When Evan is summoned to Luke Devine's mansion, he finds out that a girl is missing, one that was in desperate need of medical attention when she may have been abducted. This brings Evan into his next mission, sifting through New York City in search of one woman. Replete with all of your favorite characters, and a handful of side quests, Antihero may be one of the best books I've read in a long time.
In his 11th installment of the Orphan X series, Hurwitz thrusts Smoak into some incredibly difficult situations, not just physically, but mentally as well. Smoak is constantly dancing between the mantra of "The hard part isn't turning you into a killer. The hard part is keeping you human." Watching Hurwitz walk X through the balance of the mission and his internal struggles over his relationships with Mia Hall (I was so excited she was part of Antihero), Joey, another Orphan, Devine, Urrea, the other residents of Castle Heights, and more, is like watching a symphony - Hurwtiz the conductor. He not only weaves the lives of these people together seamlessly, but he conducts your emotions similarly, balancing the intense darkness of Smoak with his delicate attempts at humanity, love, and softness that will make your breath hitch.
The development of the relationship between the 17-year-old, brilliant hacker Joey Morales and her "uncle-person" Evan has been so enjoyable to watch, and I'm constantly amazed at how Hurwitz has merged their frictious bickering and jabs with their familial love.
The Orphan X series is, without argument, my favorite series of books. They flow together like a river, one perfectly blending into the next. The characters are deep - beautifully flawed, caring, oft dangerous, and Hurwitz has managed to pull every ounce of emotion out of them like a blood draw. He gives the most repulsive of characters moments of self-reflection that make you wonder if you should continue to root against them or give them some grace. Fresh off the heels of Nemesis, Antihero will give you everything you desire from a thriller and will be your contender for the best book of 2026.
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