Dear Henchman

Dear Hero #2

by Hope Bolinger, Alyssa Roat

Kevin and Himari didn't plan to be heroes.

Henchmen and sidekicks aren’t supposed to fall in love. Or save the world. They’re supposed to brew coffee, take pics of their hero or villain for social media, and stay in the background.

That was sidekick-slash-frat boy Kevin and henchwoman-slash-tech genius Himari’s plan, until a taxidermy-collecting villain robs Kevin’s hero of his powers and leaves Himari’s villain wounded. Now it’s up to the sidekicks and henchies to save the world.

Without powers, they’ll go up against the Shadow Assassins (a deadly organization that can’t work a PowerPoint to save their lives), road trips-slash-kidnappings, and weird initiation rituals that may or may not involve singing campfire songs.

Himari and Kevin will battle the odds, their insecurities, and a strangely polite Midwestern villain as they discover if they have what it takes to profess their love through Mexican food metaphors—and save the world from a nuclear disaster.

The sequel to Dear Hero, this darkly humorous chat fiction novel told entirely through texts, transcriptions, and direct messages goes behind the scenes of the superworld.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Science Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Henchman takes place two years after the first book and still has the same fun, texting/messaging charm as Dear Hero. The banter, snark, and cliché breaking jokes remain amusing, and a new character, Liam, is both annoying and hilarious. (Like Dear Hero, this book made me laugh several times.) I’m still amazed at how these characters feel so real. Even though I was a little uncomfortable with some of the jokes they cracked, they feel very realistic. I also appreciated how the themes (mainly true heroism and hard work) are a little more tangible in this one than in the first book.

While I did have fun reading this unique superhero duology, several content things did make me squirm and made it a less-than-ideal reading experience for me. Otherwise, though, this is such a imaginative, snarky, engaging, clever series!

🦹🏻‍♀️ content: kissing and snuggling, several off-color jokes, violence (the characters are still pretty facetious at times about death and killing), language (two cut-off f-words, cut-off a**, uses of p**s, several misuses of God’s name). Caleb makes a comment about V’s plunging neckline. A couple comments paint Kevin as bisexual. Caleb and V stay together twice. (V makes a point of saying they “behave.”) 🦹🏻‍♀️

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic follow-up to Dear Hero! This book had just as much humor and snark with a fresh new twist. Once again, I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommended to fans of YA fantasy, superheroes, or are just looking for a fun read!

[Sonya Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. GOSH.

I don't usually like the sequel as much as the first book, but Dear Henchman was just as good if not better than Dear Hero.

Like Dear Hero, Dear Henchman expertly satirizes and subverts our beloved superhero and supervillain tropes. And since that wasn't impressive enough for the authors, they just *had* to go and explore serious themes like growing up, realizing you're not who you want to be, and questioning if what you've always done is what you always want to do.

I'll be recommending this duology to ALL the teens and twenty-somethings who grew up watching superhero movies and don't usually like reading. 10/10!!!

[Hope Bolinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, I’m extremely biased, but I had a blast writing this with Alyssa. We wrote one of my favorite characters of all time, and this book was a very bright spot in a very dark time. Cannot wait to write more books with Alyssa

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Himari and Kevin have been existing comfortably as henchmen and sidekick to their villain and hero for years. However, they're made to step into the spotlight and take over as pretend villain and henchmen to try to take down the Shadow Assassins. Together, they bond with a very friendly Midwestern villain as they try to uncover the organizations plan for world domination.

*****

This is my first time reading a chat-fiction novel, and I was impressed with how fast it moved! 400 pages flew by in a couple of hours, and it made the book an interesting read, despite the sometimes odd format of each character having brain access to the other depending on when their "tech" was on.

The characters were quirky and goofy, and the comic relief was constant. The only part that felt out of leftfield was the relationship and feelings growing between the two leads. Sure, they both have slip ups where they think about liking the other, but it's all tell and not show, so that fell really flat between them. As someone who read this book as an ARC, without reading the first, I'd recommended definitely reading the first as you miss a lot of world building, existing relationships and past history right out of the gates.

Otherwise, this was silly, odd, and entertaining. If you're in the mood for a book that doesn't require you to think too hard and you want an easy laugh, this one is perfect.

*****

Thank you, BookSirens, and both authors, for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[C.J. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Henchman is the perfect follow up to Dear Hero's side-splitting, sassy, superhero romp. I'm a big fan of anything superhero but I gotta say, I'm partial to the sidekicks too. I loved the the characters in the this story, though they had been briefly introduced in the first book THEY really came out to play here, along with that trademark humour that this author duo write so perfectly. If you've been fan, took part in fan things, been in a fandom, or in anyway circled the nerd/fan culture you will LOVE these books.

