"An engaging love story about finding strength in vulnerability." ―Kirkus Reviews
NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. —Mgmt
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office.
But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs—Kingsley’s included—point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies...including their nemesis, the king.
Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.
It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun.
But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?
I'm not as critical about this series as im about other books because this is a more comfy, feel good series and I review this solely based on my enjoyment
I had such a fun time reading this book. It's a book that you can read on a bad day and would make you happy or a book that you can read while you're sad and will make you laugh. It has so much angst, tension and swoon-worthy romance. It is worth it and I think this trilogy is shaping up to be one of my comfort reads. While, I did not enjoy it as much as the first one, the middle book syndrome really played a part in this one because the pacing wasn't as fast and the first and not much happened of substance but the way this story is written and presented is so fun to read which made these issues of less significance for me. I loved how it started with all the action and plotting and humor and as we progressed the action minimized a bit and the plotting drifted away as well but the humor remained lol and I was hoping for a big cliffhanger like we got in book 1 but that was missing so my only urge to read the third one is to see Evie and the Villain get together.
The characters were so fun to read. Evie was strong and stood up more, she made decisions and I liked her. We got to see more of her badass side and she was ready to risk everything for that kiss lmaoo, she was great but The Villain stole the show for me he was such a grumpy, broody, jealous, possessive cutie patootie. I loved him so much and I love his relationship with Lyssa. Him taking the things he did with her so seriously lol and I love how Lyssa tried imitate him. I also loved the scene where villain kicked Blade because he got jealous of Blade hugging Evie lol. Becky and Blade deserve their own book because I want more from their side- tbh screw all of them. We need Kingsley's book!!
The romance was the dumbest, cutest, giggles inducing, feet kicking, blush inducing, smirk forming romance that I have ever read!! it was so fun to read them both pine over each other and think about each other and care for each other. uggh I loved it soooooooo much!! I want MOREEE. I am not satisfied but also am??
Overall, this was super fun to read and I cant wait to dive into book 3!! ___ I'm here to collect my cutie patootie villain 🤭
I had a lot of fun with this book but it wasn't as good as book one.
I absolutely LOVED the slow burn, angsty romance between Evie and Trystan. The chemistry between the two is just magical. The fact that they're both protective, possessive and so into each other just makes me smile. I was giggling, blushing and kicking my feet. They need to happen already 😩😩
Evie is becoming so confident and badass. I like how she's taking charge of things. Her powers were really interesting to me but the way it was executed was just mediocre. Where did those powers come from? What happened there? It needed plentiful explanation done in the right way. We're expected to just understand it.
I love Trystan. He is the best part about these books. His whole persona of the Villain is so sexy. I always enjoy his scenes and whenever he is with Evie, makes it even better. I love how he's into her, how villainous he can get for her. I absolutely adore his pov. Always. More. Trystan. 🥵
The execution of the book is chaotic and it sort of drags in the second half. The fantasy elements were really weak in this book compared to book one. If you're going to be building a romantasy, there needs to be some level of fantasy foundation and this book did nothing of that sort. Things just happen, explanations are weak and questionable. I simply did not understand unfortunately. I also did not care for the side characters pov that much...
I found the ending to be on the weaker side as well. I am definitely curious where it all leads to in the next book but at the same time am not holding my breath for it. This book had a lot of potential but a lot of what happened did not make any sense. Hopefully the next book will be better.
~•~•~ Here for the villain cause he is my hero... Too cheesy? 👀
╰┈➤ ”the villain didn’t miss light. he missed color.”
<— that quote alone was enough to make me give this five stars 😭 i’m a sucker for a well timed callback (*cough* kaz brekker ‘that was the laugh’ *cough*)
but anyways! i loved this. i still think the first one was my favorite but this was such a fun time and i read this so fast and now i have to wait another year for the third book 🫠 it’s fine I’m fine I’ll be fine. maybe since hannah and i are totally friends we don’t know each other she’ll let me read an advanced copy? hannah if you’re reading this: i’ll let you out of my basement if you do!! still don’t know each other
but i digress 🤭 evie and trystan were adorable as always and they had me giggling and kicking my feet through this whole book. the miscommunication trope runs strong in this but it’s in such a fun way that it’s not even annoying in the context of the story. the villain dying to keep his composure at everything evie does never gets old 🤭 he’s so bbg and i love him so much. fictional 👏 husband 👏 material 👏
and blade and becky!! i didn’t expect to love them that much but becky reminds me a lot of myself and i want me a blade yk? 🥹 also kingsley being the mvp as always 🐸 your crown isn’t the only thing making you a king, sir 👑
like i know i said this last time but this series is just so fun like it’s so unserious and ridiculous and rom-com core and it makes me feel like i’m 13 again and obsessing over my latest crush (cause believe me there was is a lot).
