Imagine the magical, high-stakes drama of Once Upon A Time colliding head-on with the hilariously mundane, high-stress absurdity of The Office. The result is Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. A brilliant fantasy romance that delivers on its darkly comedic premise with razor-sharp wit and a shocking amount of heartfelt moments. This is not your typical fairytale; this is an office where the corporate decor includes severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the water cooler gossip revolves around which hapless interns are next on the menu for the resident dragon.
At the center of this chaotic, nefarious empire is Evie Sage, a young woman whose life is anything but magical. With an ailing father and a dependent sister, Evie’s employment status is the single most vital factor in her family’s well-being. So, when a chance encounter with Rennedawn’s most feared and infamous Villain results in an unexpected, life-changing job offer, Evie doesn’t hesitate. At least, not for very long. She accepts the position, fully prepared to navigate the perilous, unconventional landscape of super-villainy for a steady paycheck.
Of course, no job is perfect. Especially one that involves coordinating dungeon schedules and ordering ethically questionable supplies. But Evie finds things getting exponentially more interesting when she discovers an undeniable, if utterly terrifying, crush developing for her new employer. The Villain is notoriously temperamental, ruthlessly terrifying, and undeniably, frustratingly attractive. Balancing her professional duties with her unprofessional internal swooning becomes a daily, high-wire act.
Just as Evie is settling into the rhythm of severed heads bobbing in the walkway and dragon feeding times, she begins to suspect a far greater danger than her boss’s murderous reputation or her own unprofessional feelings. There’s a colossal rat in this dungeon, and not the literal kind. Something profoundly rotten is brewing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and it appears someone is actively trying to dismantle the Villain and his entire, meticulously constructed empire. Now, Evie is faced with a dual, high-stakes mission: she must resist the overwhelming urge to drool over her incredibly dangerous boss, and, more importantly, she must identify the adversary systematically unraveling his work. Her goal becomes ensuring the Villain finds the culprit and makes them pay.
Assistant to the Villain is not just a book; it’s an extremely fun, palate-cleansing experience that feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. For anyone buried under a mountain of serious academic texts, dense homework assignments, or the general weight of real-world seriousness, this novel offers a perfect and lighthearted reprieve. This book truly excels at immediately pulling the reader into a world of genuine laughter and captivating escapism. It manages to deliver a unique blend of humor and romance, centering on a dynamic that is utterly charming, despite its morally gray edges. The romance, though involving a villain, is surprisingly heartwarming, evolving in a way that feels earned and delightfully unconventional. It successfully navigates the fine line between the traditionally dark elements associated with a “villain” and the unexpected sweetness of a genuine connection.
If you are on the hunt for a book that truly distinguishes itself from your current literary landscape and promises not just amusement, but guaranteed, genuine, laugh-out-loud moments, Assistant to the Villain is an absolute must-read.
