Oooh boy! Vanessa saw the second book curse and said ‘not today!’ This was SO GOOD! I was on the edge of my seat. I was screaming, I was crying, I was throwing up.

Just like the first book, the imagery in this is fantastic. I felt immersed in the world that Vanessa has built; each new location fully fleshed out, no matter how long the gang were there for.

I loved getting to know this new version of Nick. Joan is running for Nick for most of book one, so we don’t get much of a chance to really know who is, separate from his need for vengeance. This Nick is still protective (“Try to touch her again, and I won’t just break your hand.”), he still has an innate sense of right and wrong and he is still a little bit terrifying, though this time the terror comes from Joan, who is constantly on edge, her trauma from the previous timeline influencing everything she does. Watching their relationship develop again was really interesting and Joan’s grief for the old version of Nick was wonderfully complex (if slightly frustrating at times.)

I loved having the gang back together and full squealed when Aaron was captured. I like Nick but I LOVE Aaron and believe, despite all evidence to the contrary, that Aaron and Joan are endgame (“Aaron had been beautiful from afar, but this close he was devastating.”)

There was a bit of miscommunication at the end which is my least favourite trope, I was literally screaming ‘OMG just tell him!’ at one stage, and Joan’s trauma is so intense that she thinks herself the ultimate villain despite other people (cough, Nick) doing stuff that was, objectively, way worse, which is why the book loses half a star.

But overall, this was the perfect sequel! I had so much fun being back in Joan’s world and I have been left with about one thousand questions that I’m dying to know the answers too. Imma need a release for book three ASAP, pls and thank you!

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well well well, I did not expect this twist or this plot in general, but gosh, I loved it so much!

The book is well written and compares well with the first one, and, at the moment at least, isn't merely a bridge between the first and last book of the trilogy, but it has an actual plot and the characters do something (ironic, since nobody but then remembers what they did because of the changes in the timeline 🫣).

The characters don't develop much further than in the first book. I really enjoyed how they basically have to meet each other all over again and how they act exactly the same as they did the first time, even slightly different situations.
I loved Joan as a protagonist, especially her struggle with balancing her human self with the monster part. In this regard, I loved how the author portrays the lack of defined separation between the good and the evil, the good guys and the villains. I find this extremely refreshing for a young adult book, well done!
Vanessa Len managed to get me to fall a little deeper for my sweet baby Aaron. The only great flaw of this book is him not being in it more.

I loved the fantasy world, it reminded me of How You Lose the Time War and the Umbrella Academy in the best way possible.

As far as romance goes we get basically nothing here, apart from a few terrible kisses with Nick (which, in case it wasn't apparent, I don't like and I really wished he wouldn't have been in the book haha) and a barely even there thought about Joan possibly maybe being a little infatuated with Aaron. I'm now expecting great things (at least a kiss please!!) from the next book.

I feel like this book has second book syndrome. While I love how Joan questioned and learned the repercussions of her actions in Only a Monster, I think Never a Hero was brought down by a one-dimension character significantly appearing in this book. Honestly nothing much happens until the last few chapters and I feel like I could have overlooked that because it did make sense in context. However, that character made my experience not fun. It's noticeable literally every time another character appears, they have so much more personality and feel lively compared to that one character.

Maybe I'll do a slower read after my physical copy comes in and this time I won't be going with preconceived expectations.

I do want the final book ASAP. I think the ending of this book set up a starting point for the next.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Netgalley for the ARC.

I'll be honest, I liked this but didn't love it (but that's true for most second books of a trilogy, let's be honest).

I adored Only a Monster, and I was so excited to be approved for the ARC of the sequel. Then I found that I just couldn't get into it ... it took me over a week to read the first half of this book, and I'm usually a fast reader. Once I got past the halfway point it picked up though, and I really did enjoy the latter part.

Overall, a reasonably strong sequel that starts almost exactly where the first book left off, and sets us up perfectly for the third.

Loved this one! And the ending was amazing - I was totally gripped for the whole of the last half of the book. Such a good follow on from the first book, and I’d say this one was even better. I definitely got more into the characters in this and started to feel them more - I liked Nick more in this, but still want to see more from Aaron! Can’t wait for the next instalment.

I absolutely adored being back with Joan, Nick and Aaron. Vanessa has created a magical world so unique and I love it.
Book two picks right up at the end of book 1 - with a new timeline following Joan's decision at the end of book 1. and boy do we get thrown straight back into this crazy world.

I loved every minute of this book. Seeing more of the characters and watching how different they all are. The story plot is so good, and addictive.

and... I need book three immediately!

My. God.

