This book stressed me out! A fun, complicated, and intriguing sequel, Never A Hero was the fast-paced step up I was hoping for. The book opens in a new timeline, where the consequences of Joan's actions in Only A Monster take on a new life. I loved the tension this caused, the opportunity it gave Joan to grow, and the shit storm we found ourselves in. Vanessa Len has done a great job of crafting a layered world where you don't know who to trust or where to turn, and just when you think you've figured it all out, she flips the whole thing on its head.

That ending - chaos!

My only criticism is that it felt about 80 pages too long, and there wasn't enough time with Aaron. The one-on-one moments we do get are great, but he was my fave character from book one and I felt like he was pushed to the side so Nick could be front and center. I really hope we aren't going to get a love triangle because I'm team Aaron all the way.

Highly recommend the audiobook - the narrator is 10/10.

This had been a sequel I've been waiting for the release since the first book. I enjoyed the first book so much. In the first book Joan changed the time line. Which is something that had only been done one other time in the history of monsters.
Nobody else remembers what happened including Nick, the boy she likes. Nick was the hero in the first book that slayed the monsters. When the second book starts Nick is just an ordinary boy and no longer remembers who Joan is or about the monsters. Although Joan desperately tries to stay away from him she struggles to.
This book had me hooked right from the start. And I loved it so much

This was a sequel I have been dying for, and it did not disappoint

After that bomb shell of an ending to book one I have been counting down to the release of this book (thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for making that countdown a little shorter)

Obviously spoilers for book one ahead so don't read on if you havent read that yet.

Joan has saved the timeline(and her family), but at great cost to herself in giving up Nick. But the timeline always rights itself and she soon finds herself with Nick again, only this Nick doesn't know her. And neither does the Aaron in this timeline, or anyone else really.

Joan is trying to protect the people she loves by keeping secrets, but we all know this can't go on forever.

Joan must work with old allies, and reforge bonds to try and save the timeline all over again....

Now when is book three....

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.

The audiobook is well produced and of easy fruition. The narrators suited well the characters.

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.

I absolutely loved this book. When I read the first one, I liked it. It was okay but I could feel that it was laying the foundation for greater things and I definitely feel like this one delivered. I have to say I wish we’d seen more of Aaron but the plot twists were just insane! I cannot wait for book 3!

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.

Readers and authors often discuss the challenges of the second book of a series. However, this book delivered 100% and did not feel at all like a ‘filler’ book. Joan, as always, was a nuanced and complicated character who was easy to root for. It is rare for me to find a love triangle where I’m not fully sure which person I want the main character to end up with but this book delivers exactly that. After reading this sequel, I still love Aaron so, so much and seeing Nick again in different circumstances was really fun. There’s not much I love more than a YA book that makes you examine morality, especially if it is within a fantasy setting. I loved listening to the audiobook especially after reading Only A Monster in a physical copy since I was already introduced to the world and now have fully grasped all the pronunciations. If you have read (or listened to) Only a Monster already, this book will not disappoint and if you haven’t, stop reading this review and pick them both up now.

Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

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 to Netgalley and Hodder & Staughton for an eARC of this book.

In the sequel to 'Only a Monster' we met Joan again. After reseting the timeline in order to save her family, she now has to deal with her former love interest Nick, having no memory of each other, among many other unexpected anomalies in this timeline.

As fate would have it, Joan and Nick are thrust together again as Joan finds herself in grave danger from other monsters; including her former friend, Aaron, who like Nick has no recollection of their history together.

I really enjoyed how Len dealt with the complexities of time travel and having memories of people they don't have of you.

Really looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

I'd recommend this for fans of Shadowhunters and The Book Eaters.

This book is high stakes throughout and very well paced. The last hour of the audiobook had me stressed.
In this instalment secrets are revealed but we are also left needing more. I’m definitely invested and need book three now.
The memory loss everyone suffers due to the timeline change, apart from Joan, causes much angst, which I love a bit of! There’s more of both Nick and Aaron and I’m still not sure who I prefer. Great character development is seen in everyone, which you don’t always get in a YA.
Aside from the characters London is portrayed so well in the different timelines and this really adds to the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an audio ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I found this book very hard to follow. Being the second book in the series there were a lot of references to characters and events from the previous book that I hadn't read.

A lot of series you can just jump into and catch up. Unfortunately for me this wasn't one of those

Spoiler Free Review

Wow. Just...wow. Never A Hero is an excellent and surprising sequel to Only A Monster. Vera Chok did a brilliant job narrating the series once again.

