I just read 'Assistant to the Villain' by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, and boy, what a ride! This book is just so much fun and a great combination of cozy fantasy, office comedy, slow-burn romance, and a touch of mystery as well. If you like dark and gritty fantasy, this may not be your go-to one—but if you give it a try, like I did, you might just fall in love with it.
Typically, I read books with high stakes, intricate magical systems, and bendy plots that leave your head reeling. But occasionally, something light and cozy is just what you require. This book was a nice hug with only a pinch of murder. Let's dissect.
Plot, Pacing & Vibes
This is not your high fantasy battle of good vs. evil. This is a quirky, slow-placed fairy tale in which the villain has an HR staff and the sidekick takes paperwork breaks between dodging daggers.
Evie, our protagonist, starts off as unemployed and desperate. She's holding down the fort with her ailing father and small sister, trying to keep the family going. Her father has an unknown disease that there's no cure for, I thought this would be a better developed plot point in the book, but unfortunately the author only glossed over it. And her mom died when she was young. So, Evie's essentially supporting her whole family on her own shoulders.
Then, one afternoon, she bumps into the kingdom's most notorious criminal—The Villain. Yep, that's what he's known as. No one ever actually heard his name or even a description of him, only that he was nightmare-inducing and deadly. Of course, Evie ends up on his payroll.
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The nice part? The interview for the job is essentially "join us or die." She takes the intelligent choice, naturally.
As soon as she begins her new job working for the so-called villain, she realizes that the villainous castle is really a bizarre, dysfunctional office with assassins, dragons, crown wearing talking frogs, and a large contingent of lovable misfits.
There's also a mystery woven throughout the novel. One of the members of the villain's crew is feeding secrets to the king, and it's ruining his plans. So Evie now has to solve this mystery while she's playing pretending that she's not falling in love with her boss.
The writing is relaxed, sometimes almost too laid-back. It's not really a plot-driven book, and the stakes aren't ever really high, but you know what? I didn't care. I wasn't reading this one for the plot, I was along for the feels.
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The Characters
Now let's discuss the soul of this book: the characters. They're cute, goofy, snarky, and sometimes even sappy.
Evie is such a fresh breath of air. She's accident-prone, bubbly, slightly self-deprecating, but tough in her own way. She doesn't put up with crap from anyone, not even from the intimidating villain who murders people for a living. I adored how she wasn't too afraid to state her opinion (with respect, of course—he is a murderer, for god's sake). And her gradual realization that she might be falling for him? Too cute.
I also enjoyed the fact that she did have a "dark side." Yes, she's sunshine and smiles, but she's been around the block and can get dangerous when provoked. The fact that she stands up for her loved ones, and even kills a few individuals (don't worry, they deserved it!) demonstrates that she's not your typical cinnamon roll. She's layered.
The Villain (real name: major spoiler) is your typical morally ambiguous grump. He's dark and broody, hates everyone. except Evie. He's hard to the world but a sucker for her, and that contrast? Pure gold. He's got a tormented past we only hear glimpses about, so I'm looking forward to more in the next book. Also, I sort of wish he were more evil—but then again, this is a light story, so it makes sense that he isn't too frightening.
Kingsley the frog gets his own entire award. He is able to communicate in signs and steals every single scene he's in. I need a Kingsley in my life.
There were a lot of side characters, such as Blade and Becky, and they were enjoyable as well. Some weren't fleshed out enough to truly shine, but that's alright. The important ones did.
Also, let's discuss Fluffy the pet dragon? Yes, there is a pet dragon named Fluffy. Yes, it is as adorable as it sounds.
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Romance, But Make It Slooooow
Okay, if you’re picking this book up for a steamy romance—pause. This one is clean. And slow. So slow, it barely counts as romance by the end. One almost-kiss, lots of blushing and lingering looks, but no real relationship… yet.
All that aside, I still ADORED the romantic tension. It's the old grumpy x sunshine trope, and these two executed it flawlessly. The way they think about one another, the "accidental" touches, the protective vibe, the inner monologues—it's all there.
Though there isn't much going on romantically, the chemistry is insane. I loved how the Villain speaks of Evie. He views her like this ray of light in his darkness, and the way he speaks of her—pure chef's kiss. I died.
The Mystery & Magic (Or Lack Of)
There is a mystery in this book—someone is spilling secrets to the king, and Evie determines to uncover who it is. The entire "spy in the castle" premise was a blast, but also a bit all over the place.
In all seriousness, the surprise twist wasn't quite that surprising. I solved it fairly early on, and that robbed me of some of the tension. And the build-up to the ultimate reveal felt somewhat rushed and unemotional.
Same with the Villain's origin and his grudge against the king. I wanted so much more drama, more passion, more… something. His motives felt somewhat lacking, like the author could've provided us with some more chapters to actually delve deep into it.
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Also, regarding the magic system—is there even one? I still have no idea. There are some indications that people possess powers, but it is never clarified. Suddenly there is someone with magic and you're like, "Uh, alright then?" It required more world-building for certain.
However, as the book doesn't take itself too seriously, neither did I. I was too caught up in enjoying the repartee to really care.
Final Thoughts – Why You Should Read This
Here's what I'd say to my best friend:
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You won't cry, but you will laugh.
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You'll fall in love with the characters, particularly the villain.
- The romance is slow, but it's full of promise.
- It's not a perfect book, but it's perfectly fun.
- Read it for the atmosphere, the humor, and the cozy fantasy vibes.
The prose is straightforward and easy to read. It's difficult to say this is a first-time author because the tone is so assured and sleek. The dual POV is an added bonus, particularly if, as I do, you like getting into the grumpy man's head.
If you're in the mood for a heavy, serious fantasy—skip it. But if you want something light, a bit kooky, and an awful lot of fun, Assistant to the Villain is well worth it.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Snuggly, witty, and full of humor, this book put a smile on my face from start to finish. Should you read it? In a heartbeat. Particularly if you simply want to immerse yourself in a delightful little world where the villain is besotted, the sidekick is sunshine with a blade, and the frog is possibly the greatest character ever.