Talk about a sequel that is action packed from start to finish. With second books in a trilogy, there's always a fear it'll be a bit of a filler. A one step forward three steps back, but that is so far from the case for Never a Hero. This sequel is thrilling and had me screaming at the ending. Seriously. Wait with me in my angst bubble when you're done ok? First of all, I love Joan. I'd fight for her and with her. The grief and loss she feels combined with the isolation, makes my heart weep.

There's this distance between her life, her home, her family, her friends, and what she sees everyday. Haunted by these memories, nothing will ever be the same for Joan. And this introduces one of the main themes: who we are. When we become someone else, have different experiences, who do we become? Is there a shred of us, a universal piece of us, that remains?

Ich habe die Geschichte sehr gemocht. Es war einfach zu lesen und man war sehr schnell in der Geschichte gefangen. Absolut empfehlenswert.

Definitely recommend this book. I cant wait for more from this author. Five stars all the way!!!!!!!

After the dramatic finale of Only a Monster, Joan’s life seems to return to normal. Her family is alive and well, but she is the only one to remember the other timeline and the dangers still threatening her world. Moreover, she cannot stop herself from observing Nick, who is now an average teenager and treats her as a stranger. When a dangerous turn of events brings Joan and Nick back into the monsters’ world, they become fugitives, hunted by a group led by Aaron...

Never a Hero was a thrilling and captivating read. The pace is fast, and this novel has twists and surprises. I loved how Joan’s character developed, and watching her deal with the consequences of her actions from the first book was sometimes painful but always fascinating. The book also adds to the world-building, giving us more details about different monster families and history. All that was delivered in a form that made me even more interested in Joan’s story. I was also happy to see more of Jamie Liu, who became one of the favourites in Only a Monster despite his brief appearance. The romantic theme made me smile while reading, as I realised that Joan thought only of Nick while travelling with Aaron, and now she misses Aaron when Nick is at hand. And let me admit that I adored some of the Joan and Aaron scenes later in the book.
Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for providing the arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Never A Hero is just as exciting and full of time travel shenanigans as Only A Monster and I had so much fun reading it.

Considering the circumstances from the end of book 1 I was super excited to see the characters in a new light and I was not disappointed. All the angst and tension that comes with one character remembering everything whilst everyone else is in the dark was written so so well. Yes there was less Aaron in this book thus less banter between him and Joan but I just loved seeing how fate brought all the characters together again.

Joan was a bit repetitive in her inner monologue and musings and of course having to bring everyone up to speed in order for them to face the wider threat that is still lurking and this did make me feel like I probably could have skipped the book 1 reread beforehand. However, this also allowed us to rediscover and learn more about the Monster world. From more details on the history and lore, to understanding more about the Monster court and seeing more of the Monster families with their distinct powers coming into play in the narrative the worldbuilding was enriched in the best way!

The time travel elements were once again really interesting and regardless of the plot feeling a bit messy (as time travel stories quite often are) and slowing down towards the middle there were some great curveballs thrown into the story keeping me just as hooked as I was with the first book.

The ending was particularly engrossing and has laid out the foundations for what will no doubt be an thrilling finale! I can’t wait for book 3!
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars

It wasn't love at first page as it's slow burning but it was a book I loved and the excellent second part in this series
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I adored book one and was hyped to learn about this sequel. This universe is just so fantastic and I loved getting to spend more time in it.

The first half of this is much slower than book one though, and follows very similar themes and in some places feels almost repetitive. I think it’s purposeful given how it all plays out, but it’s frustrating and I can see many people not getting on with it because of that.

However, it’s worth it as in the second half / last third it definitely picks up and we see the story split more from the original themes. I adored all the twists and that ending!! I have QUESTIONS though. Will be needing book 3 asap lol!!

Eleanor is a great villain and was fun seeing Joan struggle against knowing things others don’t. I’d have liked her to have more chance to tell Nick the full story and to see him get a little more agency in this. And always want more Tom and Jamie 💙

Four stars, not quite as good as book one but very promising for book three!

Beautiful. Spectacular. Absorbing. Wonderful.

I am just in AWE of this book. It was everything I wanted and more, and what a TALENT Vanessa Len is.

