Back at the Dagger Society's headquarters, Adelina overhears Spider telling Enzo about his suspicions of her. She reflects on what Spider said, that they were only good to her because they needed her. Taken over by her feelings, she decides to tell Teren everything about the Daggers (pages 241-247). At the Inquisition Tower, prepared to betray the Daggers, she decides not to and uses illusions to trick the inquisitors. Adelina finds her sister Violetta, and frees her. During their escape, Violetta reveals her powers of taking others' powers away. On the streets, they bump into Spider. He accuses her of treason and began wounding her. In her moment of rage, Adelina accidentally kills him (pages 264-273). Suddenly, inquisitors start killing Elites all over the city. After a while, Teren prepares to slaughter Raffaele in public. Enzo duels with Teren, and, in the confusion, Adelina attacks Enzo. Teren kills him, and the Daggers flee (page 324). At headquarters, the remaining Daggers (Windwalker, Star Thief and Raffaele) question Adelina. She tells tells them everything, including the death of Spider (pages 329-330). Raffaele, the new leader of the Daggers, tell Adelina that she can stay with Violetta for the night, but in the morning they must leave (page 335).
Violetta's power symbolizes unexpectedness in the book. Throughout The Young Elites, many events unravel after one another, revealing the plot of multiple unexpected happenings. This also represents Adelina's life, because from the start, she has never expected anyone to understand her, to care for her. She got accepted into the Dagger Society, and after that, she did many unexpected things herself.
I think because The Young Elites contain so many unexpected events, it captures readers' attention. It truly is a useful and effective way to keep readers reading. It's a great book for people who like reading teen fantasy, and everything about it is amazing - the cover, the characters, the story. I would definitely recommend it to my friends to read.
Monday, 23 February 2015
Sunday, 22 February 2015
Her First Mission
When the Daggers leave on a mission, Adelina goes to the Inquisition Tower to find Teren. There, Adelina confirms her sister's safety and tells Teren nothing but that the Daggers are planning something for the Tournament of Storms (page 152). Curious herself, she goes tot he Tournament to see what the Daggers have planned. Star Thief is revealed as Lady Gemma of House Salvatore, and competes as part of the green team. Adelina realizes that the Daggers' plan was to kill the king in public, at the biggest festival of the year. Just as Star Thief wins the race, inquisitors come out and try to kill her. Adelina creates shadow silhouettes to save her, and the Daggers attack (pages 161-163). Spider starts to suspect Adelina, and brings the question to Enzo. However, Enzo dismisses Spider's concern. A few weeks pass by, and Enzo decides to let Adelina take part on a mission at the Spring Moons. There, Adelina weaves illusions to cover up the deaths of inquisitors. The Daggers create chaos, and start killing every inquisitor in sight. Adelina, finished with her task, decides to head back to headquarters. Suddenly, Teren catches her out of nowhere and questions the Daggers' motives. She sees Spider's nocked arrow, staring at them. Incidentally, Enzo comes out and attacks Teren. When his flames do not harm Teren, Adelina realizes that Teren is in fact a Young Elite (pages 210-222).
The irony of betrayal has a significant presence within these events. Adelina has always sought friends and family, people who aren't afraid of her powers, people who can embrace who she is. She finally has what she wants, but she betrays the ones who cares about her for someone else who she cares about. Yes, it's a legitimate reason, to save one's sister - but at what cost to others around that person? The fact is that Teren, the Lead Inquisitor, is indeed a Young Elite. His power is recovery. His injuries are instantly healed, making him pretty much invulnerable. Teren is an Elite; even though he isn't part of the Daggers, he is betraying them by being one of their kind.
Marie Lu illustrates a strong opinion about trust and betrayal in The Young Elites. I can relate to it, because in my life, many factors lead to both betrayal and trust. Marie Lu really does put herself in the shoes of a person who's life is filled with hardships and difficulties.
The irony of betrayal has a significant presence within these events. Adelina has always sought friends and family, people who aren't afraid of her powers, people who can embrace who she is. She finally has what she wants, but she betrays the ones who cares about her for someone else who she cares about. Yes, it's a legitimate reason, to save one's sister - but at what cost to others around that person? The fact is that Teren, the Lead Inquisitor, is indeed a Young Elite. His power is recovery. His injuries are instantly healed, making him pretty much invulnerable. Teren is an Elite; even though he isn't part of the Daggers, he is betraying them by being one of their kind.
Marie Lu illustrates a strong opinion about trust and betrayal in The Young Elites. I can relate to it, because in my life, many factors lead to both betrayal and trust. Marie Lu really does put herself in the shoes of a person who's life is filled with hardships and difficulties.
Sunday, 15 February 2015
"She Starts Tomorrow"
Day after day, Adelina trains with Enzo and Raffaele. She meets Spider, Star Thief, and Windwalker. To push Adelina's limits and break through her powers, the Elites give her an experience she will never forget - the experience of fear. They use their powers against her, forcing her to use her powers. Just when she starts to bond with the Daggers, the head inquisitor of Kenettra finds her, and turns her into a spy (page 133). Enzo, the leader of the Dagger Society, determines that Adelina is prepared to help them in their missions. He tells Raffaele "she starts tomorrow".
