Accomplice to the Villain is a new adult fantasy romance novel by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. The third installment in the New York Times bestselling series continues with the unfolding of the prophecy in Rennedawn after the events of Apprentice to the Villain.
This magical office comedy picks up exactly where the second book left off, expanding its ever-growing cast and building on the unexpected romance between Evie Sage and Trystan Maverine.
As a sucker for yearning and witty banter I adored Accomplice to the Villain. However, I did feel a little fatigued by the will-they-won’t-they tension and was starting to lose interest, but I stayed in because I’d already been invested after two books. I’m glad I did, because I was rewarded with special POVs like Kingsley’s and Gideon’s, side plots that hooked me in, and an ending that, though heavy on exposition, paid off.
Read my full summary, review and ending explained of Accomplice to the Villain.
This post contains spoilers.
Accomplice to the Villain
Description
REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.”
Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.
Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire—or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.
Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.
A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings.
Tropes
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Humor
- Down bad MMC
- Workplace Romance (Sort of?)
- Found Family
Review
Overall Impressions 😊
I am continuing to enjoy the series however I’m a bit fatigued. I adore Evie and Trystan, the constant yearning and the mix and match of the fairy tale elements. However there is such a thing as too much yearning, the will they won’t they lasted so long that I am beginning to lose interest.
I like the step into the territory of Once Upon a Time vibes, where we keep seeing hints of other fairytales with the Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and more.
I would have loved to see some more substantial plot progression rather than so much exposition, at least at the end, but I am happy with where we’re at right now and am excited finally for book 4 to go where I’ve been wanting to get to this entire time.
Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟
This one felt very much like, “What if a Disney Princess got a job offer from the most high-ranking villain in the kingdom?”
It honestly gave me major The Office meets The Love Hypothesis meets Tangled vibes. The grumpy, down bad MMC who falls first versus the naive, quirky, smart FMC who can break down his walls? Always a good time to read.
This book feels very Once Upon a Time like major fairy tale characters showing up in town so if you like retellings and crossovers this book is excellent.
Also, the placement of actual workplace terminology in a fantasy world, like talking about benefits packages while surrounded by severed heads, made me snort-laugh more than once. If you’re into grown-up fairy tales with great banter and serious yearning, you’ll love this.
Characters 👥
I like Evie. She is sunshine slowly being corrupted, and that feels different. I love that she is literally killing her opponents with kindness. Her confidence, maturity, and how much she knows her own value is lovely.
Trystan continues to be one of my favorite MMCs of the year, constantly white-knuckling furniture, door frames, and tables in his attempts to stay away from the family.
Becky, Gideon, Keeley, and Kingsley continue to be amazing side characters that I cannot get enough of. Overall, I appreciate the expanding cast and the side stories we dive deeper into.
Plot 🗺️
Although I’m enjoying the setting, the story and the characters I am beginning to struggle a tiny bit with the plot.
Trystan and Evie’s yearning was excellent to read through but this third book, despite the breaking of the dam, it was almost too much. There’s quite a bit of will they won’t they and although I really enjoy the yearning I was fatigued from it after a while.
The story line is fun, I like all the fairy tale elements, but at times I feel like it has almost too much going on. The plants, the starlight magic, the Guvre, the prophecy, enchantresses, Kingsley, Jellyfish Jones, Treehouse Manor; it does feel like a medley of story elements without getting a second to dive deeper.
I think the majority of the issues would have gone away if the series was a trilogy instead of a quadrilogy because I’ve been waiting for the ending of this book for 3 books now, and I am so excited for the role reversal we’re about to read through.
I think it’s a good time, although a bit distracted and a kitchen sink of story elements, I think it would have been much tighter as a trilogy with book 2 encompassing book 2 and 3, and book 3 being the new arc we’ll see in book 4 now, which is announced as Adversary to the Villain.
