‘Hench’ Uses An Anti-Hero To Offer A Fresh Take On the Superhero Narrative
I'm not that into superheroes, but I really loved how author Natalie Zina Walschots reimagined what a hero looks like in her book Hench. The story was super imaginative and follows Anna, the anti-hero, as she gets laid off and ends up finding a new job for one of the “worst villains on earth.”
The first half of this book was my favourite. The author does a great job of painting a picture of this new world of superheroes and henches and how they have to balance their identity when it comes to interacting with civilians. And while the plot does pick up, I must warn that there isn’t too much action in this book. It’s more of a social commentary on heroism, justice and humanity.
I wish I had known that going into this, as I think I would have enjoyed it even more. To be honest, I was expecting something with a bit more jam-packed action like in the TV show “The Boys.” But the book did make me LOL a few times and I did really like the characters.
Hench is part of Canada Reads, an annual “battle of the books” event where five celebs champion one novel that they think the rest of Canada should read. The theme this year is “One Book to Transport Us,” and this book fits that to a T.
💥TL;DR: This book gives a fresh take on the superhero narrative by telling the story through the eyes of a hench. There isn’t much action, but the story is imaginative and has a strong female lead, which is a win in my opinion. 4/5
Read more about Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots:
