First things first, I would like to thank Netgalley for this early edition of this book, another home run by Gregg Hurwitz. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I must admit that there were some parts that were difficult for me to read. There were parts however, that I found myself laughing out loud as well. The story is about the illicit porn industry and the vehicle used to deliver this plot is Anca, a young religious, Romanian woman with a seizure disorder and a band of young misfits that are evil incarnate. First it was difficult for me read what was done to her my these miscreants, while it was not spelled out graphically, it took little imagination to see it. I found myself getting angry while I read. Also, as I am not of the new generation, I had difficulty understanding the jargon of the young bad dudes. That said, Evan and Joey keep maturing and evolving, and while the bad guys don't end up dead, they do end up paying for their misdeeds. I am looking forward to see where X goes next.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

What a ride! I loved this one and could not put it down. This author has found a way, even in his 11th book in this series, to continue to develop deeper character psyche, evolve yet stay true, and even grow in the literary landscape of the writing style. I literally had to look up the definition of some words. This is no ordinary action thriller, it is intelligent and poignant.

This latest installment of the series (similarly to Nemesis) is truly for the fans who are here for the balance of emotions, humor and a thrilling ride. This story picks up shortly after the events of the previous book with unwanted emotions weighing heavily on Evan Smoak. This time Orphan X is working with Luke Devine as a temporary ally but for the good of everyone else. Meanwhile, Joey is asking for more involvement in missions. Evan must also find and save a woman who has been victimized horribly. And, like any Orphan X novel, people are also after him. The main character that Evan is trying to help is so unique, helpless yet strong, vulnerable yet independent and I liked her and will remember her more than other “victims” in the past novels.

Evan and Joey’s relationship development is one of the main reasons I love this series and keep reading it. Their relationship makes me happy and hurt at times. I ache and tear up when they miscommunicate (probably my own father issues). Some other beloved characters show up in this installment and things that unravel truly made my heart rate rise. I love Candy McClure and Joey Morales and will always need them in my Orphan X books! This book also had dark, disturbing content, which I believe led to a bigger display of Evan’s humanity. Evan’s humanity is an ongoing theme of the Orphan X books but I think this one dove deeper and potentially created a new path for him.

Ultimately, those who read this series are going to love this one. Intelligent, thrilling, emotional, suspenseful, romantic (yea I said it), heartbreaking, frustrating and intensely satisfying. Those who have not started this series need to put Book 1 at the top of their TBR reading list!

Evan Smoak is many things—Orphan X, government-trained assassin, and to those who find his untraceable number, the Nowhere Man. Stolen from a foster home and forged into a weapon by a covert program that erased names and replaced them with letters, Evan became the perfect operative—silent, precise, unstoppable and living back Jack John’s 10 Commandments. But he walked away, turning his lethal skills toward a new mission: saving the helpless when no one else will. To the outside world, he’s just a ghost, but to the desperate, he’s a last chance. Always hunted, always alone, Evan lives by a strict code—protect the innocent, punish the guilty—no matter the cost.



In Antihero, Evan is challenged on so many levels. He is still the smart ass, calculated, OCD, vodka drinking, magnet shirt wearing guy we love, but his feelings are a constant tug-of-war between isolation and connection, duty and humanity. He is deeply disciplined and controlled on the surface, but underneath he wrestles with loneliness, guilt, and the heavy weight of what he was trained to do. Evan is a man caught between two worlds: the weapon he was made to be and the human being he wants to become and after losing Tommy and watching Joey grow up, the unknown softer side (yeah I said softer) of Evan is winning, and I am so here for it.



This mission just hits differently. It is raw, real and relevant and is happening every single day in the world that we live in. When Luke Devine calls for some help, Evan is put on track to find and help a young woman, Anca Dumitrescu, and American Romanian who had a seizure on a subway train. She was taken, assaulted and abandoned. Evan and Joey head to New York to find her, help Devine calm the hell down, and uncover a dirty wretched world that will simply turn your stomach knowing that crimes against the unwilling happen every single day. Evan must balance mercy with vengeance per the request of the young woman who was defiled and abused yet finds the light even in the worst situations and that light is what Evan needs.



If you haven’t started the Orphan X series, stop everything and dive in—you won’t regret it. The Nowhere Man, pulls you straight into the action and refuses to let you go, leaving you desperate for the next mission. Antihero might just be my favorite installment yet. Gregg Hurwitz crafts Evan with meticulous precision—every detail matters, from the smudge of bird droppings on a window, to the way Evan scans a room, to the quiet complexity of how he navigates the women in his life. It’s that level of detail that makes this story tangible, authentic and one I need to see on the big screen. And yes—he even gets a brand-new commandment. I cannot wait to see where it takes him next.

