Anne's Reviews > Assistant to the Villain
Assistant to the Villain
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by
![1720620](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p2/1720620.jpg)
Dear god, this seems so controversial!
I had no idea this was such a love-it-or-hate-it book when I downloaded it. I had just kind of seen the cover about the place and it was one of the few audiobooks I could snag without a wait.
![description](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1706986203ra/35183633.gif)
So.
It was cute in that Hallmark movie/Lifetime romance kind of way.
You know what I mean?
Like, the dialogue isn't all that good but the couple is cute and you want to see if the lady who bakes Christmas cookies for a living will be able to free the spirit of the hot ghost who's trapped in the inn she's staying in for the duration of her time in her hometown as she visits her overbearing but well-meaning mother?
I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE SITTING ON MY COUCH WITH A GLASS OF WINE AND A BAG OF FUNYUNS WATCHING THIS SHIT.
![description](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1706987370i/35183656._SY540_.jpg)
Also, when I saw villain in the title, I just assumed it was like a superhero villain.
Not so!
What we have here is more of a fairytale villain. Except he's less like that Skeltor-looking guy from The Black Cauldron and more like Hiddelson's Loki.
So even though he's evil, he's the hot version of evil, and I think we can all pull out our bag of Funyuns, pop the cork on that $8 bottle of Members Mark wine, and settle into our seats for that one.
![description](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1706987370ra/35183657.gif)
The short version?
Our heroine needs a job to support her sick father and little sister, and due to plot, she runs into the terrifying villain known as THE VILLAIN whilst rambling in the woods.
Naturally, he offers her a job. <--why else are we here, people?
Her special brand of optimism, humor, and inability to fear him turns his crusty heart to mush, and away we go on our journey into an adorable little romance.
And honestly, the plot is cute, too. There's a whole evil castle filled with interesting minions, while the good guys in this are pretty sketchy and suspect.
But make no mistake, this is pretty B-movie when it comes to the writing.
I just happen to like cheesy romance movies.
![description](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1707311809ra/35194930.gif)
As for the audiobook, the narration is terrible. It. is. bad.
I will say that the narrator does the voices well, especially the male voices (not all female narrators can do that) but all the descriptive dialogue is stilted as hell. This is the second narrator that I've noticed doing this exact. same. thing. and I'm now wondering if this is something they're being told to do? It sounds like an especially bad version of AI is reading all the non-speaking parts. I DNF'd the (the other book) because it was so off-putting, so it says something about the cuteness of the story that I hung in there for this.
I stole this audio link from Robin (Bridge Four)'s Review because I think you should take a listen before you decide whether or not you can handle it.
Recommended for those of us who inhale corny romance.
I had no idea this was such a love-it-or-hate-it book when I downloaded it. I had just kind of seen the cover about the place and it was one of the few audiobooks I could snag without a wait.
![description](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1706986203ra/35183633.gif)
So.
It was cute in that Hallmark movie/Lifetime romance kind of way.
You know what I mean?
Like, the dialogue isn't all that good but the couple is cute and you want to see if the lady who bakes Christmas cookies for a living will be able to free the spirit of the hot ghost who's trapped in the inn she's staying in for the duration of her time in her hometown as she visits her overbearing but well-meaning mother?
I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE SITTING ON MY COUCH WITH A GLASS OF WINE AND A BAG OF FUNYUNS WATCHING THIS SHIT.
![description](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1706987370i/35183656._SY540_.jpg)
Also, when I saw villain in the title, I just assumed it was like a superhero villain.
Not so!
What we have here is more of a fairytale villain. Except he's less like that Skeltor-looking guy from The Black Cauldron and more like Hiddelson's Loki.
So even though he's evil, he's the hot version of evil, and I think we can all pull out our bag of Funyuns, pop the cork on that $8 bottle of Members Mark wine, and settle into our seats for that one.
![description](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1706987370ra/35183657.gif)
The short version?
Our heroine needs a job to support her sick father and little sister, and due to plot, she runs into the terrifying villain known as THE VILLAIN whilst rambling in the woods.
Naturally, he offers her a job. <--why else are we here, people?
Her special brand of optimism, humor, and inability to fear him turns his crusty heart to mush, and away we go on our journey into an adorable little romance.
And honestly, the plot is cute, too. There's a whole evil castle filled with interesting minions, while the good guys in this are pretty sketchy and suspect.
But make no mistake, this is pretty B-movie when it comes to the writing.
I just happen to like cheesy romance movies.
![description](https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1707311809ra/35194930.gif)
As for the audiobook, the narration is terrible. It. is. bad.
