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Renegade X #2
The Trials of Renegade X
Can a half villain ever be a full hero?
Damien Locke didn't choose for his supervillain mom to disown him — just because he sort of defied her and ruined her evil plans to take over Golden City — and he didn't choose for his superpower to be flying, a superhero ability that involves his least favorite thing: heights. But now that he's living with his dad's superhero family and enrolling at Heroesworth Academy, he's ready to embrace his new life, get his H, and finally belong somewhere. But belonging isn't as easy as signing up for classes, and Damien finds himself struggling to fit in more than ever.
Just when he's sure his fate as a hero has been decided, though, he gets a new villain power that he can't control. And things only get worse when he accidentally screws up one of his sidekick Sarah's gadgets, altering her personality and turning her into a crazed, anti-supervillain vigilante — leaving him no choice but to team up with her annoying superhero boyfriend if he hopes to have any chance of getting the old Sarah back, before she captures — or kills — another supervillain like him.
Damien Locke didn't choose for his supervillain mom to disown him — just because he sort of defied her and ruined her evil plans to take over Golden City — and he didn't choose for his superpower to be flying, a superhero ability that involves his least favorite thing: heights. But now that he's living with his dad's superhero family and enrolling at Heroesworth Academy, he's ready to embrace his new life, get his H, and finally belong somewhere. But belonging isn't as easy as signing up for classes, and Damien finds himself struggling to fit in more than ever.
Just when he's sure his fate as a hero has been decided, though, he gets a new villain power that he can't control. And things only get worse when he accidentally screws up one of his sidekick Sarah's gadgets, altering her personality and turning her into a crazed, anti-supervillain vigilante — leaving him no choice but to team up with her annoying superhero boyfriend if he hopes to have any chance of getting the old Sarah back, before she captures — or kills — another supervillain like him.
454 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2013
70 people are currently reading
1584 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea M. Campbell
28 books311 followersChelsea M. Campbell grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains a lot. And then rains some more. She finished her first novel when she was twelve, sent it out, and promptly got rejected. Since then she's written many more novels, earned a degree in Latin and Ancient Greek, become an obsessive knitter and fiber artist, and started a collection of glass grapes. Besides writing, studying ancient languages, and collecting useless objects, Chelsea is a pop-culture fangirl at heart and can often be found rewatching episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Parks and Recreation, or dying a lot in Dark Souls.
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December 28, 2016
Fanart included :D
YEY! Finally! Some free time to read and review books! And IT'S OFFICIAL! Renegade X is moving to my Ultimate Mega Awesome Shelf... of FAVORITES!!!
Ahem, excuse me... Let me get back in time for a little bit. Rise of Renegade X, aka. book 1, was an alright read. It was an engaging adventure with humor to die for and, at the same time, a mediocre YA action book that focused a little bit too much on teenage love drama for my taste. Whatever the case, I remember I appreciated the experience a year ago, but wasn't keen on getting my hands on the sequel right away. For my review on book 1 and a better plot summary click here.
So, before I go into more detail /aka. fangirling stage/ let me just tell you two things you will notice in The trials of Renegade X, that I definitely wasn't expecting:
1. HUMOR IS ACTUALLY EVEN BETTER THAN IN BOOK1 ! The humor is what really attracted me to the series and it's one of the best ones I've seen in a fiction book! It's practically everywhere (apart from the emotional scenes - I'll talk about them later) and it totally cracked me up! If you enjoy books that make you laugh, be ready - this book should come with a warning!
2. Deep, emotional stuff. I'll be honest, I didn't expect the story to go so deep and address issues such as prejudism and dysfunctional families. I was impressed to no ends that the author not only gave us one hell of a hilarious book, packed with action and super powers, but also managed to make the characters 3-dimensional, each with their own problems and insecurities. Damien especially is in the middle of all of it. And.....yeeees, even the teenage love drama was actually quite engaging.
~~~~~~WHAT DID I LIKE?~~~~~~
1. Protagonist:
Damien isn't your typical protagonist (yeah yeah, we've all heard that before). Honestly, he's SERIOUSLY MEAN! Sure, he's a half a villain - he does and says whatever he feels like, which leads to so much comedy that, if I have to give examples I'll just quote the whole book - it's THAT funny! He is villainous, but he's not evil - Damien, in fact, is the only person who questions the meaning of good and bad, of hero and villain. From his perspective things aren't as Black and White as everyone else seems to believe. That's what makes him so compelling - he DOES want to fit in, but not at a cost of his moral values. And despite his inherent mischievous nature, he still has a strong sense of righteousness that he'll do anything to protect.
Oh, and HE HAS TWO POWERS! True, flying is still in progress of mastering, but I can't wait to see him wielding both!
2. Supporting Characters
Kat, Damien, Riley and Sarah
Usually, if you have AN EPICLY AWESOME protagonist in a series, the secondary characters tend to be overshadowed by his presence. Not here though! They all manage to fit in the story perfectly and offer additional complexity and entertainment for us, the readers. As I mentioned above, no one's life choices are simple. Each character, be it Damien's new family, his friend, classmates or girlfriend, they all have their own moral dilemmas. They add so much to the humor and the generally light nature of the novel, yet, their hidden layers is what makes this book an even better experience for someone like me.
3. Comedy and Drama
No need to repeat myself. I even cried at one point...
4. Audiobook narrator
Audiobook narrators don't get enough recognition, if you ask me. These people should be at a celebrity level - they are actors with such massive talent, helping bring characters to life, adding so much personality and emotion. Phillip Russell Newman is a great choice for this series! He knows how to make a scene either hilarious or heart-breakingly sad and still fit in in the book's light-hearted nature.
5. Covers
Prettyyyyyyyyy...
~~~~~~WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED (for my taste)
1. Costumes - we rarely "see" the villains and superheroes in costume. I wish they could have more occasions to wear them.
2. Gordon - In general, it would've been nice to see more of the grown ups (in costume) doing heroic/villainous stuff more often.
~~~~~~MY FINAL VERDICT~~~~~~
When you dread finishing a book, when you actually have to force yourself to pause it and read something else for a bit, just so you can extend the experience, that's how you know that this book belongs to your list of favorites!
These books are NOT without flaws (especially the first one), but there was so much that I loved that it wasn't difficult to overlook them.
Will I recommend to friends? Hmmm...I wasn't as impressed by the first book, but it DID made me laugh. The second book makes the series worth it, so, my answer is YES! You don't need to be a fan of the super hero genre to enjoy it, and the humor is definitely priceless.
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this series, you might want to check:
Vicious by E Scwab - Darker and scarier, it will definitely mess with your head!
More books with super powered humans that I thought were alright, but not my favorite:
Another Self-published Hidden Gem:
Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron.
