I have never read a Tom Young novel before, but I can promise you that I will be reading anything he writes from now on! The best part about reading this book is that even though it is apparently the third in a series with the same characters, I did not feel lost. The author does a wonderful job of providing enough relevant facts from his other books that I felt like I was able to bond with the characters in this book. While getting to know the main characters like Lt. Colonel Michel Parson and Sgt Major Sophia Gold was a treat, the other characters such as Capt. Rashid and Sgt Reyes were equally important. I don't know if the latter two play a part in earlier novels but I sure do hope they come back in other novels!

In The Renegades, a Taliban splinter group is out to make a name for itself and its methods are so extreme that the Taliban seems tame in comparison. They pose a danger not only to the American forces in Afghanistan and their Afghani allies, but the Taliban identifies them as enemies of Islam and humanity! So Parson, Gold, and all the other characters here find themselves trying to track down and eliminate this group. But can they do so without the aid of the Taliban? And if not, how can they possibly convince the Taliban to help?

Well this is what you will need to read the book for...to find out!

The story is of course exciting in itself. The mission guaranteed to bring action and excitement. But I'll be honest, it was the character development I like the best. There are some action novels where the action is what it's all about. One could care less who dies. Well in this book that is not the case. I felt like bonded with all the characters. I understood why they did what they did. When a very minor character finds himself blackmailed and made to turn on his American allies, I feel bad for him. His actions are despicable, but I could understand what motivated him.

Overall, this book is simply excellent. Go out and read it!

I really enjoyed this story. Always fascinated with war stories. ( )

Plot revolves around a splinter ground of Taliban who decide to start using child soldiers obtained via kidnapping and an Air Force Liaison, Michael Parson with his Army Translator sidekick, Sophia Gold get involved. The book is a sequel, #3 in the list. Author does a great job explaining the action and absolute horror of the war. However, those not enamored of military jargon and ethics might not get it. ( )

Interesting plot, but didn't seem to delve deep enough into character development ( )

The Renegades is an excellent war novel set in present day (well, circa 2012) Afghanistan.

I seem to have a knack for picking up parts of a series out of order, this is another of those situations being book #3 in a series, nonetheless, The Renegades is still a great stand alone story.

The plot of The Renegades revolves around a splinter ground of Taliban who decide to start using child soldiers obtained via kidnapping and an Air Force Liaison, Michael Parson with his Army Translator sidekick, Sophia Gold who are obviously not in favour of such a scheme. All this takes place in the frame of a humanitarian disaster in the form of an extensive earthquake and an Afghan air force which is still learning to be an air force.

I really enjoyed this book and would love to give it 5 stars but there was just a little something missing that kept it from Vince Flynn 5 star territory. ( )