The Young Elites

The Young Elites by Marie Lu is a dark fantasy novel set in a world reminiscent of 1300s Italy, where survivors of a deadly blood fever develop supernatural powers. The story follows Adelina Amouteru, a marked survivor with the ability to create illusions, as she joins the Dagger Society—a secret group of powered individuals fighting against the Inquisition Axis. Unlike typical YA heroes, Adelina embraces her darker impulses and vengeful nature throughout her journey.

The Young Elites is recommended for readers ages 12-17, particularly those in 7th grade and up, with a Lexile measure of 740L. This 368-page novel appeals to fans of dark fantasy, morally complex protagonists, and stories featuring characters with disabilities. Readers who enjoy anti-hero narratives, revenge stories, and fantasy worlds with supernatural abilities will find The Young Elites compelling, though those seeking traditional heroic journeys may prefer lighter fare.

The Young Elites by Marie Lu offers a refreshingly dark take on YA fantasy by featuring a protagonist who embraces villainy rather than heroism. The novel was nominated for Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2014. Marie Lu's pivot from traditional coming-of-age romance formulas creates an emotionally complex narrative exploring betrayal, rejection, and the corrupting nature of power. However, readers seeking straightforward heroes and happy resolutions should note this trilogy explores darker psychological territory.

Malfettos in The Young Elites are survivors of the blood fever who bear visible physical markings from their illness. Society treats malfettos as second-class citizens and believes they bring bad luck after family members experienced mysterious accidents or deaths. Adelina Amouteru is a malfetto with silver hair and a missing left eye, facing constant discrimination and abuse from her father. Not all malfettos possess powers—only a select few become Young Elites with supernatural abilities that remain hidden from most of society.

Adelina Amouteru possesses the power to weave realistic illusions that affect all five senses—sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste. Her abilities manifest during a life-or-death confrontation with her abusive father, when she accidentally summons phantom creatures that lead to his death. Unlike other Young Elites, Adelina's power is fueled by fear and darkness, making her abilities uniquely dangerous. Her illusions can create everything from attacking locusts to terrifying phantoms, and she struggles to control these powers throughout her training with the Dagger Society.

Enzo Valenciano, also known as the Reaper, is the charismatic leader of the Dagger Society who rescues Adelina from execution. As a Young Elite himself, Enzo leads a secret sect that seeks out powered individuals before the Inquisition Axis can destroy them. He becomes Adelina's love interest and mentor, training her to control her unprecedented illusion abilities. Enzo is described as extremely attractive and serves as a strong, loyal leader to his team, though his trust in newcomers sometimes proves strategically questionable.

Teren Santoro serves as the primary antagonist, leading the Inquisition Axis for the king to hunt and destroy Young Elites. Despite publicly condemning malfettos, Teren harbors the darkest secret of all—he is himself a secret malfetto with powers. He believes Young Elites are dangerous and vengeful threats to the nation, justifying his brutal methods of execution and persecution. Teren's complex motivations and hidden identity create moral ambiguity throughout The Young Elites, as he fights to eliminate the very thing he represents.

The Dagger Society is a secret organization of Young Elites founded by Enzo Valenciano to find powered individuals before the Inquisition can kill them. The group trains Young Elites to control their abilities and plots to overthrow the king who persecutes malfettos. When the Daggers discover Adelina, they recognize her illusion powers as unlike anything they've encountered before. The Society provides Adelina with friendship, training, and her first sense of belonging, though internal conflicts and trust issues ultimately threaten their mission.

The Young Elites features Adelina as a protagonist missing her left eye due to blood fever, requiring her to compensate for her blind side. Marie Lu thoughtfully depicts how Adelina must learn to sense approaching threats from her blind side during combat training with the Dagger Society. The novel avoids instant mastery, showing Adelina's gradual adjustment to her visual impairment as a realistic process. Beyond physical disability, the book explores how society labels malfettos as "damaged and dangerous," examining themes of ableism and social marginalization through fantasy elements.

Adelina Amouteru breaks the traditional YA hero mold by embracing darkness, revenge, and villainous impulses rather than fighting against them. Marie Lu describes her as having "a vengeful blackness in her heart" and "a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her". Unlike protagonists who resist corruption, Adelina's arc explores how abuse, rejection, and power combine to create a villain origin story. Her mantra "It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt" reflects her transformation from victim to aggressor, making The Young Elites a morally complex narrative.

The Young Elites takes place in a fantasy world reminiscent of Renaissance Italy during the 1300s, complete with marble statues, main squares, and Italian-inspired names. The story unfolds a decade after the blood fever plague swept through the nation, killing most infected and marking survivors with physical changes. Society is divided between unmarked citizens and persecuted malfettos, with twelve gods and angels forming the religious foundation. This richly detailed world combines historical Italian aesthetics with dark fantasy elements, creating an atmospheric backdrop for political intrigue and supernatural conflict.

The Young Elites explores themes of abuse, trauma, and how victimization can transform someone into a villain. Marie Lu examines the corrupting nature of power, revenge, and the moral complexities of using violence to fight oppression. The novel addresses prejudice and discrimination through the persecution of malfettos as second-class citizens. Additional themes include the search for belonging, sibling relationships despite jealousy, and the dangerous combination of insecurity with supernatural abilities. Unlike traditional YA fantasy, The Young Elites questions whether victims are justified in becoming perpetrators.