I’m always happy to return to the world of Orphan X, and Antihero reminded me why this series continues to work so well for me. Gregg Hurwitz delivers the mix of intensity, action, and character growth that has made Evan Smoak such an addictive protagonist over the course of the series.

What stood out most to me here was Joey. Watching her step further into the action was one of the most satisfying parts of the novel. She no longer feels like someone waiting in the wings. She feels like a character who is steadily becoming formidable in her own right, and I found myself just as interested in her future as I was in Evan’s current mission.

I also liked how this installment pulled in characters and threads from earlier books. That gave the story a sense of continuity and reward that long-time readers will especially appreciate. The world feels lived in now, not just because of Evan, but because of the people who orbit him and continue to matter.

This was not an easy read, though. The subject matter is especially dark, and that gives the book a heavier emotional weight than some entries in the series. At times that made it more difficult to get through, which is part of why this lands at four stars instead of five for me. Even so, I thought Hurwitz used that darkness to push Evan into complicated moral territory, and that character work is what kept me fully engaged.

Overall, this is a strong entry in a series I still care about a great deal. It may not be my absolute favorite of the bunch, but it kept me invested, gave Joey more room to shine, and left me eager to see where these characters go next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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