Fave lines;

From Andromache talking about her hero 'She doesn't even have good taste in coffee. It's mostly oak milk.'

I snorted my cows milk latte at that one.

Kevin in his logs, 'apparently naming the bean 'Sean' and asking why it dies in every movie is "embarrassing" to Mr. Too Cool for Sidekicks'

Kevin and V discussing V's cat 'Fluffy':

Kevin: 'V, that was a terrible name for a hair-less cat.'
V: 'It's called Irony, Kevin.'

SO, all in all funny, fast read. Be warned it is 'chat fiction' so it takes the format of DMs, SM posts, and emails between the characters. This does not bother me and I actually really enjoyed the change in style. I'd fully recommend to any teens or young folk in your life that you'd like to encourage back to reading, or if you're in a bit of reading slump yourself, due it's bitesize and ease-of-read structure. Think of it like scrolling through tik Tok, BUT with words instead of videos.

[J.J. Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CACKLED all the way through this book.

This novel combines loveable, relatable characters with masterful execution of both humor and plot, all while discussing the bigger question that plagues everyone of “what do I ACTUALLY want to do when I grow up?” and encouraging normal, everyday people to be heroes in their own right.

If you enjoy content like Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, you’ll enjoy this series.

[G. Salter · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were so many times reading this book I paused and thought, "I didn't know anybody did this kind of funny superhero story any more. And it works better than ever."
I've gotten so used to grim superhero tales that took everything so seriously or campy ones with humor but no depth. This one showed you could have the silly humor but also be sly and unexpectedly clever. A job well done

[Briana Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun! I loved seeing more of Kevin and Himari. Their hijinks are hilarious. Again, the format is definitely unique, and can throw you off at times, but overall enjoyable read.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 was great, book 2 is even better! It's tricky to write a good book in that style, but these two authors have pulled it off perfectly. With witty humour, excitement every step of the way, this was an absolutely amazing read and I cannot praise it enough. Very very well done.

[Olivia G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall fun addition to Dear Hero and glad to see Kevin and Himari’s character growth.

[Imogen Elvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so, so good! It's rare for me to love a sequel more than the first book, but I would almost go so far as to say that 'Dear Henchman' beats out 'Dear Hero'. Kevin and Himari are absolute dynamite as main characters. I'm particularly attached to Kevin now. He's so fun,  and really brings the comedy aspect of the book but he's so relatable. Honestly, I feel like he'd be most of us if we were the non-powered sidekick, kinda bumbling along, knowing you're not the cool one, and just trying to keep up with everyone else. I loved him when he was a secondary character, and now that he's got a story of his own, I love him even more.

I really enjoyed how this book digs deeper into the ideas brought up in 'Dear Hero'. It takes a deeper look at what it means to be a hero. In a world where being a hero or a villain is more about the Instagram clout than it is about saving people, what does it mean to be a hero? When all the powers are stripped away who are the real heroes? Such a big fan as well of how the chat format is expanded to include forum posts and TV transcripts. They give a bit of variety and a lovely little side story to keep an eye on as well.

Overall, I loved this book so much and highly recommend it to anyone who loves superheroes but might be a bit burned out on all the serious superhero stories we've seen so much of recently. It's funny, it's witty, it's engaging, and it has a big heart. 

I received an advance review copy for free, but my opinions here are all my own!

[Kristiana Sfirlea · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEAR HENCHMAN is the hilarious sequel to DEAR HERO, written by the formidable writing duo Hope Bolinger and Alyssa Roat!

Guys, this book had my heart. I was so happy to be back with these characters and their superhero adventures written entirely through voice-to-text, messaging, and the like.

And now for the million dollar question that everyone should ask after finishing a book: who was your favorite character? I don't have to give it a second thought. My favorite character from DEAR HENCHMAN is my new best friend-o Liam! Not only does he share the same name as my nephew, but this guy - the most polite and considerate Midwestern villain you'll ever meet. At first, his scenes were mostly for laughs - and there are some GREAT laughs - but as the story unfolds, you find there's real heart to this eccentric, well-mannered, flannel-wearing, hug-loving bad guy. His story arc was so satisfying to me, and it really made the book shine!

[Stephanie Mccall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Dear Hero so much, I ordered Dear Henchman for my Kindle before I was actually finished. My instincts were right, because unlike the endless remakes, spin-offs, and sequels in Hollywood these days, Dear Henchman is a sequel every bit as good as the original.

