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Renegade X #3
The Betrayal of Renegade X
Damien thinks he has the whole hero thing figured out—he’s getting good grades at Heroesworth and acing all his missions—at least until he zaps an unarmed bad guy he believes tortured and murdered children. It turns out the “bad guy” was actually a superhero working with the school. The mission was staged, and Damien blew it.
Now his best friend refuses to work with him, his dad is considering getting him professional help, and everyone’s questioning whether or not he has a future as a hero—including his grandpa, who will do anything to ensure Damien’s future lies in villainy. His grandpa creates a villain organization called the Truth, intent on exposing the way heroes really treat villains. But when the Truth launches its plan and the whole city erupts in chaos, Damien is caught between the opposing sides, and his future is anything but certain.
With heroes and villains bent on destroying each other, it’s up to him to do whatever it takes to stop the fighting, even if it means betraying the people closest to him.
Now his best friend refuses to work with him, his dad is considering getting him professional help, and everyone’s questioning whether or not he has a future as a hero—including his grandpa, who will do anything to ensure Damien’s future lies in villainy. His grandpa creates a villain organization called the Truth, intent on exposing the way heroes really treat villains. But when the Truth launches its plan and the whole city erupts in chaos, Damien is caught between the opposing sides, and his future is anything but certain.
With heroes and villains bent on destroying each other, it’s up to him to do whatever it takes to stop the fighting, even if it means betraying the people closest to him.
494 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2015
58 people are currently reading
839 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea M. Campbell
29 books312 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 12, 2015
Once again, Damien bedazzles us readers with his wit, charm and sparkling personality in the third book, The Betrayal of Renegade X.
Shit really hits the fan in book three. A full-blown war breaks out between the Heroes and the Villains, and of course, Damien being Damien gets inevitably caught in the dead center of it. He’s facing huge pressure from both sides of his family to do the right thing, too bad neither side really agree on what the right thing actually is.
His maternal grandfather can see no future for Damien as a hero, and coerces him to openly stand up for villain rights. Damien does truly believe in the cause, in Golden City, Villains are an abused and underrepresented minority, and letterism runs amok. Villains are being persecuted not for their crimes, but for being born to get a V on their 16th birthday. Even Damien’s own family is unintentionally letterist, and they are one of the more tolerant families. Their society is very flawed and The League is corrupt, Damien sees this and he cannot let it go.
Simultaneously, his hero family (mainly Gordon) is pressuring him to do well in hero school, follow the rules (no matter how justified Damien is in breaking them) and most importantly: to one-day join The League and to do The Right Thing.
Betrayal deals with one of the most horrifying and dreaded aspects of any teenager’s life, the young person’s equivalent to a mid-life crisis: deciding what to do in life. As Damien grows older, his friends start make more decisions about their future and chose different paths. Suddenly, he is left all alone in his perceived version of the future. Due to his hero-villain hybrid status, some doors are automatically closed to him (not that he wants to join the League anyway) and he begins to realize that his past decisions have also severed connections to former possibilities. Damien begins to feel as though he wont ever fit in to society properly, and unfortunately, that is sometimes the case. With pressure on both sides to become something he is not, he struggles with self-acceptance. He is a complex person trying to become accepted in a near binary society, a square peg being forced to fit into either a circular or triangular hole.
In my humble opinion, the things that really make or break a story are its characters, their personalities and how they interact with each other. Over the course of this series, Chelsea Campbell has created a wonderfully dysfunctional cast of people whom are a pleasure to read about. Damien, of course, takes the cake when it comes to most likeable. He’s ridiculous and sarcastic, full of acerbic wit and cynicism.
His relationships and interactions with his family are really some of the best parts of the whole story. He is incredibly caring towards his younger siblings; he loves them and would put himself in possible mortal danger to protect them. He has a love/hate relationship with Amelia, full of hurtful comments, pranks and sheer annoyingness, but also support and thoughtfulness. He maintains a standoffish love for his father; the two are constantly butting heads over ideology, letterism, and the distinctions between hero and villain, good and evil.
A part I especially loved was when Gordon stood up on Damien’s behalf in front of his own family. His parents (Damien’s grandparents) refuse to acknowledge that Damien’s existence and make it clear that he is not welcome in their family or their home, especially during Christmas. To Damien, Gordon says: “It’s Christmas. You’re not missing Christmas dinner with the family. And... they need to know that when they invite us over, it’s all of us or none of us.” It was one of the first times where we got to see the extent at which Gordon was willing to go for Damien, far enough to alienate his own parents. It’s proof of love.
That, of course, is only part of the messed up family drama that he goes through, because face it, what his mother is doing is just plain fucked up. I’m not a parent, but I am pretty sure that what Marianna is doing is wrong on so many levels. No sane parent should try to create the perfect child by using his or her first kid’s memories as she did with Damien. That’s plain sick, a twisted scenario reminiscent of identity theft, child abuse and cloning. Not cool.
One of my favorite changes in the novel was the evolution of Sara. To be honest, in the first book, I hated her, and I’m not really sure why. I then loved it during book 2 when she went nuts and became a deranged psychopath. Finally, in this book, I found part of her real self that I could like, and that was her relationship with Kat. Sara and Kat got off to a rocky start to begin with, and it went downhill from there. Throughout Betrayal, Sara is doing everything she can to salvage their nonexistent friendship, which was cheesy, heartfelt adorable and uplifting, especially since Kat came around in the end.
In the end, The Betrayal of Renegade X was damn good. Definitely a 5 star. This has been the best of the series up to date, and I hope there are more yet to come.
Shit really hits the fan in book three. A full-blown war breaks out between the Heroes and the Villains, and of course, Damien being Damien gets inevitably caught in the dead center of it. He’s facing huge pressure from both sides of his family to do the right thing, too bad neither side really agree on what the right thing actually is.
His maternal grandfather can see no future for Damien as a hero, and coerces him to openly stand up for villain rights. Damien does truly believe in the cause, in Golden City, Villains are an abused and underrepresented minority, and letterism runs amok. Villains are being persecuted not for their crimes, but for being born to get a V on their 16th birthday. Even Damien’s own family is unintentionally letterist, and they are one of the more tolerant families. Their society is very flawed and The League is corrupt, Damien sees this and he cannot let it go.
Simultaneously, his hero family (mainly Gordon) is pressuring him to do well in hero school, follow the rules (no matter how justified Damien is in breaking them) and most importantly: to one-day join The League and to do The Right Thing.
Betrayal deals with one of the most horrifying and dreaded aspects of any teenager’s life, the young person’s equivalent to a mid-life crisis: deciding what to do in life. As Damien grows older, his friends start make more decisions about their future and chose different paths. Suddenly, he is left all alone in his perceived version of the future. Due to his hero-villain hybrid status, some doors are automatically closed to him (not that he wants to join the League anyway) and he begins to realize that his past decisions have also severed connections to former possibilities. Damien begins to feel as though he wont ever fit in to society properly, and unfortunately, that is sometimes the case. With pressure on both sides to become something he is not, he struggles with self-acceptance. He is a complex person trying to become accepted in a near binary society, a square peg being forced to fit into either a circular or triangular hole.
In my humble opinion, the things that really make or break a story are its characters, their personalities and how they interact with each other. Over the course of this series, Chelsea Campbell has created a wonderfully dysfunctional cast of people whom are a pleasure to read about. Damien, of course, takes the cake when it comes to most likeable. He’s ridiculous and sarcastic, full of acerbic wit and cynicism.
His relationships and interactions with his family are really some of the best parts of the whole story. He is incredibly caring towards his younger siblings; he loves them and would put himself in possible mortal danger to protect them. He has a love/hate relationship with Amelia, full of hurtful comments, pranks and sheer annoyingness, but also support and thoughtfulness. He maintains a standoffish love for his father; the two are constantly butting heads over ideology, letterism, and the distinctions between hero and villain, good and evil.
