Renegades (Spoiler Free Review)
Rating: 95% ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pages: 556
Author: Marissa Meyer Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Science Fiction Release Date: Nov. 7, 2017
Marissa Meyer never disappoints. NEVER. I’m so impressed by her ability to create new worlds and stories. Her characters are all amazing, whether good or evil, and now I get to gush about her books for the millionth time!
Renegades is a science-fiction superhero story that blurs the line between good and evil. The world had basically gone insane, and out of the ashes, two groups remain: the Anarchists, one of the few rebel groups left, though forced underground, and the Renegades, the shiny superheroes that saved the world and are now the politicians of the city. The leader of the Anarchists, Ace Anarchy, died at the end of a revolution before the Renegades took control. Now, everyone is safe under the superheroes. But are they?
Nova had grown up an Anarchist under the alias “Nightmare,” because her parents were killed as a child and the Renegades never arrived. Her power is to put people to sleep with her touch. She is just starting to gain a name for herself as a villain when she fails to kill the leader of the Renegades. To redeem herself, and finally overthrow the Renegades, she infiltrates their headquarters as a Renegade in training. After meeting her team and their leader Adrian, she starts to question everything she’s ever been taught.
“One cannot be brave who has no fear.”
It’s been a while since I've read this book, but I can tell you that it still blows my mind. The writing was as addicting as always. I constantly had to keep reading and could never put the book down. What I really appreciated was Meyer's willingness to take risks. Superhero books are rare in YA, mostly because you would have to translate the action and give it as much excitement as you would see it on the big screen. Fortunately, the action scenes were intense and vivid. I was always living it as if I was seeing it with my own eyes.
I’m also in love with the characters. Nova is the angsty teen that you love to hate. In fact, it really is hard to hate her because she is so relatable. Although she is a villain, her tragic past gives you a real understanding into who she is. She is brave and determined and and and… altogether a great and complex character.
Adrian’s story is crazy cool. He is the son of two of the most famous superheroes with the power to make his drawings come to life. Constantly under the pressure to live up to his dads’ reputations, he takes Nova onto his team on a whim, thinking all she does is “never sleep.” In reality, he has a secret alter ego, one that has not been declared Renegade or Anarchist, posing a threat to both sides. Adrian is a great character; geeky and cute, always loyal to his friends and family.
“How can we expect people to change if we don't give them the chance to?”
The romance was very well developed. In fact, it was very slow, and although I totally want to see them together, their relationship is so natural and I enjoy their deep talks and cute banter.
Two great aspects of this story: the political intrigue and the search to find the real definition of justice. First: the way the city is run is problematic although it seems successful on the surface. Even superheroes can't solve every problem. Additionally, Adrian questions what real justice is. It’s an interesting and complex conversation that I think was really dealt with well in this book.
“Now we're talking. Let's go be superheroes!”
Anyway, this book totally blew my mind. If you see a book written by Marissa Meyer, I approve. Renegades takes all of Meyer’s best qualities as a writer and approves upon them in a new, unique way. It’s adventurous and intense. Just read it please.
Lots of love,
Ellie
Comments
Post a Comment