My Favorite Quote to Hook You 📣
“My pathetic, tortured soul is in tatters, and unfortunately, it’s yours.”
Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
Writing Style and Narration ✍️
The writing style is whimsical, funny, somewhat lyrical, but in a down-to-earth kind of way. It’s like you’re listening to a fairy tale taking place in an office.
I am loving the multiple POVs. When we were introduced to Alexander and then Gideon’s POV, I squealed with joy. An expanding world from other characters’ eyes is my kryptonite.
The innuendos, silly names, and Evie’s mind continuously being in the gutter is consistently enjoyable. Overall, the goofiness of this story is heartwarming and captivating.
Synopsis
A Dangerous Offer from King Benedict
The story starts with a prologue where Evangelina (Evie) Sage arrives at Massacre Manor one month into the job, after her boss, the villain of Rennedawn, sends a raven at four in the morning asking her to come in early.
Trystan, however, has no recollection of sending the raven, and admits that sometimes he doesn’t know what he’s doing when his death magic is active.
Jumping to the current timeline, we get Kingsley’s POV. The golden prince of the Southern Kingdom has spent the past ten years as a frog. Kingsley is Trystan’s best friend and communicates only through signs. He’s worried about Evie and Trystan, who refuse to admit they’re in love.
Trystan has been keeping Evie at arm’s distance as his magic continues to act out around her. Lyssa Sage, Evie’s sister, informs him that Evie has left on a mission with Keeley. Frustrated and worried, Trystan buries his face in the scarf Evie gave him on the first day they met.
Trying to prevent the destiny the monster warned him about, Trystan continues to push Evie away.
Evie returns to the manor covered in blood. When Trystan asks what happened, she reveals she and Keeley were attacked by King Benedict’s Malevolent Guards while searching for clues about the prophecy. Evie killed one of the men in the fight. They know parts of the prophecy but still lack the complete text. Trystan is furious she put herself in danger, but he dismisses her again, determined to keep his distance.
Nura Sage tries to make amends with her daughters, but both Lyssa and Evie continue to give her the cold shoulder. Evie and Nura discuss Nura’s relationship with Lyssa.
Later, the group gathers in Evie’s new office to discuss the prophecy: Gideon, Kingsley, Tatiana, Clare, and eventually Trystan. They’re interrupted when Marv, the guard, announces that King Benedict has arrived.
The King offers them a deal: in exchange for Nura Sage, he’ll reveal the rest of the prophecy. They reject him.
Trystan’s magic lashes out, becoming visible to everyone. Nura is terrified at the sight, and her own starlight magic reacts violently. A beam of starlight shoots toward Lyssa, but Keeley jumps in front of her, protecting her. Keeley is injured, though Lyssa is unharmed. Gideon rushes Keeley to Tatiana’s office for treatment.
Nura’s magic also breaks Evie’s favorite glass stained window.
The Clues in the Stained Glass
Evie is in the kitchen with Becky and Lyssa as they discuss the prophecy, something Evie is desperate to complete. Becky and Lyssa leave, leaving Evie to ponder her next steps. A man arrives to repair the window. When Blade tells her the repairman has already arrived, Evie whips out her dagger, chasing the man in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Trystan is with the actual repairman who tells him there are inscriptions on the window. Trystan realizes the Prophecy is written on the stained glass windows.
Evie gets into a fight with the intruder, who ends up being Calvin Warsen, Otto Warsen’s son. Trystan arrives, protecting Evie. Evie hits her head and gets a concussion. He is terrified that Evie’s hurt.
Clare helps Tatianna heal Keeley. They want to cut her hair that’s burnt by the starlight magic, something that terrifies Keeley. Gideon steps in, comforting her. Trystan arrives, carrying Evie in his arms and tells them what happened.
Trystan holds a meeting in his office to discuss next steps. He notices Kingsley acts weird, sometimes he’s more frog than prince. They think it’s because the magic in Rennedawn is fading.