A part I especially loved was when Gordon stood up on Damien’s behalf in front of his own family. His parents (Damien’s grandparents) refuse to acknowledge that Damien’s existence and make it clear that he is not welcome in their family or their home, especially during Christmas. To Damien, Gordon says: “It’s Christmas. You’re not missing Christmas dinner with the family. And... they need to know that when they invite us over, it’s all of us or none of us.” It was one of the first times where we got to see the extent at which Gordon was willing to go for Damien, far enough to alienate his own parents. It’s proof of love.
That, of course, is only part of the messed up family drama that he goes through, because face it, what his mother is doing is just plain fucked up. I’m not a parent, but I am pretty sure that what Marianna is doing is wrong on so many levels. No sane parent should try to create the perfect child by using his or her first kid’s memories as she did with Damien. That’s plain sick, a twisted scenario reminiscent of identity theft, child abuse and cloning. Not cool.
One of my favorite changes in the novel was the evolution of Sara. To be honest, in the first book, I hated her, and I’m not really sure why. I then loved it during book 2 when she went nuts and became a deranged psychopath. Finally, in this book, I found part of her real self that I could like, and that was her relationship with Kat. Sara and Kat got off to a rocky start to begin with, and it went downhill from there. Throughout Betrayal, Sara is doing everything she can to salvage their nonexistent friendship, which was cheesy, heartfelt adorable and uplifting, especially since Kat came around in the end.
In the end, The Betrayal of Renegade X was damn good. Definitely a 5 star. This has been the best of the series up to date, and I hope there are more yet to come.
July 18, 2015
YASSSSSS ANOTHER RENEGADE X BOOK!!!
This is seriously one of my absolutely favourite series, so this review will feature a lot of fangirling!
In the last book we see Damien finally make a choice regarding his future. Now we see him trying to see that choice through.
I honestly loved seeing him fight the establishment, loudly disagreeing with the misinformation and propaganda taught in school. Being vocal about the dehumanization of the "enemy" they are being fed.
Of course that doesn't turn out well for him, academically speaking.
One thing I find very realistic in this series is how his father says he'll try to do better and accept Damien as he is, but then he'll get disappointed about it and try to change him. He's always like, "Son, just watch, I will show you how proud I am of you for being true to yourself!" And then we're like, "Okay, let's see this." BUT it always ends up like:
Damien struggles with the need to be accepted while constantly suffering micro-aggressions for being who he is. When he gets the courage to do it, he points it out and the people surrounding him promise they'll do better... then a few pages later they're back to the usual crap.
It's disheartening, and painfully familiar to me. I can empathise with how tired, frustrated, and depressed Damien gets in the middle of all this.
This aimlessness strikes him hard. He doesn't feel accepted anywhere.
So when his villain grandfather offers him the chance to make a difference in the world by being the voice for villain's whose human rights are openly broken, Damien feels as if he finally has a purpose, a future, just the way he is.
The best part about this book is how Damien starts to accept that he is who he is, regardless of what other people expect of him, regardless of what other people project his personality to be.
Sadly he still fights for approval, but let's be real, that's what all of us do. Still it's a really powerful message.
So, let me summarise my thoughts on this book:
- Great plot
- Great character development
- Believable family struggles
- Quest for self discovery
- Social issues properly addressed
- HILARIOUS
One thing I love in this series, and that's been slow building, is Damien's relationship with his sister Amelia. They outwardly hate each other, but when the going gets tough they're there for each other. That's so beautiful! I hope we'll see more of it in future books!
There is one thing I must be very critical about: this series deals with many social issues pertaining to minorities - violations of human rights, "fantastical racism", micro-aggressions, etcetera.
But where are the actual minorities?!
Granted, not every character is extensively described, but is there anyone who is not white?
This lack of diversity saddens me, it seems appropriative to address these issues with such a white cast of characters.
I hope I'm wrong and that I missed a few POC in the books, but even so I'm pretty sure none of them are main characters...
Still, as I said, this is one of my favourite series, and whenever I'm down I'll just read it and it cheers me up! So I highly recommend it!
Oh, and when will the hardback be available at the Book Depository? :(
June 13, 2015
Fan-freaking-tastic. Each book in this series is better than the last.
December 31, 2015
After three books I still love this kid's voice. The banter and wit haven't waned. But the balance of heart and vulnerability is what makes it work so well. He still feels more like a real kid than most of the YA books I've read. He's so raw. He knows it all but at the same time he doesn't know anything and he has no idea what to do next but that never stops him from acting in a crisis. He's afraid of heights (so much for the flying power he got from his hero side of the family), he's afraid to turn left while driving, but he isn't afraid to say anything to anyone at any time or to risk his life to save someone in danger. He's such a good kid with a big heart, and it keeps getting stomped all over by the people who should be protecting him. Being a teenage sucks, and being Renegade X really sucks even more sometimes, always caught in the middle of everyone and everything. I just love this kid.
I appreciated the extra layer of social consciousness that was in this book too. Damien took a strong stand against institutionalized racism (heroes versus villains), government endorsed violence and torture of villains, and the need for people to band together to create a change when their rights were being abused. The stuff that was going on in Golden City was a combination of Guantanamo and the way minorities are often treated by police in the US. The question of what an appropriate response to that is was a good one for Damien and his friends and family to grapple with, I was happy to see a more serious story arc start. Damien has been very worried about what he's going to do in the future, since he won't join the (hero's) League or be a villain, so I suspect that in some way this will lead to his future career as well.
I liked the things that Campbell included with Amelia in this book too. I could see how much she and Damien had become a real brother and sister, finally getting some of the good from their situation to go with the bad, some trust and a basic level of friendship. And she was more likable all-around, growing up a bit.
The big fight was pretty exciting too. I can't remember previous books very well, were they all that crazy? It sounds like they were kinda nuts too, from the references in this one, but this seemed amped up even more, with all of the adults in on the action as well.
Campbell pulled off another great book, mixing lots of action and excitement with a lot of somehow true-to-life emotional connections (and missed connections) and drama. She really understands that when you have a fantasy element, like superheroes, in an urban fantasy story, you have to anchor it in reality somehow to keep the readers able to relate to the story and the characters. She does that so well with Damien and his friends and family through their family dynamics and through Damien's efforts at being understood by the people who are supposed to love and care for him the most. And his anguish when they let him down. Like any teenager, with the major complicating factor of his society being divided into heroes and villains and him being stuck in the middle. I'm so glad that Campbell is going to continue this series, I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I appreciated the extra layer of social consciousness that was in this book too. Damien took a strong stand against institutionalized racism (heroes versus villains), government endorsed violence and torture of villains, and the need for people to band together to create a change when their rights were being abused. The stuff that was going on in Golden City was a combination of Guantanamo and the way minorities are often treated by police in the US. The question of what an appropriate response to that is was a good one for Damien and his friends and family to grapple with, I was happy to see a more serious story arc start. Damien has been very worried about what he's going to do in the future, since he won't join the (hero's) League or be a villain, so I suspect that in some way this will lead to his future career as well.
I liked the things that Campbell included with Amelia in this book too. I could see how much she and Damien had become a real brother and sister, finally getting some of the good from their situation to go with the bad, some trust and a basic level of friendship. And she was more likable all-around, growing up a bit.
The big fight was pretty exciting too. I can't remember previous books very well, were they all that crazy? It sounds like they were kinda nuts too, from the references in this one, but this seemed amped up even more, with all of the adults in on the action as well.
