Marie Lu on Writing a Villainess, Video Game Influence, and Her Chosen Power

The books are written primarily from the perspective of Adelina, who’s just learning to work with her powers and is full of darkness. By The Rose Society, she’s really taken off with embracing her villainy, which is such a cool thing to see. What are the best parts and biggest challenges of making your primary protagonist a villain rather than a traditional hero?
Thank you! I have to admit—I jumped into writing from a villain’s POV quite naively. (It’ll be easy, they said! Darth Vader’s head must be a fun place to gallivant around in, they said!) I realized early on that, no, being inside Adelina’s head is no walk in the park. In order to write about her authentically, I had to become her to some extent, and therefore justify her actions and thoughts to myself. I had to stay in this realm for months at a time. This, by far, is the biggest challenge of writing the Young Elites trilogy—trying to stay dark and also sane. It doesn’t mean I don’t have fun, though, because I do, and I love Adelina for being unapologetically selfish about many of her choices. It’s refreshing to throw off the burdens a protagonist usually must carry, and just allow your character to say, “You know what? I’m going to do this thing because it makes me feel good.”
If you were turning yourself into a Young Elite, what would be your mark and power of choice?
Soooo…..I have an obsession with describing hair. I don’t know why—hair is just really pretty. I’d want a marking that turns my hair some gorgeous color, maybe silver like Adelina’s, or blue. And I’d like the ability to turn invisible. It’d make travel, especially wilderness travel, so interesting! I could walk right up to a lion and admire it, or watch a bear catching salmon up close. That would be pretty cool.
There are so many memorable secondary characters in the series. If you were to write one of them a spinoff novel, who would it be and why? (Crosses fingers for a full-length backstory to the epilogue of The Young Elites!)
Thank you! I’d probably pick Raffaele, the young Fortunata Court consort and second-in-command in the Dagger Society. He was actually the main character in my earliest draft of The Young Elites, before I realized I wanted to tell a villain’s tale, so I know the most about him. (Maybe I’d write a backstory to the epilogue of The Young Elites, too!)
Your background is in video game design. How does that play into, if at all, how you build your worlds in both this series and in Legend‘s?
Video games play in a great deal, sometimes without me realizing it. The Skiz duels in Legend, for example, were inspired directly by Street Fighter. The setting for The Young Elites, a fantasy land reminiscent of Renaissance Italy, was partly inspired by Assassin’s Creed 2. I tend to visualize my scenes as if they’re 3D environments. Games will probably influence all of my future writing in some way.
What has surprised and/or pleased you most about the way people respond to your books?
I went into writing The Young Elites with a great deal of fear—I’d been told repeatedly that a villain’s story would be far too dark for young readers to want, and that no one would like my villainess, Adelina. I braced myself for epic failure. It’s been a surprise and a relief to receive messages from readers who not only enjoy the series, but sympathize with Adelina’s plight.

I’ve read that you consume “dark” media (music, shows, etc.) to get into Adelina’s head for this series, which is understandable considering The Rose Society is the darkest fantasy I’ve read in a long time. What are some of your favorite inspirational shows or songs for getting into that space?
The Rose Society was definitely the hardest book I’ve ever written, because it’s so difficult to stay in that dark space. I have a “Dark” playlist I’ll blast, eyes closed, before I start my daily writing sessions. The music ranges from eerie movie soundtracks to Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” to Marilyn Manson (whom I never listened to until I started The Young Elites!). I’ll also put on episodes of shows like American Horror Story, or films like Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy. (Heath Ledger’s Joker = tons of inspiration.) Getting out of that dark headspace is the really tricky bit, actually. I’ll usually go play with my dogs to shake it off!
We’re all about book recommendations here at the B&N Teen Blog. What are some books you’ve been loving this year? Anything you can’t wait to read in 2016?
Oh, man, there are so many! A book out this fall that I’m obsessed with is Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s Illuminae, which is one of the best science fiction stories I’ve read in a long time. Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows is a masterpiece by a master writer. Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes made me miss a flight because I was that engrossed in it, and Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series is fantastic and epic. In 2016, I’m really looking forward to Susan Dennard’s Truthwitch, Renee Ahdieh’s The Rose and the Dagger, Sarah Rees Brennan’s Tell the Wind and Fire, and Tahereh Mafi’s Furthermore.
As an artist yourself, you make some pretty epic art for your own book, but what are some cool things you’ve seen from fans?
Fan creations are better than anything I could make. I’ve seen fan art from readers that is professional-grade in quality. But one of my favorite fan creations is a copy of Legend turned into a fully functional clock, by a 14-year old fan. Just incredible.
What can you tell us about what’s next for Adelina and the others, and/or you?
Adelina has one more book left in her journey, and while I can’t give any specifics, I will say the question is whether or not she can find any redemption at all, some path back into the light. As for me, I’m working on a new story I’m really excited about. It’ll contain a few fun surprises for my fans. I hope I get to share more soon!