Monsters Reign Over London

Joan and her friends awaken in a London transformed by her sister Eleanor's timeline manipulation. Monster sigils dominate the skyline, and humans are subjugated, forced to wear pendants displaying their remaining years of life and servitude. Joan, half-monster herself, is on the run with Nick, Aaron, Ruth, and Jamie, all fugitives in a world where monsters openly rule. The group's desperation is palpable as they navigate a city filled with danger, cruelty, and reminders that the world is fundamentally wrong. The emotional weight of Nick's choice—saving Joan over the world—haunts them, and the group's unity is tested by guilt, fear, and the ever-present threat of discovery.

Fugitives in a Twisted World

The group seeks refuge in unfamiliar monster territories, only to find that alliances and boundaries have shifted. The city is hostile, with humans caged and executed as public spectacle. Joan's sense of being prey is constant, and the group's attempts to blend in are fraught with tension. They narrowly escape arrest at a checkpoint, realizing that Eleanor's regime is both omnipresent and unpredictable. The world's cruelty is not just systemic but personal, as Joan is confronted with wanted posters bearing her likeness, and the group is forced to hide in a stranger's apartment, grappling with the moral cost of survival.

Wanted Posters and New Rules

Joan and her friends discover that they are wanted for high treason, and their faces are plastered across the city. The rules of this world are brutal: humans must give years of their lives to monster families, and any resistance is met with swift, public punishment. Joan's power is unstable, and she experiences dangerous fade-outs, moments where she loses her grip on reality and time. The group's psychological strain intensifies as they realize that their counterparts—alternate versions of themselves—may have existed in this timeline, now overwritten by their presence. The sense of displacement and loss is overwhelming.

Human Suffering Exposed

The group witnesses the full horror of monster dominance: humans are caged, beaten, and executed for entertainment. The arena, a resurrected Roman colosseum, is a site of mass slaughter, and the city's laws codify human suffering as a matter of course. Joan is sickened by the casual cruelty, and Nick is tormented by guilt, believing his choice has doomed countless innocents. The group's attempts to help are stymied by the sheer scale of oppression, and their only hope lies in finding allies within the resistance—those marked by the symbol of the wolf.

The Wolves' Secret Resistance

Joan receives a cryptic message from Ronan, a human working at the Serpentine Inn, marked with the wolf sigil. The group's hope for alliance is dashed when Ronan is arrested and executed before he can reveal his secrets. The resistance is fragmented, and trust is hard-won. The group's pursuit of Ronan leads them into the heart of monster power, where they witness the depths of monster cruelty and the futility of open rebellion. The emotional toll is immense, as every attempt to help seems to end in more suffering and loss.

The Oliver Heir's Inheritance

In this timeline, Aaron is the head of the Oliver family, wielding immense power but isolated by suspicion and the monstrous reputation of his counterpart. The group takes refuge in the Oliver mansion, where Aaron must perform the role of a ruthless leader to protect Joan and Nick, who are forced to pose as his human "playthings." The psychological strain of maintaining this facade is intense, and Aaron's own feelings of inadequacy and longing are brought to the fore. The group's unity is tested by jealousy, unspoken love, and the ever-present threat of discovery.

Counterparts and Lost Timelines

The group uncovers evidence that their counterparts in this timeline were not villains but secret heroes, working together to resist Eleanor's regime. A hidden recording reveals that Aaron's counterpart and Nick's were lovers, united in their fight against the Court. The realization that they have overwritten people who were doing good in the world is devastating. Joan is forced to confront the moral ambiguity of their mission, and the group's sense of identity is shaken by the knowledge that they are both themselves and not themselves, shaped by circumstance and choice.

The Arena's Bloody Spectacle

The jubilee games are a mass execution, designed by Eleanor to weaken the timeline to the point of collapse so she can lock it in her image. Nick, disguised as a gladiator, enters the arena to get close to Eleanor, risking his life in a battle that is both physical and existential. The spectacle is horrifying, and the deaths in the arena open visible tears in the sky—holes in the timeline that threaten to consume the world. Nick's apparent death is a turning point, triggering Joan's deepest grief and unleashing her full, destructive power.