Campbell pulled off another great book, mixing lots of action and excitement with a lot of somehow true-to-life emotional connections (and missed connections) and drama. She really understands that when you have a fantasy element, like superheroes, in an urban fantasy story, you have to anchor it in reality somehow to keep the readers able to relate to the story and the characters. She does that so well with Damien and his friends and family through their family dynamics and through Damien's efforts at being understood by the people who are supposed to love and care for him the most. And his anguish when they let him down. Like any teenager, with the major complicating factor of his society being divided into heroes and villains and him being stuck in the middle. I'm so glad that Campbell is going to continue this series, I can't wait to find out what happens next.
February 11, 2016
How can anyone dislike this series?
This book is fantastic. I loved it and can't wait for the next one.
This book is fantastic. I loved it and can't wait for the next one.
December 22, 2015
I don’t even remember what events transpired that brought me and Renegade X together. It’s odd to think that there are books, or series, around that are so good and we don’t know of them. It just seems so unfair! What else is out there that I would love madly, but I’ve never heard of it? Tragic, really.
At it’s core the Renegade X series is about equality. It’s about how being born to a specific group doesn’t automatically make you ‘good’ or ‘right’, and it doesn’t automatically make them ‘evil’, or mean that they’re ‘bad’.
In Renegade X the struggle is between Heroes and Villains. Heroes are born with a certain amount of immediate privilege. Villains are born and immediately reviled. Sure the whole definition of villain is one of treachery and criminal behavior, but in the world of Renegade X being a Villain isn’t a decision. It’s hereditary. Damien, aka Renegade X, explains that most people who are born Villains never actually do anything illegal. They become veterinarians, or nurses, or teachers. Yet, the people of Golden City treat every Villain citizen as though being a criminal is something that’s wired into their DNA. The Hero community’s treatment of Damien is a reflection of this mentality when, despite the fact that he’s half hero, they treat him as though he is, and always will be, ALL villain.
Does this sound familiar to you, too?
It’s an upward battle for Damien, fighting for villain’s rights while at the same time learning where he fits in with his Hero family. Sometimes they don’t understand him, and he gets frustrated. We as the readers get frustrated too. Still, you can’t help but believe in the love between them. Damien may have only known this family for a year, but it’s very clear that he already means so much to all of them. They may have their problems, but they are a good family. Damien’s love for the people he’s met since finding out about his Hero blood, both family and friends, is probably the most heartwarming part of the story, for me.
Look, Damien isn’t always the sweetest protagonist. He can be an asshole. He’s 17 years old. His entire world has been turned upside down. Everyone he trusted, his entire life, have almost all used his new familial situation to their own end. The new world that he’s living in, with heroes, routinely attempts to make him feel really bad about who he is. He’s got a chip on his shoulder the size of Everest. One thing is clear though, from almost early on, he loves his new family. He stands up for what’s right, but it’s also obvious that he truly cares about his father, step-mother, sisters and brother. He’s hilarious and snarky at times, but when they need him he’s also incredibly sweet and gentle. It’s that mix of kindness and bitterness that has made him one of my most favorites.
I also want to mention that when I first started the Renegade X series I was under the impression, from the cover art (which is awesome!), that these were younger YA books. I anticipated that they would fall somewhere between Middle Grade and Young Adult. They’re not. They should actually be classified somewhere between YA and NA. There is sex, not explicitly written, but Damien does have sex and he talks about sex a lot, he’s a 17 year old boy. There is also some foul language. It’s a book that would make me hesitate before allowing my 11 year old to read it.
I really actually have no complaints at all about this entire series. If I had to find something that stinks, it would have to be the wait time between books, about 2-3 years. I’m positive that the writing, editing, time has to do with the quality of the work, it’s just so hard to wait between installments.
Till next time, Renegade X!
For this and other reviews, visit us at Badass Book Reviews!
I don’t want to talk about it. I use my powers to stop someone I was told kidnaps and murders kids, and I end up on the news like it’s the worst thing I’ve ever done. Riley uses his power to catch someone who just happens to look suspicious, and he’s getting a freaking award.
At it’s core the Renegade X series is about equality. It’s about how being born to a specific group doesn’t automatically make you ‘good’ or ‘right’, and it doesn’t automatically make them ‘evil’, or mean that they’re ‘bad’.
In Renegade X the struggle is between Heroes and Villains. Heroes are born with a certain amount of immediate privilege. Villains are born and immediately reviled. Sure the whole definition of villain is one of treachery and criminal behavior, but in the world of Renegade X being a Villain isn’t a decision. It’s hereditary. Damien, aka Renegade X, explains that most people who are born Villains never actually do anything illegal. They become veterinarians, or nurses, or teachers. Yet, the people of Golden City treat every Villain citizen as though being a criminal is something that’s wired into their DNA. The Hero community’s treatment of Damien is a reflection of this mentality when, despite the fact that he’s half hero, they treat him as though he is, and always will be, ALL villain.
Does this sound familiar to you, too?
It’s an upward battle for Damien, fighting for villain’s rights while at the same time learning where he fits in with his Hero family. Sometimes they don’t understand him, and he gets frustrated. We as the readers get frustrated too. Still, you can’t help but believe in the love between them. Damien may have only known this family for a year, but it’s very clear that he already means so much to all of them. They may have their problems, but they are a good family. Damien’s love for the people he’s met since finding out about his Hero blood, both family and friends, is probably the most heartwarming part of the story, for me.
And the two of us” -he gestures to me and him, as if I could possibly have thought he meant anyone else- “don’t always listen to each other.”
“I listen, all right? I just don’t like what you have to say.”
He laughs at that. “We’re too alike.”
“Don’t say that.” Can’t he see I’ve been through enough? Does he really have to insult me on top of it?
“It’s true. And Unfortunately that means that we don’t always get along. But it doesn’t mean I don’t love you, even when we’re not seeing eye to eye. I want you to be able to trust me. I know that’s going to take time. You’ve put your trust in people who’ve let you down, and I’ve probably contributed to that more than I realize. But I want things to be different.”
Look, Damien isn’t always the sweetest protagonist. He can be an asshole. He’s 17 years old. His entire world has been turned upside down. Everyone he trusted, his entire life, have almost all used his new familial situation to their own end. The new world that he’s living in, with heroes, routinely attempts to make him feel really bad about who he is. He’s got a chip on his shoulder the size of Everest. One thing is clear though, from almost early on, he loves his new family. He stands up for what’s right, but it’s also obvious that he truly cares about his father, step-mother, sisters and brother. He’s hilarious and snarky at times, but when they need him he’s also incredibly sweet and gentle. It’s that mix of kindness and bitterness that has made him one of my most favorites.
Jess leans into me, resting her head against my upper arm. “Soft,” she says, petting her stuffed aardvark, which is, in fact, very soft. Then she jams its long snout into me, pretending it’s biting me. I can tell because she makes chomping and chewing noises while she does it.
I’m not sure if aardvarks can bite people. Or if they even chew. I always kind of thought they sucked up ants like a vacuum cleaner. Which, now that I think about it, is probably not true. That would be like snorting ants, which sounds kind of painful.
I also want to mention that when I first started the Renegade X series I was under the impression, from the cover art (which is awesome!), that these were younger YA books. I anticipated that they would fall somewhere between Middle Grade and Young Adult. They’re not. They should actually be classified somewhere between YA and NA. There is sex, not explicitly written, but Damien does have sex and he talks about sex a lot, he’s a 17 year old boy. There is also some foul language. It’s a book that would make me hesitate before allowing my 11 year old to read it.
I really actually have no complaints at all about this entire series. If I had to find something that stinks, it would have to be the wait time between books, about 2-3 years. I’m positive that the writing, editing, time has to do with the quality of the work, it’s just so hard to wait between installments.
Till next time, Renegade X!
For this and other reviews, visit us at Badass Book Reviews!
