alyram4's review
3.0
3.75/5 stars
I actually enjoyed this for the most part, but I didnt enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that this was originally a duology, but then switched to a trilogy after Renegades was already published. This just added in so a lot more filler than the first book, and this also had nearly 100 pages less. I think Meyer was trying to stretch a 2part story into 3rds, and it just left much go be desired. There were quite a bit of moments that I really enjoyed though! While I'm not fully happy with this sequel, I still have hope that the 3rd, and hopefully final, book will redeem it.
I actually enjoyed this for the most part, but I didnt enjoy this sequel as much as the first book. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that this was originally a duology, but then switched to a trilogy after Renegades was already published. This just added in so a lot more filler than the first book, and this also had nearly 100 pages less. I think Meyer was trying to stretch a 2part story into 3rds, and it just left much go be desired. There were quite a bit of moments that I really enjoyed though! While I'm not fully happy with this sequel, I still have hope that the 3rd, and hopefully final, book will redeem it.
marissax22's review against another edition
5.0
The second installment in this series fit perfectly with the first. All the characters and storyline stayed on point. I'm still surprised I love this series as much as I do but I would recommend it to most readers! Marissa Meyer is an absolute gem of a author!
banana83854's review
4.0
Kinda slow in the middle chunk, but im in love with this world and these characters. Excellent audiobook narration too. đź‘Ť
theoriginalbookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, wow. Just…wow.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I was looking forward to finally getting my hands on this book. I finished Renegades way back in spring of 2018, and when I saw the release date for Archenemies, I cried out. Literally. Honestly, though, it was well worth the wait.
With a fast-paced plot, developing characters, and twists present at every turn, this novel was labeled as action-packed from the start. Especially with second installments, it can be hard to capture the same feeling as the first book in a series, but Meyer accomplishes the task with a vengeance, along with much, much more. Feeding off the presence of action, I loved how the opening scene was smack in the thick of it; seeing the whole of Sketch’s team in action again was truly heartwarming, even if Hawthorn did get away. Even if the Sentinel did make his reappearance debut.
The Sentinel. . .ah, the Sentinel. This secret that Adrian has kept for so long, combined with Nova’s own, gave me an added sense of apprehension that I really didn’t need to have on my heart; however, when Adrian finally takes the plunge and reveals himself to Oscar and Ruby, I wasn’t really sure how to feel. Happy? Scared? Relieved? Indifferent? I’m not completely sure. Nonetheless, the grip the secret had on me did relax, if only a little. Next up, Nova’s relevance! *not*
Nova, in this novel, has her own kind of rodeo going on. I mean, how could she possibly say yes to Adrian’s request, when the one he’s looking for is the person he’s hugging? It broke my heart a little, to know that she was so close to having her secret Anarchist identity revealed, only to have the takeover go up in flames—not to mention Ace’s new residence in the Renegade’s custody.
Moving on from individual epidemics, I loved how much every character and their relationships with each other grew throughout the story, fitting perfectly together like the pieces of a puzzle—a very confusing, yet very sweet puzzle. One example is Oscar and Ruby’s relationship. In the first installment, we get a glimpse of their feelings in passing, but now we get to see it shine in the fullest, filling my heart to the brim with happiness—that is, the parts that weren’t already filled by Nova and Adrian :).
Keeping on the topic of relationships, I really appreciated the growth between Adrian and his dads, Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden—also known as Hugh Everhart and Simon Westwood. The dad jokes, awkward fathers-to-son talks, and fatherly freak outs all balanced out into an embarrassing yet very real connection between the three characters.
Forging on, I have to mention the incredible world building—and world shattering—events that Marissa Meyer included in her story. Agent N, created by the council and its fellow experimentalists, really threw a loop in society’s perfectly woven image of the Renegade Council; at least, it did for the Renegades themselves. Most approve, seeing as they are Renegades, so why shouldn’t they control who gets to be a prodigy? But some, especially two certain someone’s on Sketch’s patrol team, don’t necessarily agree. Personally, I think that although Agent N is a good idea, it probably should have been left to the minds of the alchemists, and not in physical form.
And the writing—oh, the writing! Marissa Meyer has accomplished many achievements with this weapon that she carries; and from a third person point of view as well. I do think that reaching her level of depth and complexity, especially from the third person, is a very respectable thing, and should be credited as such. However, I will say that that doesn’t change the amount of impact of what she writes about has on me. In some cases, I kind of wish Meyer wasn’t so darn ingenious, so as her characters could live normal, happy lives :).
Finally, at the end of the book, we are left with quite a few burning questions, all of which I hope will be answered in the third installment of the Renegades trilogy. First off—what is Nova going to do? Adrian is angry as ever at the oh-so-famous, oh-so-loathed Anarchist with the alias Nightmare, while she’s hiding the fact that it’s her identity. Second, what is Adrian to do? He’s already revealed himself to his two best friends as the Sentinel, but what about Nova? It’s not like he can just take his armored helmet off and be like “Oh, by the way. . ..” And what about his dads? Oh man. Those two really have themselves in a trench. I wouldn’t be surprised if one them was found passed out in a ditch somewhere, what with all the sneaking around they’ve been doing. And Max—oh, man, Max! What am I supposed to do? Just assume that he made it? The fact that he was pierced by one of Frostbite’s ice spears and not a normal weapon, combined with the knowledge that no prodigy healer can help him without the Vitality Charm (which, by the way, is in Nightmare’s possession), makes for a very grim-looking outcome to the situation. Fingers crossed, though.