The wait for Never a Hero was so, so worth it. Only a Monster introduced to flawed and lovable characters. Never a Hero brought us back to the world of monsters and introduced us to new characters while providing us readers with more to our beloved characters from the first book.

Never a Hero was NUTS. Each twists left me jaw dropping because I honest to God never saw them coming. And in terms of the love triangle 👀 Vanessa Len did so freaking well 😂 Book 3 is gonna wreck me in terms of who Joan will end up with.

Again, Never a Hero was SO worth the wait. The cliffhanger was bloody crazy and I'm so impatient for book 3 because I need to find out what happens next 😭😭

Side note, as Malaysian Chinese myself, it's really awesome to see some of the representation in this series. Especially when it comes to YA fantasy 🥰

I would highly recommend you to check out the first book, Only a Monster! Never a Hero releases on August 29 so mark your calenders!

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Oh my monster on high Vanessa!!! You have produced so many emotions with this ending. I was designing at the time and I literally stopped, stared at my phone and proceeded to have a argument with this inanimate object about why this was the case and, without any spoilers, the twist in the plot that I didn’t quite see coming for at least 10 minutes. You really have created a book that leaves you wanting more and I know saying this it’s going to be forever until I can read or listen to the third story.

Just like the first book if you think this is for you, I would highly recommend immediately going to your local Waterstones or Amazon and ordering this book instantly. I binged it in one day and I have to say if it had gotten to 2 am I still would’ve kept reading it if needed. What more can I say than I highly recommend it and Vanessa I am extremely emotional right now, we will be having words…and I need book 3 now.

After the ending of Only a Monster I couldn't wait to see what would happen in this one!

Joan is back, but this time not in the true timeline. People have changed and there are so many truths to uncover! This whole book was full of action, secrets, drama and jaw dropping reveals, it had me so suspicious of everyone all the way through.

I need to know what happens next and am praying that Aaron Oliver is endgame as i’m so in love with his character! The whole way through this one, I was praying for him and Joan to reconcile.

Nick was back too, although I couldn’t trust him because of his previous actions, nor do I think the reader was meant to either. We’re kept guessing until the very end of this book where all is revealed and the story for the next book is set.

I really enjoy how Len writes such a clever world of time travelling and monsters. She dealt really well with the complexities of said time travel and having memories of people who didn’t remember the past. I love the whole concept and can really imagine each and every place she takes us to.

Super excited for the next instalment of this series, if you loved The Book Eaters, you’ll definitely enjoy this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Staughton for an eARC of Never A Hero!

Never a Hero picks up a few months after the events of the previous book and whilst I remembered a lot of the characters, because of what has happened in the first book it felt like we were having to get to know them all over again and I got a bit frustrated at some of the interactions. The pacing of the first half of the book felt slow in places and very similar to the story of the first book just with the characters swapping roles.

Overall I enjoyed the story and will be reading the final book when it’s released but this did feel ever so slightly too much like the middle book and a lot of the story felt reused and even a bit confusing. There is a not-quite-love-triangle and I can’t tell which couple I should be rooting for (I do have a preference though). The final action in the book feels rushed and I think this could have been paced better and spread throughout the last quarter of the story instead of the dramatic conclusion and cliffhanger ending we get.

Ratings
Spice: 💫
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you for the ARC!

I was obsessed with the first book and am even more obsessed with the second!

The world building in this story is phenomenal and my heart really ached when I had to come back to the real world!

If you love love triangles, time travel, and complicated family dynamics - then this is the story for you.

Another epic instalment in the Monsters series from Vanessa Len. I still remember the ending of book one, over a year later. This one was just as memorable!

Joan returns to a world where everyone is the same, but different. As the memories of the original timeline cause Joan conflict, you learn more about the Joan and her family. Everything has to be as it seems, right?… Vanessa: “hold my beer”

I found the sequel just as packed with twists and turns! The world has been set, characters are now developing and the plot thickens!! The action continues and the cliffhanger at the end… I just can’t, I need time to process!

A great series if you’re looking for time travel with a sprinkling of magic, intertwined with a love triangle and lots of death.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for both the e-arc and audio arc! I used both in conjunction and thoroughly enjoyed both experiences.

THE PERFECT SEQUEL!

My mind is blown! I was so happy when I was approved for this title. Being back in this world with Joan, Nick and Aaron was just so much fun. I can't believe we were introduced to so many new characters, and I just loved the ending of book 1. This dove in straight after the previous books events and I found myself clutching my pearly as the pace DID. NOT. STOP.

These characters are morally grey, good looking, witty and fun. I love Joan with all her flaws, and how she navigates being a monster. I won't say too much, but I already want to reread these books because they're just THAT good.

Thank you so much to the publishers and netgalley for the e-arc!!