December 24, 2020
This was another enjoyable read, though not without it's problems. I had the same issue with this book as I did with the last one. The first half of the book was filled with so much teenaged angst, that it made me antsy and frustrated while reading. Damien is doing everything he can to be the good guy here, but no matter what he does, his father is always upset with him, his teachers always look down on him, his mother is always a horrible mother, and his friends treat him unfairly. At this point, I almost feel like Damien might actually turn into a villain, not because that's hat he's meant to be, but because that's what the people around him are going to push him into.
Despite all that, this was the first time I feel like Damien really had to grapple with his decision to be a hero. It was exciting to read because I honestly didn't know what side he was still going to be on due to everything that he had gone through in the first portion. I'm excited to carry on reading the rest of this series, because I still feel like there's a chance he might end up with a V instead of an H and I really need to know what happens.
Despite all that, this was the first time I feel like Damien really had to grapple with his decision to be a hero. It was exciting to read because I honestly didn't know what side he was still going to be on due to everything that he had gone through in the first portion. I'm excited to carry on reading the rest of this series, because I still feel like there's a chance he might end up with a V instead of an H and I really need to know what happens.
August 12, 2015
Once again, Damien bedazzles us readers with his wit, charm and sparkling personality in the third book, The Betrayal of Renegade X.
Shit really hits the fan in book three. A full-blown war breaks out between the Heroes and the Villains, and of course, Damien being Damien gets inevitably caught in the dead center of it. He’s facing huge pressure from both sides of his family to do the right thing, too bad neither side really agree on what the right thing actually is.
His maternal grandfather can see no future for Damien as a hero, and coerces him to openly stand up for villain rights. Damien does truly believe in the cause, in Golden City, Villains are an abused and underrepresented minority, and letterism runs amok. Villains are being persecuted not for their crimes, but for being born to get a V on their 16th birthday. Even Damien’s own family is unintentionally letterist, and they are one of the more tolerant families. Their society is very flawed and The League is corrupt, Damien sees this and he cannot let it go.
Simultaneously, his hero family (mainly Gordon) is pressuring him to do well in hero school, follow the rules (no matter how justified Damien is in breaking them) and most importantly: to one-day join The League and to do The Right Thing.
Betrayal deals with one of the most horrifying and dreaded aspects of any teenager’s life, the young person’s equivalent to a mid-life crisis: deciding what to do in life. As Damien grows older, his friends start make more decisions about their future and chose different paths. Suddenly, he is left all alone in his perceived version of the future. Due to his hero-villain hybrid status, some doors are automatically closed to him (not that he wants to join the League anyway) and he begins to realize that his past decisions have also severed connections to former possibilities. Damien begins to feel as though he wont ever fit in to society properly, and unfortunately, that is sometimes the case. With pressure on both sides to become something he is not, he struggles with self-acceptance. He is a complex person trying to become accepted in a near binary society, a square peg being forced to fit into either a circular or triangular hole.
In my humble opinion, the things that really make or break a story are its characters, their personalities and how they interact with each other. Over the course of this series, Chelsea Campbell has created a wonderfully dysfunctional cast of people whom are a pleasure to read about. Damien, of course, takes the cake when it comes to most likeable. He’s ridiculous and sarcastic, full of acerbic wit and cynicism.
His relationships and interactions with his family are really some of the best parts of the whole story. He is incredibly caring towards his younger siblings; he loves them and would put himself in possible mortal danger to protect them. He has a love/hate relationship with Amelia, full of hurtful comments, pranks and sheer annoyingness, but also support and thoughtfulness. He maintains a standoffish love for his father; the two are constantly butting heads over ideology, letterism, and the distinctions between hero and villain, good and evil.
A part I especially loved was when Gordon stood up on Damien’s behalf in front of his own family. His parents (Damien’s grandparents) refuse to acknowledge that Damien’s existence and make it clear that he is not welcome in their family or their home, especially during Christmas. To Damien, Gordon says: “It’s Christmas. You’re not missing Christmas dinner with the family. And... they need to know that when they invite us over, it’s all of us or none of us.” It was one of the first times where we got to see the extent at which Gordon was willing to go for Damien, far enough to alienate his own parents. It’s proof of love.
That, of course, is only part of the messed up family drama that he goes through, because face it, what his mother is doing is just plain fucked up. I’m not a parent, but I am pretty sure that what Marianna is doing is wrong on so many levels. No sane parent should try to create the perfect child by using his or her first kid’s memories as she did with Damien. That’s plain sick, a twisted scenario reminiscent of identity theft, child abuse and cloning. Not cool.
One of my favorite changes in the novel was the evolution of Sara. To be honest, in the first book, I hated her, and I’m not really sure why. I then loved it during book 2 when she went nuts and became a deranged psychopath. Finally, in this book, I found part of her real self that I could like, and that was her relationship with Kat. Sara and Kat got off to a rocky start to begin with, and it went downhill from there. Throughout Betrayal, Sara is doing everything she can to salvage their nonexistent friendship, which was cheesy, heartfelt adorable and uplifting, especially since Kat came around in the end.
In the end, The Betrayal of Renegade X was damn good. Definitely a 5 star. This has been the best of the series up to date, and I hope there are more yet to come.
Shit really hits the fan in book three. A full-blown war breaks out between the Heroes and the Villains, and of course, Damien being Damien gets inevitably caught in the dead center of it. He’s facing huge pressure from both sides of his family to do the right thing, too bad neither side really agree on what the right thing actually is.
His maternal grandfather can see no future for Damien as a hero, and coerces him to openly stand up for villain rights. Damien does truly believe in the cause, in Golden City, Villains are an abused and underrepresented minority, and letterism runs amok. Villains are being persecuted not for their crimes, but for being born to get a V on their 16th birthday. Even Damien’s own family is unintentionally letterist, and they are one of the more tolerant families. Their society is very flawed and The League is corrupt, Damien sees this and he cannot let it go.
Simultaneously, his hero family (mainly Gordon) is pressuring him to do well in hero school, follow the rules (no matter how justified Damien is in breaking them) and most importantly: to one-day join The League and to do The Right Thing.
Betrayal deals with one of the most horrifying and dreaded aspects of any teenager’s life, the young person’s equivalent to a mid-life crisis: deciding what to do in life. As Damien grows older, his friends start make more decisions about their future and chose different paths. Suddenly, he is left all alone in his perceived version of the future. Due to his hero-villain hybrid status, some doors are automatically closed to him (not that he wants to join the League anyway) and he begins to realize that his past decisions have also severed connections to former possibilities. Damien begins to feel as though he wont ever fit in to society properly, and unfortunately, that is sometimes the case. With pressure on both sides to become something he is not, he struggles with self-acceptance. He is a complex person trying to become accepted in a near binary society, a square peg being forced to fit into either a circular or triangular hole.
In my humble opinion, the things that really make or break a story are its characters, their personalities and how they interact with each other. Over the course of this series, Chelsea Campbell has created a wonderfully dysfunctional cast of people whom are a pleasure to read about. Damien, of course, takes the cake when it comes to most likeable. He’s ridiculous and sarcastic, full of acerbic wit and cynicism.
His relationships and interactions with his family are really some of the best parts of the whole story. He is incredibly caring towards his younger siblings; he loves them and would put himself in possible mortal danger to protect them. He has a love/hate relationship with Amelia, full of hurtful comments, pranks and sheer annoyingness, but also support and thoughtfulness. He maintains a standoffish love for his father; the two are constantly butting heads over ideology, letterism, and the distinctions between hero and villain, good and evil.
A part I especially loved was when Gordon stood up on Damien’s behalf in front of his own family. His parents (Damien’s grandparents) refuse to acknowledge that Damien’s existence and make it clear that he is not welcome in their family or their home, especially during Christmas. To Damien, Gordon says: “It’s Christmas. You’re not missing Christmas dinner with the family. And... they need to know that when they invite us over, it’s all of us or none of us.” It was one of the first times where we got to see the extent at which Gordon was willing to go for Damien, far enough to alienate his own parents. It’s proof of love.