like the whole ‘evie losing a journal where she has drawings of her and the villain kissing and then he finds it and gets mad because who is she drawing herself making out with?’ you know what i mean? it’s just so cheesy, disney channel show core and i love it!! it’s just so adorable and wholesome and this book made me so giddy fr 🤭 like if you’re looking for a complex world and a serious plot this isn’t for you but if you want this hilarious, silly, fun time than please read this 🎀🫶
also lyssa was one of my favorite characters!! everyone being so sweet to her and loving her immediately was so cute and she is such a fun character. also the tea party—😭
ok let’s just make a list of adorable, screaming crying throwing up, laugh out loud moments because i have to many
• the villain having a tea party with lyssa and taking it deathly serious • the reveal at the end with the whole antidote thing (iykyk, i can’t say more bc spoilers) • the villain kicking blade because he hugged evie (jealous king 🙇♀️) • the ‘it’s so beautiful’ ‘yes it is’ but he’s looking at her trope ahhhh • all of chapter 46 • lyssa baking and everyone saying it’s the best treats they’ve ever tasted • the tornado night light 😩 • becky’s hot brothers who are all trained in combat (ok hawthornes 💅) • the constant bashing of the interns lolol • and last but certainly not least, kingsely wearing a dress
also i enjoyed, like the first one, how this had no spice!! the romance (or what there was of it 😭 admit your feelings outright guys cmon) was still super strong with it still being clean and i hope she keeps it like that for the final book
the plot was super fun and there was more of the magic system and the world in this one. some parts still confuse me but hey i was just along for the ride 🩰
ok hannah, you know the drill from last time, you have to leave now for just one second. ok, my only two complaints with this are that 1) sometimes everything felt a little too dramatic and like the emotions the characters were feeling only existed for that particular scene to work well yk? and 2) there was some cussing and innuendos that this book would have been fine without!
but there were such minor things and anyways, i just had such an amazing time with this book and i am so proud of hannah and i hope this book does so well. so you should all read it. for me. please?
i can’t recommend this series enough and i can’t wait for book 3 and i am going to be sitting here waiting until next year for it to come out until then 🤭💋
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➳ pre review ⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚
we have a title and a cover!! i’m so excited for this book (and for the tv series like whattttt) i love this series sm 🤭 august cannot get here fast enough 😌🎀
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➳ update 8•6•24 ⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚
release day lets goooo!!!! this book cannot get to my house fast enough
I was super excited for this book, and loved the first in the series. However, I am left with a feeling of disappointment at the conclusion. The first book felt like a compilation of episodic stories about two people falling in love. I know that may not be everybody’s cup of tea but I ate that shit up. This sequel felt like a mess. The story jumped back and forth and introduced new characters that didn’t really affect the plot that much? The relationship between Evie and Trystan was completely sabotaged by the author’s misplaced sense of tension. There are only so many times an intimate moment can be interrupted before I lose my mind. It’s not clever writing, just redundant. The introduction of new point of views was also a questionable decision, and I found myself speeding through those sections to get back to Evie or the Villain. I think the author lost her grasp on this story and allowed for too many ideas to break free at once. I will read the final book but I am severely disappointed with this sequel.
What is the definition of a cozy mystery? because I don't usually like them but reading this gave me a cozy mystery vibe and I did like it (my sister said I'm way off so I need your knowledge).
This picked up without a major time jump after the 1st, we have out main characters in different places and they are trying to find their way back to each other in a way. This is fully YA on the romance front, with no funny business (I WISH WE GOT SOME).
It was a bit slower and we got more characters involved than the 1st, we even had some not main character's POV chapters this time around. Had some really cute and funny moments in it. Not a 5-star because of the pacing and the way the 'we will ignore this ever happened' was dragged out a little too much for my taste.
Want the 3rd, had a good time, give me a little less slow burn PLEASE. ----------------------------- 💘 Buddy Read With Bestie Bella 💘
How am I supposed to wait until Sept. 2024 for book two to be released?! 😭 Book 1 was everything I didn't know that I needed, and that ending had me gasping 😱 I'm holding my breath for more spice between The Villain and Evie 🫶🏻
although this started off a bit slow, i wasn’t bored for even a second! i was worried this would suffer from second book syndrome like many other trilogies, but this far exceeded my expectations. i think i actually liked it even more than book 1
the plot in this one was amazing. i wasn’t sure where this could possibly go from the first book, but it really pulled out all the stops. the last 30-40% really blew me away. i never knew what was going to happen next, and maybe i’m just really not good at picking up hints, but i never saw most of the plot twists coming. the quests were so fun and really kept the story moving
the romance: chefs kiss. is the slow burn a little infuriating? perhaps, but i’m a sucker for it every time. evie and trystan have my whole heart and i’m rooting for them so hard. and the side characters romance is just as good too. the found family in this is probably one of my new favorites. all of the characters interactions with each other tugged on my heart strings. i was a little skeptical at first, but i enjoyed the addition of new povs.
