nat_json's review against another edition
4.0
Now this book is DARK. I love it. Getting to watch the slow crawl into madness throughout this book is so much fun. You can see where if they went a different way that Adelina might not have ended up the way she is at the end. I was surprised by the amount of time we were with the Daggers for some reason I thought we wouldn’t get chapters from they’re point anymore but I’m glad that we still did. Honestly it’s hard to tell who to root for because everyone is making mistakes and it’s hard not to root for Adelina because she is the main character even though if you know anything about this trilogy it’s about her villain story. I’m super excited to read the next book.
afutt92's review against another edition
5.0
The only thing that I could say when I finished this book was "Damn." What a dark, captivating story! I'm two books into the trilogy and I still couldn't tell you who the heroes are and who the villains are... maybe the heroes and the villains are the same. The last one-hundred or so pages were excellent, and truly capture the way that power and greed can blind even those with the most noble intentions. Marie Lu has crafted a truly fantastic Young Adult series in "The Young Elites." Not only does the storyline catch you and reel you in, but it is so refreshing a young adult series to have so many strong female characters (good and bad), to be sex-positive without being smutty, and to casually and positively feature LGBT characters without making a huge show of it. Now the hardest part will be waiting for the next book!
clrvnzd's review against another edition
4.0
This book series contained one of the darkest main characters I've ever encountered. If you are consumed emotionally, as a reader, you might really go insane. After all, you are experiencing everything in first person POV. Despite all the darkness that consumes the main character's heart, we all know that she possesses legitimate reasons to act the way she acts. Everything is so twisted with her, which can be detected through the numerous internal battles with her own self. Unfortunately, this main character won't ever seem to be rid of her darkness. If anything, that darkness continues to grow. Therefore, I believe that the darkness will inevitably consume her and would most definitely be her undoing. (We've already seen countless instances where this proves to be the case.)
trinket's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fatimareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Woah. Just, woah. This book was on a whole other level . Whereas 'The Young Elites' was slightly tame with an occasional dark thought floating about, 'The Rose Society' explores a totally different side of Adelina -- the psycho, power-hungry side -- and at the same time still allows the reader to sympathize with her. I mean, her actions were so clearly wrong but it just doesn't seem that way when you're reading.
Everything was just perfect -- the narrative, the new characters, the complex & layered plot... Marie Lu's writing has definitely hit its stride!
Everything was just perfect -- the narrative, the new characters, the complex & layered plot... Marie Lu's writing has definitely hit its stride!
zenithharpink's review against another edition
5.0
I am IN LOVE with this book! It is so dark , to the point of almost being a little tough to read. Adelina is a deeply flawed, damaged heroine, and even more difficult is her unwillingness to lean on her friends, or consider anything beyond revenge. Despite all that, I found myself constantly rooting for Adelina.
Though the darkness is intense, Adelina is a compelling character because of he relationship with the other characters of the book-none of whom are innocent, nice, or really any better than Adelina. Teren, Violetta, or even Raffaele are not looking out for Adelina-they are protecting their own interests, though Violetta does the most to help her sister.
The book itself is definitely the second in a series of three, but unlike many other "middle" books, the story is nicely encapsulated, and complete-enough. Though definitely open for a wrap in the next sequel, the book didn't just end in the middle of a climax. I'm really hoping Adelina can pull one out, but I have my doubts about how satisfying this story will be on the whole.
I recommend to any who have read the first book, as this is arguably better than the first book. If you haven't read the first book, I recommend reading that first. Though a great story, it is stronger if you have the background of the first book. I recommend the series to everybody who enjoys fantasy, especially with a darker slant.
Now I'm just sad that I have to wait quite a while for the next installment...
Though the darkness is intense, Adelina is a compelling character because of he relationship with the other characters of the book-none of whom are innocent, nice, or really any better than Adelina. Teren, Violetta, or even Raffaele are not looking out for Adelina-they are protecting their own interests, though Violetta does the most to help her sister.
The book itself is definitely the second in a series of three, but unlike many other "middle" books, the story is nicely encapsulated, and complete-enough. Though definitely open for a wrap in the next sequel, the book didn't just end in the middle of a climax. I'm really hoping Adelina can pull one out, but I have my doubts about how satisfying this story will be on the whole.
I recommend to any who have read the first book, as this is arguably better than the first book. If you haven't read the first book, I recommend reading that first. Though a great story, it is stronger if you have the background of the first book. I recommend the series to everybody who enjoys fantasy, especially with a darker slant.