That, of course, is only part of the messed up family drama that he goes through, because face it, what his mother is doing is just plain fucked up. I’m not a parent, but I am pretty sure that what Marianna is doing is wrong on so many levels. No sane parent should try to create the perfect child by using his or her first kid’s memories as she did with Damien. That’s plain sick, a twisted scenario reminiscent of identity theft, child abuse and cloning. Not cool.
One of my favorite changes in the novel was the evolution of Sara. To be honest, in the first book, I hated her, and I’m not really sure why. I then loved it during book 2 when she went nuts and became a deranged psychopath. Finally, in this book, I found part of her real self that I could like, and that was her relationship with Kat. Sara and Kat got off to a rocky start to begin with, and it went downhill from there. Throughout Betrayal, Sara is doing everything she can to salvage their nonexistent friendship, which was cheesy, heartfelt adorable and uplifting, especially since Kat came around in the end.
In the end, The Betrayal of Renegade X was damn good. Definitely a 5 star. This has been the best of the series up to date, and I hope there are more yet to come.
July 27, 2020
This series is bringing me such genuine joy. Like, I cannot say enough good things about it. It's snarky yet so very heartfelt, and.... not tropey? It's been so long since I've gotten into a series that I genuinely looked forward to reading. You know the feeling, where you remember you've got That One Book waiting for you at the end of the day, and you suddenly feel happy.... <3
May 28, 2017
Another excellent book!
You worry when reading a series that things will get repetitive or you won't enjoy the character after a time. That simply is not the case with Damien and the Renegade X series! With a nice change of pace, this time we see Damien very much in the open this whole book. The past two he was always trying to hide something; first, trying to hide being the son of mixed parentage, then trying to hide having two diverse powers. This book he is out in the open with his parentage, his powers, even his plans, which are not joining the League dammit. However, that doesn't make his life any easier. Working with heroes while having the powers of a villain is making his life more complicated as are the revelations that come to light as more and more people get angry about his continued efforts and existence.
There is a lot of change that happens in this book, because this time the effects aren't just about Damien. The entire cast of characters is becoming more and more affected by everything that is happening. While Damien's situation often leaves him feeling like he is on an island, his close group of friends and family are working very hard to make sure that he knows that he isn't. This is by no means a smooth process as, after all, they are sometimes the very people who put him on that island.
I enjoyed the fact that is was pointed out about Damien's behavior and his focus. He is a teenager so guess what, he's a bit selfish and self-centered. Everyone is, especially when you are a hormonal teenager who is positive that the world is going to end from whatever you do next. The thing is, sometimes Damien is being genuine about his actions being life or death and the focus being on him. There really is a ton of focus on everything Damien does, as well as an unfair bias towards it. Trying to work that out with friends is a real balancing act and this is shown wonderfully through is friendship with through and through hero Riley. When being friends hurts Riley's chances of his life plan, it makes for hard decisions; Damien trying to stay away seems cold, but equally Riley pushing him away seems cold and uncaring. It makes for a major dilemma as each tries to figure out whether to change themselves and their life goals, or to continue a strong friendship that will have to become even stronger to weather the upcoming storm.
It surprises me how often the core characters of the book forget about Damien's other sides of his life. Damien's hero family feels hurt and sometimes asks if he loved his villain family more, or wishes that he stayed with them. Meanwhile his villain family says the hero family is poisoning him away from them. They will each say things about the other group without thinking about it, while Damien is stuck in the middle being half of both. It is amazing how much this kid hides his love for people; he absolutely love his hero family, even though he has known them for such a short time. He loves his villain grandparents despite not getting to see them much, and it hurts him that he loves him mom but hates her for all she has done to him. Not to mention that nobody talks about the fact that his mom literally abandoned him, or that his new half-brother is a freaking demon child nightmare and his mom actually calls him her replacement for Damien. He hides his love behind sarcasm and snarkiness but he is an astoundingly caring person and it breaks him apart to see all the little things that each side does to hurt the other. I think it's why Damien works so well with Kat, because she startlingly willing to accept him as both, and even talk to him with caring about both sides. Kat is hurt that they can't partner as things are, but she wants him to have a future in heroing if that is what he wants, while she still helps him keep in touch with villains. They work well together, but they whole things with his families will have to come to a head at some point.
There is a feeling that this book is only one battle in an impending war. The relations of villains and heroes have been coming to light with Damien, and his insistence to be who he is out in the public eye is really bringing things to a head. It will be interesting to see where it leads as Campbell really doesn't back down from all possibilities, even going into dark places as we see the very adult parts of what the two sides have been doing in the dark all these years. I am really excited about where this series is going and can't wait until the next book comes out!
You worry when reading a series that things will get repetitive or you won't enjoy the character after a time. That simply is not the case with Damien and the Renegade X series! With a nice change of pace, this time we see Damien very much in the open this whole book. The past two he was always trying to hide something; first, trying to hide being the son of mixed parentage, then trying to hide having two diverse powers. This book he is out in the open with his parentage, his powers, even his plans, which are not joining the League dammit. However, that doesn't make his life any easier. Working with heroes while having the powers of a villain is making his life more complicated as are the revelations that come to light as more and more people get angry about his continued efforts and existence.
There is a lot of change that happens in this book, because this time the effects aren't just about Damien. The entire cast of characters is becoming more and more affected by everything that is happening. While Damien's situation often leaves him feeling like he is on an island, his close group of friends and family are working very hard to make sure that he knows that he isn't. This is by no means a smooth process as, after all, they are sometimes the very people who put him on that island.
I enjoyed the fact that is was pointed out about Damien's behavior and his focus. He is a teenager so guess what, he's a bit selfish and self-centered. Everyone is, especially when you are a hormonal teenager who is positive that the world is going to end from whatever you do next. The thing is, sometimes Damien is being genuine about his actions being life or death and the focus being on him. There really is a ton of focus on everything Damien does, as well as an unfair bias towards it. Trying to work that out with friends is a real balancing act and this is shown wonderfully through is friendship with through and through hero Riley. When being friends hurts Riley's chances of his life plan, it makes for hard decisions; Damien trying to stay away seems cold, but equally Riley pushing him away seems cold and uncaring. It makes for a major dilemma as each tries to figure out whether to change themselves and their life goals, or to continue a strong friendship that will have to become even stronger to weather the upcoming storm.
It surprises me how often the core characters of the book forget about Damien's other sides of his life. Damien's hero family feels hurt and sometimes asks if he loved his villain family more, or wishes that he stayed with them. Meanwhile his villain family says the hero family is poisoning him away from them. They will each say things about the other group without thinking about it, while Damien is stuck in the middle being half of both. It is amazing how much this kid hides his love for people; he absolutely love his hero family, even though he has known them for such a short time. He loves his villain grandparents despite not getting to see them much, and it hurts him that he loves him mom but hates her for all she has done to him. Not to mention that nobody talks about the fact that his mom literally abandoned him, or that his new half-brother is a freaking demon child nightmare and his mom actually calls him her replacement for Damien. He hides his love behind sarcasm and snarkiness but he is an astoundingly caring person and it breaks him apart to see all the little things that each side does to hurt the other. I think it's why Damien works so well with Kat, because she startlingly willing to accept him as both, and even talk to him with caring about both sides. Kat is hurt that they can't partner as things are, but she wants him to have a future in heroing if that is what he wants, while she still helps him keep in touch with villains. They work well together, but they whole things with his families will have to come to a head at some point.
There is a feeling that this book is only one battle in an impending war. The relations of villains and heroes have been coming to light with Damien, and his insistence to be who he is out in the public eye is really bringing things to a head. It will be interesting to see where it leads as Campbell really doesn't back down from all possibilities, even going into dark places as we see the very adult parts of what the two sides have been doing in the dark all these years. I am really excited about where this series is going and can't wait until the next book comes out!