The Cipher's Hidden Message

The group finally deciphers the mysterious code left by their counterparts, only to discover it is a love letter from Nick's to Aaron's—a message of devotion, not a plan of attack. The true key to saving the world lies in a ring, a human-made travel token containing the stolen years of Nick's murdered family. This ring allows the group to travel to the Monster Court's jubilee celebration fifty years in the past, bypassing Eleanor's blocks. The realization that love, loss, and sacrifice are at the heart of their struggle reframes their mission and their relationships.

Love, Loss, and Choices

Joan is caught between her love for Nick and her deepening feelings for Aaron. The three are forced to confront their tangled emotions, the pain of loss, and the possibility of a future together. Their counterparts' love story echoes in their own, and the timeline itself seems to conspire to bring them together. The emotional stakes are as high as the existential ones, and Joan must choose not just who she loves, but what kind of world she wants to create. The group's unity is both their greatest strength and their deepest vulnerability.

The Timeline's Fraying Edges

The damage to the timeline is visible and accelerating. Tears in the sky, the ground, and even in time itself threaten to consume everything. Eleanor's attempt to lock the timeline has failed, and the void is encroaching. The group's only hope is to break into the Monster Court, confront Eleanor, and sever her bond with the timeline. The psychological pressure is immense, as every action is fraught with the possibility of total annihilation. The group's love, loyalty, and courage are tested to their limits.

The Monster Court's Invitation

Using the ring, the group travels to the Monster Court's jubilee celebration, a timeless, frozen night at the heart of monster power. The Court is a place of unimaginable danger, where the Curia Monstrorum and their courtiers wield power beyond comprehension. The group must navigate this perilous environment, find Eleanor, and confront her in a final, desperate gambit. The sense of fate and repetition is overwhelming, as the timeline seems to draw them inexorably to this place, this moment, again and again.

The Final Confrontation

In a carefully staged ambush, the group lures Eleanor into a trap, using a recording of the King as bait. The ensuing battle is chaotic and brutal, with Nick and Joan wielding their unique powers against Eleanor and the assembled Court. Joan's ability to unmake is pushed to its limits, and the group is forced to confront not just Eleanor, but the very nature of power, fate, and free will. The emotional stakes are as high as the physical ones, as love, grief, and sacrifice intertwine in the fight for the timeline.

Breaking the Leash

Aaron, recognizing that Joan's power is triggered by loss, sacrifices himself by stepping into the void, unleashing Joan's full potential. In a moment of unbearable grief, Joan tears the bond between Eleanor and the timeline, freeing the world from her sister's control. The timeline, personified as a great beast, is finally unchained, and the power to reshape the world is offered to Joan. She refuses to take the leash, choosing instead to let the timeline heal itself, guided by the hope of a better future forged through choice, not coercion.

Sacrifice and Salvation

The timeline heals, the void recedes, and the world is remade—not as it was, but as something new and better. Joan, Nick, and Aaron are reunited, their love surviving the crucible of loss and sacrifice. The cost has been immense, but the possibility of redemption and hope remains. The group's relationships are transformed, and the world they inhabit is one where peace, memory, and the lessons of the past are honored. The story ends not with triumph, but with the quiet, hard-won promise of a future worth living.

A New World Forged

In the aftermath, Joan, Nick, and Aaron find themselves in a world where time travel is no longer possible, but the people they love are alive and at peace. The families are restored, and the horrors of monster rule are gone. The trio's relationship is redefined, embracing the complexity of their love and the choices they have made. The memory of Eleanor lingers, a reminder of the cost of power and the possibility of redemption. The world is not perfect, but it is theirs to shape, together.

Hope, Memory, and Redemption

As the group gathers for a picnic on the anniversary of their return, the sense of hope and possibility is palpable. The timeline, once a source of fear and loss, is now a force for healing and renewal. The story ends with the promise that, one day, even those lost to the void—like Eleanor—may find redemption. The lessons of love, sacrifice, and the refusal to wield power over others are woven into the fabric of the new world. The future is uncertain, but it is filled with hope.