Incredible.

Such complicated emotions, to lose her family and gain them again, then lose her love but gain him again in a different way, all in very little time to process. The twist at the end was spectacular, I never experected it (and yes, I have deliberately spelt ‘expected’ wrong – if you know, you know). As expected of the YA genre, the language and sentence formations are simple and easy to follow. I gave 4 out of 5 stars because the end was worth it, even though I felt like I couldn’t see initially the point of the second book, now I can’t wait for the third book.

Outstanding sequel

The first book of the series already blew me away so it was hard to picture how the sequel could keep up with that. But Vanessa Len managed to seamlessly pick up the story and deliver the same quality.
It’s a suspenseful and emotional book that takes its time to develop the story, pick up the pace and fully captivate the reader, which I definitely prefer to overly fast-paced action. The author’s worldbuilding is simply amazing and quite complex – and pretty satisfying for any reader who loves time-travelling in books.
The story also manages to keep up the depth of the characters. All my favorite ones were back and I felt with them the entire time. I also loved how some of the characters get a fresh start with the new timeline and still stay true to themselves.
All in all, an amazing read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to see how the author is going to wrap up the story in the next book!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I am still so obsessed with the magic system/fantasy aspect of this series. It's really cool and unique, and I liked how we got to see more of it (and new parts) in this book. Like the first book, there were lots of action scenes and the last 100 pages were so intense (I just had to sit and read the ending in one sitting). However, there were some slower, kinda boring parts too which were mainly times where there was a lot of info dumping (which happened a fair bit).

There wasn’t really that much romance in this book which wasn’t what I was expecting as the first book had a bit of a slow-burn romance that I thought would have developed more in the sequel. There is a sort of love triangle happening in the series and I like how in the first book we mainly spent time with one love interest and now in the sequel it switched and Joan mainly spends time with the other. It's meant we’ve gotten a chance to really see her connect with each love interest and (while I definitely have a fave), I am dying to know who she ends up with by the end of the series.

Overall, whilst this book does suffer slightly from the ‘second book in a series curse’, I liked discovering the new aspects of the magic system and how the major cliffhanger this book ends on has made me so excited to read the final book in the series.

I think it’s safe to say that I adored this book. And honestly, I wasn’t expecting to. I liked Only A Monster well enough, but Joan annoyed me and I thought the writing was a little too juvenile.

Never a Hero completely blew me away. I was hesitant to pick up this book, but I’m so glad I did.

Len’s writing has vastly improved, and I couldn’t put this book down. It was so compelling and vivid. The expanded worldbuilding sucked me right in, I wish this world was real. The execution and pace of the story have improved so much, yet Len still has the same charm and pull to her writing.

This book does not suffer from second-book syndrome, it’s exactly the opposite. It was action-packed and filled with so much angst – plus the ending just blew me away. Honestly, I would read 5 more books in this series if Vanessa Len decided to continue expanding this world. I just adore it so much.

The characters are the real stand out in this one. They were well-written and well-fleshed out. My only real complaint is that we did not get enough of Aaron (we are all on Team Aaron right?). Normally I’m not a love triangle girlie, I’ve been traumatised by those too much, and I wouldn’t necessarily call this a love triangle. But I thought it was well done. I do think the author has a clear preference, but I hope I’m wrong.

If you’re looking for a time-travel, urban fantasy type book with lovable characters, lots of action, shenanigans, and more, this is definitely one to pick up.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

One thing I really like about Vanessa Len’s books is the fact she wastes no time in throwing in the plot/drama. When I read the blurb of this book, I was so excited. As we all know from the previous book, ‘somethings are undone.’ I loved the pacing. The world building is excellent. Wonderful descriptions. You feel like you’re time travelling along with Joan and co. I love how we’re able to feel what Joan battles with in choosing a side - humans vs monsters. This book reveals more and there’s a little mystery with a wonderful reveal.

However, I found the description of the male leads too annoying and repetitive. Joan’s inner dialogue too started to get on my nerves and that kind of made me enjoy the book less. Kinda glad that we had Tom to put her in her place sometimes. The characters are lovely. Overall , a very fun time travelling experience.

