Wow.
Renegades was great.
Archenemies was AMAZING.
I’m a mix of many emotions right now. Marissa Meyer took this story and turned it on its head.. then smacked it across the room for added intensity. I did NOT see that ending coming, and now how am I supposed to wait for the third book?!
AGHH!
Archenemies basically picks right where Renegades left off, and immediately this story felt.. different. It felt grittier and darker and- bad. Of course the jokes and humor concealed these attributes, but with new characters and interactions, Nova and Adrian truly start to grow up, if that makes sense. They see how destructive and corrupted the world is. Marissa peels the tarp back for these characters. Brutally, if I'm again being honest. It's fantastic to read.
Nova and Adrian’s relationship is adorable, realistic, and downright swoon worthy. Their love is complex and fretful and filled with so much pain, especially after that ending.. Even after finishing, I’m STILL shaking my head in awe of this plot line. 
Archenemies was easier and better to read than Renegades for me. You follow Meyer on your toes the entire time. The new characters and information given are intriguing but terrifying. I just want to squeeze Max into a bear hug of protection, and I want to smack Frostbite and her team constantly. The arcs from these characters even just couldn't have been more mind boggling!
Archenemies is truly one of the most complex YA stories I have ever read. Hands down.
So many new revelations that change so many things..
I cannot remember having such a wide variety of emotions upon finishing a novel. There’s pity/ empathy for bad characters, secondhand embarrassment because parents are embarrassing (DUH), and just the fact that we know information the characters don’t. The amount of times I closed the book to just FEEL.. is downright astonishing. It shows how intricate and powerful Meyer’s writing was, and I can safely say this is my favorite novel of hers. 
I can’t really explain much else due to spoilers for the first book and this one. Just understand you’re going to be embarrassed, giddy, and tearful throughout this novel. The stakes just got higher, and my nerves are setting in for the long haul.

Thank you Macmillan for gifting me an ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.