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Renegades

Book 1 in the series:Renegades

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Renegades by Marissa Meyer is a young adult superhero novel that intelligently tackles the questions that superpower narratives often face. Set in a future where people possess superpowers, the story follows the Renegades, the good guys, and the Anarchists, the bad guys, blurring the lines between their intentions. The book weaves suspense and intrigue as it delves into the lives of characters grappling with their powers and the consequences of their actions, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged.

The plot of Renegades unfolds with a mix of action-packed sequences and character-driven arcs that explore themes of trust, responsibility, and the complexities of heroism and villainy. Marissa Meyer's writing style captures the essence of a superhero story, drawing readers into a world where characters like Nova navigate between right and wrong, challenging the conventional notions of heroes and villains. As the story unfolds, readers are taken on a journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected revelations, setting the stage for a gripping series that leaves them eager for more.

Characters:

The characters are broadly defined by their allegiances, showcasing a range of personalities and complex motivations, particularly between the main leads.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features rich descriptions and character introspection, with a cinematic feel that sometimes slows the pacing.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a conflict between two groups of superhumans—heroes and villains—set in a dark, dystopian world. The protagonist grapples with personal revenge and overarching themes of morality.

Setting:

Set in a futuristic city, the story unfolds amidst tensions between superhuman factions and reflects the remnants of a tumultuous societal past.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow, especially in the first half, but picks up with action and plot twists, though it sometimes feels more like setup for future installments.
Kids ran amok in orange capes, screeching and waving Blacklight-branded sparklers over their heads, or shooting one another with Tsunami-themed squirt guns. Grown men had squeezed themselves into blue...

Notes:

Renegades is set in a world with super humans called prodigies.
Prodigies have diverse powers, from flight to unique abilities like animating origami.
Nova, the main character, can cause people to sleep with her touch.
She infiltrates the Renegades while seeking revenge for her family's death.
Adrian, another main character, can bring his drawings to life.
The Renegades are seen as heroes, while the Anarchists are viewed as villains.
The story raises moral questions about good and evil, showing complexity in both sides.
The book features multiple perspectives, offering insights into both the Renegades and Anarchists.
The writing style is described as cinematic and action-packed.
The novel explores themes of betrayal, identity, and the gray areas of morality.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the book, primarily through the relationship between the main characters, Nova and Adrian.

From The Publisher:

A high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal . . . . From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer comes the New York Times-bestselling YA novel Renegades.

Secret Identities.

Extraordinary Powers.

She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies-humans with extraordinary abilities-who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice-and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Praise for Renegades:

A New York Times bestseller

A Winter 2017-2018 Kids' Indie Next List Selection

"Blends sci-fi and action like a young adult X-Men novel, asking what it means to be a hero and what it means to be a villain." -Paste Magazine

"Beyond the capes and masks is a strikingly grounded story of star-crossed would-be lovers, deception, and the recognition that most of humanity exists between the extremes of good and evil." -Publishers Weekly, starred review

Don't miss these other books from #1 New York Times- and USA Today-Bestselling author Marissa Meyer:

The Lunar Chronicles:

Cinder

Scarlet

Cress

Winter

Stars Above

Fairest

The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book

Wires and Nerve: Vol. 1

Wires and Nerve: Vol. 2

Renegades:

Renegades: Book One

Heartless

Ratings (73)

Incredible (20)
Loved It (29)
Liked It (13)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (4)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (183):

Read It (77)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (87)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (12)

6 comment(s)

Mar 2, 2018 - content; trying too hard

 
Hated It
4 months

As someone who has loved Marissa Meyer's other books, this is not something I thought would ever happen, but I truly didn't like this book. It relied so much on different tropes that I knew where the story was going from the beginning almost. Nothing was surprising or shocking to me. The characters seemed flat and 1-dimensional and the world felt so contrived. I wish I could give this a higher rating, but I can't.

 
It Was OK
5 months

****3.0****

Review Soon.

 
Incredible
7 months

Superheroes, found family, clean romance, inner moral struggles, hero and Villan pov, characters change and grow

 
Loved It
10 months

Brooooo.....Why did it have to end with a cliffhanger??

 
Incredible
10 months

A lot of fun! Very much leaning into superhero tropes without being cheesy over the top.

 

About the Author:

Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles series, as well as the graphic novel Wires and Nerve: Vol. 1, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first stand alone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters.

 
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