Hench

Anna Tromedlov is a temp worker who takes data entry jobs for supervillains, operating on the fringes of a world where heroes and villains wage constant battle. After a violent incident leaves her injured and unemployed, she begins analyzing the true cost of superhero activities through cold, hard data. Her research catches the eye of a powerful villain called Leviathan, who hires her to lead a specialized team. Using her skills in data analysis and organization, Anna works to expose and neutralize heroes by understanding their patterns and calculating their weaknesses. The novel combines elements of superhero fiction with workplace dynamics, exploring the lives of ordinary people who work within villainous organizations. The story unfolds against a backdrop of corporate culture, spreadsheets, and careful documentation of collateral damage. This fresh take on the superhero genre examines the nature of power, questioning traditional definitions of good and evil while considering how institutions can normalize and justify harm through bureaucracy and data.

Readers highlight the fresh take on superhero stories through a data analyst's perspective. The book resonates with office workers who appreciate the corporate satire and workplace dynamics. Liked: - Strong character development of Anna and her transformation - Dark humor and office politics commentary - LGBTQ+ representation and relationships - Detailed exploration of superhero collateral damage - Writing style described as "sharp" and "engaging" Disliked: - Slow pacing in the first third - Some found the data analysis sections tedious - Several readers expected more action scenes - Character motivations sometimes unclear - Romance subplot felt underdeveloped to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (25,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,900+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) One reader called it "The Office meets Venom." Another noted it's "perfect for anyone who's ever had a soul-crushing desk job." Critics mainly cited pacing issues, with one stating "takes too long to get to the good stuff."

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🦸‍♀️ The novel's unique take on "henching" (working for supervillains) was partly inspired by Walschots' own experience as a temp worker and data analyst. 📊 Author Natalie Zina Walschots spent over three years researching workplace injury statistics and disaster response data to create realistic foundations for Anna's analysis. 💼 "Hench" was published during the 2020 pandemic, when many readers could particularly relate to its themes of remote work and corporate power dynamics. 🏆 The book won the 2021 Copper Cylinder Adult Award and was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel, marking a significant achievement for a debut novel in this genre. 🎮 Before writing "Hench," Walschots was well-known for her video game criticism and her work examining the intersection of technology and culture in digital spaces.