First of all, this third book in the series has a prologue. The prologue is supposed to be a teaser of Aria agreeing to forfeit her life so Braith can lead vampire and human society without her being in the way, since she constitutes such a challenge to his priorities. The scene depicted actually takes place about 80% of the way through the book. Why break with the style used in the other three books (also no prologue in book 4)? Why suddenly include a spoiler alert prologue? I didn't like it, didn't appreciate it, and by the time I'd got that far into Renegade had mostly forgotten about it anyway. 
 Thankfully this book introduces some action again. After the disappointment of Refugee I was very grateful to have more than just one big long exposition dialogue around endless descriptions of Briath and Aria touching. There's still an awful lot of narrative dedicated to their interactions and thoughts about one another, but it was better woven into other events / interactions / thoughts. 
 In Renegade, Briath, Aria, Willaim and Ashby have gone into the desert in search of the deposed vampire aristocrats who opposed the king's oppressive regime and were exiled for their troubles. In the desert they come across outcast societies (that aren't explored in any detail), starved vampires who have even been ostracised from the outcast society for their transgressions, the remains of what was once a suburb of a human city, and the town one of the deposed aristocrats built for his band of followers. This last presents the first taste of how vampires and humans can live together in harmony. 
 I really liked the descriptions of the harsh desert environment (and later on the swamp) as well as the battles raged against the starving vampires. These scenes offered a good balance to the social interactions and romantic interludes. I didn't like how some romantic interludes would take place in the middle of battle, though. 
 Moreover, I wish the author would hurry up and decide if she's writing for a YA or an adult audience, though. The blood drinking scenes are promise of something more explicit than they deliver and sex is still shied away from, while I feel cheated by the "adult content" warnings.