Honestly, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this sequel, way more than the first book. The pacing hit just right, and the emotional connections between the characters felt way deeper this time. The world-building still has me hooked, and the writing style is just as easy to dive into. Plus, that plot twist? I didn’t see it coming at all, which made everything way more exciting. That said, I really wish Aaron had more scenes because I seriously can’t get enough of him. He's still the most interesting character for me. And unfortunately, Joan still annoys me. I kept hoping for more growth from her character, but it felt like I didn’t get enough of that. But overall, this was such a fun read, I’m absolutely diving into the next sequel.

A great sequel in this thrilling time travel trilogy!

This was an excellent follow on from book 1, following Joan as she lives out the consequences of her choices to revert the timeline to its previous state!

It was a really interesting plot, with twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I did think it was slower paced than book one and due to the time travel/multiple timelines aspect, which makes for brilliant plot, it did feel somewhat repetitive in the character development as we were going through the same things for “new” eyes.

I can’t wait to see where the final book leads us!

I loved the first book and was looking forward to continuing the journey with Joan, Nick and Aaron so much. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe the second book is simply not as good and fresh as the first one. Book 2 was dragging and for a long time I felt that all the characters did is recall what had happened in Book 1. The old Nick, the new Nick. The old Aaron, the new Aaron. Going back and forth and analysing the differences made this a slow and repetitive read, and the story didn't go anywhere for quite some time.
Now of course I'm curious about the upcoming instalment in the series, and I'd still love to see this turned into a movie.

Vanessa Len’s Never a Hero, the sequel to Only a Monster, is a thrilling and emotional continuation of the series. The story picks up with Joan, a girl caught between her human side and her monster heritage, as she navigates the consequences of her actions from the first book. Struggling to find her place in both worlds, Joan must face new dangers, uncover hidden truths, and make impossible choices.

I enjoyed how this book expanded the world-building, delving deeper into the rules and history of the monster and hero worlds. Joan’s character growth was especially engaging as she wrestled with questions of identity, morality, and loyalty. The relationships—whether friendships, family bonds, or romantic tensions—felt genuine and added depth to the story.

Vanessa Len’s writing is fast-paced and vivid, pulling you into a world where nothing is as simple as good versus evil. With twists and surprises throughout, Never a Hero is an exciting and heartfelt read. If you loved Only a Monster, this sequel won’t disappoint—it’s full of action, emotion, and thought-provoking moments.

4⭐️

Wow, that ending, i need the next book immediately.

There was a slow start, but once you hit the 50% mark questions, start being answered, and you really can't put it down. It was interesting to learn more about how time travel works and what the main arc for the trilogy actually is.

One of my favourite parts of this series is how the author puts you into the different time periods they travel to. They do a great job of immersing you in both the times and the monster world of markets selling contraband tech.

I do wish Joan knew a little more about things in this one. We repeat situations and conversations from the first book because of the timeline switch, and it made the first half of the book drag a little. And as our villain says, it makes Joan predictable

I will say there was not enough aaron in this, but it looks like there will be plenty in the next one. He's one of the most complex characters in the series, and I loved getting to see more of his sensitive side through his past.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and I'm sad to have to wait so long for the final book. I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I have just finished this book and all I can say is wow! I was so gripped at the end and only wish I could talk about it without spoiling it. It has been so good to revisit Joan's world... a world of monsters, humans and time travel.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, but the complexity of the story in this one kept me gripped from the 2nd chapter.

Seeing the changes that have taken place to this timeline due to Joan's actions in book one, how her relationships have changed. What impact does a change truly make?

The ending of this had a brilliant twist I did not see coming and I need book 3 now please. I would love to share more details on this book - but I can't without spoiling it. Please read the monster series! A real gem of a book.

This is a delayed review for the wonderful @vanessalenwrites, I was kindly sent the e arc on netgalley from hodderscape. Thank you so much!

Only a Monster was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2022, so of course I was gasping at the bit for an ARC of the sequel, especially after the absolutely STUNNING reversal that was the ending of book 1!

Never a Hero picks up a few scenes off from the last and we are bombarded with the difference a day, a wish, an unraveling of a person makes. This is a new world, made in Joan’s image, but on the edges creeps danger… this new world isn’t safe from disaster!

Book 2 lives up to the promise of the first and I’m thrilled to read this story’s conclusion ! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

*Never a Hero* is a solid follow-up to *Only a Monster*. Vanessa Len dives deeper into Joan's internal struggle as she navigates her monstrous heritage while trying to stay true to her human side. The time travel elements are still exciting, but the focus shifts more towards Joan's relationships with the other characters, especially Nick and Aaron. There are some great moments of tension and action, though the pacing slows down at times. The moral grey areas and tough choices Joan faces are compelling, but some twists feel a bit predictable. Overall, it's an engaging read that builds well on the first book, setting up a promising finale.

Such an amazing book!!!!

Joan has achieved the impossible.

She reset the timeline, saved her family - and destroyed the hero.

But success has come at a terrible cost. She alone remembers what happened. Aaron, her hard-won friend - and maybe more - is now her enemy. And Nick, the boy she loved, doesn't even know her name.

Then an attack forces Joan back into the monster world as a fugitive, where she discovers a secret that threatens everyone she loves.

Now Joan must re-gather her allies to face down a deadly enemy, and save the timeline itself . . .