Himari got me interested in Dear Henchman at first. I loved her cameo appearances in Dear Hero, and she shines as the main heroine here. Her talent with technology, coupled with the signature humor that I think must run in V's family, plus her overall ingenuity, made me wish Himari was my little sister. And as with V, I loved Himari's kinship with her pets. She's right; they are vital and precious parts of our lives, whether they're kitten or tiger or--well, tiger shark, I guess.

If I loved Himari, I was surprised and eventually delighted by Kevin. We're both musical fans, so brownie points there. But as annoying as he had been in Dear Hero, I understood exactly where he was coming from once I got his POV. Kevin has been chronically underestimated, but he is neither a victim nor an insufferable Pollyanna type. He comes across, instead, as someone making the best of a bad situation and discovering or rediscovering his gifts organically. Those gifts aren't as "obvious" as some of Himari's, but I loved them. For instance, Kevin has a huge part in the climactic scheme, which makes great use of his artistic and theatrical strong suits.

Dear Henchman might outstrip Dear Hero in a couple key ways. The first lies in how much I loved its villain, or at least the named one (the SA is another thing entirely). More accurately, I loved to hate Liam, which is a mark of a well-written villain. I also loved how creative Hope and Alyssa got with this guy. He collects taxidermy, he siphons powers...and he's also a cross between Forrest Gump, an unsettling cartoon clown, and that Thor kid from Hannah Montana. As often as Liam had me asking, "Dude, are you KIDDING me," I was laughing at him. I even ended up sympathizing with him a little, and not because of some flimsy psychological excuse about his Mama. Liam actually has some hidden depths.

As with Dear Hero though, don't make the mistake of thinking Dear Hero is all fun and games. Once again, Alyssa and Hope throw in some serious themes via plot twists and other "curveballs." Namely, Himari and Kevin must face some real stakes tied not only to their relationship and personal goals, but the people they love. One such loved one ends up playing a key role in the climax, in that they end up in a lot of trouble. And that's to say nothing of the suspense that kicks in when you learn what the SA is really up to. At that point, the authors throw you into the deep end of a superhero vs. supervillain, no holds barred conflict, and while it is YA and teen friendly, its implications reach all audiences.

Finally, Dear Henchman gets the same brownie points Dear Hero did for humor, if not more. I didn't cackle as often this time, but I enjoyed every page and indulged in bigger laughs when they came. As noted, Liam is an unexpected trove of these, as is the snark he exchanges with Caleb. Additionally, a lot of humor pops up in the climax, from the heroes and villains making jabs at Ohio and Ohioans, to a crack about Wal-Mart that had me practically screaming.

If I absolutely had to critique something about Dear Henchman, it would be, I wish there were more of it. But the end of this book meant I could snap up Dear Hades, which I did. Join me next review, because I loved it, too. And if you haven't caught up on the Hero/Villain duology, grab your accessories (I do not recommend capes) and dive in!

[LaWanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read either "Dear Hero" or "Dear Hades" and enjoyed them, then definitely read this. This is a follow-up to "Dear Hero" but it has enough information that you won't be confused if you only picked this one up. All three books can be read as standalones, but I think they're best enjoyed reading in order. They have so many LOL moments. The romance is sweet, and their banter is so cute. 100% recommend all three books for a fun and easy read.
I did receive this as an ARC from Booksirens, but these thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rachel Weikart · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard there was a second book in this series I was curious to see the direction it would go. I personally loved the choice to humanize and focus on the first book's comedic relief, Kevin. A lovable side character comes to the forefront when stepping up to the challenge. The middle can feel a bit dragged out, but it does help you understand the severity of the situation and leads to an epic conclusion.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had everything that I was enjoying from Dear Hero and Dear Hades, it had that element that I wanted and enjoyed about those other two. It uses the super-hero elements in a way that I was expecting. The characters had that overall feel that I was wanting and thought the henchman element was unique. It had that writing style that I enjoyed from Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger and am excited for more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[tre.wandereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for such an entertaining and enjoyable read!

It was a blast reading this because it was funny and sarcastic and just such a fun read! I loved the characters and how they were supernaturals with such normal issues in life! Really great fun!

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I read it in like 3 days!

[Rachel Leitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is legit one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. It zips back and forth between sweet and chaotic all while poking fun at every superhero stereotype you can think of.

Sensitive topics/content:
-implied swears
-implied scene of torture

Representation:
-none