
Once a Villain
Vanessa Len(Author)
Hodderscape (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 11. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
512 pages
978-1-5293-8020-0 (ISBN)
Description
'Mind-bending, heart wrenching, and unputdownable' STEPHANIE GARBER on Only a Monster
'A captivating new voice in fantasy' HAFSAH FAIZAL on Only a Monster
When monsters rule, who will be left to stop them?
After Joan's failed attempt to save the world, Eleanor now rules over a cruel new timeline where monsters live openly among humans, preying on them and subjugating them.
Nick - once a hero to humans, and Joan's first love - is tormented by the choice he made to save her over the timeline itself. And Aaron - the ruthless heir to a powerful monster family - now finds himself in a world where monsters have power beyond imagining while his feelings for Joan grow.
Wrenched between love and rivalry, the three of them must negotiate their fractured pasts to survive the new world and restore what was lost. Because only they remember that there was once a better timeline.
But how will they defeat a whole world of monsters with control over time itself?
TROPES
Morally gray FMC
Forbidden romance ???
Rival families with powers ???
Love triangle ????
Time travel ?
READERS LOVE IT:
'What a roller coaster of emotions!' ?????
'Fluid and immersive' ?????
'The pacing is sharp' ?????
'What a great conclusion to this story' ?????
'AND THE ROMANCE AAAAHHHHHHHHHH OMGGG THE ANGST?!?!!?!!!! THE YEARNING?!???? *runs into a wall*' ?????
'A captivating new voice in fantasy' HAFSAH FAIZAL on Only a Monster
When monsters rule, who will be left to stop them?
After Joan's failed attempt to save the world, Eleanor now rules over a cruel new timeline where monsters live openly among humans, preying on them and subjugating them.
Nick - once a hero to humans, and Joan's first love - is tormented by the choice he made to save her over the timeline itself. And Aaron - the ruthless heir to a powerful monster family - now finds himself in a world where monsters have power beyond imagining while his feelings for Joan grow.
Wrenched between love and rivalry, the three of them must negotiate their fractured pasts to survive the new world and restore what was lost. Because only they remember that there was once a better timeline.
But how will they defeat a whole world of monsters with control over time itself?
TROPES
Morally gray FMC
Forbidden romance ???
Rival families with powers ???
Love triangle ????
Time travel ?
READERS LOVE IT:
'What a roller coaster of emotions!' ?????
'Fluid and immersive' ?????
'The pacing is sharp' ?????
'What a great conclusion to this story' ?????
'AND THE ROMANCE AAAAHHHHHHHHHH OMGGG THE ANGST?!?!!?!!!! THE YEARNING?!???? *runs into a wall*' ?????
Reviews / Votes
** Praise for the Only a Monster series ** Mind-bending, heart-wrenching, and unputdownable - Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart An exciting, original and complex fantasy about monsters, heroes, and all the people in between - Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of Uprooted and A Deadly Education An absolute page-turner * Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights * A captivating new voice in fantasy - Hafsah Faizal, New York Times bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame A phenomenal new series - Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of Foxglove Like nothing I've ever read, utterly fresh and unique - C.S. Pacat, USA Today bestselling author Darkly delicious fun. If you've been looking for your newest YA fantasy obsession - you've found it - Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and FireMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
None
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
41 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5293-8020-0 (9781529380200)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Vanessa Len is an internationally bestselling Australian author and educational editor who has worked on everything from language learning programs to STEM resources to professional learning for teachers. Her series 'Only a Monster' has been translated into ten languages.
You can find her on her website at https://www.vanessalen.com
You can find her on her website at https://www.vanessalen.com