October 8, 2013
The Rise of Renegade X is, without a doubt, one of my feel-good books. If I'm feeling down, I'll reread it and it just puts a smile on my face. The Trials of Renegade X, however, was a bit angsty - BUT most definitely in a "hurts so good" kind of way.
Campbell has a gift: she wrote one of the most awesome YA protagonists to have appeared in print. There are plenty of sarcastic main characters, always with a quip at the ready, but Damien never, ever!, fails to be hilarious! So while other characters like this eventually just devolve into annoying static caricatures, Campbell lets us see the consequences to everything Damien says or does and - surprise, surprise - they're seldom positive. But what I love most about it is that Damien learns from his mistakes and evolves as a character.
There are some pretty big issues tackled in this book, as in the previous one in the series, on the nature of good and evil, and while they're masterfully dealt with I would be ruining the plot to expound on that particular part of the plot.
One thing I absolutely love about these books: family. In YA, parents are almost always absent (tragically dead, or in need of rescuing, or just conveniently gone with no explanation). That is weird, family is important throughout your whole life and it's always a missed opportunity to not include it in YA books - a genre aimed at a public who are most likely to identify with the struggles portrayed in this book.
Damien was kicked out by his mother, who raised him by herself for 16 years, because he turned out not to be the son she expected him to be. The whole situation is complicated, she may have kicked him out but that doesn't mean either one of them stopped loving and caring for the other.
Then there's Gordon, Damien's father, who Damien has trouble trusting - this guy only found out about his son 6 months ago, what's keeping him from washing his hands clean of the whole thing and sending Damien on his way? It's complicated, and real, and awesome.
Campbell's ability to write family dynamics - not just parents, but sibling relationships as well - is amazing. I wish we'd get more of that in YA.
But don't think this book is some kind of downer, which I suppose my review is making it out to be, it's extremely funny! Campbell's dialogues - you read them and they just spark, they feel real, they are fresh and witty! I absolutely love them! Sometimes there are books that just attempt to sidetrack the reader with a lot of flowery descriptions to try and make up for the fact that the dialogue is sub-par, I prefer it when things are straight forward with no flourishes but the dialogue just zings - that's enough for me. Campbell, however, is talented enough to balance description with dialogue, a rarity among writers.
I just saw that there will be a 3rd Renegade X book and, quite honestly, I cannot wait, because I know Chelsea Campbell will not disappoint!
August 31, 2013
When I finished The Rise of Renegade X, I savored the sensation of completing a well written unique novel for an amazing 3.2 seconds: the amount of time it took for my eReader to close the current book and open the sequel. I'm honestly worried that I savored that sensation too long. The Trials of Renegade X was easily the best novel I read this year. Campbell took us back into the well crafted universe of the first novel and though told through the eyes of the same protagonist, let us get get to know better the characters introduced but not really expounded upon in the first.
Damien Locke, the protagonist and narrator of both novels, is the black sheep of his adoptive step family. A good part of that technically unwarranted prejudice comes from his family (he 'is' half super villain after all, in a world where villainy is genetic), but Damien doesn't really do much to make a case that the prejudices are misplaced. He lies, he breaks things, he gets into fights, he gets jealous when guys hang with his female friends, he's shameless, he's selfish, he makes mountains of mole hills, his father has to bale him out and pull favors to get him involved in anything.
To be curt, he's a very flawed character. And that's what makes him amazing.
Often when a story has a moral like this to serve, prejudice is wrong, the person on the receiving end of the prejudice is totted as a saint and the world has twisted against him. Not this book. The real magic is watching the people around Damien learn about their misplaced preconceptions as Damien deals with and matures himself through the many sub plots in the book. He goes from flat out deserving all the preconceived flack he gets to actually growing above it all. I've never read a story, that I recall at least, presented like that before. Campbell's flat out spoiled me with her story structure.
While the book deals with a lot of tough issues and doesn't shy away from them, it's also full of sharp whit, deliciously snarky monologue, and non sequiturs that kept me addicted to making it to the next page. I laughed, I squealed, I pounded my firsts on the couch in delight as just about every funny quip. I'm in my high 20's and I was acting like a delighted 10 year old. I'll cherish that sensation for a long time.
Of the characters Damien interacts with Riley really stole my attention. Riley is a hero classmate who's power is invisibility; when he's introduced Damien is rude and unreasonable to him. (While still creative and funny). It's really hard to word their relationship so I'll defer to this excerpt:
The book is littered with instances where Damien is really abusive to Riley. Riley does not like it. He complains, he argues back, he goes out of his way to avoid Damien. He can't stand Damien's guts. He acts like any other teenager would when confronted by an invasive self centered jerk. BUT, he never brings himself down to Damien's tactics. Even when it would be convenient or natural to say something degrading about Damien behind his back, he doesn't. Because he's better then Damien. (Not that that's something hard to do) But he doesn't just believe he's better then Damien in terms of character, he actually is. What gets me is that it wasn't a farce, he isn't made fun of for it (well no more then Damien normally makes fun of anything at least). When Damien observes that Riley practices what he preaches many chapters later, it's one of several turning points in Damien's character. I like role models. I don't come by them very often in fiction especially as a peer to the protagonist that aren't balkanized with a stuffy personality. It was genuinely refreshing.
The Trials of Renegade X and the prequel The Rise of Renegade X together make the best novel binge I've had in a very very long time. You'll laugh, you'll be surprised, you'll rage, you'll be struck with awe. Do yourself a favor and pick these up.
Damien Locke, the protagonist and narrator of both novels, is the black sheep of his adoptive step family. A good part of that technically unwarranted prejudice comes from his family (he 'is' half super villain after all, in a world where villainy is genetic), but Damien doesn't really do much to make a case that the prejudices are misplaced. He lies, he breaks things, he gets into fights, he gets jealous when guys hang with his female friends, he's shameless, he's selfish, he makes mountains of mole hills, his father has to bale him out and pull favors to get him involved in anything.
To be curt, he's a very flawed character. And that's what makes him amazing.
Often when a story has a moral like this to serve, prejudice is wrong, the person on the receiving end of the prejudice is totted as a saint and the world has twisted against him. Not this book. The real magic is watching the people around Damien learn about their misplaced preconceptions as Damien deals with and matures himself through the many sub plots in the book. He goes from flat out deserving all the preconceived flack he gets to actually growing above it all. I've never read a story, that I recall at least, presented like that before. Campbell's flat out spoiled me with her story structure.
While the book deals with a lot of tough issues and doesn't shy away from them, it's also full of sharp whit, deliciously snarky monologue, and non sequiturs that kept me addicted to making it to the next page. I laughed, I squealed, I pounded my firsts on the couch in delight as just about every funny quip. I'm in my high 20's and I was acting like a delighted 10 year old. I'll cherish that sensation for a long time.
