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Quick answer: If you loved Renegades, read its sequels Archenemies and Supernova, then Steelheart, Vicious and Red Queen. All pit powered heroes against villains in worlds where the line between them blurs.
Marissa Meyer's Renegades imagines a world where people with superpowers, called Prodigies, protect the city from villains. Nova, a girl from a family of villains, infiltrates the heroes' team and finds that nothing is simple. The books below share its superhero action, moral gray areas and enemies-to-lovers tension.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archenemies | Marissa Meyer | Teen | the sequel |
| Supernova | Marissa Meyer | Teen | the finale |
| Steelheart | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | villains with powers |
| Vicious | V. E. Schwab | Adult | morally gray rivals |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | Teen | fairy-tale science fiction |
| Heartless | Marissa Meyer | Teen | Alice in Wonderland origin |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | Teen | power and rebellion |
| Scythe | Neal Shusterman | Teen | moral dilemmas |
| The Darkest Minds | Alexandra Bracken | Teen | powers on the run |
| Shatter Me | Tahereh Mafi | Teen | romance and powers |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | heist crew |
| Batman: Nightwalker | Marissa Meyer | Teen | Gotham thriller |
| Wonder Woman: Warbringer | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | Amazon adventure |
| Hero | Perry Moore | Teen | gay superhero |
| Truthwitch | Susan Dennard | Teen | witches and friends |
1. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
Nova and Adrian struggle with double lives as the conflict grows. The second book in the Renegades trilogy.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Supernova by Marissa Meyer
The trilogy ends with everything on the line. A satisfying conclusion.
Best for: the finale.
3. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
A teenager seeks revenge on the superpowered tyrant who killed his father. Fast and inventive.
Best for: villains with powers.
4. Vicious by V. E. Schwab
Two former friends turned enemies gain powers through near-death experiences. Dark, clever and brilliant.
Best for: morally gray rivals.
5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A cyborg mechanic is drawn into a royal plot. Meyer's first series, and fast and romantic.
Best for: fairy-tale science fiction.
6. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Catherine, who dreams of a bakery, meets the Jester. Whimsical and tragic.
Best for: Alice in Wonderland origin.
7. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
A girl with unexpected powers is thrust into a royal court. Twisty and romantic.
Best for: power and rebellion.
8. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
In a world without death, teens are trained to kill. Smart, dark and original.
Best for: moral dilemmas.
9. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
Teens with strange abilities are imprisoned and then escape. Fast and emotional.
Best for: powers on the run.
10. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
A girl whose touch is deadly is released into a ruthless world. Lyrical and dramatic.
Best for: romance and powers.
11. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A criminal mastermind assembles a crew for an impossible job. Sharp, witty and layered.
Best for: heist crew.
12. Batman: Nightwalker by Marissa Meyer
Bruce Wayne faces a rising criminal group before he becomes Batman. A fun Meyer take on a famous hero.
Best for: Gotham thriller.
13. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
Diana joins a mortal girl on a dangerous quest. Fast and heartfelt.
Best for: Amazon adventure.
14. Hero by Perry Moore
A teenager hides his powers and his identity. Warm and funny.
Best for: gay superhero.
15. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Two friends with rare powers are hunted across a divided world. Fast and romantic.
Best for: witches and friends.
How to Choose
For more Meyer start with Archenemies and Supernova. For villains with powers read Vicious or Steelheart. For romance and rebellion try Red Queen or Shatter Me. For a team-based adventure pick Six of Crows or Truthwitch. For a classic superhero flavour choose Batman: Nightwalker or Wonder Woman: Warbringer. Renegades is a trilogy, so you can finish all three before moving on. Readers who want to stay in the superhero genre can also try graphic novels, which often explore the same question of what makes a hero. Younger readers might begin with Cinder or Truthwitch, which have fewer dark moments. Adult readers who want a more mature take on powers and villains should go straight to Vicious. If you liked the idea of a double life, remember that Nova and Adrian each hide a secret identity, which gives the trilogy its tension. Boxed sets of the trilogy are easy to find, and the audiobooks make a good road-trip listen. Readers who finish the trilogy often look for other books with a morally gray hero, such as the Lunar Chronicles villain Queen Levana or Schwab's antiheroes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Renegades about?
A girl from a villain family infiltrates a team of superheroes.
Who wrote it?
Marissa Meyer, author of The Lunar Chronicles.
When was it published?
2017.
How many books are in the series?
Three: Renegades, Archenemies and Supernova.
Is there romance?
Yes, an enemies-to-lovers storyline.
What age is it for?
Teens, roughly ages 12 and up.
Is it similar to The Lunar Chronicles?
The tone is similar, but the setting is a superhero city.
What should I read next?
Try Archenemies, then Steelheart.
Do I need to read The Lunar Chronicles first?
No. Renegades is a separate series with a new world.
Is Renegades violent?
There are fights and some deaths, but nothing graphic, and it suits most teens.
Is it a love triangle?
No. The romance centres on Nova and Adrian.