emeraldpages 's review for:

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
3.0
adventurous funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
Assistant to the Villain follows Evie Sage, who stumbles into a chase between the Villain and the valiant guards of the king—only to end up with a job offer from the Villain himself. The offer is extremely generous and would provide much-needed support for her family, but there’s a catch. She has to deal with everything from severed heads hanging on the walls to managing an inconvenient crush on her boss—all while trying to uncover who within the castle is secretly plotting to kill him.

I found the book to be humorous, with fun character interactions and dialogue that made me laugh out loud a few times. The banter between characters kept the tone light, and I enjoyed getting to know the supporting characters.

The overall style of the book was engaging, but at times, the pacing dragged. The investigation into who was trying to take out the Villain involved long stretches of characters accusing different people—sometimes willingly, sometimes unwillingly—which made certain sections feel repetitive. A more concise approach would have kept the momentum stronger. That said, the story itself was enjoyable, and I just skimmed through some of the slower parts.

One aspect that left me unconvinced was the relationship between Evie and the Villain. It felt a bit forced, as if it was included just for the sake of romance, rather than developing organically. The story might have been stronger if the dynamic had remained one-sided because, as written, it didn’t feel particularly relatable.

Another issue I had was the book’s occasional tonal imbalance. It mostly aims to be a cozy, funny, and readable story, but at times, it introduces heavy topics like sexual assault and family trauma without much warning or delicate handling. These moments felt out of place and may be difficult for some readers, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings beforehand.

A fun touch was the map at the beginning of the book—it was creative and matched the overall whimsical tone. However, it would have been more useful if it included key locations like the king’s residence, Evie’s home and town, and the villain’s castle to better ground the reader in the world.

Overall, I’d recommend Assistant to the Villain for those looking for a fantasy with humor, mystery, and quirky characters. I’ll be checking out the next book.
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