Of the characters Damien interacts with Riley really stole my attention. Riley is a hero classmate who's power is invisibility; when he's introduced Damien is rude and unreasonable to him. (While still creative and funny). It's really hard to word their relationship so I'll defer to this excerpt:
He clears his throat and reads from the assignment sheet. "In a team of two, list and discuss the five rules from the League Treaty you feel are most important."
This is supposed to teach us team work. And I know Miss Monk partnered us up on purpose because she knows we hate each other - after all, I did spend fifteen minutes of class on Monday talking to an empty chair I pretended I thought Riley was sitting in, even though he was across the room and not invisible. And she wouldn't let Riley out of it when he whined to her after class that he couldn't work with me.
The book is littered with instances where Damien is really abusive to Riley. Riley does not like it. He complains, he argues back, he goes out of his way to avoid Damien. He can't stand Damien's guts. He acts like any other teenager would when confronted by an invasive self centered jerk. BUT, he never brings himself down to Damien's tactics. Even when it would be convenient or natural to say something degrading about Damien behind his back, he doesn't. Because he's better then Damien. (Not that that's something hard to do) But he doesn't just believe he's better then Damien in terms of character, he actually is. What gets me is that it wasn't a farce, he isn't made fun of for it (well no more then Damien normally makes fun of anything at least). When Damien observes that Riley practices what he preaches many chapters later, it's one of several turning points in Damien's character. I like role models. I don't come by them very often in fiction especially as a peer to the protagonist that aren't balkanized with a stuffy personality. It was genuinely refreshing.
The Trials of Renegade X and the prequel The Rise of Renegade X together make the best novel binge I've had in a very very long time. You'll laugh, you'll be surprised, you'll rage, you'll be struck with awe. Do yourself a favor and pick these up.
December 8, 2013
The Rise of Renegade X was one of my favorite books of 2010, and I couldn't wait for more of Damian Locke's adventures. The Trials of Renegade X was worth the wait. I know it was a long road for Chelsea to bring us more of Damian's story, and I'm glad she did. Just as hilarious as the first book but with more detail and depth, Trials was everything I hoped it would be and more.
I also want to point out that this book was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and self-published, but the finished product is just as polished and professional as a book from a Big Six publisher. Chelsea clearly took the time to make sure that this book was perfect. From the artwork to the layout, this book was perfect. This is how all self-published books should be done.
I also want to point out that this book was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and self-published, but the finished product is just as polished and professional as a book from a Big Six publisher. Chelsea clearly took the time to make sure that this book was perfect. From the artwork to the layout, this book was perfect. This is how all self-published books should be done.
August 31, 2016
Although The Trials of Renegade X easily outshines its predecessor, the repetition of certain key errors in authorial judgement keep it from living up to its full potential.
It's probably no secret by now that am a notoriously low-rating reviewer. A book that I love without occasionally loathing it is exceedingly rare. But I tend to judge how valid that loathing is by how often I feel the need to vent my anger in the margins in order to preserve my own sanity, and I'm disappointed to say that The Trials of Renegade X ended up peppered.
That isn't to say the story isn't good -- it's great. And, perhaps more importantly, it's miles ahead of the first book in the series, for a multitude of reasons. Damien is much more well-fleshed out now that author Chelsea Campbell has had time to establish him, and the narrative is exhilarating and well-paced. This second book isn't just better than it's earlier counterpart, but smarter, flashier, and (in my opinion) much funnier. Campbell is growing as an author, and that growth expresses itself admirably in her prose, and in her advancing mastery of the narrative.
But, in the same way that everything that was good about The Rise of Renegade X is better in The Trials of Renegade X, so everything bad is worse. There are many small mistakes -- heavy exposition dumps in the first few chapters, for example -- that one can ignore after the story begins to pick up. The real issues lie, regrettably, at the story's core.
As in the previous book, Damien is never the problem; the world around him is. The rigid dichotomy between supervillains and superheroes is so pronounced in Trials that it's difficult to take seriously. The system is simultaneously bereft of any outliers, and completely uncompromising to anyone who fails to fit the set of arbitrary rules imposed by either side. There is no one -- no one! -- in this book who questions to criminalization or veneration of entire populations of people outside of Damien himself. Throughout the book, Damien encounters multitudes of people, all of whom refuse to even acknowledge the existence of any grey area between villainy and heroism. No one seems to think that there is some sort of middle ground, the main character included, and no one seems to find anything wrong with judging children by their genetics, rather than by their actions. This is especially true of adults, many of whom bully and belittle him in a way that is flagrantly discriminatory. But despite the fact that Damien casually flings around the term "letterist" -- which would categorize this behavior as explicitly oppressive -- the term is never anything more than a joke. Damien's own parents are some of the most offensively guilty parties, and Damien's willingness to buy into this bullshit charade gives the reader a sense that this is a biproduct of incomplete worldbuilding, rather than being a purposeful disregard of any parallels to real world discrimination.
Alongside this, the narrative is frequently heavy-handed and ineloquent at guiding the reader's attention. Several times, I was so blindsided by what Damien informed me I should be caring about or paying attention to that I had to take a moment to try and remember what he was talking about. Nowhere is this more blatant than when the story tries to bring its readers along in getting to know and like Gordon, Damien's superhero father. In my previous review, I mentioned thinking that Gordon was a bit of a bastard, and wholly unlikeable. In Trials his behavior has in no way improved: The only real difference in the second book is that now, the audience is expected to go along with Damien's transformative adoration of this asshole. Gordon isn't even made out to be a fallible human, who is struggling to make the best of a bad situation; he is made out to be an honorable hero, whose actions even the reader should aspire to, and whose hardship one should sympathize with. Particularly towards the end of the book, this attitude made me want to tell Trials to go fuck itself. I don't feel bad for Gordon at all -- I feel, most humbly, that he is a piece of shit I want nothing to do with, and as a reader, I don't appreciate being railroaded into an adoring relationship with him.
To top it all off, many members of the large female cast established in Rise seem to have lost several dimensions by their appearance in Trials, and are personified mostly by whether or not they are willing to have sex with Damien or approving of anyone who would have sex with Damien, which is not a little disappointing. There are only two real male characters of note in Trials -- Damien and Riley -- but over and over the narrative establishes their female counterparts as props. Cat fights, over-possessive jealousy, and slut-shaming abound, which is sort of discouraging. I often got the sensation that these things were supposed to be cute or endearing -- or, on a more simplistic level, things that, as a reader, I was expected to partake of and willingly indulge in -- and that sort of just made it grosser.
I didn't expect better from Trials. Lord knows I liked it much more than the first book. But it did grate my nerves to the point of margin-peppering insanity. And that's enough to rate it below what I think it might deserve, otherwise.
