Actual rating: 4.5 
 Going into The Young Elites I wasn't too sure what to expect. At best, probably a better than average story about teens with powers, considering it's written by Marie Lu. Instead I got a book that was a hell of a lot more dark and grim than I could have anticipated. And I loved it all. 
 A basic background of this story is that there was a blood fever that swept the country and either killed you, or if you were young, left you with strange markings. In extreme cases, some children were even left with mysterious powers. They came to be known as the Young Elites. 
 The best thing about The Young Elites is that no single character is all good or all bad. I can't think of anyone who hadn't done something questionable and had me wondering if I could trust them, or even like them. Adelina Amouteru is the epitome of this. On one hand, she wants nothing more than to save herself and her sister from the Inquisition, those who seek out malfettos, or marked ones, considered to be dangerous abominations. On the other, Adelina is tired of being afraid and abused. She has a darkness inside her that threatens to dominate everything, and she's not so sure that's a bad thing. Enzo Valenciano is similar in that he wants malfettos to rise and demand respect from those who have made them suffer but his means to do so are bloody and ruthless. 
 It's this battle with darkness that made this book so enjoyable for me. There's something about dark books that just reel me in. They play with my emotions and have me questioning everything that is written. There's no way the characters can be considered "good" people but there are relatable moments that demand sympathy, or at least empathy. Without a doubt, lots of feelings are involved. 
 I wouldn't go into this book expecting a standard fantasy/paranormal. Granted, there are some tropes here, but it's a step up from most. The conclusion left me with a ton of questions and a couple ideas as to where the story is headed, so I'll eagerly be anticipating the sequels.