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sarahsbooklife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Great book, loved it, I thought was a very good sequel.
After how the fire book ended I had no idea where this book would be going. I mean Joancreated a whole new timeline where Nick wasn't the hero, they hadn't met, her family was alive, Aaron didn't know her, and no one else seemed to remember. Or at least they didn't remember everything like she did, Jamie remembers enough and the Lius do too.
I loved that this book went further into how time travel worked in this world and the morality of how monster travel affects Joan throughout the book.
So glad that this book showed even more of the monster world and a bit more of the politics of it as well. I would've loved to have seen more of the Hunts though, like Joan's gran, after all that she went through in the first book to bring them back.
Also... I'm team Aaron. I like Nick, he's a nice guy. But that's kinda it. I feel like the author wants us to like him and root for him and Joan, but I just find them kinda boring. Whereas Joan and Aaron I find so much more fun!I feel like Aaron must have had a part in Joan's life in the 'true timeline' because Eleanor kept mentioning him. So I think that he's going to have a bigger role to play than he has so far. (This is a major spoiler for the end of the book.) Also, what Nick did by killing the King to save Joan I think changed how she viewed him. She mentions throughout the book that Nick always does what's right, so I think it really shocked her when he killed the king.
I'm really excited to see what the next book will be like. Especially as I think it's the last one.
Each book so far has had a different timeline; book 1 = the king's timeline, book 2 = Joan's timeline, and then book 3 will have Eleanor's twisted timeline. I can't wait to see what that world is going to be like. I'm slightly scared that one of the main character's is going to die in the last book. Or they become erased from the timeline.
I'm really hoping that there'll be a happy ending. Or at least one that is a bit bittersweet if not completely happy.
After how the fire book ended I had no idea where this book would be going. I mean Joan
I loved that this book went further into how time travel worked in this world and the morality of how monster travel affects Joan throughout the book.
So glad that this book showed even more of the monster world and a bit more of the politics of it as well. I would've loved to have seen more of the Hunts though, like Joan's gran, after all that she went through in the first book to bring them back.
Also... I'm team Aaron. I like Nick, he's a nice guy. But that's kinda it. I feel like the author wants us to like him and root for him and Joan, but I just find them kinda boring. Whereas Joan and Aaron I find so much more fun!
I'm really excited to see what the next book will be like. Especially as I think it's the last one.
Each book so far has had a different timeline; book 1 = the king's timeline, book 2 = Joan's timeline, and then book 3 will have Eleanor's twisted timeline. I can't wait to see what that world is going to be like. I'm slightly scared that one of the main character's is going to die in the last book. Or they become erased from the timeline.
I'm really hoping that there'll be a happy ending. Or at least one that is a bit bittersweet if not completely happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Police brutality, Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
ruebranch's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Grief, Death, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Minor: War, Kidnapping, and Racism
tovetott's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.0
I'm so bummed ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ Only A Monster brought me out of a reading slump and I absolutely loved that book. I still love the concept of following the "monsters" of the world instead of the "hero" for once, and the world itself is super interesting.
In this book, the world and setting are incredibly detailed and well-described, which I feel is both to its advantage AND disadvantage. The settings are beautifully painted and they really make you feel like you're *there*, and the numerous highlights of historical elements and structures make sense in the way monsters travel through time to experience those things, and how Joan is a history-enthusiast through-and-through. BUT, it also takes you out of the high stakes-, tense plot, which on another hand feels almost nonexistant except for little sprinkles here and there. The story of this one is basically the exact same as the plot in the first book, but with flipped/other villains for a while. We spend more time questioning and revising what we already know than gaining new information, and it makes the book feel soooo sloooow. A good portion of the book goes to repeating dialogue from a few pages back and reminding the reader of plotpoints from the first book Multiple Times. I got really frustrated about halfway through because !! "We were there !! We know this already !! We were Right There With You Joan !! 😫". They barely made any actual progress plot-wise or knowledge-wise up until the final stand at the end, and then it ended just as quickly with more questions than when I started lol.