It's probably no secret by now that am a notoriously low-rating reviewer. A book that I love without occasionally loathing it is exceedingly rare. But I tend to judge how valid that loathing is by how often I feel the need to vent my anger in the margins in order to preserve my own sanity, and I'm disappointed to say that The Trials of Renegade X ended up peppered.
That isn't to say the story isn't good -- it's great. And, perhaps more importantly, it's miles ahead of the first book in the series, for a multitude of reasons. Damien is much more well-fleshed out now that author Chelsea Campbell has had time to establish him, and the narrative is exhilarating and well-paced. This second book isn't just better than it's earlier counterpart, but smarter, flashier, and (in my opinion) much funnier. Campbell is growing as an author, and that growth expresses itself admirably in her prose, and in her advancing mastery of the narrative.
But, in the same way that everything that was good about The Rise of Renegade X is better in The Trials of Renegade X, so everything bad is worse. There are many small mistakes -- heavy exposition dumps in the first few chapters, for example -- that one can ignore after the story begins to pick up. The real issues lie, regrettably, at the story's core.
As in the previous book, Damien is never the problem; the world around him is. The rigid dichotomy between supervillains and superheroes is so pronounced in Trials that it's difficult to take seriously. The system is simultaneously bereft of any outliers, and completely uncompromising to anyone who fails to fit the set of arbitrary rules imposed by either side. There is no one -- no one! -- in this book who questions to criminalization or veneration of entire populations of people outside of Damien himself. Throughout the book, Damien encounters multitudes of people, all of whom refuse to even acknowledge the existence of any grey area between villainy and heroism. No one seems to think that there is some sort of middle ground, the main character included, and no one seems to find anything wrong with judging children by their genetics, rather than by their actions. This is especially true of adults, many of whom bully and belittle him in a way that is flagrantly discriminatory. But despite the fact that Damien casually flings around the term "letterist" -- which would categorize this behavior as explicitly oppressive -- the term is never anything more than a joke. Damien's own parents are some of the most offensively guilty parties, and Damien's willingness to buy into this bullshit charade gives the reader a sense that this is a biproduct of incomplete worldbuilding, rather than being a purposeful disregard of any parallels to real world discrimination.
Alongside this, the narrative is frequently heavy-handed and ineloquent at guiding the reader's attention. Several times, I was so blindsided by what Damien informed me I should be caring about or paying attention to that I had to take a moment to try and remember what he was talking about. Nowhere is this more blatant than when the story tries to bring its readers along in getting to know and like Gordon, Damien's superhero father. In my previous review, I mentioned thinking that Gordon was a bit of a bastard, and wholly unlikeable. In Trials his behavior has in no way improved: The only real difference in the second book is that now, the audience is expected to go along with Damien's transformative adoration of this asshole. Gordon isn't even made out to be a fallible human, who is struggling to make the best of a bad situation; he is made out to be an honorable hero, whose actions even the reader should aspire to, and whose hardship one should sympathize with. Particularly towards the end of the book, this attitude made me want to tell Trials to go fuck itself. I don't feel bad for Gordon at all -- I feel, most humbly, that he is a piece of shit I want nothing to do with, and as a reader, I don't appreciate being railroaded into an adoring relationship with him.
To top it all off, many members of the large female cast established in Rise seem to have lost several dimensions by their appearance in Trials, and are personified mostly by whether or not they are willing to have sex with Damien or approving of anyone who would have sex with Damien, which is not a little disappointing. There are only two real male characters of note in Trials -- Damien and Riley -- but over and over the narrative establishes their female counterparts as props. Cat fights, over-possessive jealousy, and slut-shaming abound, which is sort of discouraging. I often got the sensation that these things were supposed to be cute or endearing -- or, on a more simplistic level, things that, as a reader, I was expected to partake of and willingly indulge in -- and that sort of just made it grosser.
I didn't expect better from Trials. Lord knows I liked it much more than the first book. But it did grate my nerves to the point of margin-peppering insanity. And that's enough to rate it below what I think it might deserve, otherwise.
October 5, 2013
Yay more Renegade X! I was so happy to hear there was going to be a sequel I waited Oh so long for this and it paid off well. This book was freaken Awesome!
Where we last left off Damien, the love child of a superhero and a supervillian was living with his father, The Crimson Flash, now Damien is going to hero school and not doing so well. The teachers don't like him the kids really don't like him and his sidekick Sarah has been spending more and more time with her new boyfriend "The Invisible Douche" and his own girlfriend is off at villain school. To top it all off a new power has made an appearance: he can shoot lightning out of his hands, a villain power. Then when he accidently zaps Sarah with a personality changing device she made she goes crazy and decides that all all super villians must die. Now Damien and Riley, Sarah's boyfriend, need to fix her before it's too late all while trying to keep his new power a secret from his dad.
Where we last left off Damien, the love child of a superhero and a supervillian was living with his father, The Crimson Flash, now Damien is going to hero school and not doing so well. The teachers don't like him the kids really don't like him and his sidekick Sarah has been spending more and more time with her new boyfriend "The Invisible Douche" and his own girlfriend is off at villain school. To top it all off a new power has made an appearance: he can shoot lightning out of his hands, a villain power. Then when he accidently zaps Sarah with a personality changing device she made she goes crazy and decides that all all super villians must die. Now Damien and Riley, Sarah's boyfriend, need to fix her before it's too late all while trying to keep his new power a secret from his dad.
December 21, 2015
Wow. I absolutely loved this one. Better than the first.
Once again Damien is freaking hilarious. He's one of my favorite narrators and main characters of all-time. The snark is ever present and so great. Just so many great lines in here.
This book has it all. The characters are so well drawn, and developed in such a great way. Seeing Damien and Riley grow to be friends was so cool. The plot is rock solid too. Twists and real emotional scenes.
I can't recommend this series enough
Once again Damien is freaking hilarious. He's one of my favorite narrators and main characters of all-time. The snark is ever present and so great. Just so many great lines in here.
This book has it all. The characters are so well drawn, and developed in such a great way. Seeing Damien and Riley grow to be friends was so cool. The plot is rock solid too. Twists and real emotional scenes.
I can't recommend this series enough
February 16, 2016
As soon as your friend starts working on a machine thats supposed to change your personality and make you "nicer" thats when I cut off said "friendship". But then again our main character has no problem forgiving his gf for constantly cheating on him..
November 8, 2014
This was amazing! I cannot show my appreciation enough for a well written story, where the characters have depth and grow as people :)
December 12, 2020
This took me a bit longer to read than most books take me. I completely hated the first 30%. Like to the point I almost DNFed. It was suuuper angsty, and normally I love that in a story, but it was really excessive right out the gate.
I still think it was wrong of Gordon to make Damien move his bedroom up to the attic despite knowing Damien is so afraid of heights that he struggles up the stairs. It wasn’t fair, and it really bothered me.