I will say that the narrator does the voices well, especially the male voices (not all female narrators can do that) but all the descriptive dialogue is stilted as hell. This is the second narrator that I've noticed doing this exact. same. thing. and I'm now wondering if this is something they're being told to do? It sounds like an especially bad version of AI is reading all the non-speaking parts. I DNF'd the (the other book) because it was so off-putting, so it says something about the cuteness of the story that I hung in there for this.
I stole this audio link from Robin (Bridge Four)'s Review because I think you should take a listen before you decide whether or not you can handle it.
Recommended for those of us who inhale corny romance.
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Reading Progress
January 31, 2024
–
Started Reading
January 31, 2024
– Shelved
February 7, 2024
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 52 (52 new)
message 1:
by
Michael
(new)
Feb 07, 2024 05:47AM
![Michael Burke](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1614860722p1/98741439.jpg)
reply
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![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
Are you there with me, Michael? lol
![Robin (Bridge Four)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1473392517p1/14105531.jpg)
But the narration was ugh. I had to listen at 1.75x instead of 1.5x just for pacing issues and pauses.
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
But the narration was u..."
I just added in your review and audio link! I completely forgot that we had a WHOLE CONVERSATION about the audiobook.
Damn girl!
![Robin (Bridge Four)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1473392517p1/14105531.jpg)
But the n..."
haha...so many books how can we remember ALL the conversations
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
I feel like those are universal rom-com snacks! At least in the US. lol
![Brenda P](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1641572745p1/145700821.jpg)
![Erica](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1558548351p1/2644090.jpg)
You are a patient and brave woman to have endured that.
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
Entertainment value counts for A LOT with me when it comes to books. There are tons of books that are incredibly well-written that suck my soul out with a straw.
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
The Decagon House Murders was EXACTLY the same. Different narrator but the same insane pausing. for. no. discernable. reason.
That's why I'm wondering if they are actually instructing the narrators to do it. And when she reads the characters' voices, she doesn't pause like that and the narration is really great. Idk, man. It's weird.
![Laurie](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1696889056p1/325742.jpg)
![Robin (Bridge Four)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1473392517p1/14105531.jpg)
If that is the case it has a long way to go.
![Nicole Leigh Reads](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1685934687p1/108107597.jpg)
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
The thing is, it seems like that would be harder to do than to just have her read the whole book. But then again, I don't know all the ins and outs of audiobooks.
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
If I had more time to read with my eyeballs, I'd definitely have chosen that way. lol
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
![mwana](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1723882719p1/32149976.jpg)
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
I'm not on TikTok much but my daughter is always showing me these "BookTok" books.
![mwana](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1723882719p1/32149976.jpg)
I'm not on TikTok much but my daughter is always showing ..."
Because this was originally a series of skits on Tiktok
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
Whuuuuuut? I didn't even know that was a thing that happened! lol
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
Apparently! Learn something new every day.
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
The sad thing is that I actually have a bottle of Sam's Club wine SAVED (like it's special!) for my next sappy rom-com marathon.
But I feel like I just cannot be the only woman who does that sort of nonsense!
![♥︎ Heather ⚔](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1724009320p1/14006100.jpg)
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
I don't blame anyone for skipping. It was one of those that I had low expectations for and ended up liking-ish. So. Yeah, I won't be pushing this on anyone.
![Rae](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1693057810p1/35995783.jpg)
![Noticeably](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1307936002p1/5619022.jpg)
I feel like it knows what it is and I happen to love it for that.
![Rae](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1693057810p1/35995783.jpg)
![Shelpike](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_25x33-d79c46f9428d2aea1444d67c091766a6.png)
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
Ha! I forget to read the books I buy, too. Why is that?
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
I feel like we should clink our Sam's Club cards together or something. lol
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
![description](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1714489255i/35469788._SY540_.jpg)
Yeah, onion flavored puffed chips sounds awful, but the taste!
THE TASTE!
I try not to buy chips and whatnot, but every now and then...
Funyuns are the shit. The problem is that I'll eat the whole damn bag and then lick the crumbs off my fingers. Welp. There goes 2 days' worth of empty calories. lol
![Kaitlynn](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
I hope the next book doesn't sound like this one!
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
Everyone needs Funyuns in their life, Wulf. In this crazy world, we have to hold on to that truth.
![Kirby](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1649215318p1/1735513.jpg)
It's a 3 book series on Kindle Unlimited, with a fourth spin-off book too.
![Carter Bell](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_25x33-ccd24e68f4773d33a41ce08c3a34892e.png)
![Anne](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1415374035p1/1720620.jpg)
I'm seeing more and more people complaining about it, Carter! I'm hoping this reaches the ears of whoever is in charge of the audiobook narration for the second book.