**REVIEW** Renegade by J.A. Souders

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.
But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. 
Her memories have been altered. 
Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. 
And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.
Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Published By: Tor Teen 

Review Copy: Hardcover, 364

(copy provided by publisher)

Review

  This is one book that I have really looked forward to.  You know what I speak of, we all have the books that we pine for over the year.  Well upon seeing the cover for Renegade I was in need and upon reading the description I was completely enamored.  It grabbed my attention in so many ways that I just knew I had to have it!  Basically as soon as I started it I knew I was in for what I had hoped for and maybe even a little more.  This is mostly because you realize almost right away that the corruption and deceit runs deeper than you originally thought.  Well deeper than I thought.  Took me a moment to realize it but only by my own fault, though once the realization settled in the book settled into my hands and didn't leave.

  Evelyn has been raised a certain way, to act a certain way and to believe certain things.  She wakes up to the same routine every day and thinks the same things.  Though she has an unnatural interest in the surface that is frowned upon.  She is the Daughter of the People  and is expected to be perfect in every way.  This means she is also to couple (mate) with the perfect genetic match for her.  A series of events lead her to Gavin and an abrupt realization that not everything in her perfect life is as it seems.  Her life isn't the perfect dream that she wakes up to and maybe the surface isn't the dangerous place that she learned it to be.  It may be the only place that can save her in the end.

  Normally I either love, hate or feel indifferent to the main character within the first few chapters.  From the way it all started I thought Evelyn was going to be someone that I remained indifferent to.  Through no fault of her own really but I was finding it hard to click with her.  That all changed when a surface dweller finds his way into her gardens.  She then begins to change bit by bit and become her own person.  Old habits may be hard to break but her heart fights for what it wants and sometimes that is what really matters.  I found her inner struggle and strength to be admirable.  There is no way it was easy to break the rules you are raised with and the ideals that have been instilled in you since you were but a small child.  Doesn't help that she was "conditioned" into believing everything and forgetting the things that they wanted her to.  Eve really does some serious growing as the book progresses and I couldn't help but enjoy reading about her.

  Romance.  This one word can change everything in a book.  Sometimes it can make or break it as well.  Seeing the romance in this book involved the evr hot a hell Gavin I would say it is a total make it.  The book was so much more than a romance but I would never push the romance part of it into the background.  Especially when Gavin is one of the biggest reasons that Evelyn breaks through her conditioning.  Once he learns to trust her and her him there is nothing that boy wouldn't do for her.  Moments pass between the two of them that aren't supposed to by Elysium law but with attraction like theirs it's kind of hard not to.  Plus when you are on the run every moment is precious right?

  I feel that it is important to mention Mother.  She is the one that runs Elysium and essentially makes everything happen.  This includes that fact that EVERY person in the place has Blonde hair and Blue eyes.  At first this was a little disturbing as it kind of reminded me of the Nazi ideals.  But heck the lady herself is a little off her rocker.  She trains children (girls in particular) from a very young age to be assassins   They are called enforcers but basically are there to terminate anyone that threatens how Mother wants things to be.  This means defective people and anyone that steps out of line.  She doesn't care who she has to kill or wipe their memory as long as everything goes her way and no other way.  Violence is not an option but a mandatory for this woman. 

  This book is packed tight with action, romance and betrayal.  The thing that is hardest is that the betrayal is from the ones you trust the most.   Once I was into this one I couldn't stop and I wish I could explain more without ruining it for you but for now this will have to do.  Also I would like to point out that the ending left me needing more.  Not wanting but needing.  I will tell you right now that I will pre-order the next one as soon as I can.  Pick it up and prepare yourself for some seriously good reading!

Quotes

...Sweeter than the honey from a bee,Softer than the petals of a rose,Deeper than the bottom of the sea,Stronger than the mightiest of foes,Perfect is the love of Mother for me...-Founder's Day Childrens Song

It's supposed to be hell on Earth, with demons running around killing one another.  Huge animals that kill you in your sleep.  Insects that burrow into your skin and use you as a host until they control your mind.

"Singing?  Singing what?""A children's song.  Does it really matter?""That's a freakin' creepy children's song!  Why in the world would you teach that to children?"