Latest Read: Renegade (MILA 2.0, #2) by Debra Driza

Renegade (MILA 2.0, #2) by Debra Driza
Publication date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Category: Young Adult - Sci-fi
Source: Received from publisher via Edelweiss (Thanks!)
Summary: There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows. But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past. Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives. (Adapted goodreads.com)

The good

Renegade picks up immediately where Mila 2.0 left off. Mila on the run from General Holland and the Vita Obscura (two separate groups who have different agendas for Mila), her mother dead leaving her with mysterious parting words about the man who could be her “father” and someone named Sarah and of course, Hunter, a boy she barely knows who on his way across the country to help her. It’s been a while since I began this series and I was surprised by how quickly the details came back to me as we’re thrown back into the thick of things. (It helps that the author subtly recaps what’s happened.)

Renegade digs much deeper into Mila’s origins and gave me the answers I’ve been wanting since book one. I started to guess some of it but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If anything, it made me want to stand up all — yes I knew it! (It’s nice to be right.) Still, the way the secrets of Mila’s past unfolds was fast-paced and more importantly, complex. There are no easy answers here and while everyone in the “government” is quick to point out Mila’s android side, from the reader’s point-of-view I am constantly aware of how human she is. She loves and hates, grieves, feels anger and joy. Most of the answers Mila gets are not happy ones and she reacts. But before things get (much, much worse), we do see Mila experience a few moments of joy. And those moments are with Hunter.

I loved how their relationship developed. In Mila 2.0, they only spent a short time together before Mila and her mother were on the run. So when Mila calls Hunter and he agrees to come find her, I was a bit skeptical of this insta-love direction. But then we get to see them talk and cutely fumble around the other (so adorable!) and I found myself rooting for their happy ending. Obviously it’s too soon for that and it isn’t before long that major obstacles get thrown in their way (like the whole android thing) but I’m very curious as to where the author takes their relationship next.

(Minor) reservations

This is a solid and intriguing series but sometimes, it’s almost too action-packed. Characters development is really important to me in a book so I wish there were more quiet, emotional moments and dialogue.

Do I recommend?

I do! If you like government conspiracies, robots and fast-paced, action novels (with heart) - I’d check this one out.

Happy reading!