Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence mixes with humor in fantasy-romance follow-up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In APPRENTICE TO THE VILLAIN, Evie's hard work has landed her a promotion. As she risks her life to save Trystan, aka The Villain, from the king's clutches, Evie learns that the kingdom's magic is in danger and the key to a cure lies in the lines of an ancient story. As they seek answers, Evie learns that not only is her lost brother alive and well, but the solution to the diminishing magic may have everything to do with her missing mother. She and Trystan continue to dance around their deepening feelings; meanwhile, the entire kingdom is at risk. Will Evie and Trystan find a way to save the land and admit their true feelings, or will all hope of a happily-ever-after fade along with all magic?
Is It Any Good?
Humorous and fast-paced, the second in the series dives deeper into the fantasy world of Rennedawn, adding much-needed world-building and character backstory. Apprentice to the Villain follows in the footsteps of the first book, with plenty of banter and fantasy action to keep the reader engaged. However, the plot often feels like an excuse to get the two main characters into a compromising position. And while the slow-burn romance worked well in the first book, the characters' continual lack of communication is overused by the middle of this installment. Like the first volume, this book ends on a cliff-hanger, leaving the reader more than ready for the final installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the teamwork in Apprentice to the Villain. Evie and her co-workers become a sort of found family, working together on both professional and personal matters. How realistic do you think this situation is?
What do you think about the slow romance build between the two main characters? Does their constant miscommunication feel realistic? Why do you think the author chose to include this in the story? Would you enjoy the books as much if they talked about their feelings and found a resolution before the end of the series?
What do you think about Evie's growing dark side? She relies on violence to solve her problems more and more often in this book, with little misgivings. Do you think her violent actions are justified?
Why do you think fantasy stories so often include violence? How does the violence in fantasy worlds differ from violence in the real world? Do you find that the humor in this book softens the reality of the violence being committed? How so?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Entangled: Red Tower Books
- Publication date : August 6, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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