Sarah was my favorite character in the last book, and the first part of this completely obliterated that character.
I really hated Riley. Obviously Damien is no angel. But Riley was being equally as terrible, but acting like he was so much better than Damien because of the letter on his finger.
Around the 60% mark, the book started improving, enough to bring this from a 2 star read to a 4 star read. I still hate Sarah’s characterization here, but I hope in the next book she’ll go back to the person she was on the first book.
I still think it was wrong of Gordon to make Damien move his bedroom up to the attic despite knowing Damien is so afraid of heights that he struggles up the stairs. It wasn’t fair, and it really bothered me.
Sarah was my favorite character in the last book, and the first part of this completely obliterated that character.
I really hated Riley. Obviously Damien is no angel. But Riley was being equally as terrible, but acting like he was so much better than Damien because of the letter on his finger.
Around the 60% mark, the book started improving, enough to bring this from a 2 star read to a 4 star read. I still hate Sarah’s characterization here, but I hope in the next book she’ll go back to the person she was on the first book.
March 15, 2022
One of the most entertaining series I've Picked up in a while.
March 15, 2018
4.5, rounded up to 5.
September 3, 2015
I LOVED this book!!! This series is, without a doubt, one of my very favorites EVER :) And Damien is definitely my favorite snarky, sarcastic, half-hero/half-villain with a heart of gold ;) He is SO funny—his comments and his inner monologue are LOL hilarious and wonderful. He has this whole overly-arrogant prankster mixed with sympathetic, decent do-gooder persona that is irresistible! And this book brought out ALL the emotions. My heart was completely broken for Damien a few times—I was honestly near tears at some of the injustices and bad behavior towards him, as well as some of his bitter disappointments :( But, I was also SO proud of him for many of his choices, his bravery, his keeping his chin up and soldiering on despite everything, and his willingness to own up to mistakes, admit to embarrassing feelings, and help others—all this AND I was endlessly amused by his personality and antics ;)
I loved the other characters in this book, too, including a couple of new ones, Riley and Zach. I adored Damien and Kat’s relationship and how solid they were, despite quite a few obstacles. I also loved Damien’s interactions with Riley, Amelia, Alex, and Zach. And I thought there were some good, interesting moments between Damien and his parents (ALL of them!). I missed his relationship with Sarah from the first book, though they did have a few good moments…
The plot kept me riveted and reading at record speed! Lots of twists and turns () and some scary, harrowing moments when I didn’t know what would happen next. The story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails a few times!
I enjoyed seeing the continued growth of Damien, though he did have some incredibly depressing and angsty moments in this book. I also enjoyed seeing his deepening relationships with Gordon, Amelia, Helen, etc. and the developments that arose with those changing relationships. I also liked seeing Damien expanding his social circle a bit :)
The ending of the book was good, though a little too neatly wrapped up. I figured that , but it was fun to see how it all played out. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this world again. LOVED every second of this read!! It was well worth the long wait for this sequel and I can’t wait to read more adventures of Damien and gang :) A final note: it’s my fondest wish that Damien will finally get over his issues with flying! Oh, and I would LOVE it if he ;)
Be warned that this book does have some mature themes and violence, but no R-rated language (just some milder swearing). There is some fairly heavy innuendo and some not-so-subtly implied sexual activity, too (though nothing at all explicit or graphic). Also, a bit of kissing and light making out. I’d recommend this book for older teens or adults.
I loved the other characters in this book, too, including a couple of new ones, Riley and Zach. I adored Damien and Kat’s relationship and how solid they were, despite quite a few obstacles. I also loved Damien’s interactions with Riley, Amelia, Alex, and Zach. And I thought there were some good, interesting moments between Damien and his parents (ALL of them!). I missed his relationship with Sarah from the first book, though they did have a few good moments…
The plot kept me riveted and reading at record speed! Lots of twists and turns () and some scary, harrowing moments when I didn’t know what would happen next. The story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails a few times!
I enjoyed seeing the continued growth of Damien, though he did have some incredibly depressing and angsty moments in this book. I also enjoyed seeing his deepening relationships with Gordon, Amelia, Helen, etc. and the developments that arose with those changing relationships. I also liked seeing Damien expanding his social circle a bit :)
The ending of the book was good, though a little too neatly wrapped up. I figured that , but it was fun to see how it all played out. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this world again. LOVED every second of this read!! It was well worth the long wait for this sequel and I can’t wait to read more adventures of Damien and gang :) A final note: it’s my fondest wish that Damien will finally get over his issues with flying! Oh, and I would LOVE it if he ;)
Be warned that this book does have some mature themes and violence, but no R-rated language (just some milder swearing). There is some fairly heavy innuendo and some not-so-subtly implied sexual activity, too (though nothing at all explicit or graphic). Also, a bit of kissing and light making out. I’d recommend this book for older teens or adults.
January 7, 2014
I've been waiting forever to write this review because I started this book months ago and still haven't been able to finish. My inability to finish the book isn't really a comment on the book itself, though. I was really enjoying it, but once I hadn't read it for a few days, I didn't feel the need to go back and finish it (I'm about 4/5 of the way in). And trust me, I tried, but the longer I waited, the harder it was to jump back into the story.
Anyway, this is a story about Damien Locke, son of a superhero and supervillain as the result of a single tryst. Given his pedigree, when he comes of age to get his superpowers, his thumb (which marks whether you are a hero or villain) shows an X as opposed to an H or a V for all the other superheroes (hence his name Renegade X). This is mostly back story as this novel is a sequel to The Rise of Renegade X, which I admittedly didn't read (possibly a reason I found this book so easy to abandon). The sequel centers on him living with his superhero dad and adjusting to his stepmom and siblings, sneaking around with his supervillain girlfriend - much to the disapproval of her father and Damien's stepmother, and attending Heroesworth Academy where he hopes to make his dad proud but naturally has a tough time fitting-in. To complicate matters, his best friend/sidekick Sarah has been fooling around with a dangerous new invention as well as with Damien's mortal enemy at Heroesworth.
There's a lot going on in this book plot-wise and I enjoyed each and every storyline except for the main one with Sarah's "personality enhancer." Guess I was reading more for the relationship stuff between Damien and his family and friends than for the save-the-world drama. Now that I think of it, this might be another reason I didn't finish the book. Anyhow, as I keep saying, my inability to finish the book isn't a reflection of the book itself: people say this all the time, but this book just wasn't for me. It was actually pretty great and had I been more interested in superhero stories I know I would've eaten the entire thing up with a spoon. The dialogue between Damien and his stepsister is sharp, funny, and total realistic for siblings. Plus, Damien's inner monologue and thoughts are hilarious. That said, I found the Damien to be a little too self-deprecating and down on himself - that definitely got on my nerves after a few chapters. I guess I just didn't care enough about the characters to see how it all turned out in the end - though writing this review is kinda making me want to take another shot at the book.