July 1, 2015
I have to say, thought it all and everything I am very happy with this book. I don't say that very often. I don't get to. More often then not something lacks. Here, only the very end lacks, and only lacks a little. Please understand the very end, after all is said and done it only lacks A LITTLE! Because I wanted to see Grandpa again.
Renegade X, or better know as Damien, has a lot on his mind and plate. Everyone is watching him all the time. Nether side trusts him. Because he is half hero, and half villein. He chose his side in the last book. In heart he is a hero. He will do what he thinks is best. If that means zapping a killing kidnapper then, hell yeah he'll do it.
F*ck the school. This kid has already done some real field work.
In this everything is messed up and he has to do a lot of thinking. What will he do after school? Who is going to trust him? Why should they?
Not to go into more detail and spoilers, I'll stop there.
I really liked (on the mother's side) Grandpa. He loves his grandson. Even when they don't agree I felt there was more there then there was with the dad. Some characters that were sort of big in the last book were really pushed to the side here. Others I felt that could at least add some pages and depth were never done.
Renegade X, or better know as Damien, has a lot on his mind and plate. Everyone is watching him all the time. Nether side trusts him. Because he is half hero, and half villein. He chose his side in the last book. In heart he is a hero. He will do what he thinks is best. If that means zapping a killing kidnapper then, hell yeah he'll do it.
F*ck the school. This kid has already done some real field work.
In this everything is messed up and he has to do a lot of thinking. What will he do after school? Who is going to trust him? Why should they?
Not to go into more detail and spoilers, I'll stop there.
I really liked (on the mother's side) Grandpa. He loves his grandson. Even when they don't agree I felt there was more there then there was with the dad. Some characters that were sort of big in the last book were really pushed to the side here. Others I felt that could at least add some pages and depth were never done.
November 12, 2017
The Battle of Two Worlds!
This book was light years better then the last one. Not only did this book not lag but every page was full of action and straight up awsome story telling I didn't want to put it down! it was that good!
This story follows Damien as he struggles (yet again) with both his hero side and his villain side...both family and within himself. The League are not who they showcase themselves to be and as Damien starts to see that he falls into the hands of his Grandfather who mulipulaties this into making Damien help him in a new organization called 'The Truth' who call out the hero's for who they really are. But of course things get outta control and Damien and friends are stuck in the middle which makes for an exciting read.
Loved this book cause of Damien and Riley friendship.... Its surprising how in the last book they were sworn enemies but now they are so tight its unbreakable. Friendships are made and some are lost but I think (apart from the first one) this is my fav book so far of the series!
This book was light years better then the last one. Not only did this book not lag but every page was full of action and straight up awsome story telling I didn't want to put it down! it was that good!
This story follows Damien as he struggles (yet again) with both his hero side and his villain side...both family and within himself. The League are not who they showcase themselves to be and as Damien starts to see that he falls into the hands of his Grandfather who mulipulaties this into making Damien help him in a new organization called 'The Truth' who call out the hero's for who they really are. But of course things get outta control and Damien and friends are stuck in the middle which makes for an exciting read.
Loved this book cause of Damien and Riley friendship.... Its surprising how in the last book they were sworn enemies but now they are so tight its unbreakable. Friendships are made and some are lost but I think (apart from the first one) this is my fav book so far of the series!
July 10, 2019
Ok. Obviously, this book was awesome. After loving the first two, this one did not disappoint at all.
There are so many good things to say, but the main thing that stood out to me from this book was sheerly how engaged I was. Oh my goodness. From about halfway through, I COULD NOT put it down if I tried. I was so, SO engaged, and a story hasn’t made me feel like that in a long time.
The reason I gave it four stars instead of five was that the plot began to feel a little redundant. It was another story of Damien messing up, not telling anyone, them everything falling apart. Which, while it worked really nicely for the first two books, I would’ve liked to see what could’ve happened if Damien communicated better.
Nonetheless, I still adore this book and the others in the series. I can’t believe more people haven’t read it already, and I’m REALLY hoping that they will, because it was a fantastic read.
There are so many good things to say, but the main thing that stood out to me from this book was sheerly how engaged I was. Oh my goodness. From about halfway through, I COULD NOT put it down if I tried. I was so, SO engaged, and a story hasn’t made me feel like that in a long time.
The reason I gave it four stars instead of five was that the plot began to feel a little redundant. It was another story of Damien messing up, not telling anyone, them everything falling apart. Which, while it worked really nicely for the first two books, I would’ve liked to see what could’ve happened if Damien communicated better.
Nonetheless, I still adore this book and the others in the series. I can’t believe more people haven’t read it already, and I’m REALLY hoping that they will, because it was a fantastic read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2021
Damien's strong sense of right and wrong is stretched to it's limits in the third offering of this marvellous series.
He's faced with a whole bunch of very public trouble when he does what is right instead of following the rules during a school assignment. The situation is further exacerbated when his supervillain grandfather persuades him to be the spokesperson for a new supervillain rights group, which has devastating consequences for Gordon and the family. A betrayal of Damien's trust in his grandfather culminates in a very tense and terrifying action sequence
Some tough questions are examined in this narrative - just how 'good' are the good guys and at what point does the line get crossed into 'bad guys' territory
He's faced with a whole bunch of very public trouble when he does what is right instead of following the rules during a school assignment. The situation is further exacerbated when his supervillain grandfather persuades him to be the spokesperson for a new supervillain rights group, which has devastating consequences for Gordon and the family. A betrayal of Damien's trust in his grandfather culminates in a very tense and terrifying action sequence
Some tough questions are examined in this narrative - just how 'good' are the good guys and at what point does the line get crossed into 'bad guys' territory
March 25, 2022
I saved this book against need for so long I forgot I was saving it and today I read it and it was greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat and every bit as good as I thought it would be ANDDDDDDD now there are two more books in the series for me to read and enjoy! *happy kermit flails*
If you like superhero worldbuilding and/or de-simplification of tropes and/or rousing adventure stories with some romance and/or snarky flawed heroes, you will quite probably like this series.
Don't start with this book though, start with the first one....
If you like superhero worldbuilding and/or de-simplification of tropes and/or rousing adventure stories with some romance and/or snarky flawed heroes, you will quite probably like this series.
Don't start with this book though, start with the first one....
July 23, 2017
Great conclusion to the trilogy of Renegade X, a lead character who at times us a bit too petulant, but who always does the right thing even when he doesn't mean to. Solid series for fans of the getting kind of glutted superhero novel market.
August 6, 2017
Yet another excellent and entertaining tale about Damien's adventures as he tries to get a handle on being and hero "sort of" and handling being part of family without imploding. He doesn't always succeed but he is absolutely hilarious as he attempts it.
January 31, 2018
I enjoyed this book much more than #2.
I really enjoyed the new faction The Truth and why Damien was drawn to it.
It's interesting seeing parallels between today's politics and this silly fictional world. Where when there are two sides who hate each other nothing gets done.
I really enjoyed the new faction The Truth and why Damien was drawn to it.
It's interesting seeing parallels between today's politics and this silly fictional world. Where when there are two sides who hate each other nothing gets done.
December 29, 2017
I enjoy the heck out of this series as a whole, but the first person present tense is tough to get past.
January 30, 2017
Delivers
I really like these Renegade X books. They're funny and engaging. I can't wait to see what happens next - here's hoping there's audio though.
I really like these Renegade X books. They're funny and engaging. I can't wait to see what happens next - here's hoping there's audio though.
September 10, 2017
5 Stars!! Loved, loved, loved this book. Favorite of the series so far!!
August 29, 2018
👴😈💔...👴❤...🤗🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
My god...
January 16, 2016
This book is one more story of how Damien has to juggle two communities that he's both part of and which mutually hate each other. As such, the book doesn't really differ that much from the earlier ones, though I felt the scope of this one seemed larger.