Perfect for fans of forbidden romance, love triangles, time travel, race against time situations, and family bonds.

I received a free e-arc and free audio arc from Netgalley all opinions are my own.

This review will contain some spoilers, so read with caution.

I really liked Only A Monster and was so happy and excited to be approved for the sequel!

I honestly have so many thoughts to this book, but I will try not to make it too spoilery.

I really enjoyed the audiobook. I really like Vera Choks voice. I liked the different voices she made for the characters. I don't have anything bad to say about the audiobook, it's so good, and I would definitely listen to it again. It's captivating and really pulled me in!

I still really enjoyed the writing style.
I love the time travel system, it's honestly so cool. Especially when the different timelines appear ect.

I was really annoyed with Joan. Her family died in the first book, and she managed to get them back. But then she just ignores them instead of spending time with them. I was like girl you got your family back, and you're wasting it!!

Also it really annoyed me that she didn't tell Nick anything. If she had told him things from the start instead of keeping the past from him, then he wouldn't have mistrusted her!
I understand it's all for the plot. But come on, don't keep secrets that's literally the worst thing you can do!

I absolutely love Aaron and I really hope that Joan ends up with him, but I'm most likely wrong..
Nick is just boring..

I really liked the adventure and all the characters.
The plot twist had my mouth gaping. I REALLY didn't expect that!!

Also the ending had me!! I'm really looking forward to the next book!!!

Headlines:
Time jump complexity
Making and unmaking
Who can be trusted

I’m still processing this fast paced and gripping sequel to Only a Monster and I’ve written myself some notes for when I jump into the final instalment because this was rather complex in terms of plot. Joan and her world of monsters hidden from humans and the timeline focus took on a further depth with multiple time jumps while meeting different people (friends and foes) in those times.

Nick was back and I never settled around him because of his previous actions, nor do I think the reader was meant to settle. There were so many characters I was suspicious of and a few solid companions I trusted. I was longing for the reconnection with Aaron. I missed Joan’s sense of family in this book but there was a reason for that which was revealed.

Some of the twists were pretty unexpected especially towards the end. Joan was left in a position of great difficulty with people looking to her for solutions. I am looking forward to seeing where the next and final (I think) book goes. I will be ready with full concentration for this clever world.

The audio had great narration, because I already knew the world, I was able to keep up with the complexity on audio. All round a good format for this read.

Thank you to Hodderscape for the review copy.

I was late to the Only a Monster fan club, but I am so glad I joined! Never a Hero blew me away, and I was so excited to dive into the monstrous timeline once again with Joan. This book picks up a few months after the first one, and we find Joan reeling from the events from Only a Monster!


Vanessa Len is such a great storyteller, weaving an intricate and mind-boggling world crafted from layers of time. It's mind-blowing how we get to experience the same characters, but in completely different roles, with slightly altered personalities, and at various points in their lives.


The twists and turns keep coming, introducing us to new enemies, reconnecting with old acquaintances, losing dear friends, and gaining new ones. I rode every emotional wave Joan feels, and it's a wild adventure. Seriously, I wish I could sneak a peek into Vanessa Len's brain to understand how they keep it all together!


This book hooked me in emotionally, especially with all the angst and pining. The struggle of forgetting someone and the romantic tension are so well done, leaving me wondering where it'll all lead. Nick, Joan, and Aaron are fantastic characters, and although Nick is great, I can't help but root for Aaron! The love triangle-esque trope is done so well and while a small part of the plot it really adds to the story, it’s got purpose.



Joan's growth throughout the story is remarkable. They face immense struggles and trauma, they really find their strength and step in to their power in this book! 


There's not even a hint of second book syndrome here. I was glued to the pages, so much so that I consumed both the audiobook and the text in just one week! The audio book was fantastic- I really enjoyed the narration and as someone who listens at 2x speed and above it was so clear to follow. 



The ending was so good, but what was that cliffhanger! I'm eagerly anticipating the final book in this trilogy, but saying goodbye to this world may break my heart!

My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton, Netgalley, and Vanessa Len for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

What can I say about this book? I genuinely loved every second of it. I was hooked on Joan’s story in Only a Monster, but this was just on a whole different level. The twists and turns, Aaron Oliver, seeing Tom and Jamie again, Aaron Oliver, the drama of the first few chapters…. Oh, and did I mention Aaron Oliver?

My Aaron obsession aside, I had set this book as my most anticipated read of 2023, and it did not disappoint. Unlike some other books with time travel involved, I didn’t struggle with the concept at all here – it just felt very natural and made sense.