I am team Aaron. My sweet misunderstood fashion loving villain. ❤️ However, Nick was able to make me like him more in this book. He does have a way with words.

“I can tell you what I want,’ Nick said steadily. ‘I want to be where you are. In any way you let me.”

Excerpt From
Never a Hero
Vanessa Len

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

So. I sort of forgot how much I hated the first book. And I still despise Nick. A lot. This book mostly has the exact plot of the first one, except it's Joan and Nick running from Aaron, not Joan and Aaron running from Nick.

I also continue to hate Joan. She's just so dense and always has those stupid expositional "a memory comes to me with the exact information I need that I didn't remember until now" moments that I hate. It's also really unclear what Joan does and does not remember from the old timelines, and why? The Lius remember but I guess Joan is just super special? She is also just so willing to forgive everyone for everything. Like maybe don't forgive mass murderers and super evil people??

And I continue in my belief that Aaron is a far superior, more interesting, and more complex character, and far more deserving of being Joan's love interest, even though I kind of don't want to saddle him with her stupidity.

This is an interesting story with interesting side characters really brought down by a terrible lead and an even worse love interest. I feel like I have to read the next one because I want to know what happens to Jamie and Tom but I really don't want to have to slog through Joan and Nick again. Sigh.

2.5 stars rounded up to a generous 3 for Goodreads.

It took me a while to get into it, but once I did it hooked me and took me down! Can you pleaseeee give me Aaron?? I can't stand Nick anymore LOL. I know that Aaron is not supposed to be a romantic pair, still.. i love him! Anyway, not quite as good as the first one but still very enjoyable. Can't wait for the sequel!!

I received a copy of Never a Hero by Vanessa Len from NetGalley. This is the second book of the Monsters series. I enjoyed reading Only a Monster last year. I was so excited to get my hands on the sequel. Never a Hero is a contemporary fantasy novel that follows the story of Joan, a half-monster/half-human, and begins after the events of the previous book.
In the first book, Joan unmakes Nick, to bring back her family. This creates a whole new timeline where no one but Joan and a few other monsters remember the events of Nick as the monster slayer. Ruth doesn’t remember she helped Joan, and Aaron doesn’t know who she is. Nick is now an ordinary boy, and he doesn’t remember Joan at all. Her actions still weigh on her heavily, and she has withdrawn into herself. When Nick and Joan meet again in the new timeline, they are attacked by the Court and have to go into hiding.
The story follows Joan, Nick, Aaron, Ruth, Tom, and Jamie as they try to stop a terrible plan where monsters rule the world. I liked how the inner conflict played out for Joan. She still has feelings for Nick, but she knows that he is not the same person she once knew. The gravity of what she did to save her family and what Nick used to be is constantly playing in the back of her mind. Time-traveling monsters are one of the most interesting things I have read in fantasy, and it plays out really well in both these books.
I enjoyed learning more about this fantasy world. Vanessa Len elaborates on the mythology in the book, and it is done in an engaging manner.
Never a Hero by Vanessa Len is a good sequel to Only a Monster. It has some of the same elements in terms of the plot, but it is interesting. The blend of fantasy with almost supernatural elements with little romance makes it intriguing. The first half is slightly slow-paced, but the second half picks up speed.

when you think it's a 2 books series and you are very wrong...
THAT ENDING
I will never not love those books and the characters but WHYYYYYYY

Sadlt this wasn't as good as Only A Monster. For me the beginning dragged a little bit, and then it really picked up in the second half.. Also, I'm 100% team Aaron so maybe that's why because there was a lot less Aaron in the first half of this book O:)

Will I read the third book? Yeah, I excited to see how this will wrap up

A fantastic second book, leaving me frustrated for the third. I loved the development of characters and the plot twists, some of which I could not have predicted.
If you loved the first book this one will not disappoint.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC of Never a Hero.
This book was a great sequel to Only a Monster. Joan changed the timeline. But the threats are not gone. But only she and the Lius remember what happened in the old timeline. Now she has to reassemble her friends. But some of them seemed to have switched sides.
This book is action-filled and full of twists and turns. I adored every page and can't wait to see how the story concludes.