Another great novel from Gregg Hurwitz.

The story deals with sexual abuse and it's brutal. Set against the evolution of Orphan X it's a winner. He makes a promise not to kill anyone but he gets each and every one of them in his special way.

Tough story, but Evan grows as a person and is developing emotions and bonds with his people.

A great story, an engrossing read. I highly recommend anything by Gregg Hurwitz.

4.75 Stars ⭐️

I am such a big fan of this series. I think I fell in love with Evan Smoak from the very beginning and it has been so wonderful to follow along as he is slowly beginning to learn how to care about those he considers his friends. Emotions are not something he was ever taught. In fact, it was the exact opposite - emotions could be deadly - and seeing him try to counter these life long behaviors has not been easy.

I'm also thrilled to be able to say that Mr. Hurwitz is back with another fantastic book. Unfortunately, the last book felt "off" to me and I had a hard time with some of the actions and behaviors of our favorite characters. That is NOT the case for Antihero.

This time, Evan and Joey travel to New York at the request of a character that we have previously met - Luke Devine. While there, they learn about a woman who may have been kidnapped from a subway car. The woman, Anca, suffers from a debilitating illness that causes her to have seizures up to 6 times a day. She has a laminated lanyard that she wears around her neck to inform people about what to do if and when she has a seizure. Unfortunately, she is completely at the mercy of total strangers while she is completely incapacitated and this time, the worst happens.

One thing that really hit me with this book was how unbelievably evil people can be. It was hard at times experiencing that level of vile and cruel behavior from the "bad guys". It is NOT easy to read. We also see that Evan is not immune to the horror of the things that Anca is put through and that makes things worse.

One of the absolute best things about this book was the exponential development of the friendship that Evan and Candy McClure (Orphan V) had tentatively started over the last several books. It was amazing to see the two of them figure out how to function completely out of their element as they dealt with the aftermath of Anca's situation. Watching their level of compassion and then confusion when dealing with Anca's completely foreign world view made me laugh. Anca makes Evan promise that he is not going to kill the bad guys and both Evan and Candy can not understand this. Anca completely believes in the concept of a higher power being the one who will judge and not them, so Evan makes sure that they only promise not to kill, and both he and Candy agree that maiming is still on the table.

We also get to see major development in the relationship between X and Joey. Their relationship is so beautiful. Two very broken people who have decided to trust each other, even though everything they have been taught, and everything that they have experienced in life has taught them the exact opposite.

Mia and Peter also make an appearance, and even though I'm not sure how I feel about those events, I LOVE seeing Peter interact with Evan. This book was jammed packed with major emotional upheaval for Evan and let's just say that it is not an easy road.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on February 10, 2026.

DNF at 30%. I just couldn’t get into it. Felt like I was ready some sort of textbook and not a novel. Sorry!

This was another winner in the Orphan X series, and had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed from the other books in this. The characters were so well written and felt like they belonged in this series and was invested in what was happening. The overall story was so well written and had that charm that I enjoyed from Gregg Hurwitz and other books that I've read from him.

The 11th book in the series and I feel like we’re returning back to the magic of the first few books.
Chapter 34 - no notes.
Return of Mia and Peter - no notes.
Joey - no notes.
Candy - no notes.
Dog the dog - no notes.
The plot - so good but so twisted; no notes.
Evan Smoak/The Nowhere Man/Orphan X - no notes.

It’s a new Orphan X novel, which means grabbing it and making immediate plans to stay up way too late reading it in one sitting. On the other hand, it’s a story concerning a particularly horrific crime that’s hard to read about without continually wanting to put the book down. X finds himself struggling to maintain emotionally detached during this latest mission, because while he’s going after people involved in terrible crimes against women, he sees Joey growing up and wanting to take on a bigger role in the field. He’s also confused by the grace of the woman who survived the ordeal, someone strong enough in her values to make Evan promise not to kill the perpetrators. Unfortunately, in devising this new test of Evan’s emotional and interpersonal skills, the author has come up with a scenario so abhorrent—and criminals so depraved—that it’s hard to read any chapter featuring them. (I see what you are doing here, dude, but this is supposed to be my leisure reading, not a horror show.). The best scenes are, as always, the ones with Evan saving the day or surviving in some dramatic way, with creativity and improvised medical equipment. How can anyone resist the summer-blockbuster type scenes in which Evan sees bad guys coming and, like a billiards pro calling a shot in advance, makes a preemptive 911 call to tell the operator how many injured criminals there are about to be? It’s Orphan X. I might have to skim some disturbing chapters, but I’ll always be back to see what he does next.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a digital advance review copy.