Characters

Joan Chang-Hunt

Joan is the half-monster, half-human protagonist whose journey is defined by loss, guilt, and the search for belonging. She is both the catalyst and the victim of the timeline's upheaval, her powers of unmaking tied to her deepest emotions. Joan's relationships with Nick and Aaron are the emotional core of the story, reflecting her divided loyalties and the complexity of love in a world shaped by violence and sacrifice. Her psychological arc is one of self-acceptance, as she learns to wield her power not for control, but for healing and hope. Joan's development is marked by her refusal to seize the leash of the timeline, choosing instead to trust in the possibility of a better world forged through choice, not coercion.

Nick Ward

Nick is the former monster slayer, a human detached from the timeline and capable of changing history. His love for Joan is unwavering, but he is tormented by the consequences of his choices—saving Joan at the cost of countless lives. Nick's journey is one of atonement and self-discovery, as he grapples with the burden of being both a savior and a destroyer. His relationship with Aaron is fraught with rivalry and unexpected affection, echoing the love story of their counterparts. Nick's psychological depth is revealed in his willingness to sacrifice himself for others, and in his ultimate acceptance of a future defined by hope rather than fate.

Aaron Oliver

Aaron is the head of the Oliver family in the new timeline, wielding immense power but haunted by feelings of inadequacy and exclusion. His love for Joan is deep and selfless, and his rivalry with Nick is both a source of tension and a path to unexpected intimacy. Aaron's psychological arc is defined by his struggle to believe in his own worth, and by his ultimate sacrifice—stepping into the void to unleash Joan's full power. His return in the new world is a testament to the timeline's capacity for mercy and renewal. Aaron's development is marked by his willingness to choose love, even when he believes himself to be the outsider.

Eleanor Grave

Eleanor is Joan's sister and the architect of the monstrous timeline. Her actions are driven by a desperate need to restore her erased family, but her methods are ruthless and her vision warped by loss. Eleanor's psychological complexity lies in her capacity for both love and cruelty; she is both victim and villain, shaped by the trauma of erasure and the burden of power. Her relationship with Joan is fraught with betrayal and longing, and her final moments reveal a glimmer of the sister she once was. Eleanor's arc is a cautionary tale about the dangers of wielding power without compassion.

Ruth Hunt

Ruth is Joan's cousin and a skilled thief, whose Hunt family power allows her to manipulate time and objects. She is the group's pragmatic anchor, unafraid to challenge authority and quick to act in moments of crisis. Ruth's psychological strength lies in her ability to adapt and survive, but she is also deeply affected by the suffering of others. Her relationship with Joan is sisterly, marked by shared trauma and mutual support. Ruth's development is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of chosen family.

Jamie Liu

Jamie is a member of the Liu family, whose perfect memory and fragments of past timelines make him both an asset and a source of sorrow. He is haunted by the loss of his family and his husband Tom, and his psychological arc is one of endurance and hope. Jamie's ability to recall the true timeline is crucial to the group's mission, and his relationship with Tom is a rare source of joy in a world defined by loss. Jamie's development is marked by his quiet strength and his unwavering commitment to those he loves.

Tom Hathaway

Tom is Jamie's husband and a member of the Hathaway family, whose power allows him to transport humans. He is a grounding presence, protective and pragmatic, but also deeply affected by the absence of the Lius in the new timeline. Tom's psychological journey is one of reconciling his solitary nature with his need for connection. His relationship with Jamie is a touchstone for the group, embodying the possibility of love and healing even in the darkest times.

Marguerite Nightingale

Marguerite is Aaron's mother, alive in the new timeline and a secret leader of the human resistance. She is a figure of warmth and wisdom, but also of steely resolve. Marguerite's psychological complexity lies in her ability to balance love for her son with the demands of survival in a monstrous world. Her role as the Wolf's ally is a testament to her courage and her capacity for hope.

Fern Grave

Fern is Joan's cousin and a member of the Graves, working as a guard within Eleanor's regime. She risks her life to free Joan and the others, embodying the quiet heroism of those who resist from within. Fern's psychological strength lies in her loyalty to family and her willingness to act in the face of danger.

