Parents' Guide to Accomplice to the Villain: Assistant to the Villain, Book 3

Accomplice to the Villain book cover: Title over blue background with small drawings of books, mushrooms, a frog, and swamp

Common Sense Media Review

Sage Moreaux By Sage Moreaux , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Violence and humor in satisfying dark romance.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In ACCOMPLICE TO THE VILLAIN, the story continues as Evie and Trystan try to save magic before the land falls apart. As Evie grows into her role as the Wicked Woman of Rennedawn, she continues to manage the goings on at The Villain's headquarters, all made more complicated by the return of her long-lost mother and brother. To top it all off, The Villain continues to keep his distance, something Evie cannot abide, as every glance in his direction has her knees wobbling.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Fun, funny, and lighthearted, the third part of this series delivers much of the same as the first two books, and that's not a bad thing. Accomplice to the Villain is a laugh-out-loud, slow-burn romance with plenty of lovable characters. But the real draw is the banter between Trystan and Evie and the ridiculous scenarios the author dreams up to keep the Happily Ever After at bay. At this point in the story, the characters' inability to commit feels strained, and it's easy to imagine the constant will-they-won't-they is there to keep the reader hooked. There are more point-of-view characters than ever, but their inner dialogue brings forth different insecurities and emotional depth, adding a subtle twist to what is otherwise a light fantasy romance. While some of the plot elements are wrapped up, most are left loose and will be resolved in a future installment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the different types of courage Evie and The Villain exhibit in Accomplice to the Villain. Does it seem harder for the characters to be brave emotionally, or in the face of danger?

  • What do you think about the mix of humor and violence in this book? Do you think the humor serves to undermine the severity of the violence? What do you think about the desensitization of violence in popular media?

  • How do you feel about the romance in this book? Do you think the story would stand on its own if the characters admitted their feelings and started dating? Why do you think so many romance novels end right after the committed relationship begins?

Book Details

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Accomplice to the Villain book cover: Title over blue background with small drawings of books, mushrooms, a frog, and swamp

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