Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is the story of Evie Sage, who finds herself assistant to the Villain of the kingdom of Rennedawn, Trystan Maverine. Evie finds herself in a functionally dysfunctional office filled with baked goods, dragon trainers, and even a frog named Kingsley who communicates using sign language. Evie is determined to be the best assistant ever, except for the teeny crush she has on her hot boss.
I read this debut fantasy romance in audiobook format and was thoroughly delighted by Evie, Trystan, and the mishaps they seem to find themselves in everywhere they go. Evie is like a Disney princess personified, while Trystan is pathetically down bad for her from the get-go. This literally feels like The Office meets Once Upon a Time, a delightfully good time. The banter is hilarious, the plot is captivating, and most importantly, the yearning is so strong it’s practically dripping off the pages.
Read my full summary and review of Assistant to the Villain in this post.
Assistant to the Villain
Description
Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.
But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.
After all, a good job is hard to find.
The Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Assistant to the Villain
Book #2 Apprentice to the Villain
Tropes
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Humor
- Down bad MMC
- Workplace Romance (Sort of?)
- Found Family
Review
Where did you hear about this book?
Where did you hear about this book?
Overall Impressions 😊
Overall, I liked Assistant to the Villain, it’s a cozy novel that reminds me a bit of absurd comedy, but is also full of wonder and magic. It’s definitely a different take on the romantasy genre. Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series has a surprising amount of world building for the romantasy genre.
I found the plot compelling and the story strong, I liked the bizarre and funny moments, and I’m definitely excited to see how the next unfolds.
However, although Trystan as an evil overlord who has fallen for his sunshine assistant was very fun to read, I found Evie to be naive to a fault at times, and found her constant good humor exhausting.
Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟
This one was very much “Disney Princess gets a job offer from the most high-ranking villain of the kingdom.”
It honestly reminded me of a crossover between The Office, The Love Hypothesis, and Tangled. The grumpy, down bad MMC who falls first vs. the naive, quirky, smart FMC who can break down his walls is always a good time to read.
The placement of actual workplace terminology in a fantasy world, talk of excellent benefits while also discussing severed heads, did make me snort-laugh a few times, so if you like grown-up fairy tales with great banter and yearning, you’ll love this.
Characters 👥
Evie Sage is a textbook sunshine FMC. She’s pretty, she takes care of her sister, she is liked by everyone, she’s witty and clever. I adored her, even though I found her excessive mirth and constant optimism a bit exhausting sometimes. Also, how naive is she that she doesn’t realize Trystan is pathetically down bad? The “he would never like me” self-deprecating FMC doesn’t quite work for me.
Trystan Maverine was everything. He’s the classic “villain” who only turned bad because life made him, and who would’ve just become a baker if things went differently. He’s kind, grumpy, cares for Evie, and his monologue was swoonworthy. I love me a classic, jealous “I won’t touch her but I’ll also kill anyone else who does” MMC and just… sigh, I love him.
The side characters were also phenomenal, from Kingsley the frog (when will he turn into a Prince?), Blade the dragon trainer (when will he make a move?), Becky the HR manager (when do we get her backstory? I’m dying here), and even small Lyssa Sage, Evie’s younger sister (when will she become a villain of her own?). I love the side characters just as much as the main cast, and this is found family at its finest.
I even know how Fluffy and the Guvre turn out, so every cast member here is dear to my heart.
Plot 🗺️
This is the usual grumpy x sunshine romantasy story with a brand new twist, and also an unexpected romance, in an office setting.
It was captivating from start to finish, starting a bit slice-of-life (how does a fantasy office run?) and then turning into a mystery. I didn’t find the twists and turns of events surprising per se, but the flavor of it was lovely and different. I am kind of tired of the angry 20-year-old FMC who is the chosen one.
But the ending? Spectacular. This is the perfect debut and starting novel, setting up this world for a second and hopefully even third book to take us down an even further adventure.
And on top of that, there’s so much yearning. My goodness, every interaction between these two is full of horny pining, and I can’t wait to read more of that.
My Favorite Quote to Hook You 📣
“He was ruined. But he loved her anyway.”
Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Assistant to the Villain
Writing Style and Narration ✍️
There’s something very special about witty banter and literal jokes, and Assistant to the Villain delivered on both fronts.