Anyway, this is a story about Damien Locke, son of a superhero and supervillain as the result of a single tryst. Given his pedigree, when he comes of age to get his superpowers, his thumb (which marks whether you are a hero or villain) shows an X as opposed to an H or a V for all the other superheroes (hence his name Renegade X). This is mostly back story as this novel is a sequel to The Rise of Renegade X, which I admittedly didn't read (possibly a reason I found this book so easy to abandon). The sequel centers on him living with his superhero dad and adjusting to his stepmom and siblings, sneaking around with his supervillain girlfriend - much to the disapproval of her father and Damien's stepmother, and attending Heroesworth Academy where he hopes to make his dad proud but naturally has a tough time fitting-in. To complicate matters, his best friend/sidekick Sarah has been fooling around with a dangerous new invention as well as with Damien's mortal enemy at Heroesworth.
There's a lot going on in this book plot-wise and I enjoyed each and every storyline except for the main one with Sarah's "personality enhancer." Guess I was reading more for the relationship stuff between Damien and his family and friends than for the save-the-world drama. Now that I think of it, this might be another reason I didn't finish the book. Anyhow, as I keep saying, my inability to finish the book isn't a reflection of the book itself: people say this all the time, but this book just wasn't for me. It was actually pretty great and had I been more interested in superhero stories I know I would've eaten the entire thing up with a spoon. The dialogue between Damien and his stepsister is sharp, funny, and total realistic for siblings. Plus, Damien's inner monologue and thoughts are hilarious. That said, I found the Damien to be a little too self-deprecating and down on himself - that definitely got on my nerves after a few chapters. I guess I just didn't care enough about the characters to see how it all turned out in the end - though writing this review is kinda making me want to take another shot at the book.
November 4, 2014
SO he's willing to give being a hero a shot. He has Kat back, the love of his life. And no superhero zombies are around.
SO I was hooked by the little cutesy romance between Kat and Damien in the beginning. Their back and forth teasing and ideas is funny and cute. Yes. cute... in an evil 16 year old corrupted way.
THe sibling rivalry between Amelia and Damien is absolutely priceless! It reminds me of the rivalry between my sister and I.
So one thing us authors like to do is to build our characters up. Make everything look like it's going great, only to send them crashing back down towards rock bottom. And that character enters the crucible. Where the character is either forged into something stronger, or they shatter and break from the stresses of their tribulations.
This is what happens in this book. Damien makes mistakes, and it's up to him to fix them. The stakes are much higher now and Damien discovers just what it means to be a real hero.
the metamorphosis Damien's character underwent is absolutely remarkable and powerful. And even though Damien's epiphanies and pondering is quite serious, there's still that added sarcasm or joke within them to add that bit of Damien flair.
THe love between Kat and Damien is much more developed now and is given its own spotlight in the novel. And I absolutely love that.
I'm having trouble writing a review because of the sheer awesomeness of this book. I'd have to quote the whole book to get someone to understand just how good this was.
All I can add is that the message communicated to the reader in Damien's video (the one he broadcasts in his underwear to the whole world during his dad's tv show) is so powerful, that it gave me chills and actually made me tear up a bit. That's quite the feat!
Congratulations Chelsea Campbell, you've written yourself a damn good book.
FIVE STARS!!!!!!!
SO I was hooked by the little cutesy romance between Kat and Damien in the beginning. Their back and forth teasing and ideas is funny and cute. Yes. cute... in an evil 16 year old corrupted way.
THe sibling rivalry between Amelia and Damien is absolutely priceless! It reminds me of the rivalry between my sister and I.
So one thing us authors like to do is to build our characters up. Make everything look like it's going great, only to send them crashing back down towards rock bottom. And that character enters the crucible. Where the character is either forged into something stronger, or they shatter and break from the stresses of their tribulations.
This is what happens in this book. Damien makes mistakes, and it's up to him to fix them. The stakes are much higher now and Damien discovers just what it means to be a real hero.
the metamorphosis Damien's character underwent is absolutely remarkable and powerful. And even though Damien's epiphanies and pondering is quite serious, there's still that added sarcasm or joke within them to add that bit of Damien flair.
THe love between Kat and Damien is much more developed now and is given its own spotlight in the novel. And I absolutely love that.
I'm having trouble writing a review because of the sheer awesomeness of this book. I'd have to quote the whole book to get someone to understand just how good this was.
All I can add is that the message communicated to the reader in Damien's video (the one he broadcasts in his underwear to the whole world during his dad's tv show) is so powerful, that it gave me chills and actually made me tear up a bit. That's quite the feat!
Congratulations Chelsea Campbell, you've written yourself a damn good book.
FIVE STARS!!!!!!!
June 15, 2014
X-rated
When I finished Regenade X, I was so hyped! I had to read it's sequel-asap. I admit it was an interesting read but didn't quite live up to my expectation. I have mixed feelings about this one, hence it's not really belonging to the good or bad category- x rated.
Like its prequel, it was enjoyable for its quirky protagonist and snarky dialogue but unlike the prequel, the attempts at plot twists were so blatantly obvious. A heads up, Damien loses some of his edge. (at least to this reader) His clever solutions and sarcastic attitude that so defines him is somewhat lost. Some may say that this is to show "character development" and this is because Damien is learning about responsibility and remorse, and just feeling stressed because of his new living arrangement with his superhero family. But his craftiness is part of what makes him so endearing. I was expecting an anti-hero and his brooding/ defensiveness (again, this is purely this reader's opinion) was somewhat taking away from some action/ fight scenes.
All in all though, I would definitely read a third book of it is coming out. before coming up with a definite opinion on this one series. hopefully it will involve around some actual crime fighting and not just him cleaning up his own mess. I would definitely be more interested if he does something with his Midnight Marvel identity (A dual identity would be epic!)- I blame it on too many episode of Arrow ^.^
When I finished Regenade X, I was so hyped! I had to read it's sequel-asap. I admit it was an interesting read but didn't quite live up to my expectation. I have mixed feelings about this one, hence it's not really belonging to the good or bad category- x rated.
Like its prequel, it was enjoyable for its quirky protagonist and snarky dialogue but unlike the prequel, the attempts at plot twists were so blatantly obvious. A heads up, Damien loses some of his edge. (at least to this reader) His clever solutions and sarcastic attitude that so defines him is somewhat lost. Some may say that this is to show "character development" and this is because Damien is learning about responsibility and remorse, and just feeling stressed because of his new living arrangement with his superhero family. But his craftiness is part of what makes him so endearing. I was expecting an anti-hero and his brooding/ defensiveness (again, this is purely this reader's opinion) was somewhat taking away from some action/ fight scenes.