What a fantastic sequel. I have been waiting to read this since I finished book one last March & I devoured this in less than 24 hours. I was hooked from the first page and loved being back with my favourite characters. The relationship dynamics in this book were fantastic. I cannot wait to see where this series goes.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Netgalley for the arc of Never a Hero by Vanessa Len in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

You know when you pick up the a sequel book, do you have that squirmy feeling in the pit of your stomach? Are you bracing yourself for a bridging story without real substance or bite? Have no fear, there is absolutely zero filler, zero boredom and zero disappointment in Never a Hero. Len has written a master class in how to deliver a sequel with not one symptom of second book syndrome!

As soon as you open the book Never a Hero you are plunged into an absolute rollercoaster ride of a story, full of pace, plot and intriguingly a whole new twist on the same characters from book 1. Whilst Joan is no longer new to the world of monsters and time-travel, she is still constantly learning and like all the others plunged into challenges in a whole new timeline.

Joan is the only character with full awareness, knowledge and memories of the timeline she changed, and her struggle with this is so hard at times but, Len describes her grief and struggle with such elegance and poignancy.

Nick continues to be such an honest, good and truly pure character, who is pulled into this world that has taken so much from him and continues to demand more but, still has such strong feelings for Joan, which is truly tortuous for them both. And of course, our truly morally grey anti-hero Aaron, he is totally challenged by Joan and forced to face up to the reality of his world, and events that have shaped him. There are going to be many battles fought over whether readers are Team Nick or Team Aaron! I’m hedging my vets right now, as I love them both for very different reasons.

There is so much I would love to tell you about Never a Hero but, I’m not going to spoil it. Len delivers! The plot, storyline, twists, turns and sheer cliff drops at times are just perfect, and the end itself delivers a perfect balance of satisfaction and cliffhanger fir book 3. I totally loved it and you need to grab a copy now!

I just finished this and oh my goodness I can't think coherently, I can barely breathe and I know that might sound like I'm being dramatic but I'm REALLY not. This book was an insane rollercoaster.

**SPOILERS**
First off the emotional stakes were high from page ONE. I mean in the first book the whole Idea of her sacrificing her true love and what Nick did to her family hurt a lot but in this book that pain is SKYROCKETED by a thousand. I mean goodness. We got to know Nick so much more and even deeper in this book and it just made all the suffering him and Joan went through hurt so much worse. There were so many times I was almost crying because of them.

Then, the external stakes were even HIGHER. I mean insanely high. Like I cannot tell you the last time I read a book where I felt so anxious alongside the characters. It was insane. And I mean I DREAMT about this book because I was so stressed (in a healthy way).

I love LOVE Joan's character. She is so loving and she serious carried such a heavy burden in this book and SO MUCH PAIN. I admire her because I would have thrown in the towel 1/4 of the way through.

Nick is amazing, one of the best love interest's I have read. You can truly feel how pure his heart is and how much he LOVES and ADORES Joan. My goodness someone please give him some morphine after this book because I can't imagine how much pain he was in. And him throwing the knife and killing the King even though he KNEW it would bring on the "end of times" all because he loved Joan THAT DEEPLY is so pure and beautiful and I can't I'm going to sob.

Aaron as always was one of my favorites. He's so funny but also so vulnerable and definitely a bit stuck up. It is so hard not to love him. He's honestly such a great guy and he really needs someone to love him. (but not Joan, please not Joan).

As I just clearly revealed I am 110% for team Nick! Team Aaron is not even tolerated in my mind okay? Him and Joan have chemistry obviously but they work so much better as friends. Especially because Nick and Joan's chemistry is THROUGH THE ROOF. I honestly am starting to ship Aaron and Ruth (I think someone should make a bet on the chances of this happening with me).

I loved all of the characters as I did in book one. They all felt very fleshed out and it was hard not to care for each one of them. But wow I think I found my new all-time favorite character: Eleanor.

Eleanor. She is cunning and clever and willing to do literally ANYTHING to get what she wants. She doesn't care who she has to hurt in order to achieve that goal. BUT - she isn't completely heartless. Clearly, in some mad way, she loves Joan like family (I mean they ARE sisters). Hearing her story at the end and feeling her pain made it hard for me to hate her (but not impossible). If I hate her why is she my favorite you might ask? WELL because from the moment she stepped on the scene she captured my attention. I mean she is so freaking interesting and fun to read about.

But I do still hate her. After spending this whole book learning Nick better, what hurts him and what makes him happy, how much he loves Joan and is willing to die to protect her and do what's right, I felt like I knew him. Like he was real. SO being reminded of the ways he suffered in the previous timeline, of how he was literally tortured so bad that he turned into a killer, destroyed me.

I really need book three. Please. I will beta read!