Joan is still so naive about the world of monsters, about the other families, about herself, and I just loved discovering things with her as she found them out. Of course, leaving the book on such a cliffhanger has me desperate for more already, and now the countdown begins to the final book in Joan’s story (I just hope there’s more Aaron in it!)

Overall, absolutely loved every second I was reading, and just cannot wait for book three!

In terms of the audiobook itself, I had some issues with the narrator – the biggest one being that she couldn’t decide which way to pronounce Aaron – sometimes it was air-ron and sometimes it was ah-ron, which was frustrating. There were also some moments where sections of audio were repeated.

After reading the ebook I had stated that I'd have loved to love this book but I didn't. And that it was most likely me, not the story. So both my reception of the book and my review fell flat.
However, I could not stop thinking about this series in the meantime, and was glad to get the chance to re-read as an audiobook.
And yes, this time it hit me right in the feels. After I've finally been drawn into the story properly, I was able to admire both writing and structure. And OMG how well structured this is. It mustn't be easy to restart a narrative in a different timeline, when the reader just yearns to get back to the characters they love (I'm looking at you Aaron) and still tell an engaging story. But Vanessa Len delivered so much.
It's not just a middle part of a trilogy, but it's a whole thing on its own, with high stakes, secrets, revelations and reinvented characters. All at a pace that is breathtaking.
I personally would have wished more in-depths analysis of how time travels work and the nature of the true timeline. I also could have done without the sorta love-triangle. But the rest is just superb.
The audiobook was very pleasantly narrated. The narrator did not - like many others - use different voices for the different characters (i.e. trying to sound male), but it's all very leveled. It made it a bit harder to follow who is talking, but overall it is working very well with just enough nuance to make everything fitting altogether.

A strong 4,5/5 stars

One of my favourite reads from last year was Only A Monster, it was essentially my fantasy book catnip, it had everything:
Enemies-to-Lovers, Monster POV, Magical Underworld, Rival Monster Families with Powers, Time Travel, Heists, Enemy Soulmates & a Hot, Ruthless Monster Boy.
I was hooked and have been eagerly awaiting the sequel as it left me wanting more.
And boy did this deliver!
The story picks up with Joan in a now new timeline living her life with the knowledge of what she undid and takes off fast, throwing you into this sequel and making you hold on tight because it does not let up.
Vanessa Len has created a fantasy world that I'd love to be apart of, the set up of these Monster families and their powers continues to fascinate me and we get to explore more of this in the sequel. With this new timeline comes a host of new troubles that Joan needs to navigate whilst on the run with a new Nick who is no longer the Hero in the Monster world from a *swoon* new Aaron who doesn't remember her and is actively hunting her for the enemy.
This kept me on the edge of my seat, I loved how the story unfolded and these characters are perfection. I am in need for the next book... you can't just leave me hanging like this. What is going to happen next?!?!?!
Honestly it is a phenomenal Fantasy read, go read it and start your obsession of Monster Families, Timelines and the irresistible Aaron Oliver!
I personally struggle with Audiobooks, so I usually read the book whilst listening, it helps with my dyslexia and I absorb more. Luckily I had access to the ebook ARC whilst listening so I really enjoyed this Audiobook and found the narrator easy to listen too.

Thank you NetGalley for the Audio ARC

NEVER A HERO is a twisty, emotionally intense sequel to ONLY A MONSTER where Joan must reunite with allies who don't know her to save the world.

The book takes place after Joan has erased Nick's past - and the world almost everyone knows. She has to grapple with remembering relationships no one else does and always wondering what might kick someone over the edge into the person they were before. It's a really fun relationship tool, adding both connection and mistrust to pull and push, in both platonic and romantic bonds.

Where ONLY A MONSTER introduces the world of monsters through the eyes of someone unused to it, NEVER A HERO uses that familiarity to show everything wrong and off thanks to Joan's meddling and whatever their shadowy enemy is up to. It's very unsettling on several layers - not only is the world the reader knows (particularly a Londoner like me) just that bit off, but also the characters are feeling things are wrong too.

There are also some big reveals about the world and its past in the tale, peeling back secrets that keep the world ticking. It makes for an action packed finale, changing the stakes and leading to a need to know what happens in the final book.

The narrator, Vera Chok, is great at bringing the scenes alive. This is a very long book (almost 500 print pages and about 15hrs of audio) but I flew through it, wanting to know more, to stay with the story and characters.