Renegades

Meyer, Marissa. Renegades. Book 1 of the Renegades series. 2017. 556p. ISBN 9781250044662. Available at FIC MEY on the library shelves.

When supernatural abilities emerged in people, humanity rebelled. Individuals who could fly, could manipulate elements, or could become invisible were hunted down for representing a danger to society. Known as prodigies, they eventually banded together and rebelled. Societies were destroyed as groups of prodigies formed rival gangs and fought together and against normal humans in what became known as the Age of Anarchy. Ace Anarchy, the leader of the most powerful group, the Anarchists, had led the fight to ensure that every prodigy could live a life free of fear, but in the process had not been able to re-establish a new social order.

Another group of prodigies arose to challenge Ace Anarchy, with the express goal of rebuilding an orderly society. Naming themselves the Renegades, they confronted the Anarchists and in an epic battle in the city of Galton, triumphed when Ace Anarchy was killed by the Renegades’ leader, Captain Chromium. Now the city is governed by the Renegades, who have been slowly restoring order and social services throughout the area. The Renegades have attracted more prodigies to their banners, and are even exporting training and prodigies to other areas of the world to create new Renegade branches.

Nova Artino witnessed the murders of her parents and her younger sister when she was six. Her father had the ability to create wonderful items, and he had worked with some of the villain gangs, but had sought the protection of the Renegades. Nova had just enough time to hide in the closet, but was found by the killer anyway. She used her prodigy power of sleep to neutralize the killer, and her uncle, Alec Artino, also known as Ace Anarchy, found her near the sleeping killer. He wiped out the villains who had sponsored the murders, and adopted and began to train Nova, until he was defeated by the Renegades.

Ten years later, Nova has vowed revenge on the Renegades for failing her family and for killer her uncle. Living with the remaining Anarchists in a station of the former subway system, she is known as Nightmare, a villain who creates her own weapons and gadgets and who is able to put her victims to sleep. Hiding for 10 years, the Anarchists are planning to take out Captain Chromium and the Renegades Council at the annual parade that commemorates the end of the Age of Anarchy, but they are stopped by the Sentinel, a new kind of Renegade and who possesses more than one prodigy power. Nightmare manages to wound a Renegade and stabs the Sentinel but barely escapes the encounter.

Adrian Everhart is the adopted son of the two most powerful men on the Renegades Council, Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden. Known as Sketch, Adrian has the ability bring to live anything he draws. Wanting to impress his parents and become a better superhero, Adrian has designed the Sentinel to be his new persona. He drew new powers and added them to himself as tattoos. His first big reveal does not go as planned, however, when Nightmare gets the best of him and he accidentally injures members of his own team.

Nova is convinced by remaining Anarchists to participate the Renegades’ trials to win a coveted spot with the group, so she can infiltrate and obtain more information about them. Adrian is desperately looking for Nightmare and redemption for the Sentinel. Both of them are hiding their secret identity, but both of them end up working together. As Nova learns about the Renegades from the inside, she realizes that they are more complicated than first appeared. But with Anarchists still on the loose and events spiraling out of control, Nora has to decide where her loyalties lie: To her family, who adopted her and trained her, or to Adrian and her teammates, who genuinely wish to help society?

Fans of Meyer's Lunar Chronicles will love this new offering by a master of science fiction and romantic tensions. The story continues in Archenemies.