Oh Book Sanity

Series: The Young Elites #1

Publication: October 7, 2014 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary

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.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

REVIEW

This book is not dystopian or post-apocalyptic. It’s dark fantasy; set in a world full of magic and complex villains. It was a very interesting book and the events were unpredictable.

Adelina is definitely not a nice girl! She had this hatred within her that she held for so long since she was a little kid; coming from his father and everyone around her who sees her as an abomination. This left her with a deep-rooted darkness in her soul. She's broken, selfish and even a little wicked at times and I think she had every right to feel that way. Her family bond also played a big role in her character development.

It’s very different from the other books I’ve read. I got used to reading about the main character’s point of view being kick-ass and strong but at the same time has a pure and innocent heart within her. This one, the main character is very dark. Sure, she cares about her sister and ready to fight for what she believes in. There were instances wherein she would hurt somebody and feel remorseful about it, but then at the back of her mind, she was contented to do it.

There was a little bit of romance between Enzo and Adeline but it didn’t entirely focus on that. I especially loved the platonic relationship between Raffaele and I think it was so rare. It was told very well.

The thing I liked about this book is that NO ONE IS PURE GOOD. Everyone has their potential of being bad, even the other character who you would think at first to be innocent.

The thrill of it was a bit inconsistent for me. It would be dull and nothing would happen for a while, and then some action will, and then turns dull again, and turn exciting again. I guess I was just having this first-book-of-the-trilogy syndrome, and I am hoping for the next book to be more exciting than how I felt about this one.

But contrary to how I felt about some events, the book is still very good and interesting. The plot-line was very intriguing and the plot-twists as well.

Review also posted on my Goodreads account