Nobody had trusted Adelina ever since she possessed powers, and vice-versa. Until she met the Elites of the Dagger Society, she thought she was truly alone in the world, unloved and uncared for. As the friendships between Adelina and the others strengthen, they start trusting each other. It was hard to trust anyone at that time, because people became traitors out of desperation. Just as the Daggers accept her as one of their own, Teren (the head inquisitor) tells Adelina that he has her sister, Violetta, held hostage at the Inquisition Tower. Adelina is forced to become a traitor. The issue of trust adds to the abrupt perplexities in the story.
I love the part where the Daggers train Adelina. Marie Lu describes that part in detail, and the imagery is very strong. The other Daggers are also introduced during the training, along with their powers. It's definitely cool to have a group of people with different powers fighting together for a cause. Just imagine being one of them - the abilities, the freedom to use it, to help people. The freedom that feels like standing on top of the world.
Nobody had trusted Adelina ever since she possessed powers, and vice-versa. Until she met the Elites of the Dagger Society, she thought she was truly alone in the world, unloved and uncared for. As the friendships between Adelina and the others strengthen, they start trusting each other. It was hard to trust anyone at that time, because people became traitors out of desperation. Just as the Daggers accept her as one of their own, Teren (the head inquisitor) tells Adelina that he has her sister, Violetta, held hostage at the Inquisition Tower. Adelina is forced to become a traitor. The issue of trust adds to the abrupt perplexities in the story.
I love the part where the Daggers train Adelina. Marie Lu describes that part in detail, and the imagery is very strong. The other Daggers are also introduced during the training, along with their powers. It's definitely cool to have a group of people with different powers fighting together for a cause. Just imagine being one of them - the abilities, the freedom to use it, to help people. The freedom that feels like standing on top of the world.
Saturday, 14 February 2015
The Dagger Society
Adelina finds herself in the home of the Dagger Society, a group of Young Elites (children with powers) who recruit other outcasts like themselves to seek revenge against the royalty of the kingdom of Kenettra. She meets Enzo and Raffaele, who show her around their base and introduce her to their ways. Shortly after, Adelina realizes she must learn to have full control of her powers, or else she will be useless to the society and killed (page 80).
Adelina's connection to amber, which represents the hatred buried in one's chest, and nightstone, representing the darkness in oneself, the strength of fear, is very strong. Fear and fury personifies Adelina as a sealed lock, all her hatred and anger hidden within. This foreshadows an emotional discharge that may happen in later events, and gives readers a deeper understanding to her character.
|It's hard to imagine how life is for Adelina. Just thinking of the pain and what she's gone through is already giving me a headache. I would be devastated if people saved me only to use me in the end. Although it's not as bad as being burnt, obviously.
Adelina's connection to amber, which represents the hatred buried in one's chest, and nightstone, representing the darkness in oneself, the strength of fear, is very strong. Fear and fury personifies Adelina as a sealed lock, all her hatred and anger hidden within. This foreshadows an emotional discharge that may happen in later events, and gives readers a deeper understanding to her character.
|It's hard to imagine how life is for Adelina. Just thinking of the pain and what she's gone through is already giving me a headache. I would be devastated if people saved me only to use me in the end. Although it's not as bad as being burnt, obviously.
Thursday, 12 February 2015
Adelina Amouteru
Adelina Amouteru, a survivor of a deadly illness, is now a girl who possesses powers that the people fear. Arrested for murdering her father, she waits to be burned in the central market square. Suddenly, a few hooded figures swoop in, killing the guards and saving her. At the same time, her power activates, summoning a cloud of locusts. She realizes that her power is making illusions, and she slumps unconscious (pages 27 - 34).
From pages 1 - 34, Adelina tells us that her childhood, her life - has been engulfed in hatred, loneliness, and sadness. As she talks about different parts of her life, it seems everyday is either just as bad, or worse. She was nearly sold by her father! It's obvious that as her character develops, darkness takes control, and she seems to just hate everything and everyone.
The Young Elites starts off quite harsh. I was surprised by the deep, dark history of Adelina, of how her father treated her, and the horrible sufferings she went through. I thought about the people who suffer from this kind of treatment in the world, and I just feel really bad for them.
From pages 1 - 34, Adelina tells us that her childhood, her life - has been engulfed in hatred, loneliness, and sadness. As she talks about different parts of her life, it seems everyday is either just as bad, or worse. She was nearly sold by her father! It's obvious that as her character develops, darkness takes control, and she seems to just hate everything and everyone.
The Young Elites starts off quite harsh. I was surprised by the deep, dark history of Adelina, of how her father treated her, and the horrible sufferings she went through. I thought about the people who suffer from this kind of treatment in the world, and I just feel really bad for them.
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