Supernova // Review

After finishing the entire trilogy I realized that I had absolutely no clue how to spell any of the characters’ names because I was listening to the audiobook. So, I had to do some ~investigating~ (apparently Sentinel is spelled with a S, not the C that I had been imagining). 

If you have not read Renegades or Archenemies yet STOP reading. Because this entire post is one big spoiler for the previous books as well as Supernova. Proceed with caution.

Book: Supernova

Author: Marissa Meyer

Published November 5th 2019 by Feiwel & Friends

Format: Audiobook

TW: Violence, Death, Murder, Torture, Gore, Blood, Intense Action, Imprisonment

The epic conclusion to Marissa Meyer’s thrilling Renegades Trilogy finds Nova and Adrian fighting to keep their identities secret. While the battle rages on between their alter egos and their allies, there is a darker threat shrouding Gatlon City.

The Renegades’ worst enemy is back among them, threatening to reclaim Gatlon City. Nova and Adrian must brave lies and betrayal to protect those they love. Their greatest fears are about to come to life, and unless they can bridge the divide between heroes and villains, they stand to lose everything. Including each other.

Intrigue and action will leave readers on edge until the final, shocking secrets are revealed. (from Goodreads)

Before I go full dragon mode, can we take a moment to appreciate these covers?? Like individually they are so pretty, but the overall aesthetic is on point. Also, we do love the drama that the cape adds on the Supernova cover.

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One of my greatest fears going into these books was the potential for super hero cheesiness. I vowed to throw the book if the words “we all were heroes” we uttered even once. Spoiler alert: I threw my book. Well actually, I threw my earbuds because I was listening to the audiobook, but potato potahto. 

Somehow these plans get more and more far fetched as I continue reading. Are you seriously telling me that everyone just believed that Larissa is a Nightmare?? Despite ALL of the proof that it was Nova. They have different superpowers. I don’t understand how that plan even worked. It was the most far fetched and ridiculous scheme basically ever. 

But then again, the Renegades are sucky investigators and tend to smile and nod without, ya know, fact checking, so maybe it is slightly less ridiculous that I originally thought. Slightly, mind you, but still wholeheartedly ridiculous.

The ending had potential. That is epically failed to unlock.

We were at this point in the story where no one (excluding Max) had superpowers. One of the major themes in this book is about how having power corrupts people, so it would have been really cool to see how they were able to reconstruct as a society without power. Nova was misguided in many ways, but her ideas about superhero throwing off the social hierarchy were on point. By eliminating the divide between the Prodigies and the norms, society ~in theory~ should be able to move together in a more cohesive manner. But no.

Instead we got the pretty little bow ending. Where everyone magically (no pun intended) got their power back. And lived in peaceful harmony. Because there were no consequences for anything that happened. Adrian’s sacrifice got brushed under the rug and it ANGERS me.

I wanted an epic end to the trilogy. But with each page I read it manages to get cheesier and cheesier. First, the bracelet is going to save the universe. Oh! And superheroes were made from magical stardust. And now, we are preaching that everyone is a hero and that there is no such things as villains. I feel like this is the superhero equivalent of participation trophies, but that might be my pessimistic self talking. 

The epilogue managed to be the best part of the book. It was very happily ever after, and I would have liked to hear from Nova one last time, but holy guac I was shocked by that end. Even though I was terribly disappointed by the rest of the book I need more. I need closure!!!

Y’all. This was high key disappointing. Renegades started moderately strong, and the Archenemies was a solid meh, but Supernova was a hard no for me. I expected more. I wanted an epic finish, and Supernova just didn’t cut it.

UPDATE: Some of my initial disappointment has worn off and I can fondly look back at this book. Was it my favorite? No. But I did enjoy reading it. The ending left a lot to be desired, but Nova and Adrian’s journey in this book was amazing, so I’ll give them that.

Have you read Supernova?? What did you think??