Marie Lu’s Rose Society picks up right where The Young Elites left off. Adelina and her sister are running for their lives and from betrayals in search of allies and a way to sate ambition. The Lead Inquisitor hunts for the Dagger Society and the path of our protagonist continues to whither from hero and anti-hero to outright villain.
This origin story of how an abused girl transforms herself into a super villain is compelling. The action, both emotional and physical, moves at a quick beat as Adelina gathers allies and makes her move across the chessboard of three nations. In her second go around, Lu’s antagonists and subcharacters are given more attention. They become not only worthy foils, but more sympathetic and well rounded.
There are one or two logic holes and a few story gaffes which glare, but this is not only a superhero story, but epic fantasy and it makes sense that the reader must blink their eyes at reality occasionally and quiet that voice that speaks of physics or story consistency. Still, I never felt compelled to stop reading or to roll my eyes. The narrative just flows sweet over the eye.
It is a bit of a cruel book, but not unduly so. Marie Lu in her acknowledgements admits this is her darkest work of fiction. Yet one can’t help sense that there’s a bit of light, a touch of hope that may just win out. Overall, I had enough fun that I will happily continue with this series… if for no other reason than to see if my suspicions prove out.