I love me multi-POV books, especially when we get the MMC’s, and I thoroughly giggled, kicked my feet every time we entered this supposedly terrifying, evil villain’s mind to hear about just how much he likes his assistant.
One thing I will say though, I read this book in audiobook format, and although the voice was a great Evie, every sentence ended in a high pitch and it drove me mad. It’s much better in the second book, I’m happy to say, but it was hard to listen to during the first book.
I loved the innuendos and quips the characters had with one another, and a grin was plastered on my face the majority of the time.
Synopsis
📚 Where do you usually get your books?
📚 Where do you usually get your books?
Evie Sage’s Employment Status and A Traitor in the Office
While running from a mysterious danger, Evie Sage runs into the Hickory Forest. There, she runs into a man hiding behind bushes, who reveals himself to be the Villain. The Villain has gone after his pet frog Kingsley, a green creature with a golden crown above his head.
Evie has just lost her job at Otto Warsen, the local blacksmith’s office. Her father, Griffin Sage, is ill with the mystic illness, and her mother has run away after accidentally killing her older brother, Gideon Sage. Evie had to drop out of school to become the sole caregiver to her sister, Lyssa.
Evie’s chance encounter with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer. Hiding from King Benedict’s Valiant Guard, who are chasing him through the woods, the Villain offers her a job: Assistant to the Villain.
Five months later, Evie is working for the Villain as his Assistant at Massacre Manor, and has a massive crush on him while performing unspecified office duties as his levelheaded assistant.
The office, always in random mayhem, is full of interesting characters.
The Villain reveals that another one of their shipments has been compromised. The office makes its money by doing mercenary duties. King Benedict and his Valiant Guard keep intercepting their work, meaning there is a traitor in the office.
The offices HR Manager, Becky, is a strict woman who is a follower of rules. When Evie’s perpetual clumsiness gets to her, she goes and visits Tatianna, the office healer, to fix her bone. Tatianna also trades in secrets and makes potions for Evie’s father as pain medicine so he can be more comfortable.
Her family thinks Evie has gotten a maid job in a manor.
Evie begins making a list of employees in the office to uproot the traitor, including herself on the list. The Villain tells her it’s not possible for it to be her, as there’s a golden ring around Evie’s pinky that is an “employment bargain” preventing her from ever betraying him.
In the Villain’s perspective chapter, he is frustratingly enthralled by everything Evie is doing. Her hair, her humming, the way she speaks, everything she does is interesting to him. He’s utterly charmed.
Evie’s in the kitchen with Edwin the ogre, who is baking cookies. She hears a mysterious ticking noise. She investigates the source of it, finding a bomb in the Villain’s office. She picks up the bomb and runs outside so the manor isn’t harmed.
She makes it to the parapet to throw the bomb off, but her heel gets stuck in the pavement. The Villain returns to the manor at that instant, finds Evie stuck with the bomb, and throws himself over her to protect her.
Evie Learns the Villain’s Name and Meets Trystan’s Siblings
The Villain offers a carriage ride home, and meets Evie’s sister, Lyssa. He introduces himself with his real name, Trystan Maverine. Trystan charms Lyssa immediately.
The next day, Trystan asks Evie to meet him at a local tavern to investigate whoever planted the bomb. There, Evie is accosted by her former lover, Rick. They meet the tavern owner, Malcolm, who’s revealed to be Trystan’s brother.
Malcolm did sell the clock used for the bomb without realizing it, but they also discover that whoever was buying the supplies had blue ink on their fingers. Trystan’s sister, Clare, is a dealer in magical ink. Whoever is trying to get to Trystan is doing so through his friends.
The Villain and Evie begin getting closer, even though the Villain is trying to resist their attraction and Evie is trying to remain professional. They go and speak with Blade, the dragon trainer, to see how he’s coming along.
Blade asks Evie to go to his room to get a book about dragons, and Evie finds a letter of employment from King Benedict. This makes her think Blade is the traitor. Blade finds her with the letter and tries to stop her. He tells her that he is the son of a politician at King Benedict’s court and that he was offered employment, but he wants nothing to do with it. Evie tells him he needs to tell Trystan, or she will.
The Villain asks Evie to speak to the owner of the blue ink alongside Tatianna. They arrive at Clare’s cottage, who is Trystan’s sister and Tatianna’s ex-girlfriend. Clare is not a fan of Trystan’s business ventures, and that’s why she broke up with Tatianna as well.
