Renegades by Marissa Meyer Narrator: Dan Bittner, Rebecca Soler
Series: Renegades #1
Published by Feiwel & Friends on November 7th 2017
Length: 16 hours 58 minutes
Genres: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction, Superheroes, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 416
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal. 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 the villains who have the power to end them both.
It’s that time again. Time for a Chapter Break Bookish Chat! This time around, we have Renegades by Marissa Meyer. Julie and I are both huge fans of Ms. Meyer’s so we thought we’d check out her most recent series.
So, Renegades.
Which I’m guessing you weren’t a fan of.
I have mixed feelings, I did like it, but I was expecting more drama with the secrets, lol. Superheroes, but they’re not exactly all good
Yes – which is something that I actually liked about the story.
I like how it started, super awful and sad and great backstory. I like our main character, she’s got some strong opinions and super superpowers and not to mention is a great fighter.
Yes- Nova’s backstory especially is super awful. Her opinions formed from her own early experiences. Clearly anarchists do not make very good parents. Very hands off.
Or uncles.
Yes, that too. I’m surprised she isn’t more messed up.
But the council is something scary and she’s super brave to take it all on.
Even more scary when you think about their plans to eliminate all the powers of people not in their group. Good for Nova for taking on the people in power.
Very evil indeed. Too corrupt to allow to remain in power. I agree with Nova though. It would be better for no one to have super abilities. No one would be a prodigy, rather than to have these Renegades in charge and have the ability to wipe out others.
I’d have to agree. Maybe if there were no prodigies, society would be a lot further along. People would have to figure out how to take care of themselves. Not like the Renegades are all perfect. But still, worshiped by the general public.
Book Quote Interruption:
“There’s no rule that says you have to be a prodigy to be a hero,” she insisted. “If people wanted to stand up for themselves or protect their loved ones or do what they believe in their hearts is the right thing to do, then they would do it. If they wanted to be heroic, they would find ways to be heroic, even without supernatural powers.
It’s so scary to think about people relying so heavily on someone else that they just don’t do anything. But also too real and true in our society. How many times were people in trouble in a public place and no one called for help, because they expected someone else to.
Very true. Which I think is a theme Marissa Meyer does well in all of her books. Reflecting our messed up society right back at us.
Agree, Marissa Meyer does that well, and twists it up in sinister ways
Yes. How do we feel about Adrian?
I’m undecided. Adrian seems genuine and really cares about Nova, but I want to know what his mission really is. I like that they both have secret identities. But after that ending, I really expected it to go another way, I’m not sure what his purpose is. If he feels his mission is done/no longer needed, what else will he do to counter Nova?
I’m not as conflicted about Adrian. I love his secret identity and fancy suit.
And he does seem to genuinely care about Nova and the others. But he does have that starry-eyed vision of what his fathers and the rest of the council are up to. But yes – I’m not really sure what his ‘purpose’ is. Maybe we’ll learn that in the next book.
He either doesn’t know it all or is in denial because he doesn’t seem evil.
I’m hoping doesn’t know. Denial is just sad. The council does keep things from Adrian. I imagine he’s comfortable with just accepting they have to do what they do to rule?
That’s probably it. He knows it has to be this way and doesn’t really believe his fathers and others on the council have bad intentions
Yeah – agreed. But he also thinks the council will show up to save everyone when the sh!t hits the fan. Granted, they do come to rescue him. But they don’t do such a good job at rescuing others.
They have their priorities.
True. They are also not good at finishing projects. I love how Nova keeps pointing out the 75% of projects are done. It’s like they get started and then something shiny distracts them.
Yea. They have bad Up syndrome. But I wonder if Adrian will find out about Nightmare later. Or if it even matters anymore. Or if they’re going to resurrect Nightmare in another book. And why he didn’t find out now.
Good point. He needs to find out about Nightmare. But I do wonder how it will happen.
Book Quote Interruption:
“Your days of villainy are over, Nightmare.”
