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A review by sustainably_lucia
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It was fun to read and the more I think about it, the more I like it. I recommend reading a physical or digital copy of this book. I did not like the audiobook narrator and neither did my book club.
The author is a comedian and it shows. The characters were well thought out and the interactions between them all stole the show. The plot felt a bit chaotic at times but also charming and deep (kind of like Evie). This may have been because I listened to the audiobook and was often doing other things at the same time. I may feel differently when I read the physical version. There is a lot more depth and nuance than meets the eye (or ear) at first pass-through. It is the author’s first book and I feel she will get better at conveying the complex characters and story as the series advances. I lean toward more character-driven stories so I enjoyed this book immensely!
The thing I most wanted to know was The Villain’s backstory which you don’t find out til the end. Until then, the reader has to make assumptions and guesses as to the purpose and plan behind all the murder and mayhem. I also wanted to know what his actual plan was, other than pissing off King Benedict. I hope we get more in the next book.
The author is a comedian and it shows. The characters were well thought out and the interactions between them all stole the show. The plot felt a bit chaotic at times but also charming and deep (kind of like Evie). This may have been because I listened to the audiobook and was often doing other things at the same time. I may feel differently when I read the physical version. There is a lot more depth and nuance than meets the eye (or ear) at first pass-through. It is the author’s first book and I feel she will get better at conveying the complex characters and story as the series advances. I lean toward more character-driven stories so I enjoyed this book immensely!
The thing I most wanted to know was The Villain’s backstory which you don’t find out til the end. Until then, the reader has to make assumptions and guesses as to the purpose and plan behind all the murder and mayhem. I also wanted to know what his actual plan was, other than pissing off King Benedict. I hope we get more in the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Confinement, and Sexual assault