SSansFiction
The libraryCollectionsJournalStatsFor authors
Sign inJoin now
Sansfiction,

A digital library for books. Made by readers, for readers.

v 2.0 · 2026
The library
  • Discover
  • Collections
  • Book tracker
  • Journal
  • Stats
For authors
  • SF Links
  • Analytics
  • How it works
  • FAQ
Elsewhere
  • X / @sansfiction
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Contact
© 2026 SansFiction · Digital · GlobalA quiet room for your reading life.
The libraryCollectionsJournalStatsFor authors
Sign inJoin now →
Navigation
Library
Bookshelf
Journal
Discover
Collections
Tierlists
Stats
Profile
Author Page
Link Builder
Account
Sign in
S
G
BooksadventureThe Young Elites
Cover of The Young Elites by Marie Lu
№ 1 · The Young Elites

The Young Elites,

by Marie Lu

Ask AI
Rating3.7/ 5
Ratings165
Pages370
Reading Hours8h
Published2014
LanguageEnglish

§Synopsis

01

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series 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.

Track this book

Add to your library to track progress and write reviews

§Genres
adventure1dystopian1fantasy1fiction1general1science fiction1young adult1
§Moods
adventurous1dark1mysterious1tense1
§Tags
#character driven1#diverse characters1#not diverse characters1#unloveable characters1#weak character development1

§About the Author

Marie Lu
Marie Lu

14 books in catalog

Dystopian world-building and fast-paced speculative fiction have defined young adult bestseller lists, anchored by iconic series such as Legend and The Young Elites. Author Marie Lu has written more than 15 novels across young adult science fiction, fantasy, and superhero fiction, earning widespread acclaim and reaching number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Her expansive body of work ranges from militarized future societies to high-stakes virtual reality arenas and dark fantasy worlds.

Expanding her narrative scope beyond young adult literature, Marie Lu enters adult fiction with her novel Red City, scheduled for release on October 14, 2025. Her narrative craft consistently connects high-concept speculative settings with intense character dynamics, making her books central to modern fantasy and science fiction catalogs.

Career & Background

Born Xiwei Lu on July 11, 1984, in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, Marie Lu later moved to the United States and attended the University of Southern California. While studying biology and political science with early plans to pursue law school, she maintained a strong interest in art and creative writing. After graduating in 2006, she pivoted to the video game industry, working for Disney Interactive Studios as an artist—a role that directly shaped her visual and action-driven storytelling style.

Transitioning to full-time writing, Marie Lu published her debut novel Legend in 2011, launching a major dystopian series. She has since authored more than 15 novels, including the Warcross series, Skyhunter, Stars and Smoke, and Batman: Nightwalker as part of the DC Icons series. Today, she lives in Los Angeles with her family and continues to read, draw, play games, and write full-time.

Writing Style & Themes

Marie Lu's writing features cinematic pacing, intricate world-building, and complex character arcs. Drawing on her experience in game artwork, her descriptions emphasize visual environmental design and dynamic sequence staging. Her works frequently explore the corrupting nature of authority, antihero transformations, loyalty under totalitarian control, and virtual reality immersion.

Her fantasy and science fiction narratives regularly feature morally gray protagonists navigating hostile political landscapes. Rather than presenting black-and-white morality, her books challenge characters to confront systemic injustice, conflicting loyalties, and the enduring consequences of conflict.

Major Works

  • The Young Elites — The opening novel in The Young Elites fantasy trilogy introduces Adelina Amouteru, a survivor of a deadly fever who manifests powerful abilities and navigates a dark, villainous origin story.
  • The Rose Society — The second installment in The Young Elites series follows Adelina as she forms her own alliance of powered individuals to seek vengeance against those who betrayed her.
  • The Midnight Star — The dramatic conclusion to The Young Elites trilogy forces Adelina to confront a catastrophic threat to all powered individuals and weigh the cost of her empire.
  • Legend — A dystopian novel set in a flooded, militarized future Los Angeles, detailing the intersecting lives of military prodigy June Iparis and street outlaw Day.
  • Red City — Marking Marie Lu's adult fantasy debut with an October 14, 2025 release, Red City expands her speculative fiction into new adult thematic territory.

§Featured Series

The Young Elites

Cover of The Young Elites: Exclusive Sneak Peek by Marie Lu

The Young Elites: Exclusive Sneak Peek

Marie Lu, 2014
Cover of The Young Elites by Marie Lu

The Young Elites

Marie Lu, 2014
Cover of The Rose Society by Marie Lu

The Rose Society

Marie Lu, 2015
Cover of The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

The Midnight Star

Marie Lu, 2016

§Other Editions

Showing 2 of 19 editions
Cover of The Young Elites

The Young Elites

engPaperback
Penguin Books Limited20149780141361826
Cover of The Young Elites

The Young Elites

engPaperback
Razorbill20149780141361925
§Genres
adventure1dystopian1fantasy1fiction1general1science fiction1young adult1
§Moods
adventurous1dark1mysterious1tense1
§Tags
#character driven1#diverse characters1#not diverse characters1#unloveable characters1#weak character development1

Metadata

ISBN-139780399172724
ISBN-100399172726

Editions and availability

Find The Young Elites Marie Lu in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.

Bookshop.orgGoogle Play BooksBarnes & NobleOpen Library

Featured In Lists

Book cover from this collectionBook cover from this collectionBook cover from this collectionBook cover from this collection
Book cover from this collection
Book cover from this collection
Book cover from this collection
Book cover from this collection

The Villain's Perspective

10 books•@sansfictionbot