Joan might have won the fight against the monster slayers but she feels more lost and confused than ever. The best scenario would have her far from Nick and their past, but they are thrown together in the same school and he is too close to ignore.

But try to ignore him she does, until he arrives at her work one day. He’s the most popular boy in school, adored by all and with no memories of who he used to be. But he has sought her out.

The timeline that Joan and Nick shared may be gone but the other monster families are alive and well, along with everyone Nick ever slayed – including Joan’s family. But that goes both ways. Nick saved many humans as a monster slayer too.

Joan and Nick are suddenly being pursued by Monster Court Guards and authorities and Aaron Oliver is with them. Nick, now a normal boy with no knowledge of the monster world, is confused. Joan escapes the guards, taking Nick with her. How much should she tell him about the other Nick? The legend, the slayer, the guy she was desperately in love with. And why does Aaron hate her now?

Knowing her Gran is the only one who might be able to tell her what’s going on, Joan looks for her. She finds other friends instead, who do a double take with Nick at her side. Together they fall deeper and deeper into this new timeline with its flow-on effects of what she did to monster-slayer Nick. It seems the authorities know something about Joan that she doesn’t. Something about her unmaking power?

But it’s so much worse than that, and as she tries to keep her friends alive and they her, secrets are revealed about a long forgotten past and timeline, and someone incredibly powerful wants to bring that timeline back.

All the while, Nick is learning more and more about his other self, and Aaron too. Can Joan keep them all together? Can she fight the highest Monster Court Authority – right to the top?

Reading deep into the night, I was suddenly left dangling at the end of the book…. With so many story threads shredded and Joan and her friends facing a nightmare, it was torture not having the next book in Joan’s saga at my fingertips! But wait I will, because the end reveal was stratospheric!

This episode didn’t move quite as fast for me as the first, but the world of monsters vs humans and the perils of time travel solidified as I learnt more about this world’s hierarchy and the 12 monster families. This all sets up the gob-smacking reveal at the end of the book and the background for the next book in the series.

The conundrums of Joan’s actions in one timeline are flowing through to her current one, and her feelings for both Nick and Aaron are making everything so much more difficult for her to choose the way forward. We also get to know the characters more in this episode and meet new ones.

Am hanging out for the next book already.

Author – Vanessa Len
Age – 13+

Read a review of the first book in this thrilling series (Click on the Cover)

(2023, Allen & Unwin, Monsters, Time Travel, Friendships, Conundrums, Danger, Conflict, Love, Confusion, Time Lines, Historical, Authorities, Escape, In Hiding, Rescues, Series, Family, Loyalties, Loyalty, Secrets, Powers, Truth, Control, Action, Dog, Betrayal, Fantasy, Revenge)