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hollylash's review
2.0
Mila 2.0 Renegade is a weird book.
I decided to continue on with the series after a less than stellar start because, in my experience, sequels sometimes improve. Sadly, this wasn't the case. Romance plot tumor strikes again.
I didn't buy into Hunter and Mila's relationship in the first book and this did nothing to sway me. 95% of the book is spent with the author and Mila trying to convince us that Hunter is more important then he really is. I get it, Hunter is supposed to be the emotional center--Mila's humanity--and while I do appreciate the gender-flip of the situation, it all felt very unrealistic. When Mila was recounting their time together, you realize that they have a week, maybe two weeks top, of interaction. Their conversations are awkward and not in a cute kind of way, but in a crash-and-burn first date kind of way. They share no interests and while they do get along, this is not the basis for a relationship. It improves a smidge when Hunter finally knows the truth but that happened so late in the book I didn't care at that point.
Another thing, this relationship makes Mila seem completely selfish. Dragging a normal guy into hazardous situations and then lying your way out of it? You know him for a week, girl! What do you mean you "couldn't have gotten this far without him"? What significant thing did he contribute besides a nice pair of eyes to look at? And Hunter, why exactly did he fly half-way across the world to save this girl? Because of Insta-love that's why. It all comes across as very shallow. Especially when, in true YA-romance fashion, Hunter becomes the one thing Mila cares about. Herself? Nothing, if Hunter can't love her. She ends up turning off her emotions because of it and, while I get it--teenagers, emotions run high--it felt SHALLOW. Her over-the-top emotional reactions and illogical responses to any and all situations concerning Hunter dragged the plot down to a grinding pace.
I'll say it once, to anyone listening: YOU DO NOT NEED ANYONE'S LOVE TO VALIDATE YOUR EXISTENCE. IT IS ENOUGH TO LOVE YOURSELF. This could have been a powerful message as Mila comes to terms with both the android and human parts of herself but it sacrifices that in favor of another Twilight-esque love story. SIGH.
The positives though is that the last half of the book picks up the pace and is filled with twists and turns. When it's just Mila and her android nature, I'm fascinated and I wish more was down with this aspect. Plus the return of a favorite character of mine in the last 50 pages has me intrigued. I'll finish the series up, but I don't have much hope for the final book.
I decided to continue on with the series after a less than stellar start because, in my experience, sequels sometimes improve. Sadly, this wasn't the case. Romance plot tumor strikes again.
I didn't buy into Hunter and Mila's relationship in the first book and this did nothing to sway me. 95% of the book is spent with the author and Mila trying to convince us that Hunter is more important then he really is. I get it, Hunter is supposed to be the emotional center--Mila's humanity--and while I do appreciate the gender-flip of the situation, it all felt very unrealistic. When Mila was recounting their time together, you realize that they have a week, maybe two weeks top, of interaction. Their conversations are awkward and not in a cute kind of way, but in a crash-and-burn first date kind of way. They share no interests and while they do get along, this is not the basis for a relationship. It improves a smidge when Hunter finally knows the truth but that happened so late in the book I didn't care at that point.
Another thing, this relationship makes Mila seem completely selfish. Dragging a normal guy into hazardous situations and then lying your way out of it? You know him for a week, girl! What do you mean you "couldn't have gotten this far without him"? What significant thing did he contribute besides a nice pair of eyes to look at? And Hunter, why exactly did he fly half-way across the world to save this girl? Because of Insta-love that's why. It all comes across as very shallow. Especially when, in true YA-romance fashion, Hunter becomes the one thing Mila cares about. Herself? Nothing, if Hunter can't love her. She ends up turning off her emotions because of it and, while I get it--teenagers, emotions run high--it felt SHALLOW. Her over-the-top emotional reactions and illogical responses to any and all situations concerning Hunter dragged the plot down to a grinding pace.
I'll say it once, to anyone listening: YOU DO NOT NEED ANYONE'S LOVE TO VALIDATE YOUR EXISTENCE. IT IS ENOUGH TO LOVE YOURSELF. This could have been a powerful message as Mila comes to terms with both the android and human parts of herself but it sacrifices that in favor of another Twilight-esque love story. SIGH.
The positives though is that the last half of the book picks up the pace and is filled with twists and turns. When it's just Mila and her android nature, I'm fascinated and I wish more was down with this aspect. Plus the return of a favorite character of mine in the last 50 pages has me intrigued. I'll finish the series up, but I don't have much hope for the final book.
moonbell's review
3.0
Last read of 2021!
- “In my defense—I didn’t know him all that well. Not unless you considered a shared truck crash, a late-night interlude involving a barn, and a date gone wrong to be the cornerstones of a profound relationship. Yet from the moment I’d met him, something about him called to me. Maybe because we were both loners. Maybe that was what formed the basis for our instant connection” Insta-Love is what is called babygirl, I wished romantic connections where that easy. Things aside, Hunter and Mila are kinda cute if I do say so myself…………
That said, I did like Hunter way more in this book, like he actually has a personality here. Also CONSENT CONSENT CONSENT! LOVE IT
Also, Hunter’s mom asking, BEGGING, Mila to give Hunter up and Mila agreeing……huh? Shouldn’t you let Hunter make that decision? Why oh why do we continue this thing in books where people make decisions for others, it does NOT contribute to the plot like you think it does!!
Final thoughts: 3.5 stars, great follow up to Mila 2.0!