All in all though, I would definitely read a third book of it is coming out. before coming up with a definite opinion on this one series. hopefully it will involve around some actual crime fighting and not just him cleaning up his own mess. I would definitely be more interested if he does something with his Midnight Marvel identity (A dual identity would be epic!)- I blame it on too many episode of Arrow ^.^
February 12, 2015
We will begin with a joke. Enjoy.
If you're on a plane and hear an announcement " Does anyone here know how to fly a plane?" Your answer should be yes because if you're going to die, you might as well die flying a jumbo jet.
The writing style of Chelsea is interesting, so even the basic plots are enjoyable.
This Book should appeal to super hero lovers. It emphasizes on the hardships the protagonist goes through.
The protagonist Damien locke is a special case. He has super hero dad, super villain mom, he has x print on his finger are some of the things that makes him unique. He never belongs anywhere, he is neither hero or a villain. And he even has a sidekick.
This story revolves around him trying desperately trying to fit in, when nobody understands or believes in him. Characters are all really interesting especially his biological mom, whom I have adored. Whom am I kidding. I loved it
This book is not bad for a super hero story.
This book is recommended to teens only.
If you're on a plane and hear an announcement " Does anyone here know how to fly a plane?" Your answer should be yes because if you're going to die, you might as well die flying a jumbo jet.
The writing style of Chelsea is interesting, so even the basic plots are enjoyable.
This Book should appeal to super hero lovers. It emphasizes on the hardships the protagonist goes through.
The protagonist Damien locke is a special case. He has super hero dad, super villain mom, he has x print on his finger are some of the things that makes him unique. He never belongs anywhere, he is neither hero or a villain. And he even has a sidekick.
This story revolves around him trying desperately trying to fit in, when nobody understands or believes in him. Characters are all really interesting especially his biological mom, whom I have adored. Whom am I kidding. I loved it
This book is not bad for a super hero story.
This book is recommended to teens only.
August 1, 2020
Plot: Teenager tries to deal with being bullied by absolutely everyone in his school while his friend gets hit by a personality changing ray and tries to murder people.
Enjoyable. Damien the tsundere becomes bffs with Riley against his will and it is honestly the best relationship in this whole book. Kat get an upgrade from distressed damsel to supportive boyfriend and I grudgingly accept it because I like Damien and they are cute together. The family shenanigans are great as always, and Jess is absolutely the best toddler I've ever seen written every she's gleefully unhinged and chaotic and has no Sarah is mostly a plot device because personality changing made her evil, but I do appreciate the commentary about prejudice. That said the commentary falls apart a little because we still don't know what role villains play in society or how villains are deliniated and all that jazz.
Enjoyable. Damien the tsundere becomes bffs with Riley against his will and it is honestly the best relationship in this whole book. Kat get an upgrade from distressed damsel to supportive boyfriend and I grudgingly accept it because I like Damien and they are cute together. The family shenanigans are great as always, and Jess is absolutely the best toddler I've ever seen written every she's gleefully unhinged and chaotic and has no Sarah is mostly a plot device because personality changing made her evil, but I do appreciate the commentary about prejudice. That said the commentary falls apart a little because we still don't know what role villains play in society or how villains are deliniated and all that jazz.
March 31, 2019
I really appreciate that Chelsea Campbell had the courage to go forward with her story, even after the publishers decided that it wasn't worth telling. I disagree with them completely. I really enjoy Damien and his snarkiness, and I am glad that Campbell covered a lot of the story lines that were left hanging with the first book. I saw that there is supposed to be a third book in the series. I hope that it is not just a rumor, and I cannot wait to read it.
January 8, 2014
Yay! This series is really fun!
The first one was decent, but really this second one was really awesome!
Damien was really a treat, but the really best part of the series is the relationship between Damien and his superhero family.
Really, guys, if you're looking for something new and fresh, but light and fun, read this series.
The first one was decent, but really this second one was really awesome!
Damien was really a treat, but the really best part of the series is the relationship between Damien and his superhero family.
Really, guys, if you're looking for something new and fresh, but light and fun, read this series.
September 14, 2013
I very wait this perfect book!!!
August 28, 2013
More like 4.5. LOVED this book. In a month and half run of bad books, this one was my rescue. I have waited YEARS for this sequel and it was well worth the wait.
September 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and I am so glad I discovered this author, I hope the next book in the series will be out soon as I can't wait. I know it is a series written with young teens in mind but as someone in the older demographic I can say that it can be enjoyed at any age. I love the characters, especially Damien, with his struggles to become either all good or all bad. Love that a flying super hero is scared of heights (highly amusing). think most people struggle to find a place to fit in at some point in there lives and the author has captured that prospective really well and super sized it, the problem of doing the right thing for the right reasons. There was plenty of action, mischief and mayhem, just right for a super book.
Damien has decided to embrace his new life as a super hero with open arms, well with his villain mum kicking him out he has no where else to live other than with his super hero dad. The problem is there is too many super hero's going to Heroesworth academy. With out either a 'H' or a 'V' tattooed on his hand he struggles to straddle the line between his new life and his old. The kids at both schools don't trust him and when his own sidekick turns against him because of something he might or might not have done, Damien finds that his life and the lives of the people he cares about most are put on the line. He will have to make new alliances if he has any hope of coming out of this unscathed.
I like the narrator and hope he sticks around for the series, he does such a good jobd with the characters that I can't imagine anyone else doing it.
Damien has decided to embrace his new life as a super hero with open arms, well with his villain mum kicking him out he has no where else to live other than with his super hero dad. The problem is there is too many super hero's going to Heroesworth academy. With out either a 'H' or a 'V' tattooed on his hand he struggles to straddle the line between his new life and his old. The kids at both schools don't trust him and when his own sidekick turns against him because of something he might or might not have done, Damien finds that his life and the lives of the people he cares about most are put on the line. He will have to make new alliances if he has any hope of coming out of this unscathed.
I like the narrator and hope he sticks around for the series, he does such a good jobd with the characters that I can't imagine anyone else doing it.
May 27, 2020
After book 1 I was confused as to why this series never blew up, why isn't there 100,000 ratings. I was confsed. It was actually good. This installation however showed me just what went wrong. Or what was wrong before and I missed it because of the somewhat original Slice of Life feel to her writing.
See I get what she tried to avoid. Though, by not involving the 'run of the mill' antagonist, or trials, her chapters got predictable and repetitive real quick. Damien's phobias actually staunches his growth Exponetially with each new chapter. The Xfactor was there, but she never pulled the trigger. This book needed to be more.
I think about the magic. Harry Potters first flying lesson, Eragons flight with Saphira, Kaladdin bouncing off the chasms and falling into the sky, Kvothe summoning lightning. They were all small elements added to their story to give it that X factor. It would have been better not to have mentioned him having any ability than to just staunch it like that. It's almost like authorial self sabotage. I've seen it before, but never like this. Not this close to the promised land. Actually. That would be the only question I'd ask Ms Campbell. Why? You could have had it all.
