  I feel that she has quite the struggle of loyalty in this book between her sister and the elites that saved her.  I have to say one of my least favorite things is the romance between Adelina and Enzo.  It felt very one-sided and forced.

4. The male character chapters alternate between Enzo, Raffaele, and Teren.  I like that Lu gives both the Daggers perspective and that of their enemy.   So I find both Raffeale and Teren scary in their own way.  Raffeale for how he is very determined for the Daggers to accomplish their goals, and how he is willing to use others as he sees fit.  Teren for his fanatical beliefs that the malfettos must be destroyed and his obsession with the queen.

5.  Lu absolutely killed me with this ending.  I was so shocked by it, and honestly still have a lot of feels about it. It will definitely keep me reading this series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read