Hunter: purest soul, Lucas: making my heart race every time he’s mentioned
- “In my defense—I didn’t know him all that well. Not unless you considered a shared truck crash, a late-night interlude involving a barn, and a date gone wrong to be the cornerstones of a profound relationship. Yet from the moment I’d met him, something about him called to me. Maybe because we were both loners. Maybe that was what formed the basis for our instant connection” Insta-Love is what is called babygirl, I wished romantic connections where that easy. Things aside, Hunter and Mila are kinda cute if I do say so myself…………
That said, I did like Hunter way more in this book, like he actually has a personality here. Also CONSENT CONSENT CONSENT! LOVE IT
Also, Hunter’s mom asking, BEGGING, Mila to give Hunter up and Mila agreeing……huh? Shouldn’t you let Hunter make that decision? Why oh why do we continue this thing in books where people make decisions for others, it does NOT contribute to the plot like you think it does!!
Final thoughts: 3.5 stars, great follow up to Mila 2.0!
Hunter: purest soul, Lucas: making my heart race every time he’s mentioned
pollyroth's review
Disclaimer: I only read 22 pages. But within those 22 pages, I decided I just didn't care about anything relating to Mila's being an android, or more importantly, being as this will be the center of the book's focus, her romance with Hunter.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I think I liked this better than the first book. It got so bogged down in the elaborate trials/tests, that I found myself skimming. Here, I was interested in where the story would go, and there were some unexpected twists and turns.
I did get a little frustrated with all of Mila's rambling thoughts about Hunter, and whether or not she could trust him. There were certainly things that set of alarm bells, and I did see some things coming there.
I did NOT like the abrupt ending. Not sure when the next book will be released. I'll read it ...
I did get a little frustrated with all of Mila's rambling thoughts about Hunter, and whether or not she could trust him. There were certainly things that set of alarm bells, and I did see some things coming there.
I did NOT like the abrupt ending. Not sure when the next book will be released. I'll read it ...
livaausma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
Loved this second book in the Mila series. Except, I stayed up way too late to finish it and it leaves on a cliffhanger with no idea when the third book is coming out! Arghhhh! This book deals more with the psychological aspects of Mila's story. While there is plenty of action, the focus is more on the story. We get to meet Mila's Dad and find out more about how Mila came to be. It starts off right where the first book left off with Mila and Hunter hiding out at Virginia Beach. There are definite twists and turns and Mila has a hard time knowing who she can trust. Can't wait for the third book!
jeannemurray3gmailcom's review
4.0
I liked this one. I didn't realize when I started reading it that it was the second in a series. Reading the first in the series might have made the beginning of the book more interesting in that it was much slower than the rest of the book in regards to excitement and action.
I'll probably read the next in the series but won't be looking for it with bated breath.
I'll probably read the next in the series but won't be looking for it with bated breath.
cavalary's review against another edition
2.0
Read this in Romanian, after somewhat accidentally ending up with it at the end of a World Book Day event. Spotted a few places where something was obviously wrong with the translation, but while I doubt that it was better than that of the first book in the series, I can't really know. Translating "Renegade" into "Tradarea" ("Betrayal") as the title really doesn't seem right though. Also, that use of metric units in some places but not in others remains, and I still don't know whether it's like that in the original text as well or the translator keeps converting only in some places. The first option seems far more likely, but it's still odd either way.
About the book itself, at least it doesn't seem like the novelization of the tutorial of an action game anymore, but it's oddly mundane considering the potential of the concept. Also shallow, perhaps when it comes to the all too few problems resulting from being wanted by multiple forces in particular, but definitely not only for that reason. Many scenes seem thrown in just because they're the fastest way to move on to the next part, consequences are often discarded, the romance still doesn't feel right at all, whether before or after certain key scenes, the way events will develop and the intentions and motives of others are too obvious yet somehow the main character keeps missing them, plenty of times also being manipulated with hardly any effort, the levels of trust between characters are also hardly natural or reasonable... And that final chapter comes pretty much out of nowhere, reminding me of those scenes at the end of the last episode of a season of a TV series that was supposed to end but just got renewed for another season at the last moment, so somebody had to quickly replace the planned conclusion with a hook. In spite of it all, it's possible that I'd have, grudgingly, rated this higher than the previous book if I wouldn't have read it translated, but as it was...
About the book itself, at least it doesn't seem like the novelization of the tutorial of an action game anymore, but it's oddly mundane considering the potential of the concept. Also shallow, perhaps when it comes to the all too few problems resulting from being wanted by multiple forces in particular, but definitely not only for that reason. Many scenes seem thrown in just because they're the fastest way to move on to the next part, consequences are often discarded, the romance still doesn't feel right at all, whether before or after certain key scenes, the way events will develop and the intentions and motives of others are too obvious yet somehow the main character keeps missing them, plenty of times also being manipulated with hardly any effort, the levels of trust between characters are also hardly natural or reasonable... And that final chapter comes pretty much out of nowhere, reminding me of those scenes at the end of the last episode of a season of a TV series that was supposed to end but just got renewed for another season at the last moment, so somebody had to quickly replace the planned conclusion with a hook. In spite of it all, it's possible that I'd have, grudgingly, rated this higher than the previous book if I wouldn't have read it translated, but as it was...
ghumpherys's review
4.0
A great sequel to the first book! Mila makes you think about self-worth and the meaning of humanity. My older girls are really enjoying this series as well. But what a cliffhanger at the ending!