The Rose Society by Marie Lu

Disclaimer: I think this would have been a 5-star book for me if I hadn’t 1. Waited like 3 years after book one to read this 2. Taken forever to read the book and 3. Listened to the audiobook. 

I guess number two could be it just took me a while to get into the book, and I could have switched out of the audiobook (and I did at times) but I really do think this book was amazingly well written. 

I love the characters in this book series. I had forgotten how deliciously awful people can be to each other in this series. How complicated each character is, and how deeply I sympathize with people who are taking objectively misguided actions. If you love an anti-hero or love morally gray characters than this series is 100% for you. Lu can write a messed up character perfectly. 

The first book follows Adelina escaping the many traumas of her childhood and clawing at the world to try to gain a family, she is mistrusting of people but also deeply craves connection. It is fascinating. This book Adelina is even more full of fury and craves revenge against the long list of people who have maligned her. You see her struggle with who to trust, we see her make the wrong decision but understand why she does it. 

I loved the new characters. Especially Magiano. I obviously don’t see everything ending up happily for all of these characters but I want him to be okay.
The relationship between Adelina and her sister, Violeta, was great to read. I loved the layers in it. 

I will probably read one book in between this and The Midnight Sun, but I am so excited to finish out this series. After that I am completely caught up on all Marie Lu books!

I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads and finished reading it on November 15th, 2018.