She scoffed. “You sound like you’ve read too many comics.”
“You sound like you think that’s a bad thing,” he retorted.”
And is anyone surprised Ingrid betrayed them all?
Not me, that’s for sure. It still hurts. But she betrayed Nightmare once. Why would Nova even trust her a second time!
It was a good plan though if Ingrid held up her end of the deal. Though, I want to know how Nova escaped!
Right? I want to know how she escaped as well!
Is there another superpower she’s hiding? Or was it luck? Or did she anticipate the betrayal and have a trap door plan.
Or part of the plan that we don’t know about?
Ooh so maybe Ingrid isn’t dead?
Ugh. I’d rather believe she’s dead! She was not very helpful to Nova! certainly a ‘true’ anarchist.
Same! Loyal only to herself.
What about the other anarchists? What about Leroy, who pretended to be her uncle? He seemed to care about her. Even trying to get her to make her own decisions about how her life should turn out. Like no, Nova, you don’t NEED to be an anarchist.
I feel like Nova is going to lead a separate rebellion group. Maybe with the help of Adrian
Ah – yeah. I like that idea.
Otherwise their not-romance romance is useless time filler.
The youth revolt!
And Max will be on their side too.
Good idea. So long as he stays in his quarantine!
Or finds a way to control his power.
Yes. Though, it looks like the powers he zaps stay with him. He could end up having all the powers.
Or learn how to give them out.
That would be a cool trick.
That would be fun. It sounds like we have some predictions for the rest of the series.
Yes. And we never talked about that ending. I didn’t see that coming at all. Even after learning the helmet was fake.
I was confused about all that. Why have a fake helmet? Wasn’t that a token of what they supposedly controlled? So they’re faking the control they really have over the anarchists?
Yes – completely faking the control. But that no one ever even bothered to check if the control was real. They just accepted it.
Which shows how bad the world is that people don’t even question things.
Book Quote Interruption:
“You mean people don’t like to see hypocrisy in their leadership? Shocking.”
Yes – going back to the whole Marissa does a great job reflecting our society back on us.
Which means it will be easier for Nova to take them down.
We can hope
But circling back to super suit and awesome powers, how cool would it be to be able to fly like that and have cannons shoot out of your forearms. And the insomnia thing. We’d get so much done if we didn’t need sleep
Totally cool. And impressive that Adrian figured that all out on his own. Do you think insomnia is a power? Or just her forcing her will to not sleep on herself?
Hmm. I think it’s a power Because if she can go without sleep like that forever, and not have health effects, then it’s pretty magical. I’m completely useless after all these years of sleep deprivation
That’s probably true. I’m useless without sleep as well.
I also wouldn’t mind being able to make someone go the F to sleep with a touch. Just sayin. {Editor’s Note – Julie’s kid does NOT sleep!]
hahahahahahahaha I kind of like how her powers are defensive, but not in a kill you kind of defensive.
Book Quote Interruption:
She had always been astonished by people who could fall asleep fast, like there was nothing to it. Like their spirits weren’t burdened with suffering and resentment. Like their hearts and minds could so easily be at peace.
She learns how to be offensive with brute force though.
True. And her brains. She’s good at using both.
She’s kind of well rounded that way.
True
It sounds like we might be about done discussing this book.
Agreed. I’m out of discussion ideas. Any last or overall thoughts?
Overall liked it. I expected something different but I’m curious to see where the series goes. And how epic-ly she ends it
Very good points. Overall, I loved it. Great characters. I love the whole prodigy idea. And how the anarchists might actually be in the right.
Those type of radical concepts are always great!
Yes – agreed. Renegades a great spin on how the normally ‘bad guy’ is really the good guy.
Yep and vice versa. You expect the superheroes to be good.
Yep. Well, I think that about wraps it up!
Good chat! we should do more.
Yes – agreed. Our last chat was in 2016. Any recommendations of which books we should chat about next?
What do you say, readers? What should we chat about next?
Julie’s rating: 
Lynn’s rating: 
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