See I get what she tried to avoid. Though, by not involving the 'run of the mill' antagonist, or trials, her chapters got predictable and repetitive real quick. Damien's phobias actually staunches his growth Exponetially with each new chapter. The Xfactor was there, but she never pulled the trigger. This book needed to be more.
I think about the magic. Harry Potters first flying lesson, Eragons flight with Saphira, Kaladdin bouncing off the chasms and falling into the sky, Kvothe summoning lightning. They were all small elements added to their story to give it that X factor. It would have been better not to have mentioned him having any ability than to just staunch it like that. It's almost like authorial self sabotage. I've seen it before, but never like this. Not this close to the promised land. Actually. That would be the only question I'd ask Ms Campbell. Why? You could have had it all.
November 8, 2017
Fantastic Sequal
Even though in my opinion this book wasn't as good as the last I still enjoyed it immensely! Damien still has his crude and embarrassing humor, making the people around him uncomfortable but also he has grown more mature in this book with really wanting to be a hero throughout the book and being really passionate about doing what is right.
I really loved Damien and Riley back and forth relationship and in this book he finds friends that he can really trust and rely on. Whilst also, getting more closer to his father and estranged family really pulled on the heart strings.
I gave this a three because I'm sorry but I really didn't like Riley and Kat relationship 😂😂 I still can't get over her kissing his best friend even though it was ages ago and I need to get over it. But I had always hoped him and Sarah would date (even though Riley is perfect for her) but it's whatever! The story was I'll great it lagged sometimes but still entertaining.
Even though in my opinion this book wasn't as good as the last I still enjoyed it immensely! Damien still has his crude and embarrassing humor, making the people around him uncomfortable but also he has grown more mature in this book with really wanting to be a hero throughout the book and being really passionate about doing what is right.
I really loved Damien and Riley back and forth relationship and in this book he finds friends that he can really trust and rely on. Whilst also, getting more closer to his father and estranged family really pulled on the heart strings.
I gave this a three because I'm sorry but I really didn't like Riley and Kat relationship 😂😂 I still can't get over her kissing his best friend even though it was ages ago and I need to get over it. But I had always hoped him and Sarah would date (even though Riley is perfect for her) but it's whatever! The story was I'll great it lagged sometimes but still entertaining.
May 6, 2018
Cooking with Sauron, S1E2: The Trials of Renegade X
Ingredients
One malfunctioning laser gun
One large Great Dane
Paperback novel: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Blu-Ray DVDs: Megamind, X-Men: Days of Future Past
Snark, 1 lb
Teenage angst, 4 oz (diced)
Innuendo, 5 L (powdered)
Start up the Literary Oven™ at 450ºC. Place the novel in between the two DVDs to make a sandwich. Blast the sandwich with the malfunctioning laser gun, then throw it into the oven. Mix the snark, angst, and innuendo in a mixing bowl, then, as quickly as possible, hurl the ungodly mixture into the furnace, closing the door immediately to contain the explosion. Cook for thirty minutes. Stroke the Great Dane while you wait.
Open oven, remove finished product, slice, bind, and serve.
Ingredients
One malfunctioning laser gun
One large Great Dane
Paperback novel: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Blu-Ray DVDs: Megamind, X-Men: Days of Future Past
Snark, 1 lb
Teenage angst, 4 oz (diced)
Innuendo, 5 L (powdered)
Start up the Literary Oven™ at 450ºC. Place the novel in between the two DVDs to make a sandwich. Blast the sandwich with the malfunctioning laser gun, then throw it into the oven. Mix the snark, angst, and innuendo in a mixing bowl, then, as quickly as possible, hurl the ungodly mixture into the furnace, closing the door immediately to contain the explosion. Cook for thirty minutes. Stroke the Great Dane while you wait.
Open oven, remove finished product, slice, bind, and serve.
December 8, 2020
A solid sequel but a +18yr old read
Narrator: good pacing, I wish the differences between characters of the same gender were more obvious
Content Warnings:
Language: bitch, ass, damn it - at least no f-bombs
Violence: some fighting
Sexual content: allusions to sexual exploits of under 17 year olds, sexual jokes
Parents: if you’re cool with teens having sex with each other and having it almost blatantly encouraged by main characters—this is for you.
Story: the story was detailed and well written. Lots of action and drama as should be expected for a teenage superhero-villain. Overall an enjoyable experience with the exception of I don’t personally care for 16 year olds being sexually active.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Narrator: good pacing, I wish the differences between characters of the same gender were more obvious
Content Warnings:
Language: bitch, ass, damn it - at least no f-bombs
Violence: some fighting
Sexual content: allusions to sexual exploits of under 17 year olds, sexual jokes
Parents: if you’re cool with teens having sex with each other and having it almost blatantly encouraged by main characters—this is for you.
Story: the story was detailed and well written. Lots of action and drama as should be expected for a teenage superhero-villain. Overall an enjoyable experience with the exception of I don’t personally care for 16 year olds being sexually active.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
December 29, 2021
Another brilliant offering by this remarkable author.
Damien faces up to some serious prejudice at Heroesworth Academy in his first year. He's a little bit defiant (alright, a lot defiant in many instances), a lot independent and still terrified of falling. He's also big on relationships and loyalty but has a rather unfortunate tendency to screw up on a frequent basis. Good intentions gone wrong and an accidental betrayal lead to an adrenaline fuelled action sequence involving tall buildings
I could go on and on about this series, but the best would be for you to read them for yourself; it's an experience worthy of binge-reading.
Damien faces up to some serious prejudice at Heroesworth Academy in his first year. He's a little bit defiant (alright, a lot defiant in many instances), a lot independent and still terrified of falling. He's also big on relationships and loyalty but has a rather unfortunate tendency to screw up on a frequent basis. Good intentions gone wrong and an accidental betrayal lead to an adrenaline fuelled action sequence involving tall buildings
I could go on and on about this series, but the best would be for you to read them for yourself; it's an experience worthy of binge-reading.
July 7, 2017
The only reason i gave this one less star than the first book in the series, is that the lead character is just so unrelentingly whiny and selfish that i had a hard time liking him, even though, in the end he is 'heroic'. He's such a snot about it. Got in the way for me a few times, but overall a fun read, that builds the world even more than the first book.
January 23, 2018
I was a bit disappointed by the villain in this book.
I did like the interaction between Sarah's new boyfriend Riley & Renegade X.
I'm really curious what will happen with Renegade X's new power.
I did like the interaction between Sarah's new boyfriend Riley & Renegade X.
I'm really curious what will happen with Renegade X's new power.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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