Realizing someone in the manor enters in and out without being noticed, Becky summons her brother Roland to inspect the hedge maze outside the manor.
Evie finds Edwin on the floor, someone tied him up.
Trystan and Evie torture Calvin together. They visit the male guvre who is in pain and saddened that his mate is taken.
Trystan packs a picnic for Evie. They flirt and kiss. Trystan momentarily gives into the moment but remembers what the destiny monster has said and pulls back.
Evie tells Trystan she loves him. She tells him he doesn’t need to respond and she only wanted him to know he’s loved.
Trystan’s magic acts out, causing the guvre and Fluffy to react.
Kingsley’s Curse
Trystan feels guilty about not breaking Kingley’s curse sooner, despite trying endlessly for 10 years. Kingsley and Trystan discuss Trystan’s kiss with Evie, but Kingsley becomes a frog again cutting the discussion short.
Gideon helps Keeley with the plan for infiltrating the Gleaming Palace to free the guvre.
Trystan asks Tatianna to check on Kingsley. It is revealed that Kingsley has turned into a frog when Trystan’s mother hired an enchantress to kill Trystan, but Kingsley walked into the room first and got hit by the spell.
Kingsley thinks about his friendships, when sun blasts through the stained glass window. The inscription lights up and they see that the true love of the true prince is the fourth piece of the prophecy, which is Kingsley. They decide to do everything they can to break the curse and go see the Curse Consultant.
They ride into the forest with Trystan and Evie flirting. They are interrupted when Clare and Tatianna are surrounded by a giant bat. The curse consultant Lionel appears with a clear disdain for Trystan.
Lionel has asked years ago to see if anyone cares about Trystan, now that Evie does, he decides to help. He also reveals there are two curses present, one on Kingsley and one on Trystan’s magic.
Evie is devastated by this news, because she thought they were true loves. As true love’s kiss breaks all curses, Trystan and Evie kissing should’ve broken the curse which it did not. Evie storms off and sees King Benedict arriving and they flee.
Becky introduces Blade and Roland. Roland discovers that someone’s been cutting through the thorns, entering the manor.
Trystan, Evie and the others return to the manor to find the enchantress who put a spell on Kingsley. The enchantress is in the southern kingdom, awaiting trial for supposedly killing the crown prince. The border of the Southern Kingdom is protected via a magical spell. Trystan knows someone who has a magic wand that might help them enter.
Kingsley listens to the conversation, then becomes hungry. He suddenly loses his sentience.
Trip to Retrieve The Wand
Nura asks Evie how she can repair her relationship with Lyssa. Evie confesses to her mother that she never got to be a child because of her, neither did Lyssa.
She compares the letters Lyssa is sent by Griffin to manipulate her to find the traitor in the manor.
Trystan insists they need to leave to find the wand as Kingsley’s condition worsens.
Becky confesses to Tatianna and Evie she has feelings for Blade.
Trystan, Evie, Clare and Tatianna leave to visit Lord Edmund Fowler to retrieve the wand. On their way there they get attacked.
Clare and Tatianna wake up in a library while Evie and Trystan finds themselves in Lord Fowler’s hot air balloon. Trystan pushes him out of the basket, Fowler can fly however, something Trystan knows.
Fowler considers giving them the wand, in exchange for Trystan attending a dinner party he hosts.
Gideon and Keeley leave for Gleaming Palace. Gideon thinks Keeley is the traitor as she knew Edwin was tied up and he found letters under her desk.
Evie and Tatianna dress up for Fowler’s dinner party. Trystan is overwhelmed by her siren costume, as they flirt.
They lose Kingsley. Evie starts a game in the room, she offers a night with the Wicked Woman aka herself to whoever finds Kingsley first. Trystan is infuriated and he starts looking for Kingsley.
Blade and Becky flirt, and eventually kiss. Marv arrives with the memory plant. Becky is infuriated Roland brought the plant to steal her magic. Becky asks to have Roland put in the dungeons.