No but seriously, after that ending I have so many questions! How will they keep Nick safe now that the monsters are free to drain any human of life at will? Does Nick understand better why Joan unmade him and will he forgive her? Will they FINALLY find a happily ever after? Will Aaron and Ruth end up together? Will poor Jamie find Tom? How are Aaron, Nick, and Joan so deeply connected (please tell me they stay an epic trio)? Where the HECK is Gran (she has a lot of explaining to do)!!?!

But my biggest one of all: HOW are they going to FIX this mess and survive this nightmarish world?

Ugh, I'm dying over here.

Thank you SO much to Vanessa Len for her giveaway of this e-ARC, and to Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for making it possible for me to read this and review it early! I will be organizing this review and posting it around release day! For now though, I'm going to stew in the emotional wreckage this book ending abandoned me in.

Never a Hero is the perfect example of how to write a sequel. Second books often end up being a bit boring with a lot of filler content but that's definitely not the case here, second book syndrome is nowhere to be seen!

Only a Monster was one of my top reads in 2021 so I was really happy to get an ARC again for Never a Hero. The ending left the story pretty open so I wasn't sure which direction this sequel was going to go in but I absolutely loved it.

The story was fast-paced and engaging, I started and finished this in a day - I couldn't put it down.
The plot was full of twists and turns and had clearly been thought out extremely well. There's more time travel in this one and we get to see different times and places which was cool.

Joan is so new to the monster world in the first book and it was really interesting to see that flipped in this one, she's the one with the knowledge and the memories of the last timeline and the other characters are in the dark. It was heartbreaking to see her struggling with the grief and morality of everything that had happened, she's been through a lot.

All of the other characters were just as good, although they're different now too. I think the timeline plot is a really cool way to play around with characters and it worked really well. I'm firmly Team Aaron though!

The ending feels satisfying but is also a little cliffhanger for the sequel, I'm definitely excited for the next book!

I really loved this book. To me this was the perfect sequel. It had everything I loved about the first book - and more. More characters, more character development and a perfect continuation of the story.

The connection I felt to Joan in the first book just increased, and I loved her character. She is such a brlliant main character, she has flaws, but don't we all? She just feels so real.

The side characters as well were perfect again, they added so much to the story and none of them felt useless or unnecessary. They all developed too throughout and it really elt like we knew them all.

The settings too are fantastic. You really feel like you're there with all the imagery, not just in how it's described but you get the feel of it too whilst they are there.

Now ***SPOILERS***

I loved that Aaron was back, and although different he was still the same person deep down. I am of the opinion of Aaron all the way and Nick should get in the bin, but that is just my personal preference lol.

Time travel in this book was done so well, all the issues it felt like there were deep down in the first one don't seem to bethere this time? There isn't any glaring things that make you think that time travel can't exist and that it doesn't make sense. The timeline felt more fleshed out this time, I can't really explain it.

All in all, fantastic, and I can't wait for the next one! Still sad it ended on a cliffhanger though...

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, and almost all of the aspects, from the characters to how the plot unraveled, and would definitely recommend. 4/5 stars.

I’ve just finished the book and made my way through the Acknowledgments (Yes, I’m that kind of reader) and thus I was today old when I learned that Vanessa Len is an Australian author. Not only that, but a fellow Melbournian! If it weren’t for her acknowledgment of Traditional Custodians, I may still have been in the dark. I don’t know why this little fact excites me so, but it does.

Perhaps it’s pride thing, a Melbourne writer successfully making YA fantasy stories, or maybe it’s that someone from very south in Down Under has captured London so vividly.

In any case, I loved Only A Monster, flipping the narrative and having the story focus on the perspective of what would normally be the antagonist was awesome. In Never a Hero, we continue Joan et al’s trials and tribulations with the Timeline and the aftermath of what she did in the end of the first book.

It doesn’t help that no one remembers those events. It certainly doesn’t help that Joan still knows so little about the Monster world. It really doesn’t help that there are forces more powerful than anything she’s come up against that are trying to end all the timelines as they know them.

As the middle book in a trilogy (at least I think it’s a trilogy) I went into the story expecting some shortfalls. Most do for me anyhow. And while I can’t fault it for the writing, the world building, the characters or the storylines, I did feel a little lost and confused at times. It was only last year that I read the first book but so much had evaded me. The descriptions, while timely to the story, had me scratching my head a little. It’s sure the problem is me, but I can’t help feeling that anyone picking this book up who hasn’t read the first (or it’s been a while) might struggle to follow some parts.

The love triangle bugged me. But not as much as the first book. All in all I really enjoyed this second instalment and am looking forward to the next book.

Many thanks to Vanessa Len, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for an arc of this book. Opinions are my own.