Renegade by J.A Souders

Ranking: Title: Renegade Series: The Elysium Chronicles , #1 Author: J.A Souders Published: November 13, 2012

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.
Renegade has a very beautiful cover. And I had heard such good things about it. While it wasn’t quite as spectacular as I was hoping, I was still very impressed with how J.A. Souders build a very unique world where readers can easily lush into.

This book is about a girl, Evelyn, who lives in an underwater paradise called Elysium. It is entirely self-sufficient, can produce all of its food, technology and materials right there, with no need to go to the violent, war-torn surface. They are safe and happy. Every single person in Elysium are genetically altered with blonde-hair and blue-eyes. Way too creepy right? At first I thought her character will be one of those damsel-in-distress- kind of woman. But boy, I am totally wrong. I never expected her to be a kick-ass-bitch. And I really enjoyed it.! She is such a strong villain. Gavin, a Surface dweller, is kind. Not your typical alpha-male but definitely someone you will learn to love.

The only thing I really don't like about this book is how Evie and Gavin’s relationship escalated a little too quickly. It is very unrealistic, and too fast if you ask me. Still, I could overlook that because the rest of the book was good. Now after the cliff hanger ending, I am curious what'll happen with Evie. How will she be able to cope on the Surface?