Review: Renegade by Amy Carol Reeves

Title: Renegade
Author: Amy Carol Reeves
Series: Book Two in the Ripper Series
Published By: Flux (April 8, 2013)
Source; ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Paranormal Suspense Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Book Description:
The Conclave—a secret group with twisted ideals and freakish practices—has been wiped out, thanks to Arabella Sharp. Now there’s a new malevolence afoot. Fishermen are getting killed, their partially devoured bodies washing up on the shores of Scotland. Is the Ripper responsible? Or have the Conclave’s sinister experiments left behind something more monstrous? Abbie fears the worst when her beloved Dr. William Siddal vanishes. To save the man she loves, Abbie must comply with the Ripper’s dreadful orders—and put her own life in grave danger.

Purchase Links: Amazon/B&N

My Thoughts and Review:

One of the things I like most about this series is the strong female character that is Abbie. She isn't some damsel in distress (that is quite common to the era of this book) that needs to be saving, in fact, during Ripper (the first book in the series), the girl kicked butt and took names and that doesn't chance in Renegade. Once again we get the strong, intelligent and fierce girl that loves with her whole being and wants to do right by everyone. The girl like no other. She defies the laws and restrictions of what it means to be a women in her time and doesn't take no for an answer.

What first drew me to this series was the author's ability to blend the paranormal with a very realistic historic feel that is old world London in the 1800's. Really the mixing of the two was pretty flawless. I got both the paranormal I seem to crave along with the regency era I most adore.

Throw in a little love triangle, a notorious murderer still on the lose, a legend about a monster that seems to be real and a secret Conclave that might very well still be alive and you have one heck of a story line.

And I am happy to say that Reeves pulled it off again. She seamlessly blended the two genres and created something heart pounding and page turning. Full of mystery and intrigue, the inner workings of a mad man, that although I hate to admit it, I am fascinated by and a cast full of characters that are truly unforgettable.

I loved Abbie even more. She is still that headstrong stubborn girl we got in Ripper but now even more fierce and determined to do what needs to be done. She is one tough cookie!

Simon, ah Simon, how I love him. Once again, I fear that I may be falling in love with the wrong guy and will get my heart broken from it. I can't help it though. He is strong, patient, kind, caring and truly loves Abbie. He is everything she should be wanting in a companion. He would let her do what she wants most in life and would never stand in her way. He would support her faithfully and yet, and yet her heart belongs to another.

I am so thrilled with the way this one played through. Even though I love Simon so much, I can't help but love William as well. He is sort of a bad boy for his time. A little reckless, makes stupid mistakes and is even a jerk at times but you can't help but see that he does love Abbie. Their love is slightly destructive and probably not at all healthy but there you have it.

I love that we saw more of Richard in this one as well. There is so much to that sneaky butler. I really hope eventually Reeves will give us his full story.

And then we have Max. The mysterious, evil Max. I really hope we get his story. I know he is out there doing nothing but bad and I want to know what the little fiend is up to.

The ending left me wanting more. Not only do we get a mysterious letter addressed to Max but also the added mystery of one of the Queen's elite too.

I can't wait to see what Reeves has in store for the rest of the series. I am just as pleased with this sequel as I was with the first and I know that it will continue to get better and better as it goes.