About a week or two ago I went to the library intent on getting back into books. The 4 books I got were the maze runner, unwind, wrath of the bloodeye, and rise of renegade X. didn't finish maze runner, unwind wouldn't be a very good review (though the book is awesome), and I want to review the other last apprentice books before bloodeye. That just leaves Renegade X for reviewing. So how is it?
Well, let's start with the premise. Damien Locke lives in a world were superheroes and super villains are common place. A while back some scientists realized that super villains and superheroes tended to have certain genetic structures and powers, and created a virus that would turn their thumbprints into an H or a V when they turn 16. there's also rumors of a third letter that appears on those with both hero and villainous traits. But it's just a rumor. GUESS WHAT OUR HERO HAS!?
Yeah about one paragraph in it becomes clear where this is going. Anyway Damien's mom had a one night stand with a super hero that ended with Damien, making him half hero half villain. Apparently, this third letter (which is an X) will turn into either an H or a V depending on one's actions. Being brought up a villain he of course, has his heart set on being a villain.
However, there's a bump in the road. Villain's typically have one type of power while heroes have another, and if he gets a hero power it'd make him a villain outcast. Damien hopes he gets the laser eyes his mom has, cause no super hero has laser eyes, (superman) and sets out to find out who his father is to learn of his power. After a little bit of time Damien finds out his father is none other then the Crimson Flash, a goody two shoes hero who's power is the ability to fly. The catch? Damien has a crippling fear of heights! Oh irony your such a
****.
Anyway long story short Flash learns about Damien and makes his mother allow Damien to stay with him for awhile, so that he can choose what side he wants to be on. Now Damien is stuck in a house of super heroes (though three don't have powers) for six weeks and tries to stay sane during his stay. It's sort of an identity crisis for him, though he seems set on being a villain from the start.
Being a book the story is more about the
**** up psychology of being a villain in training then about the action. It's a lot like the venture brothers in that aspect, if Rusty was the son of a super villain. And not entirely socially awkward. Well, it's similar in premise.
There's also a love triangle concept going on that works much better than you'd expect. Where most love triangle?s end exactly how you expect them too, I honestly didn't know who he would end up with. I don't want to give too much away, but it's really well done.
There's also some messed up humor in the book. I don't know if it's just because the books I normally read have more serious tones, or because of the age group it's aimed at, but some of the humor is pretty dark for a teen novel. For example, it's made a point early no that Damien was conceived in a subway bathroom, and as such Damien is constantly hounding his dad, the super hero, for doing something not so...super, I suppose. At one point he even calls into the Flash's children show to ask if it's okay to ?shack up? in a subway bathroom.
This actually adds to the character of Damien, as he's kind of an
****. He says things that most people would never dream of saying, and does it without shame. Some of these actions include: kissing a boy to keep his friend from making a drunken mistake, charging a girl for looking through his clothes, and pretending to draw pleasure from sniffing the clothes of his step sister.
So yeah go ahead and take that as you want it.
Anyway my point is the book is really good. It delves into the minds of what it'd be like to be the son of a super villain and has a pretty interesting premise. The character of Damien is somewhat sadistic but still likable, in a very weird way. The love triangle aspect works better then most books do, and it's just all around great.
So if you don't mind some ?adult? humor or having a step sister sock sniffing protagonist, pick up Rise of Renegade X. it's really good.
Home
Search
Calendar
Login
Register