Supernova by Marissa Meyer is the epic conclusion to
the popular superhero versus anti-hero series, Renegades. As a final book in a
trilogy, it does not let fans of the series down as it packs a punch. It has
the action and characters that we have all come to love, as well as a very
intense plot which thickens as you get further through the book.
On a side note- I have briefly mentioned something that is unleashed in this book which some may consider a spoiler (but I do not go into detail about it, rather just mention what it does), so if you haven't read the other books, you should feel safe to read on as it doesn't really spoil anything! It is something I thought was a great inclusion so wanted to ensure I mentioned it in my review.
The synopsis:
Nova and Adrian are fighting to keep their identities
and superpowers secret. While the battle rages between their alter egos and
their allies, there is a darker threat shrouding Gatlon City. Nova and Adrian
must brave lies and betrayal to protect those they love. Unless they can bridge
the divide between heroes and villains, they stand to lose everything,
including each other.
Supernova is a huge book, totalling 550 pages. As it
is so large, I will only attempt to skim the surface and mention some of the main
parts that I enjoyed. Overall, while it is gigantic in size, the plot is
constantly turning as the reader keeps turning the page to see what is going to
happen next. I came into Supernova hyped, as I could not wait to see what was
happening next in the saga. It follows on directly from Archenemies as Nova
comes to terms with an act she committed which has serious repercussions for
not only herself but the Anarchists and the Renegades. The tensions between the
two enemies strengthens as a weapon is released which takes superpowers away. I
enjoyed the inclusion of Agent N, as it made the characters wary of who may be
in possession of it and that they needed to act carefully so that they were not
affected by it. By having a substance in the book like that, something that
essentially takes their super human powers away, it really keeps you guessing
as to who has it, who will it impact and what will their losses be. The book is
centred around people with powers and by including that element and by
threatening to make them human, there is a strong sense of living on the edge
through the plot.
Meyer creates the most realistic characters who the
reader can really empathise with. It was great to see these characters develop
further in this final instalment and see the different issues that they were
faced with and how they tried to confront them. Nova and Adrian have so much
depth and in this instalment, really begin to question where their alliances
belong. They have to be two of the best written protagonists I have witnessed
in a book before. I love how we get to read from both of their POV, to witness
both sides of the story. Meyer does not force you to take the side of either Nova
or Adrian, but allows you as the reader to see both of their lives. This is
present throughout each of the books but I feel makes the most impact in this
book as there is so much more going on. I also really enjoy all of the side
characters. In a book with so many characters, you would assume you wouldn’t
find out much about them but throughout Supernova, we learn so much more about
each of the minor characters. They are so well developed and each have their
own backstories which adds to the book in so many ways. I would possibly love
to see a spin-off series with some of the other characters as the focus as I believe
Meyer has created a wonderful world which can be built upon in the future.
Another aspect of this book I thought was great was
the pacing. Often large YA books appear intimidating and are extremely slow and
painful to read. Thankfully, this was quite the opposite. While reading
Supernova, I never found myself bored or fidgeting. The action packed plot and
superb writing kept me engaged from start to finish. There was always something
else that kept me hooked to finish reading it.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Supernova and
would highly recommend the series to anyone who finds themselves looking for a
new YA series to sink their teeth into. While I am not normally one to reach
for books about superheros, this series has opened my eyes to a whole new genre
of YA fiction which I hope will grow in the years to come. Meyer writes in such
a way that draws the reader in and they do not want to finish until the book is
complete.
I rated this book: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy
of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Supernova is available to purchase in bookstores
around Australia now!
