Christina Nixon
Gifted collaboration l In the marvellous world of stories, few elements are as captivating as magic and heroes. These two themes have crossed cultures, languages, and generations, touching the hearts of readers and listeners worldwide. Vanessa Len’s “Only A Monster” and “Never A Hero” challenge the reader’s preconceived notions. Len’s storytelling subverts expectations, presenting protagonists who are not just good or evil but complex characters in a world that refuses to be neatly categorized. But why do heroes still inspire us, even in a world that often feels hopeless? What makes magic so enchanting? The answers are found in our shared human experience, where the desire for wonder and the need for courage meet. Magic, in its many forms, is a symbol of possibility. It represents the unknown, the extraordinary, and the sublime. Whether through casting spells, using ancient artifacts, or simply believing in forces beyond our understanding, magic connects to our desire to believe in something greater than ourselves. With her books – “Never A Hero” and “Only A Monster,” Vanessa Len has entertained and challenged her audience, pushing them to question the nature of heroism and monstrosity.
“Only A Monster” highlights the novel’s exploration of what it means to be a hero. Len doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of her characters’ journeys, instead, she embraces them, weaving a narrative that is as haunting as it is hopeful.
It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place.
Then a Good Samaritan attempt gone wrong sends Joan spinning through time, and her life quickly begins to unravel. Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers. And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.
As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .
. . . she is not the hero.
“Only A Monster”(…Can Kill A Hero) delves into the very heart of what it means to be a monster. Len doesn’t simply portray monsters as villains; instead, she explores the idea that monstrosity is often a matter of perspective. “Don’t forget the rule. No one can know what we are. What you are. You must never tell anyone about monsters.” The novel introduces us to Joan, a seemingly ordinary girl with an extraordinary and terrifying secret – she is part of a family of monsters. But these monsters are not the typical creatures of nightmares; they are complex, conflicted beings who navigate a world of shadows, where every choice comes with a heavy price. As Joan grapples with her own monstrous nature, we are forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that being a monster is not as clear-cut as we might wish it to be. What makes “Only A Monster” so compelling is its refusal to adhere to the traditional tropes of good versus evil. Vanessa Len crafts a world that is as beautiful as it is brutal, where love and betrayal walk hand in hand, and where the heroes and villains are often one and the same.
“Once upon a time, Gran had said, there was a boy who was born to kill monsters. A hero.” Joan’s journey is one of self-discovery, but it is also one of profound loss and sacrifice. As she uncovers the truth about her family and herself, she is faced with impossible choices -each one stripping away another layer of her humanity. The story vividly explores time-travel in London, revealing the intricate dance between the characters’ destiny and free will: “Around the square there were all kinds of shops, selling cakes, tea, jewelry. One seemed to specialised in hats, seemingly of every era: top hats, floral hats, straw bonnets, baseball caps. Another sold confectionary, its window display a cornucopia of whole glace pineapples and oranges. Interspersed among the fruit, there were sugar sculptures – a translucent tiger, a brightly coloured parrot. They were lit from within by what looked like real, shifting flames. (…)”
Heroes, in all their forms, have always held a special place in our minds. They symbolize the best in us – the part that wants to do good, protect others and to make the world a better place. Heroes inspire us because they represent the ideals we strive for: bravery, selflessness, and the pursuit of justice. Through Nick, Vanessa Len creates a different kind of hero, adding depth and nuance to the story. In a genre often dominated by well defined heroes and villains, Len dares to ask the question: what if the monster is the hero? And what if the hero is the true monster? What does it mean to be a monster? Can redemption be found in the darkest of places? And is it possible to hold onto your humanity when the world is determined to strip it away? “Only A Monster” is a book about what it means to be human, in all its flawed, messy, and painful glory. And in that, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Not every fight is won by heroes. Sometimes, you need a monster. The sequel to the contemporary fantasy Only a Monster will take Joan deeper into the monster world, where treacherous secrets and even more danger await.
Despite the odds, Joan achieved the impossible. She reset the timeline, saved her family – and destroyed the hero, Nick.
But her success has come at a terrible cost.
She alone remembers what happened. Now, Aaron, her hard-won friend – and maybe more – is an enemy, trying to kill her. And Nick, the boy she loved, is a stranger who doesn’t even know her name. Only Joan remembers that there is a ruthless and dangerous enemy still out there.
When a deadly attack forces Joan back into the monster world as a fugitive, she finds herself on the run with Nick – as Aaron closes in. As the danger rises – and Nick gets perilously closer to discovering the truth of what Joan did – Joan discovers a secret of her own. One that threatens everyone she loves.
Torn between love and family and monstrous choices, Joan must find a way to re-gather her old allies to face down the deadliest of enemies, and to save the timeline itself.
Beyond exploring heroism and monstrosity, Len’s novels deal with themes of identity and belonging – universal ideas that resonate with readers of all ages. In both Vanessa Len’s “Only A Hero” and “Never A Monster,” characters struggle to find their place in a world that often feels foreign and unwelcoming. In both her stories, magic often serves as a gateway to worlds of wonder, an escape from the mundane realities of life, offering a space where the imagination can soar. This is how her novels explore the limits of power, the consequences of desire, and the complexities of human nature. In the sequel, “not every fight is won by heroes. Sometimes you need a monster.”
Once more, Len presents us with a narrative that challenges the very concept of what it means to be a hero, pushing us to question the roles we assign to ourselves and others. This is what makes the story so deeply moving – Len doesn’t give us a perfect hero; she gives us someone real, someone who is trying to navigate a world that demands more from them than they feel capable of giving.
“The monster world was full of wonders. But it was as terrible as it was beautiful. It was a world where you could look out of a window and see a Tudor city. But it was also a world where people would steal human life just to have a holiday in another era.”
“Never A Hero” picks up in the wake of a dramatic turning point from the first book, when Joan has just succeeded in resetting the timeline – a monumental feat that has altered the course of events and the fates of those around her. Yet, despite the profound nature of her accomplishment, she finds herself in lonely situation: she is the only one who remembers the previous timeline. While the world around her moves forward as if the past had never happened, Joan alone is haunted by the echoes of what was lost. This time, the stakes are high and the novel draws readers into a whirlwind of battles, chases, and high confrontations.
The cliffhanger ending of “Only a Monster” left readers anxiously wondering about Nick’s fate, and Len masterfully picks up where it left off. Nick reemerges in Joan’s life as a student at her school, with a completely rewritten past. In this altered world, his family is alive, and he has no memory of their shared history or the dark actions he once committed. Despite the fresh start, Joan’s feelings for Nick are as strong as ever. Her internal conflict is clear as she struggles with her love for him and the painful truths of their past. To complicate things further, Nick is inexplicably drawn to Joan, unaware of the turmoil beneath their new friendship. A shocking event sends her and Nick into a high-stakes chase. As they go on the run together, Joan must navigate the dangerous situation while hiding the truth from Nick and figuring out who is behind the attack.
For a second time, Vanessa Len has crafted a novel that is as challenging as it is beautiful, a story that asks us to look beyond the surface and see the humanity in those who are often overlooked or misunderstood.
For young readers, stories of magic and heroes provide a first look at the world’s complexities. They teach lessons of morality, courage, and empathy while sparking the imagination. For older audiences, these stories often bring nostalgia, reminding us of the wonder and idealism of our youth. But no matter our age, we are all drawn to the timeless themes that magic and heroes represent. They remind us that there is still wonder to be found, still battles worth fighting, and still hope for a better tomorrow. This is why Len’s work stands out as something truly special. She has given readers stories that are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, stories that stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.
*Cards illustrated by gracezhuart
*Photos location: Valhalla York
