A glitch in the Hero Matrix

 

Never a Hero 

(Monsters #2)

Vanessa Len

478 pages, Paperback, Published 29 August 2023 by Allen & Unwin

The sequel starts off mere months after Only a Monster with Joan struggling to understand the ramifications of what her actions have done. Joan is back at school, some things are familiar but there is much that has changed. People she knew are no longer there and those who have died are back but altered. One of those who is back is Nick but he no longer knows Joan and this a both a curse and blessing. Joan has resigned herself to this new world until the threats of the past throw her and Nick together. She soon realises that someone is trying to manipulate the time line and she must find a way to stop it.

I enjoyed Only a Monster and found the world that Len created rich in detail and intriguing. Coming to the sequel I was looking forward to seeing how Len would develop the world and the characters.

Joan is central and if you are vibing with her, the book will be a delight. I struggled with Joan this time. She is traumatised, she is alone and she is a complete emotional mess. Not knowing where her feelings lie for Nick and Aaron, this can make great tension but it just does not quite get there. I found Joan does an awful amount of crying and trying to retain a past she destroyed. Joan for the majority of the book, I found to be quite insipid. She does not know what her powers are and how they fold into the monster world. It is only as we come close to the conclusion that Joan begins to seek the truth.

The interactions between Nick and Aaron are key and Len does a solid job in teasing the reader with multiple scenarios. Nick remains the most likely candidate to win Joan's heart but Aaron certainly is making a play to become numero uno. The other characters are well crafted, with Ruth, Tom and Jamie all returning to provide assistance. Eleanor, well, her role brings about more questions. As a reader her reveal felt like a 'ta dah' moment rather than providing hints as to who she was and her relationship with Joan. The clues where there in the last section of the book but maybe could have been teased out through the whole narrative.

Len has created a really complex and intriguing world and characters where the stakes are high. There is plenty of angst, plenty of drama and enough to get me to purchase the next book. I like Len's style and I am intrigued to see where she goes after this trilogy is completed.

Want to know more about Vanessa Len and their work, head over to their website.