Review: Lady Renegades by Rachel Hawkins

Lady Renegades
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Series: Rebel Belle #3
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy
Release Date: April 5th 2016
Book Length: 264

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Just as Harper Price starts coming to terms with her role as David Stark’s battle-ready Paladin, protector, and girlfriend—her world goes crazy all over again.

Overwhelmed by his Oracle powers, David flees Pine Grove and starts turning teenage girls into Paladins—and these young ladies seem to think that Harper is the enemy David needs protecting from. Ordinarily, Harper would be able to fight off any Paladin who comes her way, but her powers have been dwindling since David left town…which means her life is on the line yet again.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins brings the fun once again in the finale of this pitch-perfect romantic paranormal comedy series.

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Review

Whenever people ask me for typical ‘fun-reads’ or just something they wish to enjoy I always, always mention Rebel Belle. For something that was pitched to be Legally Blonde meets the Terminator how could I not? And true to its name Rebel Belle was exactly that and more. However it is with a heavy heart that I must admit that the fun and excitement I’ve come to associate with this series only remains in book one.

            Similar to Miss Mayhem, Lady Renegades lacked any real substance, the plot was questionable and again after reading I found myself thinking, ‘what really happened?’ After the ending in Miss Mayhem we all knew what was going to happen – Harper going after David – but outside of this was there really anything that happened or I enjoyed? Sadly no, again there’s unnecessary drama and following our not-so-plucky MC around for 250 pages on a wild goose chase to only end up back at square one.

I think my original love for Rebel Belle has ruined this series for me, while it would be unfair of me to expect the same type of book again and again, I couldn’t help but feel a little let down by the steep decline this series has taken. However what continued to grate on me was the disappearance of David and this was not simply because the book lacked any sort of romance or personality his character brings, but because I don’t understand how a series could be written about David the Oracle, I mean the whole plot is build around him - and for him to appear in a total 30 or so pages? Again where is the plot? And when we finally get to the evitable battle of the reunion of Harper and David it’s over within pages.

            Granted the author stayed true to her word about what would happen in Miss Mayhem but I’m disappointed for that to be the only focal point of Lady Renegades, I expected a lot more. Rebel Belle will always be one of the most enjoyable reads and saddens me to see this fantastic series go out not with a bang but a whimper.