Series Name: Assistant to the Villain, # 2
“Let’s go home,” she said.
When he’d stumbled across the manor a decade prior, he’d thought it a good place to rest his head, to plot, perhaps even to disappear for a good long while. Nature had taken control of the crumbling structure hidden deep in the trees of Hickory Forest, its vines and overgrowth practically part of its architecture, holding it captive. It was easy for him to belong there. From the beginning, he’d worked to make the manor a place of coldness and bone-chilling fear. He’d replaced all the original, cheery stained-glass art in the windows with depictions of sinister acts– save for his favorite one in the manor kitchen. Every inch was made to keep people away.
It shouldn’t have surprised him that none of that had fazed her, that it had utterly failed against her impenetrable ability to spin the ugly into something not only amusing, but worth loving.
She’s found something worth loving even about a place called Massacre Manor.
And he would resort to whatever dark evil necessary to get her back there.
Apprentice to the Villain is another laugh-out-loud Romantasy that I will be reading again and again.
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 love a book that can make me laugh and the Assistant to the Villain (the first book in this series) did that in spades. It also ended on a pretty dramatic cliffhanger that had me itching to get my hands on the next installment. I’m sure most bookworms can relate to that anxious feeling you get when starting a second book in a series. Questions started flying through your head, will this book be as great as the first? What if the author goes in a direction I hate? And what if you fall out of love with the characters you were attached to in the first book? That dreaded second book slump is a real thing. But I am super happy to report that this book was exactly what I hoped it would be and brought me as much happiness and joy as the first book. For those who are new to the series, you cannot read this book as a stand-alone. Like any fantasy series, each new installment builds on the previous books. You will be lost if you just start reading this book without reading the first one.
I don’t know how Hannah does it, but she is able to create a lighthearted laugh-out-loud fantasy that is so utterly different from any other book or series out there. This book is bursting with fun dialogue, hilarious moments, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with. There are also lots of funny, hidden easter eggs scattered throughout the story. Now this is a more light and fun fantasy book series. There is world-building, but you aren’t overwhelmed by the large number of details. Hannah gives her readers just enough information so they can understand what is happening. This isn’t a story that has a lot of text focused on describing the scenery or the history of something. This book and series are meant to be quick, fun, and very entertaining.
We pick up right after the dramatic cliffhanger from the first book. The King has captured the Villain, and it’s up to Evie and the rest of the staff to get him back. The direction that Hannah took this book in was exciting and fun. She is also setting her readers up for bigger things to come. She’s left us with some pretty juicy unanswered questions and has a question about who the character really is to unlock the prophecy. A few mini road trips are scattered throughout the story, which means we get to explore new parts of the kingdom, which I always love. The ending of this book is fast-paced and leaves our heroes…. sorry, I mean villains, with the daunting task of trying to beat the King before he enacts a prophecy that will wipe out all the magic in the kingdom. That’s not a spoiler because we find out about the prophecy at the beginning of this book.
The characters are what really make this book stand out. Let’s talk about the secondary characters first. In this book, we are introduced to some new characters and learn more about other characters’ backstories. I adored Kingsley, the prince who was turned into a frog. That little amphibian may not say a word in this book, but he makes me laugh every time he holds up one of his signs. He has perfect comedic timing. All the secondary characters, even the nameless ones, play a role in making this story rich, hilarious, and so entertaining.
Evie continues to be the delightful ball of chaos that she was in the other book. But we get to see a darker viciousness… shall I say villainess side to her. A lot has happened to her both in the previous book and this book, and you can tell there are times when trying to deal with all that is going on gets to be a bit too much. On top of that, she is trying to understand and navigate these new romantic feelings she has for her boss. The Villain is so adorable. I know that is not something you would associate with a character who is supposed to be the bad guy. The Villain’s adorableness comes from his struggle to ignore his growing feelings for Evie. Bookworms, this guy has fallen hard for his assistant no matter how much he tries to deny it. He continues to be befuddled, bemused, and bewitched by Evie. I loved watching him struggle with his feelings. We also get to this other side of The Villain, a side that wants to be good and wants to be worthy of Evie’s love.
The relationship between Evie and The Villain is the slowest of slow burns. I would consider this a Romantasy, but beware, the romantic relationship between Evie and The Villain is slow-moving. I don’t always enjoy a slow burn that drags on, but in this case, I don’t mind it. Hannah is doing a fabulous job at building up that romantic tension and giving her readers plenty of will they won’t they moments. The chemistry between these two is full of sparks and sweetness, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Apprentice To The Villain is another fun filled story that is sure to have you laughing from beginning to the very end.
