Book Review: The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too mo ...moreSixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too moral for his own good, so when he finds out Damien exists, he actually wants him to come live with him and his goody-goody superhero family. Damien gets shipped off to stay with them in their suburban hellhole, and he has only six weeks to prove he's not a hero in any way, or else he's stuck living with them for the rest of his life, or until he turns eighteen, whichever comes first. (From Goodreads)

I'd heard good things about Campbell's debut before I picked it up, but nothing could have prepared me for what I read. The Rise of Renegade X was an action-packed, hilarious look at the son of a notorious mad scientist, and a superhero.

Damien was a great character. He was the perfect mix of snark, and insecurities about his identity. He was raised by his villain mother, but after discovering that he was the result of her one-night stand with a superhero, his villain status is thrown in jeopardy. Of course, it's pretty obvious that Damien isn't 100% villainous...he sets moths loose in a butterfly exhibit, and orchestrates a black plague scare. His mom and dad strike a deal, and soon Damien is off to live with his new superhero family. While there he experiences what it's like on the other side, and learns quite a bit about himself. There are also the super girls in Damien's life. There's Kat, the shapeshifter, and his ex-girlfriend, and there's Sarah, who is more than she seems.

I really enjoyed Campbell's fresh take on the superhero genre. You rarely get to read a book from a villain's perspective (or half-villain). I loved that she depicted a world in which villains aren't always evil, nor heroes perfect. For example, Damien's mom, Marianna (Mistress of Mayhem) loves Damien. Conversely, Damien's father, Gordon, gets frustrated with him. I mean, who honestly thinks that supervillains are horrible, and evil all the time?

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! I couldn't put it down, and it kept me laughing throughout. I can't wait for more from Campbell.

The Rise of Renegade X
By Chelsea Campbell
Published by EgmontUSA
352 Pages
Rating: A

*Also, thanks to all my followers! I reached 400 this week, and was super excited about it. Check back sometime in the next two weeks for a thank you contest.

Teaser Tuesday (November 2)

What is Teaser Tuesday?

It's a meme hosted by Should Be Reading and here are the rules:
Grab your current read...
Open to a random page
Share two teaser sentences from somewhere on the page
Don't include spoilers.

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too mo ...more
"My mom's a mad scientist. It's a lot like being a regular scientist, except without worrying about legal or moral limitations, and it's a common profession for the scientifically inclined supervillain."

-The Rise of Renegade X, Page 5, by Chelsea Campbell

I'm only 60 pages in, but I'm loving this one so far!

In My Mailbox (October 24)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. All of the synopses you see below were found on Goodreads. Here are the books I got this week:

Christmas came early this week. I won two contests, and all the books had been on my wishlist for quite some time!

From Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century

Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over "breathers". Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.
But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.
As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad — and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance...

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?


Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Avery Hood is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.

She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before.

It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...

But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben


From Princess Bookie's Contest Craze -

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too mo ...moreSixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too moral for his own good, so when he finds out Damien exists, he actually wants him to come live with him and his goody-goody superhero family. Damien gets shipped off to stay with them in their suburban hellhole, and he has only six weeks to prove he's not a hero in any way, or else he's stuck living with them for the rest of his life, or until he turns eighteen, whichever comes first.

Waiting on Wednesday (February 3)

This was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Basically, these books haven't been released yet, but I can't wait for them.

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
Damien Locke knows his destiny--attending the university for supervillains and becoming Golden City's next professional evil genius. But when Damien discovers he's the product of his supervillain mother's one-night stand with--of all people--a superhero, his best-laid plans are ruined as he's forced to live with his superhero family.

Going to extreme lengths (and heights), The Rise of Renegade X chronicles one boy's struggles with the villainous and heroic pitfalls of growing up.

Published by EgmontUSA
Release Date: May 11, 2010