The Timeline (Personified)

The timeline itself is a character, personified as a great beast struggling against its leash. It is both the setting and the stakes of the story, its wounds mirroring the psychological scars of the characters. The timeline's yearning for its true shape is a metaphor for the human longing for belonging, justice, and redemption. Its eventual freedom is a testament to the power of choice and the possibility of healing.

Plot Devices

Timeline Manipulation and Counterparts

The story's structure is built on the manipulation of timelines, with characters replacing their counterparts in alternate worlds. This device allows for deep exploration of identity, fate, and the consequences of choice. The existence of counterparts—alternate versions of the main characters—creates psychological tension, as the protagonists grapple with the knowledge that they have overwritten people who may have been better, braver, or more loving than themselves. The narrative uses foreshadowing and echoes across timelines to build a sense of inevitability and repetition, while also allowing for moments of agency and change.

Emotional Triggers and Power

Joan's power of unmaking is directly linked to her emotional state, particularly to moments of loss and grief. This device externalizes the character's psychological struggles, making the stakes of emotional growth literal and immediate. The story uses this connection to build tension and to drive key plot moments, such as the unleashing of Joan's full power in the wake of Aaron's sacrifice. The interplay between emotion and magic is a recurring motif, reinforcing the theme that true power comes from vulnerability and connection.

Love Triangles and Polyamory

The love triangle between Joan, Nick, and Aaron is not just a source of romantic tension, but a vehicle for exploring themes of choice, fate, and self-acceptance. The narrative subverts the traditional triangle by allowing for the possibility of polyamory, reflecting the characters' growth and the breaking of old patterns. The echoes of their counterparts' love stories add depth and resonance, while the resolution of their relationships mirrors the restoration of the timeline itself.

The Cipher and the Ring

The cipher left by the counterparts is a classic plot device, driving the characters' quest and providing a sense of urgency. Its eventual revelation as a love letter, rather than a plan of attack, is a moment of narrative misdirection that reframes the story's priorities. The ring, a human-made travel token containing the stolen years of Nick's family, is both a literal key to the past and a symbol of the cost of power and the possibility of redemption.

The Monster Court and the Void

The Monster Court, existing outside time and surrounded by the void, is both a physical and psychological space. It is the site of the final confrontation, where the characters must face not just Eleanor, but the consequences of their own choices. The void, a place of annihilation and loss, externalizes the characters' deepest fears and the stakes of failure. The use of the Court as a recurring setting reinforces the themes of repetition, fate, and the possibility of change.

Foreshadowing and Echoes

The narrative is structured around repeated events—meetings at Holland House, confrontations at the Court, the recurrence of love and loss. These echoes create a sense of fate, but also of the possibility of breaking the cycle. The story uses foreshadowing to build tension, but also to suggest that healing and redemption are possible, even for those lost to the void.

Analysis

Vanessa Len's Once a Villain is a masterful exploration of power, love, and the consequences of choice, set against the backdrop of a world where monsters rule and time itself is malleable. The novel's central conceit—the manipulation of timelines and the existence of counterparts—serves as both a narrative engine and a metaphor for the psychological complexity of identity and fate. The story's emotional core lies in the relationships between Joan, Nick, and Aaron, whose love triangle evolves into a nuanced meditation on polyamory, self-acceptance, and the breaking of old patterns. The novel refuses easy answers, confronting the moral ambiguity of power and the cost of redemption. The personification of the timeline as a wounded beast yearning for its true shape is a powerful metaphor for the human longing for justice, belonging, and healing. The ultimate refusal to seize control—to "take the leash"—is a radical act of trust in the possibility of a better world forged through choice, not coercion. Once a Villain is a story about the dangers of wielding power without compassion, the necessity of vulnerability, and the hope that even those lost to the void may one day find redemption. Its lessons are as relevant to our world as to the one its characters inhabit: that true change comes not from domination, but from the courage to choose love, even in the face of loss.

Last updated: September 25, 2025