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.
me, standing in my nightmare costume, drinking my fourth cup of coffee: guys we need to talk about Nova Artino
In Meyer's futuristic science-fiction novel superheroes meet politics and morale, yet when it all comes together, there is no right answer. I never thought I’d so thoroughly enjoy a book about superheroes, but here I stand, ready for more. I completely emerged myself in this world of self-righteous villains and questionable heroes, schemes and a community, in which one must take the matter in their own hands if they want to change things for the better.
“One cannot be brave who has no fear.”
Renegades are the order of superheroes who assumed themselves to overthrow Ace Anarchy and his villainous followers. In a society with no order and laws, people endured constant chaos and arbitrariness of the gangs. Renegades stopped Ace’s tyranny and restored the order in society with conventional laws and syndicate of prodigies, becoming nationwide heroes and inspiration for the entire society and future generations. Except, not everything’s perfect as those in charge want it to look like.
“There are many dangerous people in this world. but there are also many good people. Brave people. No matter how bad things get, we have to remember that. So long as there are heroes in this world, there's hope that tomorrow night might be better.”
The duality of perspectives brings out the adversity and complex setting of the heroes-villains dynamic. In a web of schemes and political pots, it may be a little harder to differ right from wrong. It’s the greyness that makes this book so great and enjoyable, the eternal debate of what measure of control is enough to stop chaos from erupting, but keep the people from losing the awareness. Superheros my save the world, but they also make it lazy. Meyer conceptualized her story with just enough action to move the plot, leaving a lot of space to think, to feel and to lose yourself in the character interactions.
There are no right answers to any of the questions I kept asking myself. Power is a tricky concept, one that has never found an answer* for - usually end up with those on the top hurting the least, yet I couldn’t stop thinking about Ace Anarchy, because - who put them in power in the first place? Why would prodigies get the right to make laws and for the rest of the world? If one is stronger, that automatically makes him fitter to rule, make laws of men? This book did a perfectly accurate portrayal of the balance that must exist between responsibility and power, intertwining the lesson with inspiring characters and uncovered rivalries.
Nova is Ace Anarchy’s niece, a prodigy taken under his wing after a gang called Roaches killed her entire family. She was raised on hatred, steering all her energy into training to become the instrument of Renegades’ destruction. She turned her pain and grief into determination, a ruthless and righteous fighter for revenge and everything she believes is right. Her character has woken so many emotions in me, finally, a poc heroine with steel in her veins and love in her heart, willing to learn and change for something she worked for.
The other side of the coin is Adrian Everhart. He is a son of the original Renegade – Lady Itominable but was adopted by Simon and Hugh (the leaders of the Renegades) after his mother died in the battle of Ace Anarchy. Adrian represents a contrast to Nova, a life she could never have, but still, the same things drew them together. I could really feel Adrian’s need to do better, his helplessness to help Max and exasperation in the system he has no impact on. Systems can be flawed, no matter how good people in it were, and sometimes believing in it may mean taking things in your own hands.
“Heroism wasn't about what you could do, it was about what you did. It was about who you saved when they needed saving.”
If you want to read a good, intriguing, inspirational and layered book with superheroes and beautiful characters I don't know what you're waiting for. I thought this was going to be just another YA fantasy I'd go through for the sake of reading, but Meyer managed to swipe me off my feet once more.
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