Archenemies (Renegades, Book 2)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published November 6, 2018
Page Count: 496
In the explosive second installment of the Renegades series, Nova and Adrian find themselves more entangled than ever—by secrets, by loyalty, and by love. Though they stand on opposite sides of a long-standing war, they share more than either realizes. Both carry the pain of losing someone they loved. Both lead dangerous double lives driven by a desire for justice—and revenge. And both are falling for someone they should never have trusted to begin with.
As tensions rise in Gatlon City, a controversial medical breakthrough threatens to shift the balance of power forever: a serum capable of stripping prodigies of their abilities. To some, it’s a path to safety and control. To others, it’s a terrifying weapon. Nova must decide whether to protect her fellow prodigies at any cost—even if it means exposing herself while Adrian is forced to confront a haunting question: is it ever right to take away someone’s powers against their will?
With loyalties tested, alliances strained, and the future of every superpowered individual hanging in the balance, change is coming to Gatlon City. With the lines drawn, not everyone will emerge unscathed.
Reading Audience:
Middle and High School
Stuff to be aware of:
Gore/Violence - You will find plenty of superhero action is similar to the first book. Some more intense scenes include a girl getting her skull crushed, and a baby being shot and murdered is talked about.
Language - There is name-calling.
A*s - 2 D*mn - 5 Hell - 4
LGBTQ+ - Two male characters are married. They are the adopted parents of one of the main characters. His “dads” are often referenced in the story and make frequent appearances.
Sexual - There is chemistry between the two main characters. In one scene, they make out. During this scene, “magic touches” are mentioned. The description is detailed, but it stays pretty PG-rated. It is mentioned that “his hands found bare skin.” The word “sexy” is used several times. A girl imagines a male character in his boxer shorts.
Other - Drugs are mentioned multiple times. They are stolen, sold, and bought during a small side plot in the book. Opioids are specifically mentioned. There is also a new article about a girl dying from overdose.
Overall
While I didn’t care much for the first book—largely because it felt overly familiar and heavily inspired by other superhero stories—the second installment improves in several areas. The world expands in meaningful ways, and the characters are given more room to grow. Their motivations feel more layered, and the dialogue is noticeably stronger and less awkward than before.
That said, the series doubles down on the “secret identity” and hidden-agenda elements. If that aspect felt overcomplicated or frustrating in the first book, you’ll find even more frustration here. Much of the tension is driven by misunderstandings and concealed truths, which can either build suspense or feel drawn out, depending on your taste. Additionally, several lingering questions from book one remain unresolved. While that clearly sets up the next installment, it can make this entry feel more like a bridge than a fully satisfying standalone story.
Overall, it’s an improvement over the first book and may appeal to readers already invested in the characters. For me, though, it remained more of an okay read than a compelling one.
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