In the first book, I went along with the whole H or V in the thumb to designate family lines (even though I found it a silly plot device) and I'm glad that I did. The "thumb identification" and assumptions it made of the bearer went from the background of the earlier books into full-blown apartheid-system in this one. At the same time, I love that we are introduced or told of more Villains that are more than criminals, such as the retired Villains at the retirement home. Damien's claims from earlier books that V doesn't make you a criminal seemed a bit hollow when Vilmore taught torture and the most rounded adult V-character (Damien's mom) seemed to enjoy from sociopathic tendencies, to speak nothing of the rest. I just wish that the book would have had more than one adult Villain who had a wholly law-abiding profession (the veterinarian). As such, the claim that that not all Villains aren't criminals sounded a bit unreal even for me as a reader, so I can well understand how the Heroes are so ready to dismiss the whole claim.
That being said, the book as a whole left me somewhat uneasy. I loved the introduction of a more comprehensive apartheid-system. I've read few books on apartheid in South Africa and what was written here rings true to that, but somehow how the larger society reacts to its unveiling rings hollow. The conclusion of the book seems to hinge on property damage, which is jaywalking compared to what other business was ongoing in the story. Hope this is addressed in following books. I also found the plotline with Mason to be a bit too heavyhanded. The character was self-centred, but in general passionate about doing good. That he showcased the flaw that he did seemed mostly a convenient escape and not something that should have coloured the whole character. Though I understand that as everything is seen from Damien's point of view, the reality might be different from portrayed.
But the thing that shadows over all the above is perhaps the lack advancement on Damien. I would have thought that as we're on the third book and on the way to fourth, he would have started facing his acrophobia either at school or during free-time, as this seriously limits his choices both as a hero-student AND as a person who has to live on the attic. His relationship with his family also seems to lack some development, particularly as far as Helen goes. The lack of this (and the general lack of interest for self-development) makes the books perhaps more self-repeating than necessary. I'd really enjoy Damien having to take a hard look on his surroundings and get some direction in the next book.
In the first book, I went along with the whole H or V in the thumb to designate family lines (even though I found it a silly plot device) and I'm glad that I did. The "thumb identification" and assumptions it made of the bearer went from the background of the earlier books into full-blown apartheid-system in this one. At the same time, I love that we are introduced or told of more Villains that are more than criminals, such as the retired Villains at the retirement home. Damien's claims from earlier books that V doesn't make you a criminal seemed a bit hollow when Vilmore taught torture and the most rounded adult V-character (Damien's mom) seemed to enjoy from sociopathic tendencies, to speak nothing of the rest. I just wish that the book would have had more than one adult Villain who had a wholly law-abiding profession (the veterinarian). As such, the claim that that not all Villains aren't criminals sounded a bit unreal even for me as a reader, so I can well understand how the Heroes are so ready to dismiss the whole claim.
That being said, the book as a whole left me somewhat uneasy. I loved the introduction of a more comprehensive apartheid-system. I've read few books on apartheid in South Africa and what was written here rings true to that, but somehow how the larger society reacts to its unveiling rings hollow. The conclusion of the book seems to hinge on property damage, which is jaywalking compared to what other business was ongoing in the story. Hope this is addressed in following books. I also found the plotline with Mason to be a bit too heavyhanded. The character was self-centred, but in general passionate about doing good. That he showcased the flaw that he did seemed mostly a convenient escape and not something that should have coloured the whole character. Though I understand that as everything is seen from Damien's point of view, the reality might be different from portrayed.
But the thing that shadows over all the above is perhaps the lack advancement on Damien. I would have thought that as we're on the third book and on the way to fourth, he would have started facing his acrophobia either at school or during free-time, as this seriously limits his choices both as a hero-student AND as a person who has to live on the attic. His relationship with his family also seems to lack some development, particularly as far as Helen goes. The lack of this (and the general lack of interest for self-development) makes the books perhaps more self-repeating than necessary. I'd really enjoy Damien having to take a hard look on his surroundings and get some direction in the next book.
November 22, 2021
Reread November 21st-22nd, 2021
This was the best one yet! I liked Riley in the last book (in the second half, anyway) and in this book he grew on me even more. He's a great friend to Damien and I really enjoy their friendship. Kat also grew on me in this one. She and Damien clearly really love each other, and I'm rooting for them.
This book explored the future and the opportunities and lack thereof facing Damien. I'm looking forward to seeing what he eventually ends up doing, especially with everything that was revealed in this book.
Gordon was okay in this book, but he and Damien are very similar in their stubbornness and near-inability to see/consider someone else's point of view. With that said, it's clear that he does care about his son, which is way better than Mariana, Damien's mom. Xavier is seriously annoying.
Amelia and Damien's sibling bond was really nice to see in this book, and it's one of my favorite relationships in the series, as I mentioned in my review of book two. We see Amelia and Damien continue to grow and trust one another (and Amelia gets a bit of character growth). They manage to trash on each other constantly but occasionally be vulnerable. It's a lot of fun!
On another note, the plot of this book (i.e. the Truth vs. the League and all of that) was a huge step up from the last two books. The first book's plot was rather lackluster, and the second book was fine, but this one added to the world building and built on some things that had come up in book two, which was good. I really enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing the repercussions in book four!
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend it if you enjoyed the first two books. It draws you in really quickly and is a fast read despite being over four hundred pages. 5 stars!
This was the best one yet! I liked Riley in the last book (in the second half, anyway) and in this book he grew on me even more. He's a great friend to Damien and I really enjoy their friendship. Kat also grew on me in this one. She and Damien clearly really love each other, and I'm rooting for them.
This book explored the future and the opportunities and lack thereof facing Damien. I'm looking forward to seeing what he eventually ends up doing, especially with everything that was revealed in this book.
Gordon was okay in this book, but he and Damien are very similar in their stubbornness and near-inability to see/consider someone else's point of view. With that said, it's clear that he does care about his son, which is way better than Mariana, Damien's mom. Xavier is seriously annoying.
Amelia and Damien's sibling bond was really nice to see in this book, and it's one of my favorite relationships in the series, as I mentioned in my review of book two. We see Amelia and Damien continue to grow and trust one another (and Amelia gets a bit of character growth). They manage to trash on each other constantly but occasionally be vulnerable. It's a lot of fun!
On another note, the plot of this book (i.e. the Truth vs. the League and all of that) was a huge step up from the last two books. The first book's plot was rather lackluster, and the second book was fine, but this one added to the world building and built on some things that had come up in book two, which was good. I really enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing the repercussions in book four!
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend it if you enjoyed the first two books. It draws you in really quickly and is a fast read despite being over four hundred pages. 5 stars!
December 25, 2015
4.5 – Loved this book, as usual!! Lots of trademark humor and hilarious situations, tempered with some tense, exciting action and several incredibly frustrating moments. I can’t help but feel sorry for Damien and the challenges he goes through, although he can be fairly over-the-top at times, doesn’t always know when to shut his mouth, and does make more than a few stupid choices and bad decisions. But, I love him anyway! And, I love the other characters in the book and his interactions with them. Interesting to meet a few new people and get more moments with Damien’s mother, as well as his other family members and friends. I loved the stuff with his sister, Amelia, even though I did find it ridiculous that she honestly had to ! And, though there were some incredibly funny moments with , I can’t help but be wary and predict that this situation is likely to only get worse and lead to some MAJOR issues in the future (*cough**cough*). Could make for a fantastic future storyline for a sequel, though ;)
This book had a fair amount of implied sex and innuendo--nothing graphic or at all detailed, but it did seem even more excessive than in the previous books. Only mild swearing, though… But, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this book for younger teens because of the sexual content.
