Renegade (Black Dawn 0.5)

PARANORMAL:  Before the Black Dawn Rebellion, Adair Stratton and Emory Fae were friends raised to follow their parent’s footsteps at The Academy and create a kingdom where desolates, mixed, and gifted are able to live in peace. As the feared and berated son of the Stratton’s seeks a better future, he begins to suspect The Academy’s founders are hiding something important. When Tadeas Maher of the Shattered Isles arrives with his son Marquis to demand the Faes agree to a new treaty, Adair and Emory, and their friends are caught in a political crossfire. With the help of their friends Brokk and Memphis, Emory and Adair must seek out the truth and determine the future of Kiero, but as greed and betrayal rock The Academy, Kiero will be plunged into war where the Truth might be the only thing that can save them all.

A magically intense and action-packed prequel, “Renegade” introduces the characters and setting of the Black Dawn series, beginning and ending with a bang. Despite being a prequel, this book is actually best read after the first one, as it doesn't stand on its own.  Alternating between several points of view in the narration, the story is all confusing emotion, action, magic, and introducing characters without giving any of them much development. As a result, the romances feel all over the place, and the story told rather than shown. On the other hand, fans of action and magic will find plenty in this book, and it does set some things up nicely for the main series. Overall, this book has potential within the series, and fans of magical action adventure will find it intriguing. 

Sarah E Bradley