Also, do not pull a drinking game for every time Joan's "stomach churned" or "her breath hitched". You probably won't make it through the first 100 or so pages. Also-also, Nick is an absolute GEM with the patience and kindness he shows Joan FROM THE VERY START and her being so incredibly untrusting to him made NO SENSE bcs literally EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW 😫😠(iykyk)
Like I said though, I really REALLY love the way the setting draws you in and the surroundings are described. I LOVE the different take on the hero/monster setup and I am always an absolute sucker for soulmate-tropes across universes/timelines/lifetimes etc. Maybe it's just the new perspective I've gotten the past year from reading so many other books (thanks again to Only A Monster for bringing me back into reading), but this is almost painfully "cliché" YA, which is a shame. :((
In this book, the world and setting are incredibly detailed and well-described, which I feel is both to its advantage AND disadvantage. The settings are beautifully painted and they really make you feel like you're *there*, and the numerous highlights of historical elements and structures make sense in the way monsters travel through time to experience those things, and how Joan is a history-enthusiast through-and-through. BUT, it also takes you out of the high stakes-, tense plot, which on another hand feels almost nonexistant except for little sprinkles here and there. The story of this one is basically the exact same as the plot in the first book, but with flipped/other villains for a while. We spend more time questioning and revising what we already know than gaining new information, and it makes the book feel soooo sloooow. A good portion of the book goes to repeating dialogue from a few pages back and reminding the reader of plotpoints from the first book Multiple Times. I got really frustrated about halfway through because !! "We were there !! We know this already !! We were Right There With You Joan !! 😫". They barely made any actual progress plot-wise or knowledge-wise up until the final stand at the end, and then it ended just as quickly with more questions than when I started lol.
Also, do not pull a drinking game for every time Joan's "stomach churned" or "her breath hitched". You probably won't make it through the first 100 or so pages. Also-also, Nick is an absolute GEM with the patience and kindness he shows Joan FROM THE VERY START and her being so incredibly untrusting to him made NO SENSE bcs literally EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT NOW 😫😠(iykyk)
Like I said though, I really REALLY love the way the setting draws you in and the surroundings are described. I LOVE the different take on the hero/monster setup and I am always an absolute sucker for soulmate-tropes across universes/timelines/lifetimes etc. Maybe it's just the new perspective I've gotten the past year from reading so many other books (thanks again to Only A Monster for bringing me back into reading), but this is almost painfully "cliché" YA, which is a shame. :((
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Blood
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. I thought the plot was interesting enough to keep me hooked and the characters loveable enough in their own way to have me invested in their lives.
The only issue i had with the book that got old quickly was the true timeline pushing Nick and Joan together. I didn't mind this Nick but I got annoyed with the lack of chemistry between them but apparently they love each other? I also feel like some of their problems would have eased a little or not have happens, not to other other's would take place instead, if Joan just explained to Nick that he murder a bunch of families in the previous timeline which is why everyone is on edge. This was never said to him and instead with as the audience understand why things are happening but Nick is rightfully hurt or betrayed as he has no context.
I was so happy when Aaron was back in the book, I wish it was sooner because he bring so much like to the group and the chemistry between Joan and him makes me want to wrap them both up and protect the babies. Speaking of protecting I love Jamie and Tom being together in this book. I was so happy to see them as a cute couple. I also happy to have Ruth back as she was a lot of fun in the first book. By the end of the book I was shocked and needed the next book right away.
I was so happy when Aaron was back in the book, I wish it was sooner because he bring so much like to the group and the chemistry between Joan and him makes me want to wrap them both up and protect the babies. Speaking of protecting I love Jamie and Tom being together in this book. I was so happy to see them as a cute couple. I also happy to have Ruth back as she was a lot of fun in the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death and Murder
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I can only take so many love triangles! This definitely felt like a filler book in the way that it’s hoping to convince readers that Nick is a viable partner for Joan. It really just felt like the thesis: making a case for Nick! Lol. Anyway, it was entertaining enough and I will finish the series but I’m not convinced on Nick!!!!!! ðŸ˜
I can only take so many love triangles! This definitely felt like a filler book in the way that it’s hoping to convince readers that Nick is a viable partner for Joan. It really just felt like the thesis: making a case for Nick! Lol. Anyway, it was entertaining enough and I will finish the series but I’m not convinced on Nick!!!!!! ðŸ˜
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Confinement
cardanrry's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Torture
ctara2123's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
I’m /screaming/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Torture
azrah786's review against another edition
4.25
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, torture, death, death of parent, confinement, emotional abuse, racism, grief
CW: violence, blood, torture, death, death of parent, confinement, emotional abuse, racism, grief
--
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Death, Torture, Racism, Murder, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief