This is a fantasy story set in a world ten year after a horrible disease/plague has either killed or left with major scars. The types of scars usually include things like hair colors, but can also be things such as losing an eye. And some of the children who survived not only have strange markings, but also may have powers. These children are called malfettos, and the king and queen want to rid the world of them. They may not all have powers, but those that do could be a serious threat to the king and queen. You see the prince is one, and he wants revenge on his sister who kept him from becoming king due to his new deformity/power. His name is Enzo, and he is one with the strange powers. In fact he calls himself and those he has gathered for his revenge, The Young Elites. Adelina is truly the main character though. She lost an eye and her hair turned silver. She has a younger sister who seemed to have survived with no markings or any changes. And so their father has always treated her younger sister, Violetta, much better. Until one day Adelina hears a plan of her father's that she wants no part of, and so she tries to run away. But when her father catches her, her powers manifest and she kills him. But in doing so, she is caught by the king and queen's Inquisitors and taken to be killed. There she meets Teren, the head Inquisitor. Teren is a malfetto himself, but his power is more well hidden. And he does the queen's bidding, as he is in love with her, and thinks she is in love with him.
When the Young Elites save Adelina from her execution, she is taken back to their hideout where they will try to train her and see if she can be of use in their plans. But she will not know if she is really being accepted, or if she must only do what is in her own, as well as her sister's best interest for themselves.
The powers were definitely interesting. The story itself had great detail and description. I just don't know how I feel about the love story, seems almost forced to me unfortunately. And really, I just don't know if I like Adelina that much, or even her sister towards the end of the book. But there is enough left hanging, and characters that I do like, that I need to know what will happen next.