this series is definitely a favorite of mine now, and im dying to have book 3 in my grubby little hands immediately
The audacity... I hate finding a book before the series is finished. 😭 I don't know how to function when I love the stories so much... I am so beyond anxiously waiting. Also Kingsley right? 🥰🥹
Apprentice to the villain ~ four stars buddy read with hailey🪄💜
”Sometimes family isn’t a thing we are born into but a choice we make. Sometimes”—Evie smiled—“the people who love you most in your life are the ones who choose you.”
I won’t lie, this book is good!! As good as the first? No, I found it slower that squat several times. Although there is still good plot twist😍 also I’m I the only one that questions the title? It’s not up until the last 100-150 ish pages that she is considered the apprentice and even then it’s just talked about a (few) more things as it’s a fancy title. There is no apprenticeship as one would call it unless you want to agree that one part (it’s spoiler if I say what) is apprenticeship but technically it’s not. I honestly feel like the author needed another title and came up with it after she wrote it. So she went and added a bit of it to the end and never thought twice about it:( did this bug (whoever as read it) you guys as much as me??
”Nice to see you, too, boss. Might I ask why you just kicked me?” He continued to stare, expressionless. “My foot slipped.”
Tropes + what to expect 🐸 —>slow burn —>grumpy x sunshine —>workplace romance —>hates everyone expect her —> he/she will kill for each other —>magic (like Kingsley🐸) —>dual pov -short chapters —>side character romance —>fantasy x mystery x romance
”I think I am very sad. But I won’t be forever.”
Evie & the Villain are back! Evie is still loving her job working for the evil overlord, I mean, villain. Rennedawn is in serious trouble though. Everything is point to a big mess! It’s time for Evie to protect her boss, her co-workers and oh, just the whole kingdom🫡 Doe this task Evil Will have to pick up a few more skills like using dragger. Can Evie and the Villain save Rennedawn from its ruins??
”She loved his smile and his rare laughter. She loved that in one moment he could be fiercely protective and in the next he could be soft and unsure.”
everything about this story was as adorable as it was genius. There’s just something so magical about Hannah’s storytelling abilities. The characters are alive and teeming with personality; the world is LIVED IN. It existed before I picked up the books and it will long after I put them down. The way Hannah marries cutesy, tongue in cheek and downright laugh out loud moments to tender, pulse quickening, therapeutic and REAL moments is all star. This was so well thought out, so well constructed and heart racing to say the least! One moment I was cheesing like the Cheshire Cat and the VERY next I was palming my forehead and panting “oh no, oh no, oh no.”
I will also say that Becky was an absolute masterpiece in this book and I love how she became such a larger part to the story.
Trystan is SO DOWN BAD but he was so hot and so protective and so… so…. (Big pink feathery hat had me on my knees) dreamy.
I know what I’m wishing on a star tonight. And it’s for book 3 to be in my hands as soon as possible!
I definitely liked this one more than the first book, Evie irritated me a lot less and the other characters won me over more in this one too (tbh I almost didn't know who was who in book 1 bc they all seemed like the same person). I liked how the plot developed but for me the highlight of the entire book was the development of Becky's character, maybe it's bc I wasn't expecting anything like that but I was surprised by how much I started to like her. The romance is still too bland for me, it's not that I don't like them but if you asked me something like "name 30 book couples" they’d never cross my mind, I *completely* forget about them as soon as I finish these books.
This was a fun read and saved me from a huge book slump so it really deserved the 4 stars.
“You just can't kill people and be pretty. It's confusing.”
Oh I am here for all of this. And I know this is book #2 and book #3 will be epic so we can't move the plot TOO far along but god I loved hearing from some other folks too. Obviously the Villian and Evie Safe are why I'm reading but let's also talk about the friendship budding between Evie and Rebecka. And maybe another love story between Rebekah and Blade? Claire and Tatianna? I am here for ALL the side characters but especially Fluffy.
If you read the first you need to know how Evie goes from being an Assistant to an Apprentice and DEAR LORD THAT ENDING.
This book felt like a parody of the first one. The things I loved in the previous book, such as the grumpy & sunshine trope, or Evie's strong will, or plot twists in an intrigued storyline, have all become overdone. The villain is pinning so hard that it is pathetic and strongly in the level of miscommunication. The main character is now pedantic and very two-dimensional, always on the brinck of death but always avoiding. The plot twist stopped being fun after the 50th page.