Clare also reveals that Trystan and King Benedict have a history. When Evie asks him about it, he lashes out, hurting Evie emotionally.
Later, he catches up to Evie to apologize, and tells her it’s not that he doesn’t want to share, he just doesn’t know how.
Evie Hands Her Resignation and Fluffy the Dragon Reveals More About King Benedict
The Villain and Evie find themselves in a vent, eavesdropping on what others talk about in the office to uncover the traitor. They are very close, and the Villain is confused about what he’s feeling. In her usual clumsiness, Evie falls, bringing the Villain down with her.
Becky arrives with Blade’s letter from the King in hand. As it’s unsigned and she found it in Evie’s possessions, the Villain assumes the letter is Evie’s and becomes suspicious of her.
Evie is offended that the Villain would even question her, so she hands in her resignation.
The office begins falling apart as soon as Evangelina leaves. Becky is filling in for Evie and is smug about getting her fired. Blade confesses that the letter is his. The Villain feels terrible that he doubted Evie.
Evie stays in bed the next day, her sister worried that she also has the mystic illness.
Trystan is miserable without Evie in the office. He misses her but he can’t admit it. Evie eventually comes back to the office and apologizes for her outburst. Trystan apologizes as well for doubting her.
Blade has named the dragon Fluffy, and realizes that his collar was hurting him. After he takes the collar off, they find an engraving on the necklace that says “THE VILLAIN WILL FALL.” It appears King Benedict knew Blade would take the dragon and go work for the Villain.
Later, Trystan approaches Evie in her village, surprising her. He wants to go see the blacksmith who could have made the collar Fluffy was wearing. Trystan does not realize Evie’s discomfort, as the blacksmith is her former employer.
They go into Otto Warsen’s shop and Trystan pretends to be interested in his goods.
They ask about Fluffy’s chains, and Otto tells them it was someone wearing the King’s mark who bought it. When Evie tells him they won’t be needing his services, he yells at her. Trystan steps in and turns his back on Otto. Otto attacks them with a magical blade, the same blade he used to harm Evie on the day she was running in the woods.
Trystan is enraged and breaks Otto’s wrist. He wants to kill Otto, but Evie steps in. He settles on making him leave town. Trystan doesn’t push Evie to tell him the full story of what happened between the two of them, but tells her he will listen if she ever wants to talk.
The wound on Evie’s shoulder from the magical blade had been throbbing for some time, and it gets worse when the blade comes closer. Trystan discreetly asks Tatianna to help Evie get better.
Trystan Captures the Guvre, Becky and Evie Find Common Ground
Trystan and the Malevolent Guard capture a male Guvre, something King Benedict has wanted to do for a long time. Trystan is injured, which concerns Evie. Tatianna and Evie begin working on breaking the pain the blade caused her.
Capturing a Guvre has negative consequences, and the male Guvre begins a storm. Evie spends the night at the manor.
Evie, Blade, Tatianna, and Becky open a bottle of wine as they’re stuck in the manor due to the storm. Even the Villain joins them.
Eventually, the female Guvre, the male Guvre’s mate, arrives, wanting to rescue him. Trystan and Evie coax the female Guvre into the dungeons. Evie gets hurt, her hands becoming injured, which Trystan notices.
A map goes missing, which they think is related to the traitor.
They find Becky with the map and a mask of the Valiant Guard walking to the Gleaming City. It’s revealed that Becky has a grandmother sick with the mystic illness, and she wanted to sneak into the palace to find a cure.
At home, Evie finds a golden invitation for a party that promises a potential cure for the mystic illness.
Evie arrives at the party and finds Becky and Blade also invited. Blade has a crush on Becky, so he follows her around. Evie meets the host of the party, Arthur Maverine, who is Trystan’s father and also the core healer.
Trystan arrives, clearly having a strained relationship with his father. Evie and Trystan dance, and Trystan tells her a story about his neglectful parents.
The male guvre has escaped captivity and storms the party. They hatch a plan to recapture the Guvre, but Trystan is hit on the head and knocked out just as the Valiant Guard arrives.
Trystan, Evie and the others Escape the Party
The Valiant Guard has everyone at the party in custody and thinks Arthur is the Villain. To get herself and Trystan out of detainment, Evie lies about them being married. Trystan wakes up just as they’re about to escape, and worried he’ll lash out at the Valiant Guard, Evie kisses him. Trystan, thinking he’s in a dream, kisses her back passionately, showing his true feelings.