Never a hero was an enjoyable, strong sequel which continued to develop the unique monster world from Vanessa Len. Similar to the first book, there were points in the novel which felt quite slow and it is still the novelty of the concept of monsters and time which kept me reading forward to see where things go. Len is also an exceptional world builder - much needed to compliment plots as complicated as time travel! I look forward to reading the next book to find out how this wraps up for Joan, Nick and Aaron.

Absolutely amazing read. Loved the setting, the world building, the monsters and their abilities and the drama between the characters. It was a pleasant surprise, this book, and I look forward reading more by this author.

What a cracking series. So greatful for an advanced copy. From start to finish you are hooked. I loved that it carried straight on from Only a monster.. a must read for fantasy readers.

I adored Only a Monster and so was waiting eagerly for this sequel and it didn’t disappoint!

The monster family lore and mythology is as fascinating and engaging as ever and I loved finding out more about the different kinds of magic each monster family carries. The worldbuilding feels really believable and yet keeps me wanting to know more constantly – I want every detail of who can do what! We do get some new perspectives on time travel and the morality involved in monster-magic, focused more on brain/will manipulation rather than life-stealing this time round. And there is a pervasive theme about consequences, seen and unexpected, of one’s actions.

Joan is still a very empathetic main character but I am getting a little bit tired of the soulmates storyline she has going on with Nick and would much rather have had more Aaron – he and Joan have such great chemistry together – but this is definitely a personal preference and not a criticism of the book.

This was one of those read-all-nighter, down-in-one books for me and I audibly groaned when it ended on a cliffhanger and a frantic Google proved that Book 3 isn’t out yet. This whole series is packed with suspense and intrigue, complicated relationships and grey morality, and I am very here for it.

Having been utterly hooked in for the second time in a row, I am waiting breathlessly to be swept away by Only a Monster book 3… and I’ll be right back here to tell you more!

This is YA fantasy and is the second book in what I believe is a trilogy.

Changing the timeline in book 1 has consequences- people are brought together who are meant to have a connection but there are also people missing. And that may just be an indicator of a much bigger problem, which our FMC is going to have to try and work with the 2 MMCs to resolve.

I think I liked this better than the first book. The world in this series is really interesting, and how the magic system works is pretty unique- I wish that was explored and explained more! But this is much more character based, and the internal struggles the FMC has with who she is (half monster, half hero). She has to pick a side - and not choosing isn't really an option.

The ending of the book means I'm definitely interested in seeing where book 3 goes!

3.5 stars, rounded up

This was one of my favourite books of 2023. It was the best feeling being able to come back into the world of London and monsters. Since reading I have re read this multiple times. The best part about reading this book was knowing I was unraveling the joys of time travel, which isn’t always explored much in novels. This was incredibly fun and I had the best time. I miss Joan, Aaron and Nick already and I’m incredibly excited to see where book 3 goes!! Also the new characters that were introduced were super interesting. The ending blew my mind!! 5/5 stars

This is time travel done right! So many other books and movies with time travel have a point, where the concept just breaks when one thinks to much about it. Not never a hero!
A beautiful story with a thrilling ending, making me want to jump right into the next installment of the series!

Band zwei hat mir sehr gefallen. Ich muss sagen, Band 1 hat mich von der Dynamik mehr mitgerissen und ich bin auch ganz klar Team Aaron und nicht Team Nick aber trotzdem wurde auch Band zwei keinen Moment langweilig und viele Fragen wurden geklärt und Band zwei endet mit SO VIEL neuen Fragen und Vorfreude auf Band 3. Alle die Band 1 geliebt, gelebt und gemocht haben, sollten auch Band zwei lesen. Wer Band 1 nicht gelesen hat, sollte dies schnell tun und gleich Band zwei lesen.

After the end of volume one, I was very excited to see what would happen next in volume two. I was also excited to see what role time travel would play here again. I really like the cover and there are a few small details that you discover while reading. Vanessa Len has a great writing style. This is easy to read, exciting and emotional. I couldn't put the book down and all in all I liked the book a bit better than volume one. It definitely wasn't a typical intermediate volume to bridge volume three. I love books with the theme of time travel and Vanessa Len does that well here. The plot is exciting, action-packed and you can't help but root for the characters. I absolutely didn't see the end coming and I'm excited to see what happens next in volume three.

Since (almost) all of the characters can no longer remember the events of volume one, at times it was like getting to know everyone again. I definitely had a favorite in book one but after book two I have absolutely no idea whether I like Nick or Aaron better. They both just have something and they harmonize perfectly with Joan. Joan develops well in volume two, finding her way better and better in the world of monsters. Nevertheless, she also retains her good side and sees some things from a completely different perspective. The interaction between the individual characters is described very well here and I was able to empathize with their respective actions and behaviors.

“Never a hero” is a very successful sequel that I can recommend to everyone. But after this nasty cliffhanger, I can hardly wait to hold volume three in my hands. I have a clear reading recommendation.

Monsters with morals might be my new favourite genre! I love a good hero story, but these are refreshing and so much fun! I wasn't sure what to expect with the first of this duology, but the second instalment far outdid it's predecessor. I loved watching Joan and co dive further into the world. I loved the small details that foreshadowed what would come to pass by the end. The motives of some of the characters are slightly fluid and the granny reminds me a bit of my own 🤭

After reading book one I was so thrilled to be offered an Arc of book two. This sequel didn’t fall foul of any book 2 problems, and in fact I think I might have enjoyed it even more than Book 1. Without giving spoilers, this continues the brilliant character arc, and really goes into the emotions and turmoils felt by our MCs. Honestly I think I’d read another 10 books in this series, I do hope we see lots more from Vanessa!