Renegades (Book 1) Reading Journal - Part 1
I recently started reading the Renegades trilogy by Marissa Meyer, and I finished the first book at the start of April. As I was reading the book, I started to write down my opinions on it. I carried on until I finished, and I thought that it would be great to post my reading journal here. So, here it is! 😊
Throughout my journal, you’ll find my thoughts and opinions on the first book in the Renegades trilogy as I read it, from Nova and Adrian’s relationship to Meyer’s diversity in her characters.
WARNING - THERE WILL BE SPOILERS
Date: 29.3.25
Read up to Page 281
I think both Nova Artino and Adrian Everhart are extremely compelling characters. I love the way that they both have their own secret identities, Nova being a spy and Adrian being The Sentinel.
I think it makes the characters more mysterious, and therefore makes the story more engaging and thrilling. I also love how the story was written in third person, so although the characters in the story might be unaware of their secret identities, the readers are.
Date: 30.3.25
Read up to Page 292
I love Nova and Adrian’s slow-burn romance - it’s engaging, and it’s also fascinating to see them gradually grow closer.
At this point in the story when Nova is watching Adrian sleep, it’s such a calm, thoughtful moment sprinkled with romance as she starts to feel attracted to him.
Meyer has dropped hints of Nova and Adrian’s feelings for each other throughout the story, and I know that they will grow much closer as the story progresses. As readers, it’s evident that they secretly like each other, but are almost trying to deny it, or find it hard to accept it, especially Nova. I love the cute romantic moments between them, like when Adrian fixed Nova’s bracelet right at the start of the story.
Additionally, I love that even though they are starting to develop feelings for each other, they are unaware of each other’s secret identities. This builds tension and suspense: as the readers, we know that as they grow closer to each other, at one point they will uncover each other’s secrets, and this will be a game-changing moment.
Diversity
In both TLC and Renegades, Meyer included diversity in her characters. For example, Nova Artino is half Italian, half Filipino. Even though her heritage isn’t a central focus, Meyer has mentioned it throughout the story and I think it’s great that her characters are from different parts of the world.
LGBT+ Support
Not to mention that Adrian has two dads who adopted him, Captain Chromium and Dread Warden.
I love how Meyer creates an inclusive world in her stories, as this helps the readers feel seen and can help them relate to the characters. It brings diversity in her characters, which makes them all, as a collective, more unique and vibrant. ✨
Representation of Nova Artino
In my opinion, I think that Nova’s personality is quite unique. It is unconventional and challenges the typical norms for how girls are usually portrayed. Although many female characters nowadays are tomboys, I feel like there’s something special about her that makes her stand out.
One of the main reasons for this is the fact that she’s on the side of the villains, and, throughout the story is driven to bring the Renegades down — despite starting to develop feelings for Adrian, a Renegade.
Another reason is that she’s quite cynical, an intense and socially awkward character. I think that these flaws enrich her character and make her quite unique, setting her apart from other female characters. The combination of her strengths, flaws and overall personality make her stand out as a different, fresh type of strong female character.
Page 311
“Nova’s heart jumped. She lifted the stun gun, but … who was she supposed to aim at? Was she a Renegade today, or an Anarchist? Who was she supposed to be protecting? Who was she supposed to stop?”
At this point in the story, Nova, Adrian, Ruby and Oscar have found the Detonator, Ingrid, in the library.
In this moment, Nova is facing a predicament as she lifts her stun gun: the Renegades or the Anarchists?
It is one of the most heart-racing, thrilling moments in the story when Adrian’s team face off the Detonator. It’s also a huge turning point — Nova’s double life as a Renegade and an Anarchist puts both herself and everyone around her in danger, as she hesitates over which side she’s truly fighting for. Should she shoot Ingrid with the stun gun? Whose side is she on?
At this point in the story when Nova questions her identity and judgment, I really appreciate just how complex her character is and how messy and complicated her double life has become. I think this adds depth to the story, and makes it even more gripping and engaging.
Page 317 - The Chaos of the Anarchists
Nova: “You didn’t warn him at all, did you? You set all this up. You set me up.”
Ingrid: “… You should have figured it out. A Renegade team walking right into our hands. The Captain’s son, no less. Finally, our chance to show them the pain and loss we’ve had to suffer. And you ruined it!”
This is one of the key moments in the story that demonstrates the chaos and disorder of the Anarchists. On the other hand, the Renegades are much more organised and have a clear vision in their minds of what they want to achieve.
The Anarchists are much more disorganised. Being the more cunning, villainous and rebellious ones, their goals, decision-making and personal desires often get tangled up in each other.
This moment clearly demonstrates this: Nova had a plan, but Ingrid went behind her back and set up a trap for the Renegades without telling her. It shows how divided and emotionally driven the Anarchists are. Each individual seems to be following their own perception of justice or vengeance, which leads to mayhem and betrayal. This event emphasises that even though the Anarchists are all united in standing against the Renegades, they each have their own individual goals, whereas the Renegades operate together.
Date: 03.4.25
Page 353
She’d once had a father to look at her like that too.
In this moment, Captain Chromium, one of Adrian’s dads, has reunited with him after the fire at the library. Nova and the others are also present, and Nova feels a pang of jealousy for Adrian. She watches the way Captain Chromium looks at his son, and it reminds her of something that she doesn’t have.
Throughout the story, Meyer drops subtle moments like this that expose Nova’s vulnerability and emotional depth. It allows readers to relate to her and sympathise with her.
The loss of her parents is the one thing that breaks through Nova’s emotional barriers and reveals her true, vulnerable self — and that is exactly what Nova is afraid of. She doesn’t want to be perceived as weak, incapable or emotional, so she hides her feelings. However, in these moments, when Nova sees something dear to her that she has lost reflected in someone else’s life, her true pain returns.
I think this makes her a much more layered character. These small glimpses of emotion show that underneath her cynical, tough exterior, there is a part of her that is still hurting. Readers can easily relate to her — someone who tries so hard to be strong, but is carrying so much pain.
Page 356
Oscar: “You know, I’m not sure you picked the right alias. Insomnia is too passive. I vote we change it to Velociraptor.” …
Nova: [pretending to be annoyed] “I like Insomnia.”
Only when it became too difficult did she realise that she was smiling.
In this moment, Nova begins to unconsciously embrace her identity as a Renegade. As she becomes more and more immersed in her Renegade life, a small part of her starts to lean towards the good side …
The playful bickering in this scene also shows that during her time as a Renegade, Nova has grown closer to the other members of her team and is slowly starting to fit in.
I’ll be continuing the rest of my reading journal in Part 2! I hope you have enjoyed reading my reflections so far.