Evie and Trystan look for Kingsley. Evie finds him dangling from a branch. She saves him by climbing on the tree but falls, Trystan catches her.
Gideon and Keeley approach the palace. Gideon confronts him about being the traitor. Keeley tells him the letters signed by “The King” is not Benedict but her father.
Fowler announces Trystan as the winner. Trystan panics as they are escorted to the lovers suite. Evie takes a bath and Trystan has to restrain himself.
In Fowler’s library, Clare and Tatianna try to use yellow ink to get secrets from Griffin’s letters. Kingsley has another episode and knocks black ink on the letter. They find the wand, and discover a secret passage.
Trystan continues to restrain himself. Evie being naked in the room is hard for him. They flirt. When Trystan pushes her away again, Evie tells him that she’s done chasing him. Trystan realizes Evie is slipping away, kisses her. They fool around.
When he stops them again, Evie tells him she can’t just have some of him and walks away. She tells him she’ll be there when he’s finally ready to be with her, completely.
Keeley and Gideon infiltrate the Gleaming Palace, bonding. They dispatch Valiant guards and find the female guvre.
Becky professes her love to Blade. Nora’s starlight magic trapped in the memory flower shoots out, hitting Blade. Blade tells Becky he loves her and passes out.
Clare and Tatianna discuss their relationship and decide to give it another try after all of their villainy is over. The secret passage leads to Trystan and Evie’s suit.
Fowler tells them he split the Wand’s power into glass slippers and Trystan’s mother have them. They need an enchantress who wears the slippers and has the wand to enter the Southern Kingdom.
Gideon and Keeley free the guvre. Gideon realizes Keeley was not sent by Trystan, but the traitor. He figures out that from the letters Keeley has, Marv is the traitor.
Trip to Trystan’s Mother’s House
They decide to sail to Trystan’s village via boat. The boat belongs to Tatianna’s father Jellyfish Jones. The boat is pink, like Tatianna.
Trystan discovers it’s Evie’s birthday. He locks her in a room so he can throw her a party and celebrate her birthday.
The ship is attacked by pirates.
Back in the manor, Roland explains that he brought the plant so Nura’s magic in the flower can settle in the manor. Marv appears, insisting he needs help with Fluffy.
They defeat the pirates and Trystan insists they sing happy birthday to Evie.
Becky calls Trystan. She says Fluffy is upset, Blade is passed out and everything is wrong. Becky asks why did Trystan send all of the Malevolent guards when he himself is gone. Evie and Trystan panic, realizing the guards have left and they haven’t sent them on a mission, the traitor did.
They celebrate Evie’s birthday. Trystan and Evie dance. Trystan promotes her from apprentice to accomplice. He tells her he read Arthur’s letter.
They arrive at Trystan’s village. Arthur helps them sneak into her mother Amara and her house. There, they meet a clumsy servant girl named Winnifred.
Becky and Lyssa comfort each other. Becky wants to look through her letters, but the male guvre is agitated and they are interrupted. Lyssa, glowing with starlight magic, jumps onto the guvre’s back. Becky joins her, the two of them taking flight.
Evie and Trystan meet with Trystan’s mother. She’s cold and cruel. Clare reveals she’s been corresponding with Amara not as a betrayal to Trystan but so she could see things from his perspective.
Amara does not want to take responsibility for Kingsley’s curse. She tells them she hired an enchantress to kill Trystan because he has death magic. Clare interfered by hiring another enchantress named Belinda and asked the her to turn Trystan into a frog instead. Alexander Kingley walked in first and he ended up with the curse.
Belinda is captured in the Southern Kingdom and faces execution.
Blade has awakened and chases Becky and Lyssa on Fluffy’s back. They land. Blade tells him Lyssa’s starlight magic has awakened them. The guvre has taken them to his nest with petrified eggs, since female guvre has been in captivity for 10 years.