With all these elements taken into consideration, I seriously cannot wait for Marissa Meyer’s next book to come out. I can’t imagine how I’m going to be able to wait until November of this year (2019), but I guess I’ll manage somehow. As always, the writing was outstanding, the characters heartwarming and hilarious, and the twists were worthy of both gasps and laughs—everything needed to make a good book. Thank you, and happy reading!
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I was looking forward to finally getting my hands on this book. I finished Renegades way back in spring of 2018, and when I saw the release date for Archenemies, I cried out. Literally. Honestly, though, it was well worth the wait.
With a fast-paced plot, developing characters, and twists present at every turn, this novel was labeled as action-packed from the start. Especially with second installments, it can be hard to capture the same feeling as the first book in a series, but Meyer accomplishes the task with a vengeance, along with much, much more. Feeding off the presence of action, I loved how the opening scene was smack in the thick of it; seeing the whole of Sketch’s team in action again was truly heartwarming, even if Hawthorn did get away. Even if the Sentinel did make his reappearance debut.
The Sentinel. . .ah, the Sentinel. This secret that Adrian has kept for so long, combined with Nova’s own, gave me an added sense of apprehension that I really didn’t need to have on my heart; however, when Adrian finally takes the plunge and reveals himself to Oscar and Ruby, I wasn’t really sure how to feel. Happy? Scared? Relieved? Indifferent? I’m not completely sure. Nonetheless, the grip the secret had on me did relax, if only a little. Next up, Nova’s relevance! *not*
Nova, in this novel, has her own kind of rodeo going on. I mean, how could she possibly say yes to Adrian’s request, when the one he’s looking for is the person he’s hugging? It broke my heart a little, to know that she was so close to having her secret Anarchist identity revealed, only to have the takeover go up in flames—not to mention Ace’s new residence in the Renegade’s custody.
Moving on from individual epidemics, I loved how much every character and their relationships with each other grew throughout the story, fitting perfectly together like the pieces of a puzzle—a very confusing, yet very sweet puzzle. One example is Oscar and Ruby’s relationship. In the first installment, we get a glimpse of their feelings in passing, but now we get to see it shine in the fullest, filling my heart to the brim with happiness—that is, the parts that weren’t already filled by Nova and Adrian :).
Keeping on the topic of relationships, I really appreciated the growth between Adrian and his dads, Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden—also known as Hugh Everhart and Simon Westwood. The dad jokes, awkward fathers-to-son talks, and fatherly freak outs all balanced out into an embarrassing yet very real connection between the three characters.
Forging on, I have to mention the incredible world building—and world shattering—events that Marissa Meyer included in her story. Agent N, created by the council and its fellow experimentalists, really threw a loop in society’s perfectly woven image of the Renegade Council; at least, it did for the Renegades themselves. Most approve, seeing as they are Renegades, so why shouldn’t they control who gets to be a prodigy? But some, especially two certain someone’s on Sketch’s patrol team, don’t necessarily agree. Personally, I think that although Agent N is a good idea, it probably should have been left to the minds of the alchemists, and not in physical form.
And the writing—oh, the writing! Marissa Meyer has accomplished many achievements with this weapon that she carries; and from a third person point of view as well. I do think that reaching her level of depth and complexity, especially from the third person, is a very respectable thing, and should be credited as such. However, I will say that that doesn’t change the amount of impact of what she writes about has on me. In some cases, I kind of wish Meyer wasn’t so darn ingenious, so as her characters could live normal, happy lives :).
Finally, at the end of the book, we are left with quite a few burning questions, all of which I hope will be answered in the third installment of the Renegades trilogy. First off—what is Nova going to do? Adrian is angry as ever at the oh-so-famous, oh-so-loathed Anarchist with the alias Nightmare, while she’s hiding the fact that it’s her identity. Second, what is Adrian to do? He’s already revealed himself to his two best friends as the Sentinel, but what about Nova? It’s not like he can just take his armored helmet off and be like “Oh, by the way. . ..” And what about his dads? Oh man. Those two really have themselves in a trench. I wouldn’t be surprised if one them was found passed out in a ditch somewhere, what with all the sneaking around they’ve been doing. And Max—oh, man, Max! What am I supposed to do? Just assume that he made it? The fact that he was pierced by one of Frostbite’s ice spears and not a normal weapon, combined with the knowledge that no prodigy healer can help him without the Vitality Charm (which, by the way, is in Nightmare’s possession), makes for a very grim-looking outcome to the situation. Fingers crossed, though.
With all these elements taken into consideration, I seriously cannot wait for Marissa Meyer’s next book to come out. I can’t imagine how I’m going to be able to wait until November of this year (2019), but I guess I’ll manage somehow. As always, the writing was outstanding, the characters heartwarming and hilarious, and the twists were worthy of both gasps and laughs—everything needed to make a good book. Thank you, and happy reading!
lorena_28's review against another edition
5.0
loved this book so much! adrian's and nova's relationship through both books is so cute and ahh can't wait this series'a ending in november when 3rd book comes out bec I really enjoyed reading renegades and archenemies.
valen1_'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
avaoftroy's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
OH MY FREAKING DAYSSS what the actual eff the cliffhanger was crazy the passion the emotion the DRAMA ive already started supernova...
haltarratay's review against another edition
5.0
I’m not emotionally ready for the next book. This was so good and such a good continuation of the series. If you haven’t read the first one.... go do it!
alairuiz's review against another edition
5.0
Todas las revelaciones que esperaba no sucedieron :-[ pero aún asà me encantó ✨.