This book had a fair amount of implied sex and innuendo--nothing graphic or at all detailed, but it did seem even more excessive than in the previous books. Only mild swearing, though… But, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this book for younger teens because of the sexual content.
November 2, 2015
If you are new to this YA series better start with book 1 (The Rise of Renegade X). This story can stand alone, but knowing the character's history is better.
This book, the third in the Renegade X series, keeps up the excellent level. Although the premise, with the division between heroes and villains who have their own societies is a bit goofy, the author runs with it and makes it worth. As in previous books, Damien's voice is very entertaining and compelling. He is snarky, sarcastic and difficult to deal with, but when it counts he is a good guy and a good friend.
Here he is growing up and getting more concerned about what he is going to do with his life after graduation (assuming he survives till then!). Is there a future for him as a superhero when he does not like the League, does not intend to join it, and is generally disliked by most heroes because of his half-villain origin?
The book is still funny because, let's face it, Damien's narrative is always funny, but the tone is darker than in the previous two books. There are themes of discrimination, prejudices, abuse of power... and Damien is caught right in the middle of it, facing pressure in opposite directions from both sides of his family.
The climax of the story seemed to me too similar to that of book 2, but that's a minor complaint in a very enjoyable read. Strongly recommended.
This book, the third in the Renegade X series, keeps up the excellent level. Although the premise, with the division between heroes and villains who have their own societies is a bit goofy, the author runs with it and makes it worth. As in previous books, Damien's voice is very entertaining and compelling. He is snarky, sarcastic and difficult to deal with, but when it counts he is a good guy and a good friend.
Here he is growing up and getting more concerned about what he is going to do with his life after graduation (assuming he survives till then!). Is there a future for him as a superhero when he does not like the League, does not intend to join it, and is generally disliked by most heroes because of his half-villain origin?
The book is still funny because, let's face it, Damien's narrative is always funny, but the tone is darker than in the previous two books. There are themes of discrimination, prejudices, abuse of power... and Damien is caught right in the middle of it, facing pressure in opposite directions from both sides of his family.
The climax of the story seemed to me too similar to that of book 2, but that's a minor complaint in a very enjoyable read. Strongly recommended.
December 30, 2025
Warning if you compare this book to the one previous you will be slightly disappointed.
Over all the book is great it takes the overarching theme of racism (or in this case letterism) and brings it to the next level. Damian is still a child of two worlds and still is struggling where to fit in and what to do once he graduates. He is also still selfish and wants everything to go his way.
The Perkins brothers are dealing with their mom's new boyfriend who is also trying to run their future.
Amelia is actually treating Damian like a brother and standing up for him, hopefully Damian can start treating her better now.
All of those things make the book good the problems I had with it is the fact that now all the adults that the previous book spent time showing you them character depth is now gone.
Helen is treated like a one dimensional character like she was in book one while the last book she acted like a real person a flawed human being but a human being nonetheless.
Damian's mom while the last book you felt that she was trying to be a mom for her two boys is abandoning her children at the drop of a hat to spend time with her new husband.
Last of all Gordon who last book seemed to listen to Damian and actually think what he said was important has now become the poster child for I don't understand why my teenager act this way. But at least he is trying and I think at the end understood what was going on which is why this book kept 4 stars.
Over all the book is great it takes the overarching theme of racism (or in this case letterism) and brings it to the next level. Damian is still a child of two worlds and still is struggling where to fit in and what to do once he graduates. He is also still selfish and wants everything to go his way.
The Perkins brothers are dealing with their mom's new boyfriend who is also trying to run their future.
Amelia is actually treating Damian like a brother and standing up for him, hopefully Damian can start treating her better now.
All of those things make the book good the problems I had with it is the fact that now all the adults that the previous book spent time showing you them character depth is now gone.
Helen is treated like a one dimensional character like she was in book one while the last book she acted like a real person a flawed human being but a human being nonetheless.
Damian's mom while the last book you felt that she was trying to be a mom for her two boys is abandoning her children at the drop of a hat to spend time with her new husband.
Last of all Gordon who last book seemed to listen to Damian and actually think what he said was important has now become the poster child for I don't understand why my teenager act this way. But at least he is trying and I think at the end understood what was going on which is why this book kept 4 stars.
June 28, 2015
Wow. I have been waiting for this book for SO LONG!!!!
Now this book is so tragic. It seems like everything is against Damien, but he copes with it all like the badass he is.
I love how brave he is. He is dead set on his ways, like what he thinks is right and wrong and he's willing to go against the League and the Trust, making him literally go up against the world. Being a Hero and a Villain places you on two VERY opposite sides of the spectrum, and I think it's awesome how Damien straddles the line between the two like the X he is.
I have no complaints over this book except for one. The ending. It tied everything up nicely. But I was craving for more. More... Damien and Kat? More groveling from his parents, about how he was right? I don't know, but the whole ending seemed a bit rushed because, I mean, I seriously expected a more dramatic ending. Like, I needed more falling action before the ending was given.
Now..... i have to wait until the next book comes out which will be FOREVER!!!!! D': I don't want to wait 3
Well, either way, Congratulations Chelsea Campbell. You've written yourself another damn good book.
FIVE STARS!!!
Now this book is so tragic. It seems like everything is against Damien, but he copes with it all like the badass he is.
I love how brave he is. He is dead set on his ways, like what he thinks is right and wrong and he's willing to go against the League and the Trust, making him literally go up against the world. Being a Hero and a Villain places you on two VERY opposite sides of the spectrum, and I think it's awesome how Damien straddles the line between the two like the X he is.
I have no complaints over this book except for one. The ending. It tied everything up nicely. But I was craving for more. More... Damien and Kat? More groveling from his parents, about how he was right? I don't know, but the whole ending seemed a bit rushed because, I mean, I seriously expected a more dramatic ending. Like, I needed more falling action before the ending was given.
Now..... i have to wait until the next book comes out which will be FOREVER!!!!! D': I don't want to wait 3
Well, either way, Congratulations Chelsea Campbell. You've written yourself another damn good book.
FIVE STARS!!!
August 1, 2020
Plot: Budding superhero/villain hybrid (no, not connor kent this is universe specific) gets dragged into the conflict between "heroes" and "villains."
1. Most Renegade X books are family drama with superpeople flavoring, but this one tilts strongly in the opposite direction. The politics of the superhero/supervillain conflict is the central narrative. And while that looks good on paper the relative lack of worldbuilding on the roles of the superhero and the supervillain in society and how they are classified makes for a lot of dissonance. Nearly every superhero I've seen in this series is a condescending ass, but they keep insisting the villains are actual mass murderers and... idek. The latter makes me twitch a little whenever Damien mentions villain rights.
2. The family stuff was excellent as usual. Riley and Damien have the most hilarious relationship. Kat reprises her role as supportive girlfriend who is Done With This Shit and she continues to slowly grow on me just for being a really sensible, loyal person. Sarah wrestles with her twin passions of authoritarian mad scientistry and being a hero. Jess continues to be the best representation of (for?) toddlers ever.
1. Most Renegade X books are family drama with superpeople flavoring, but this one tilts strongly in the opposite direction. The politics of the superhero/supervillain conflict is the central narrative. And while that looks good on paper the relative lack of worldbuilding on the roles of the superhero and the supervillain in society and how they are classified makes for a lot of dissonance. Nearly every superhero I've seen in this series is a condescending ass, but they keep insisting the villains are actual mass murderers and... idek. The latter makes me twitch a little whenever Damien mentions villain rights.
2. The family stuff was excellent as usual. Riley and Damien have the most hilarious relationship. Kat reprises her role as supportive girlfriend who is Done With This Shit and she continues to slowly grow on me just for being a really sensible, loyal person. Sarah wrestles with her twin passions of authoritarian mad scientistry and being a hero. Jess continues to be the best representation of (for?) toddlers ever.
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