The female guvre escapes. Gideon and Keeley kiss.
Amara and Trystan fight. Amara says Trystan is cursed because he can’t love. Trystan, frustrated, confesses his love for Evie and storms out.
Evie, shocked, follows him to the barn. Trystan asks her to stay away but Evie is fed up and wants to know the truth. Trystan confesses his love for her. He also tells her they can’t be together because of what the destiny monster said.
Evie tells him she’s done others deciding her fate. They give into their feelings, and finally have sex.
Accomplice to the Villain Ending Explained
Amara tells them Winnifred is Belinda’s daughter, and she can wield the wand and wear the slippers to enter the kingdom.
Winnifred or Winnie, is quiet and reserved. She also has a strange aversion to Kingsley.
The next day, they journey to the southern kingdom.
Arthur as the Core Healer sneaks them into the castle. Kingsley, recognizing his home, takes off. After going through a hallway full of portraits, he touches a portrait of his own and a secret door opens.
They find themselves in the throne room. Surrounded by King Gavin and Queen Brina, they plead Belinda’s case. Belinda offers to reverse the curse but before she can do so she is turned into stone.
Blade, Lyssa and Becky arrive at the castle with Fluffy. A knight runs at Evie to kill her, but Arthur jumps in front of her saving her life but receiving a fatal wound. Arthur apologizes to Trystan for neglecting him as a dying father, and tells him that he is not his biological father. Amara was pregnant when they get together.
He thanks Evie for loving his son. He takes his last breath as Evie drowns in her guilt for Arthur saving her life.
Gideon and Keeley return to the manor. The place is storming with Valiant Guards. Gideon takes off, wanting to find Lyssa and Nura. When he enters Nura’s room he is hit on the head and passes out. He wakes up in the manor to find his father Griffin standing over him. His father tells him his mother knocked him out. Tied to a chair, his mother tries to explain but his father points the magic plant at her. Nura is swallowed by the plant.
Gideon feels like a failure. Keeley comforts him but there’s nothing they can do now but to fight. They find Marv and restrain him.
Trystan, Evie and the others return to the manor to find the place in chaos. Winnie tries to turn Kingsley back into a human but it doesn’t work.
They find King Benedict in the kitchen. He tells them the true story. Him and Amara had an affair before she got married and she got pregnant. He let her keep the baby on the condition that he’ll do whatever he wants with the child.
When Griffin’s daughter manifested death magic, The King cursed Trystan so he would bear the magic not Evie. Because the death magic is truly Evie’s it’s been acting out when it’s in her presence.
Trystan is the Prince of Rennedawn and the Prince from the Prophecy. Evie is the True Villain. She absorbs her magic.
The king leaves, and Evie ponders what happened. She tells Trystan that he needs to stay away from her. Trystan refuses, tells him it is his turn to fight for her.
In the epilogue, Clare is getting ready to stay goodbye to Arthur, her father. He always wanted a burial at sea.
A beautiful, handsome man emerge from the sea. Clare is shocked, as she recognizes the man. Kingsley has turned back to a human.
Does Apprentice to the Villain end on a cliffhanger?
Not really, definitely not as big of a cliffhanger as Book 2. We’re definitely headed to an interesting direction, but I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger.
Spicy Chapters
How Spicy is Accomplice to the Villain (Book 3): 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (2.5 rounded up to 3)
- Chapter 75
Is Apprentice to the Villain Spicy?
Yes, but it’s sort of fade to black!
Tinfoil Hats On: My Predictions for Book 4
- The name of the fourth book is announced, it is Adversary to the Villain!
- Evie leaves to protect those around her.
- Evie tries to keep Trystan safe by staying away from him.
- Kingsley and Winnie fall in love.
What did you think of Accomplice to the Villain? I for one, love fairy tales, and cannot wait another year for the next book!
Let me know what you thought about the book in the comments and your theories for the next book!
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