This series is so much fun. I loved the first book, and I'll be honest, I expected more from this second one - as nice as it was. I know it's probably me, and my love for romance and my hate for slow-burn plots that feel unnecessary, but here we are and that's what every single interaction between The Villain and Evie felt like.
This was a nice YA fantasy book. I, however, am not the biggest fan of YA fantasy (I know, what's wrong with me, right?) But listen, being in my mid-20s, seeing stories about grown adults questioning if the person they're in love with wants to hold hands and if a single kiss will make them spiral is... it's just very high school, and I was so very glad to leave all that behind. I don't do insecure, unsure, ok-for-now-but-we'll-see-tomorrow kind of people. And I certainly do not appreciate it in made-up people (aka the characters in the books I read). So, yes, this book was fun. In an "I'm 15 and looking for adventures in a fantasy land" kind of way. It had the travels, the family drama, the monsters and mythological creatures, and a lot of deaths and talks of torture.
I thought this book would be a step forward in the story, in the romance, in the connection between all characters, and I do feel a bit dissapointed at that. We see more of the pieces of the puzzle connect, we get a rescue mission with impossibly high stakes and a ridiculously wild plan, we get a new objective and a new (not so) evil plan. We see past characters and explore new ones. Still, it feels like this book inched forward - like everything took pains to happen.
I will most definitely read book #3 - even if it's with the hope that we'll get to see this get where it needs to be.
No 🌶 - We get a kiss, but that's not even all that great given the way the characters and plot move on from it.
This series is so wonderfully chaotic. It's silly and sweet and exciting. Every chapter has something exciting happening. In fact, every chapter ends in a cliffhanger that makes you want to keep reading. It's rare for me to really adore both main characters in a book, but I really love Evie and Trystan. I love how obsessed Trystan is with Evie, but he's so dorky and sweet (even though he's the big bad villain). Sometimes the book feels cheesy and too silly, but I think that's the whole point. It's SUPPOSED to be a little cheesy and silly, and it works. To me, I think of this as an adult story that's using tools and characters from fairytales and famous cartoons about villainous plots and magical creatures to entertain readers. I find this series extremely clever.
I wanted to get a bit more from the overall plot in this and what they're trying to do to defeat Benedict, which is why this is a 4-star for me, but overall I really loved it. I honestly don't have a lot of critiques. Sometimes the writing would jump scenes a bit too quickly for me to follow, but for the most part, I was blushing and kicking my feet. It probably won't be the best series you've ever read, but it's highly entertaining with a super sweet main character(s), lovable side characters, and laugh-out-loud humor. It's a play on classic villain fairytale stories (there's a human prince who was turned into a frog 10 years ago, a dragon named Fluffy, etc.), and yet, it feels completely unique. I'd recommend this. I see a lot of critiques about book 1, and I'm not saying those opinions aren't valid, but I think some people just hate that this book was authored by a famous TikTok creator, but tbh, she earned the fame of this book so I don't think that's fair. It's a fun series. I'm looking forward to reading book 3.
I can understand how maybe this book might not be for everyone but let me tell you… it’s so for me! I adore this series, I’m so invested. This book is an easy 5 ⭐️ just for the vibes alone. It’s FUN!
Normally, I feel like sequels don’t hold up as well but this one really did! It was exactly what you’d expect if you loved Assistant to the Villain- quippy, sweet, giggly, adventurous, and the dynamic between Evie and Trystan are *chef’s kiss*! The found family element was even stronger in this one, I loved getting more of the team’s backstory and seeing them support one another. It was so tender and warm and sweet! And having Evie’s family in the mix made it even better!
This was a great read. It’s genuinely very light, sweet, and fun with a slow burn that made me kick my feet! If you love Mr. Darcy, you’ll love the Villain 🥰 Add this to your fall TBR- it’s perfect and ends with a great little cliffhanger!
First of all, can the characters just admit their feelings and do something for ONCE?! There is so much build up between them so many times and then nothing happens. It’s so repetitive at this point it’s not even tension anymore, it’s just aggravating.
This book felt so chaotic and all over the place. All of a sudden Evie has powers, but Trystan’s aren’t working occasionally, and all these other side characters make up such a large portion of what you’re reading.
It seems like the author had absolutely no idea where she was going with this book and it was so scrambled and chaotic.
And by god can someone please punish that little shit of a sister FOR ONCE?!
I’m not even looking forward to reading the 3rd book and that sucks so bad because I loved the first book. Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3.5 stars. I didn’t love this book as much as the first but still enjoyed it. I liked the blooming romance between Evie and Trystan. The plot developments were also good. What I had a hard time with was the new POV’s. I wish it was just kept as Evie and the Villain’s POV. I liked the cozy mystery vibes this book gave. And I liked Kingsley the frog. He always pops up at the right time.