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staring_at_words's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
forever_fantasy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
yulie's review against another edition
2.0
My criticisms/enjoyment of this book are pretty much exactly the same as the ones I had for the first book, but intensified. The main character can be exhausting and exasperating with her constant wishy-washiness and the love triangle is just... frustrating, but it's such an easy skim-read that I got through the entire book within a day despite a few eye-rolls. The book does suffer from repetition, in that I am constantly reminded that Nick is a hero and that Aaron is gorgeous and that they both turns head wherever they go, and I am constantly reminded of Joan's repeated thoughts on things that occurred only a few pages ago (hence why the skim-reading works)!!! The book also operates a lot on characters not just telling each other things way too often, but like I said -- it's an easy read, the worldbuilding is just interesting enough and it moves at a decent pace. I found myself less forgiving of it than I was of the first book, though.
p.s. Aaron gang rise up
p.s. Aaron gang rise up
alyxbeau's review against another edition
2.5
I am once again struck by just how juevenile these characters feel. I think mostly this is an issue with the writing style - there is just SO MUCH REPETITION. Its so excessive. They have the exposition, they have a thought stating the same thing, they speak the same thing aloud, another person is introduced to the story and its like having the same dialoge and exposition copied and pasted OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
Your readers are not idiots. The characters are not idiots, frequently it is commented how smart they are. The exception seems to be Joan and the way she explains the world to the reader. The book would be half as long if the same 5 sentences were not repeated over and over.
That said, I did finish the book, and while the repetition irked me to no end resulting in a lower rating yet again for this series, I do think its an interesting plot. The end of this one in particular is a little... extreme for me? Like god tier deus ex machina intervention level which was unrealistic. And then the plot twists were excessive. The moments in reference are that Elenor is Joans sister, and that the actual KING shows up at the end to try and kill them all because they contacted Conrad at one point for help out of desperation.
Anyway, big cliffhanger unlike the last book where it could have just had a depressing series end. If you wanted to stop at book 1 you could. If you read book 2, you will need book 3 for any resolution.
I will be selling my special edition copies from book boxes along with these sequels.
Your readers are not idiots. The characters are not idiots, frequently it is commented how smart they are. The exception seems to be Joan and the way she explains the world to the reader. The book would be half as long if the same 5 sentences were not repeated over and over.
That said, I did finish the book, and while the repetition irked me to no end resulting in a lower rating yet again for this series, I do think its an interesting plot. The end of this one in particular is a little... extreme for me? Like god tier deus ex machina intervention level which was unrealistic. And then the plot twists were excessive.
Anyway, big cliffhanger unlike the last book where it could have just had a depressing series end. If you wanted to stop at book 1 you could. If you read book 2, you will need book 3 for any resolution.
I will be selling my special edition copies from book boxes along with these sequels.
eileenjs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wrapmeupinplastic's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
indianahat's review against another edition
5.0
I think this is one of the first books I’m reviewing straight away in 2023 and it’s literally September, but it’s just that GOOD.
So, I read ‘Only A Monster’ back when it first came out and I remember thinking oh this looks cool and it’s shiny, so I took her home. I then decided the next day to give it a read and boy did I demolish that book in a day. So it was no shock for me to have brought the second book ASAP. Privilege of being a bookseller meant that book came straight out the delivery box and into my bag (note: I did pay for it first).
I did do a re-read of the first book prior and quickly fell in love again with the work of Vanessa Len, and boy oh boy did ‘Never A Hero’ hit me like a train. I don’t know what kind of crack Vanessa puts into her books but I am addicted.
There was a lot more Nick in this book then the first, and whilst I am not a NickXJoan endgame supporter, there story is still so tragic. Because they were in love, that deep raw passionate love, but as Joan often says it’ll never be as it was, not after everything (Thanks Eleanor U Suck). It’s so beautifully poetic and a great understanding of love heartbreak and grief. I am an Aaron GIRLY, and although there wasn’t much of him in the book for the first 50% when my boy finally did come in I was so glad to have him back.
My favourite characters however are my married couple. I love Tom and Jamie with every being of my heart. If you go back to my kindle notes of Only A Monster, there is a note when we have baby Jamie interaction that says “Indy don’t cry on a train in public over fictional men, queer as they may be” - I’d like it to be known I did cry on a train it’s just to pure. I did feel like Vanessa was being a tad mean to me tho. She gave me happy boys together, married with their beautiful daughter (fur-child) and then she ripped it away. Where is Tom, WHERE IS TOM VANESSA. How dare you end the book like that. Screw the new timeline, as a human if happily sacrifice my years for Tom and Jamie and Frankie to just be happy again, on their boat sunbathing.
