SCIFIMONTH 2023 | AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Archenemies (Renegades #2) by Marissa Meyer

 

Title: Archenemies

Series: Renegades #2
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Published: November 6, 2018
Pages: 560
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Source: Audiobook

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The Renegades Trilogy continues, in this fiercely awaited second installment after the New York Times-bestselling Renegades by Marissa Meyer, author of the Lunar Chronicles.

Time is running out.

Together, they can save the world.

But they each other's worst nightmare.

In Renegades, Nova and Adrian (aka Insomnia and Sketch) fought the battle of their lives against the Anarchist known as the Detonator. It was a short-lived victory.

The Anarchists still have a secret weapon, one that Nova believes will protect her. The Renegades also have a strategy for overpowering the Anarchists, but both Nova and Adrian understand that it could mean the end of Gatlon City - and the world - as they know it.

Holy moly! This book was nonstop action with a bit of suspense and a whole lot of wow! 

Marissa Meyer has a beautiful writing style. Her writing is so polished and engaging. I am always pulled into her stories effortlessly. She is clever when it comes to building the plot of her books. The world-building in this series is well-structured. The world is atmospheric and vivid in your mind. 

I love the complexity of the main characters. Adrian and Nova have some excellent character development in this book. They both have a lot of depth between their tragic pasts, their current allegiances, their secret identities that they are both trying to hide from everyone and even their interests and hobbies. I love how relatable both main characters are. It is easy to slip into their shoes and connect with them. In the first book, I felt that the large amount of side characters was a little overwhelming but once I got everyone straight in my head I found that I really enjoyed them. While it may not seem that way at first, each character is distinct. All of the various side characters add a lot of depth to the story and they aren't just fodder. Each side character has their purpose in the story. 

Even though the romance in this series is an extreme slow-burn, I still find it really compelling. I love the whole enemies and rivals and good vs. evil vibe. I also love that Adrian genuinely admires Nova and is falling for her when he obviously wouldn't let himself if he knew who she was and Nova is admiring things about Adrian and falling for him even though she knows what side he is on. For Nova, it's like she can't help herself and she feels very conflicted. I can only imagine what Adrian's reaction would be if or when he finds out Nova's true identity and I wonder if it would have any effect on his feelings for her. All that aside, Adrian and Nova have great chemistry and are very naturally comfortable with each other. And it's obvious that they are attracted to each other. 

 

I love how this series emphasizes the idea that heroes and villains are subjective. It depends on the person's perspective. A hero can do bad things for good reasons just as easily as a villain and vice versa. It brings to mind the saying, "each villain is the hero of their own story", which I think really resonates in this series. The Renegades and the Anarchists were both doing not-so-good things but they both thought that they were doing what was right for humanity.

Overall, this is a fast-paced story with lots of action and adventure. If you enjoy superhero movies or stories with good vs. evil as a main plot device then you should try this series. This book has a riveting plot, memorable characters, and expert storytelling. I can't wait to read the finale and find out what happens!

I don't know about many books about superheroes and supervillains apart from comics. If you know of any please share! Are you a comics fan or do you prefer to get your fill of superheroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe?