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The Midnight Star by Marie Lu // An fantastic & cruel conclusion

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu // An fantastic & cruel conclusion
The Midnight Star (The Young Elites, #3) by Marie Lu
Series: The Young Elites #3
Genres: Fantasy (YA)
Pages: 316
Goodreads

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.
Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all she’s gained.
When a new danger appears, Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds, putting not only herself at risk, but every Elite. In order to preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

*This is the last book in The Young Elites trilogy. I am intentionally vague because I don’t want to give away too much information. However, I will hide spoilers when I just have to talk about them.

PLOT

This was a wonderful conclusion to one of my favorite trilogies. I don’t want to give a lot away because it would ruin the story, but something I loved was that the story came full-circle. The direction Lu took it, I thought, was a perfect complement to Adelina’s character development throughout the first two books.

I will say that the beginning of the story is a bit slower, but it works. Lu uses a good part of the beginning to build Adelina’s character in her new circumstances. She also perfectly blends in some reminders of earlier events – which is something I definitely needed – and she did it without making it feel like info dumps.

Spoiler: View Spoiler »

PLOT (1)

Of course, I love Adelina’s character. She’s one of my favorite female fantasy characters I’ve ever read. Lu created one of the most complex female leads and in this conclusion, her character has to make some very tough choices, becoming even more complex. This is because Adelina is the exact opposite of what we are so used to reading when it comes to female leads in YA lit. She has to make decisions that are tough for her, but ones that may be completely obvious to others. It’s one of my favorite things about her and I’m so glad Lu continued that, and then some, in this finale.

Oh, and don’t worry, Adelina still kicks some butt, she just definitely grows as a person.

As for the other characters, personally, I never really pay attention to them. I do like Maggiano, but I actually like Teren more. His character, to me, is almost the male form of Adelina, so I’ve always enjoyed his story more than the others. And don’t even get me started on the Daggers, because I don’t like them and still don’t.

Huge spoiler: View Spoiler »

PLOT (2)

Lu is one of my favorite writers, I just absolutely love everything she does. Even when it’s a slower part of the book, she makes it interesting or beautiful to read. I was quickly consumed in the story and my interest held until the very end. As I said before, the beginning is slower than the second half. However, it wasn’t something that really affected my enjoyment overall.

PLOT (3)

I’ll say this: my expectations were met. This was a fantastic conclusion and there was no reason for me to be nervous about how it would end at all. You get to see Adelina be her normal ruthless self, but also grow and change throughout. Like stated before, the story comes full circle, that’s the best way I can describe it without spoilers. The ending is both beautiful and cruel, Lu definitely wanted to torture us. If you loved the first two books in this trilogy, the finale won’t disappoint.

Rating Report
Plot
Characters
Writing
World Building
Romance
Overall: 5 / 5

8 Comments

  • Reply Tracy 12/10/2016 at 11:19 am

    I’ve only read the first book in this series (which I read recently) and I’m really excited to read the rest! I’m SO glad the reaction to book three seems to be mostly positive. Great review 😀

    Tracy @ Cornerfolds

    • Reply Molly 12/15/2016 at 6:05 am

      It’s funny, I actually wrote this review as a spoiler-free review because I know you like to read reviews for final books before continuing series! hahah So, I’m glad you read it 🙂

      It is an amazing trilogy & super unique. So I hope you enjoy it!

  • Reply Alisha 12/12/2016 at 2:18 pm

    Okay.
    So.
    I’m less scared than I was before. Because I 100% trust your judgement and your opinion.
    But I’m still scared.
    In that you’ll-remain-scared-until-you-just-dive-in sort of way.
    But I’m also VERY excited to read it…

    I agree with you. Adelina is one of my FAVOURITE characters – ever. Easily. Like not much competition. She’s so unique and so incredible. I also really like Maggiano and Teren!!! I LOVE Teren! And I agree that he’s like her male counterpart. I’m also really glad that she gently reminds you of the past cause I really didn’t want to reread The Rose Society. (which is saying something cause I like rereading good books, but I just want to read it, you know? I don’t want to play with my food. I want to eat it.)

    Anyway. Awesome review 🙂 Thanks for easing some of my fears!

    • Reply Molly 12/15/2016 at 6:00 am

      YAY I’m not alone in liking Teren. I thought it was kind of weird that he was a character I liked because he’s not a nice guy haha But I just find his character interesting. Also, yeah, it catches you up a bit – I basically forgot 80% of the previous books lol

      I really hope you like it. Let me know when you start!

  • Reply Zoe N. 12/13/2016 at 3:46 pm

    This is one of my favorite series (I love how complex and dark Adelina is) so I am so relieved to hear that the conclusion doesn’t disappoint. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3

    • Reply Molly 12/15/2016 at 5:59 am

      I hope you love how it ends! This is one of my favorites as well, so I was so nervous.

  • Reply Ilsa @ A Whisper Of Ink 07/30/2017 at 3:06 am

    OMG SAME HERE <3

    I definitely felt Violetta's death was a bit sudden and underwhelming. I teared up AT THAT ENDING and like I basically hated Adelina in The Rose Society but in this book she was so complex, and amazing and HELLO LOVE <3 AND it was such a good ending? Like wrapped up so nice and everything and BASICALLY perfect conclusion

    SPOILER BITS: I LOVED ENZO In the Young Elites and BASICALLY DIED WHEN HE DIED. But I hattted how he had to come back to life because it was so unfair for him and I am glad he returned to the Underworld BECAUSE he was suffering and NO. That cannot happen to him.

    Magiano was so undeveloped but I SHIP HIM with Adelina <3 But for a while, JUST A LITTLE BIT, I shipped Teren and Adelina?

    SO MUCH LOVE FOR THIS REVIEW

    • Reply Molly's Book Nook 08/04/2017 at 3:32 pm

      OK YES. Magiano was a good choice too hahah I agree with most of what you said besides Enzo – who I was SO FREAKING SICK OF lol

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