The Midnight Star (The Young Elites)

I've been on a hiatus from blogging because my work life has been so hectic. I have two reviews to post up, this one being included. Thank you for not abandoning me, and taking the time to read my opinions about the books that I read. It means so much to me. Thank you!The Midnight Star is the conclusion to Marie Lu's The Young Elites trilogy. Adelina is by far one of the most captivating characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading. From the very first book, I've always felt like loving her was like a "guilty pleasure", if you will. It felt rebellious liking her because she's never been on the "straight and narrow" path. Her motives for doing the things that she's done have always been questionable. Marie Lu continues that characterization in The Midnight Star and forces all those who actually like Adelina, to question our own morals and beliefs.Adelina is the darkest she's ever been. Now deemed a Queen by conquest, she's ruthless to those who aren't gifted, those who don't bare the mark like all Young Elites. She's a young woman who has been deemed a monster since day one, and wants to seek revenge on those who crucified her for being different. Her darkness gets ever more sinister when her shadow power begins to eat away at her. They become more and more uncontrollable, and at times we see Adelina begin to unravel at the seams.The gods play a major role in this book. We find out more information about how the Young Elites came to be, and just what is at stake for these young individuals who are gifted with powers only Gods are capable of having. Without discussing specific details of the plot, I will say that there's a price to be paid for all of their abilities, and that debt has come knocking. Friends and foes must join forces to stop what's happening.The ending was so hard for me to read. I didn't know how to feel to be honest. I couldn't believe what I was reading. After some careful marination, I firmly believe Marie Lu did the right thing with the decisions she has made in the conclusion. It was so poetic and honestly, justice, whether I like it or not, was finally had. In the end, I'm surprised I expected anything differently.Readers, go out and pick up this book today. It's filled with love, hate, and retribution. Watch how these characters navigate their realm, and allow yourself to question your own ambiguous behaviors. This book was very much a reflection of humanity when they are tested. Succeed or fail, you must find out what happens by reading it for yourself.

Rating: 5 Stars We have been on a wild ride with Adelina. She was new to the world of powers and she quickly grew into her powers. She suffered and she fought. Now she is queen and she is set to take on the rest of the world. She had good intentions but over time her cruelty grows and the darkness within her has begun to spiral out against even her. The past is not that far behind her as she is forced to face old wounds and risk herself to save ever Elite including the world as a whole. The Roses and Daggers must journey together despite the past pains for the sake of the world. We have been on a journey with Adelina and over time she has gone from a girl who has been through a very harsh and tough life that you wanted to succeed. When she was cruel it made sense given her history and what she was dealing with. Overtime she grew more powerful and her anger and cruelty grew to exceed what was needed tipping over the point making her a real villain of the story. She took the whole revenge thing very seriously. I felt bad while reading because part of me totally understood her reasoning for some of it. Her hatred for those who treated the marked badly or differently, turning the tables on them I understood in some way but I also understood it wasn't something that could last because it just flipped the script instead of fixing the problem. She was also very quick to be suspicious and lash out. Again I understood given what she went through and knew but it grew each time. I think while this story is very fantasy I could see similarities to mental health in them. As her own darkness turned on her it became clear that she is also the victim of her story as it was inside her pushing her. She could know something but then her mind would somehow turn things around until she was no longer sure of things. That is something I think many people have dealt with and can relate to. For me I wasn't sure if I would be able to really grow to love Adelina again as I did in the beginning but as this story played on I really did start to feel for her more. I loved seeing the Roses and the Daggers together again. It was both hard and amazing to see them come together again both suspicious of the other. Danger is on all sides it seems but the world is at stake and that puts them in the same boat….at least for the time being. I enjoyed getting to see all my favorite characters and see their interactions. I loved seeing how the different relationships melded together. Everyone has changed through the series and watching as the different characters react and grow over time both separate and together was beautiful. I don't know how much more I can say about the story without reaching into spoilers but to say that for the end…I had the feels. I was not 100% sure how I felt about it right away but really had to think on it after I had processed it a bit more. I was expecting my heart to be broken but then it happened in a way that just ripped it out even more roughly than I planned for. Lots of tears and feels but in the end it was a fitting end to the story that we started telling in book one. I enjoyed the store Lu wrote for us with these Elites and the world that they sought to save even when it wasn't always good to them.

Good

This took book series took me on a whirlwind of emotions!!!! I loved every single minute of it, and would highly recommend

Che conclusione perfetta. Non mi ha mai annoiata, i personaggi sono fedeli a se stessi e Adelina (E MAGIANO) rimarrà per molto tempo nel mio cuore.Unico consiglio: preparate tanti fazzoletti per affrontare la lettura!

El final de los Young Elites?Posibles Spoilers de la trilogía en gral y el libro, The Midnight StarSOBRE EL LIBRO:La historia de Adelina y compañía continua años después de donde nos dejó el último libro. El reino de terror que Adelina creó se expande por toda la tierra. Cuando la ambición de nuestra anti heroína no parece tener fin, un mensaje de un viejo amigo pidiendo por su ayuda llega para hacerla entrar en razón, a raíz de esto Adelina y sus rosas deben aliarse con las Dagas y viejos enemigos para emprender un viaje y salvar el mundo que conocen antes de que sea muy tarde.OPINION PERSONAL DE LA HISTORIA:La escritura de la autora Marie Lu mejora y crece mucho más desde el primer libro (The Young Elites), en lo personal yo pensé que la trilogía tendría un final diferente al que nos presenta el libro.La historia termina bien en general, y el desarollo del personaje principal es muy bueno al igual que los demás personajes que logran evolucionar conforme la trilogía llega al final. Sin embargo siento que los primeros dos libros (The Young Elites y The Rose Society) llevan la historia por un lado para al final terminarla con un giro en donde nuestra protagonista logra redimirse al final.Aunque en al historia podemos ver elementos que ya hemos visto en otros comics o libros (X-Men/Game of Thrones) estas encajan perfecto en el viaje de Adelina que Marie Lu nos relata, lo más atractivo de esto a mi parecer es que en lugar de tener al típico personaje principal, la autora nos presenta a una anti heroína que hará de todo por salirse con la suya, pero al final logra redimirse y dejar de alguna forma u otra su marca en el mundo.A pesar de que los primeros dos libros dejaron la bara muy alta para esta tercera parte (en mi opinión) y mis expectativas eran muchas, sin duda alguna recomiendo esta trilogía (y este libro, claro), si tienen dudas sobre leerla o no, denle una oportunidad, ya verán que quedarán enganchados desde el primer libro.SOBRE EL SERVICIO DE AMAZON:El libro lo compré en Diciembre (pero apenas lo leí) y me llego muy rápido pero maltratado, por lo cual solicité un cambio a Amazon y ellos sin pensarlo me enviaron otro nuevo y en condiciones mucho mejores. Sin duda esto nos demuestra que la prioridad de Amazon somos sus clientes y ofrecernos un buen servicio a todos.

I really could not stop crying after i finished the book. The folktale of Angel Compasia and her swan was so very marvellous. We are lucky to be graced by the presence of an aspiring author like Marie Lu on this planet. The gave me a whole new angle of Adelina and her love for her sister.