This first book in the series left me feeling somewhat despondent. I was expecting another one of Marie Lu’s loveable protagonists, but this story focuses on the creation of a villain.
Adelina and her sister, Violetta, survive the Blood Plague at a young age. But while the younger Violetta is left unmarked, Adelina not only loses her left eye but is marked as a malfetto with her now silver hair.
Adelina is one of many “Malfetto’s” with markings, but with her marking came a supernatural power that makes her one of the few, an Elite. Adelina escapes her cruel father one night only to be captured by the inquisition led by the lead inquisitor, Teren. A figure that will become a major part of her life, and not in a good way. She escapes being burned at the stake with the help of The Young Elites, The Dagger Society, led by a young man named Enzo.
This story is thrilling and full of action. Although Adelina is now surrounded by friends, she has hard decisions to make as she is continuously haunted by the ghosts of her past. Everything revolves around the choices she makes, to trust especially. And by the end, I got a glimpse of what she would become.
I highly recommend this series. It is so different from the usual young adult fantasy series’. Instead of focusing on a positive protagonist, I got to witness the creation of an antagonist that somehow I cant help but still love.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!!!
Book Oracle 