Now I'm just sad that I have to wait quite a while for the next installment...
fiskmat's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so this is the first review I make of a book so excuse me if it sucks, but it has to be done for this book. ALSO SPOILER ALERT, I'm not capable of writing a review without spoilers rn.
I read almost half of the book in less that a day at first and I fell in love with Magiano and the more powerful Adelina. I started shipping them so much (like how can you not????). I noticed how he brought out the light in her as Violetta says in the end.
After I read almost half the book I didn't read it for a few days, I honestly got irritated or something because Enzo got revived. I knew it would fuck up everything, especially Adelina, she was never in good control with him. I didn't have many thoughts I remember now about the middle of the book and such, I am still overwhelmed by the ending.
About the last battle. I lost myself in it and felt myself turning darker as I read it, I got a thought in the middle of it; "This book series makes me realise how dark I actually am." I, and those around me, see me as a kinda nice person, some know that I'm darker than I look and act to others but this book made me realise that if I had Adelina's power, I wouldn't be very different from her.
AH RIGHT when Adelina and the others Elites met on the boat and when Adelina for a moment turned her focus on Magiano, saying he was an angel of joy (or something like that I can't recall the exact words), my heart swelled with love. It was so cute and pure (??), idk it just made me so happy and I wished more than ever for them to get together.
SO naturally the end crushed me, after the battle I was literally pacing in my room because of the energy I got from reading the battle. So then when it adruptly stopped I didn't know what to do. I just slowly sat down in my bed and continued reading as I felt the dread and sadness claw it's way into my heart. When Adelina "turned down" Magiano my heart sank, but I still had hope that she would get to her senses. THEN it happened, Violetta, she understand so well and idfk. I got mad at Adelina, how can she be so blind? But of course she is, the whispers and illusions are really taking over her. When Violetta ran I didn't know what to think, I hoped in all my heart that she would return or perhaps Magiano would come in to calm down Adelina... It was about then that my heart really broke and now I'm really dreading starting the next book.
If I know this series well I know that the next book will once again fuck with my head just as the other two books have done. This series is probably the one who has fucked with my head and emotions the most.
Even saying that, I don't regret reading it AT ALL. It is just so different from other young adult books I've read and a book who can make me start pacing from a battle is 100% worth reading.
Honestly I do not know if any of what I've written makes much sense at all, I just needed to vent and write about this book somewhere. If you read all this, thank you for 'listening', I hope you related to some of it at least :]
I read almost half of the book in less that a day at first and I fell in love with Magiano and the more powerful Adelina. I started shipping them so much (like how can you not????). I noticed how he brought out the light in her as Violetta says in the end.
After I read almost half the book I didn't read it for a few days, I honestly got irritated or something because Enzo got revived. I knew it would fuck up everything, especially Adelina, she was never in good control with him. I didn't have many thoughts I remember now about the middle of the book and such, I am still overwhelmed by the ending.
About the last battle. I lost myself in it and felt myself turning darker as I read it, I got a thought in the middle of it; "This book series makes me realise how dark I actually am." I, and those around me, see me as a kinda nice person, some know that I'm darker than I look and act to others but this book made me realise that if I had Adelina's power, I wouldn't be very different from her.
AH RIGHT when Adelina and the others Elites met on the boat and when Adelina for a moment turned her focus on Magiano, saying he was an angel of joy (or something like that I can't recall the exact words), my heart swelled with love. It was so cute and pure (??), idk it just made me so happy and I wished more than ever for them to get together.
SO naturally the end crushed me, after the battle I was literally pacing in my room because of the energy I got from reading the battle. So then when it adruptly stopped I didn't know what to do. I just slowly sat down in my bed and continued reading as I felt the dread and sadness claw it's way into my heart. When Adelina "turned down" Magiano my heart sank, but I still had hope that she would get to her senses. THEN it happened, Violetta, she understand so well and idfk. I got mad at Adelina, how can she be so blind? But of course she is, the whispers and illusions are really taking over her. When Violetta ran I didn't know what to think, I hoped in all my heart that she would return or perhaps Magiano would come in to calm down Adelina... It was about then that my heart really broke and now I'm really dreading starting the next book.
If I know this series well I know that the next book will once again fuck with my head just as the other two books have done. This series is probably the one who has fucked with my head and emotions the most.
Even saying that, I don't regret reading it AT ALL. It is just so different from other young adult books I've read and a book who can make me start pacing from a battle is 100% worth reading.
Honestly I do not know if any of what I've written makes much sense at all, I just needed to vent and write about this book somewhere. If you read all this, thank you for 'listening', I hope you related to some of it at least :]