They’re about to escape, but the Valiant Guard takes them through the woods to see the healer. One of the guards propositions Evie, and Trystan kills them both. The Villain realizes he’s in love with Evie. He’s worried that Evie is going to be taken aback that he just murdered two guards — instead, Evie gives him a hug.
Becky, Clare, and Blade have captured the Guvre.
At the manor, Evie, Clare, and Tatianna try to expose her to the magical blade to reduce the pain. Hearing Evie’s screams, Trystan is beyond himself.
Tatianna makes another batch of potion for Evie’s father. Clare apologizes to them for selling the blue ink to the Valiant Guard traitor. She says she didn’t realize she sold blue ink, thanks to her favorite patron, East Marigold, being present.
Evie is shocked at the revelation and leaves Tatianna’s office, taking the healing potion. However, she also pockets another mystery vial.
Assistant to the Villain Ending Explained
When she arrives home, Evie finds her father cooking. She asks about her sister, then gives her father the potion. She seems suspicious of him.
She arrives at her father’s office and begins looking through his items. She finds letters from Nura Sage, her mother, asking to come home.
Clare confronts Trystan for clearly having feelings for Evie and urges him to tell her about the golden ink tattoo on her finger. Instead of giving her a tattoo of employment, which would poison her if she betrayed him, he has given her a golden one that lets him know if she’s ever in danger.
Clare talks about the blue ink, but a guard rushes in to tell them Lark Moray, the Valiant Guard who bought the blue ink, is dead. Clare reveals that it must be East Marigold, who once revealed his name to be Griffin Sage, Evie’s father.
Becky mentions Evie was gifted purple ink the week after she started by her father, which is secretly blue ink dropped with a few drops of red, revealing Evie’s father is working with the King by stealing the Villain’s secrets from Evie’s notebook.
Evie’s father sees her in his office and gets infuriated. He reveals she should’ve stayed with the blacksmith and accepted his offer to become his lover, revealing he tried to sell Evie. He also tells her that he was never sick with the mystic illness, and her mother’s disappearance is not what it seems.
He attacks Evie, but Evie reveals that the vial she gave him was not the healing potion, it was a sedative. She recognized the name East Marigold as soon as Tatianna told her, having known the name from her father’s stories. Griffin Sage passes out.
Trystan arrives and finds Evie over her father’s unconscious body. He asks Clare and Tatianna to take Lyssa to the manor.
Evie tells Trystan that her father said the King wants the mated Guvres.
Trystan tells Evie how he was once the apprentice to the King until he was imprisoned for his dangerous magic. He eventually escaped and became the Villain.
Evie is overwhelmed by her father’s betrayal again, and Trystan gives her a hug. They nearly kiss, but Kingsley interrupts them. Evie packs her and her sister’s belongings and they move to the manor.
On their way back to the Villain’s manor, they’re ambushed by the King and his men. Trystan begs for Evie’s life.
Otto Warsen appears, and the King hands Evie over to him, taking Trystan into captivity. Evie manages to overcome Otto’s attack and slices his throat with her magical dagger, the blade no longer hurting her.
One of the remaining guards turns on the others with a knowing look in her green eyes. Evie recognizes her.
Evie returns to the manor, hanging Otto Warsen’s head next to the other heads the Villain displays in the foyer. She tells the others not to worry. She has a plan for saving Trystan.
She vows to get Trystan back, or become a Villain herself trying.
Spicy Chapters
How Spicy is Assistant to the Villain (Book 1): 🌶️
Tinfoil Hats On: My Predictions for Book 2: Apprentice to the Villain
- Evie has Starlight magic
- Evie’s mom comes back
- Evie’s brother is alive
- King Benedict is the true Villain — duh
- Evie and Trystan do more kissing — duhhh
Don’t gaze into your boss’ eyes longingly Evie!
Assistant to the Villain was a wild ride that was the perfect palate cleanser in a sea of doom-and-gloom romantasies. It’s funny, original, and different from everything I’ve read, even though the FMC does give literal Disney princess.
It had no business going that hard at the end, and I cannot wait to read book 2 to find out just what these two and their found family get up to.
What did you think of Assistant to the Villain? Let me know in the comments.
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