Trish's Reviews > Hench

This was an impromptu buddy-read and it couldn't have been more perfect.

I watched The Boys and loved the show not only for the blood and gore but also the quirky look on heroes and their impact on the world, the PR bullshit surrounding them. This novel had all of that and then some.

You see, we don't get someone working in the CIA or some special forces soldier. Instead, we get a temp working odd jobs for this or that villain, just trying to get by. And there is a point to be made (in fact, the book greatly made that point) about it being more honest work. I tend to agree.
One day, while working for one of the more important villains in the world, Anna is suddenly in the room with several "heroes" and gets injured badly. This starts her down the path of revenge - using her internet research acumen and a spreadsheet. *snickers*
Soon, she's working for a big-shot villain and proving that you don't need superpowers to stir some serious trouble. Though to be fair, the trouble chiefly comes from all the "heroes" being such godawful people! What they get is what they deserve and they deserve what they are getting.
Naturally, it's about taking down the big bad greatest hero, the one who injured Anna so badly and that turns out to be one hell of a challenge not just because of that guy’s superpowers.

Data is key. So this book is not just looking at person-cults and hero-worship (though it does), but also at the falseness in how most people present themselves to the world (in our actual world). Just cranked up to 11. *lol*
One PR team battling the other, trying to take each other down. It was quite riveting.

I seriously loved how this novel so effortlessly explored the cost of justice to individuals and how humans tend to gloss over what doesn't fit the narrative - until someone won't let you any longer. To quote Mr. Nancy from the TV show American Gods: „Angry gets shit done.“ *lol*

The writing style was amicable and fast-paced, the story had plenty of action and blood and gore, but also wonderfully detailed (though effortless) characterization that made you care deeply about the people and the issues addressed here.
Thrown in for good measure and not too little comedic effect is office politics amongst other things and it was delicious.

A fantastic novel (and a debut at that) with many wonderful twists and lots of opportunities for that evil cackle we all like to use every once in a while (or frequently)! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (See?)