I know earlier I said Screw Eleanor, but I think she is such a beautiful complex character, a bitch but still. I think if we had the book from her perspective the whole way through we’d feel different, and I can’t imagine the pain of losing her family remembering it and the only family she still has, Joan not even being able to recognise her. But Eleanor did say something that made me question details. In reference to past timelines she said Nick and that blonde boy, so in previous timelines did Aaron have a bigger role in Joan’s life?
I need the next book desperately. I can’t believe she ended it like that on a cliffhanger. I honestly thought Vanessa was better than that to leave us on a cliffhanger like that like why are Vanessa why would you do that? Am I not a good enough, can you please explain why you put me through that pain. I have many more thoughts about this book and will probably do many edits and updates to this review, as I slowly process what I read, and how it ended. But for now I cannot recommend this book in the series enough.
So, I read ‘Only A Monster’ back when it first came out and I remember thinking oh this looks cool and it’s shiny, so I took her home. I then decided the next day to give it a read and boy did I demolish that book in a day. So it was no shock for me to have brought the second book ASAP. Privilege of being a bookseller meant that book came straight out the delivery box and into my bag (note: I did pay for it first).
I did do a re-read of the first book prior and quickly fell in love again with the work of Vanessa Len, and boy oh boy did ‘Never A Hero’ hit me like a train. I don’t know what kind of crack Vanessa puts into her books but I am addicted.
There was a lot more Nick in this book then the first, and whilst I am not a NickXJoan endgame supporter, there story is still so tragic. Because they were in love, that deep raw passionate love, but as Joan often says it’ll never be as it was, not after everything (Thanks Eleanor U Suck). It’s so beautifully poetic and a great understanding of love heartbreak and grief. I am an Aaron GIRLY, and although there wasn’t much of him in the book for the first 50% when my boy finally did come in I was so glad to have him back.
My favourite characters however are my married couple. I love Tom and Jamie with every being of my heart. If you go back to my kindle notes of Only A Monster, there is a note when we have baby Jamie interaction that says “Indy don’t cry on a train in public over fictional men, queer as they may be” - I’d like it to be known I did cry on a train it’s just to pure. I did feel like Vanessa was being a tad mean to me tho. She gave me happy boys together, married with their beautiful daughter (fur-child) and then she ripped it away. Where is Tom, WHERE IS TOM VANESSA. How dare you end the book like that. Screw the new timeline, as a human if happily sacrifice my years for Tom and Jamie and Frankie to just be happy again, on their boat sunbathing.
I know earlier I said Screw Eleanor, but I think she is such a beautiful complex character, a bitch but still. I think if we had the book from her perspective the whole way through we’d feel different, and I can’t imagine the pain of losing her family remembering it and the only family she still has, Joan not even being able to recognise her. But Eleanor did say something that made me question details. In reference to past timelines she said Nick and that blonde boy, so in previous timelines did Aaron have a bigger role in Joan’s life?
I need the next book desperately. I can’t believe she ended it like that on a cliffhanger. I honestly thought Vanessa was better than that to leave us on a cliffhanger like that like why are Vanessa why would you do that? Am I not a good enough, can you please explain why you put me through that pain. I have many more thoughts about this book and will probably do many edits and updates to this review, as I slowly process what I read, and how it ended. But for now I cannot recommend this book in the series enough.
pinkknight's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
This book moved a little too slow for me at first. Soo I still don't care about Nick. Not really a suprise. But I'm so so glad to see Aaron again. 260 pages was waaay too long to wait for him to show and he needed more time in the spotlight again. I'm still team Aaron all the way even though I'm highly doubtful Joan will end up with him. But I'm still praying.
phoenix2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Never a Hero is the second book of the 'Only a Monster' trilogy.
This time around, and although we pretty much follow the same pattern as the first book, with a crime fueling a big escape that more or less ends up at the court and discovering huge secrets, but, this time around, Nick is the traveling companion.
I should point out that the author does a good job with the time travel genre and handles it masterfully.
On the other hand, the romance was just so so, though we had some bonding at last.
The secrets, moreover, were interesting and gave a new dimension to the story.
This time around, and although we pretty much follow the same pattern as the first book, with a crime fueling a big escape that more or less ends up at the court and discovering huge secrets, but, this time around, Nick is the traveling companion.
I should point out that the author does a good job with the time travel genre and handles it masterfully.
On the other hand, the romance was just so so, though we had some bonding at last.
The secrets, moreover, were interesting and gave a new dimension to the story.