July 21, 2025sarahylockwood

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Rate: 4/5

Medium: Audiobook

Overview (No Spoilers):

My friend, Marty, has absolutely fantastic book recommendations. Assistant to the Villain is no exception as I enjoyed the relatively light storytelling that is often at odds to the dark situations Evie finds herself navigating when in the employ of the Villain. 

This story unfolds from the vantage points of both the Assistant, Evie Sage and Trystan, the Villain. Oh goodness, these are two complicated characters who seem naturally drawn to each other in the slowest burn ever. I eventually gave up hoping that one of them would make a move. 

I found the search for the traitor intriguing, though due to our limited list of characters within the Villain’s circle, I dreaded finding out which of the beloved characters would turn treacherous. I found that my mind would gnaw at this problem even when I wasn’t reading. Just as I would stumble upon a theory as to the identity of the perpetrator, I would be proved wrong the very next chapter. I’d mulled over the true perpetrator early during on, though I was incredulous due to how impossible it seemed. When my theory proved accurate, the reveal tied everything together so very neatly, leaving the reader horrified at the implications in the process.

Overall, being light and full of humor despite the quantity of dark events occurring, Assistant to the Villain is a mystery that delightfully flummoxes both Evie and the reader. Not to mention, Maehrer adds in an extremely slow burning romance that will keep the reader hooked as the Villain and his often clumsy assistant are oblivious to a fault.

Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):

  • Where is Evie’s mom?
  • Does Evie have magic?
  • Where did the King take Trystan? What do the King want with the Guvres?
  • Evie’s dad was the worst! Giving her to Otto to get rid of her! Faking an illness. Honestly this turn of events left me with whiplash as we’d only seen him as a doting father.
  • The blue ink is a brilliant addition to the story. I kept wondering how it would come into play.
  • What will Evie think when she learns about the Gold Ink?

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