Anka is a young woman who suffers from seizures. She’s paralyzed by fear of them happening when no one friendly or kind is around to help her.

Her biggest fear is realized when she begins to suffer from a seizure on the subway as four masked men enter her subway car.

Fading in and out of consciousness, Anka realizes she’s been abducted. When she finally awakens, her body is broken and her spirit shattered. She’s been violated.

Evan is called in to help locate the men and bring them to justice. His justice. But this time, things aren’t as clear cut for X. Humanity (his humanity) continues to gnaw at the edges.

As the novel progresses, we see Joey and Candy and other regular characters.

Heart-plundering action sequences and characters written for the big screen, Hurwitz never disappoints. Antihero is another fantastic book in the Orphan X series.

ANTIHERO is the eleventh book in the Orphan X series by author Gregg Hurwitz. Our hero, X, has grown up and developed a desire for social interaction; something that had been intentionally drummed out of him in his training for a secret government band of assassins. He has escaped the government and now functions as a heroic figure to anyone in need of help. And in the process of executing this new role, he must confront civilians and their penchant for messy emotions and shifting priorities. His ability to navigate these new waters has him frequently stumped. This reminds me somewhat of Data on ST:TNG (also a great character) and makes for an even more thrilling book. He wants relationships but fears the probable outcome for someone with a secret persona: namely loss of that friendship or death. The characters in this book are engaging and well-developed. For readers of the series, these characters are a joy to meet again in a new adventure. I love this series and while this book can be a standalone, the series is worth reading. Number 11 is a tense, thrilling and engulfing book. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I'm a big fan of this series and this book doesn't disappoint! It can be read as a stand alone novel or as part of the series. The main character, The Nowhere Man,is a highly skilled former assassin who turned himself into a person who saves people who have nowhere else to turn. The book follows his progression to regain or hold on to his humanity as he learns how to have relationships with people important to him. It's sad and hopeful in this book and in the series, the progression is detailed and deep. In addition to the development of the characters, there is always a mystery to be solved. I've read all of Hurwitz's books and this mystery was challenging for me. If sexual assault has touched your life in any way, you may want to read with caution. The topic is handled well in the writing, but it was still chilling. The Orphan X series is consistently good and this book is no exception.

This book was another great read in this continuing series. The storyline was filled with the authors usual combination of mystery and suspense. Good character development added to the enjoyment of this book. This is a book which I would recommend to all who enjoyed the other books in this series.

That one was rough. Check the cover if you have triggers. This might hit them all. I still loved it.

My rating: 4-1/2 stars. As much as I enjoyed this book was good …. I missed out on Evan’s special brand of karma! Still, an excellent read.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review of this novel.

Review of “Antihero” by Gregg Hurwitz:
Once a Black Ops assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak now uses his skills to help the desperate. This installment is full of nonstop suspense, moral conflict, and high-stakes action. I loved the balance between action and moral conflict, and the ending delivered a powerful sense of justice being served—an absolute thrill ride from start to finish! This was my first time reading an Orphan X book, and it definitely made me want to go back and read more of the series.

Another fantastic addition to the series. Getting close to a dozen titles, the series is still holding strong. As always, a non-stop thriller with moral issues aplenty for Evan Smoak. Eagerly awaiting the next installment

Absolutely excellent. Maybe the best Orphan novel yet. Complex characters, lots of things to think about. Evan is still learning and growing. Five stars all the way.

The Orphan X series has always been a thrill ride, but Antihero takes Evan Smoak into uncharted territory—where the line between justice and mercy is razor thin. Once a black-ops assassin with no room for emotion, Evan now channels his lethal skills into helping the desperate. But when a young woman is kidnapped, assaulted, and left for dead, she asks for the one thing he’s never been able to give: justice without vengeance.

From the back alleys of New York to the highest levels of power, Evan is up against ruthless enemies, mounting threats, and his own violent instincts. Gregg Hurwitz delivers heart-pounding action, whip-smart plotting, and a hero whose struggle to become more human makes him unforgettable.

Antihero is fast, gritty, and impossible to put down—exactly why this series is one of my all-time favorites.