Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Morally gray, often violent fantasy romance is great fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In ASSISTANT TO THE VILLAIN, Evie needs a new job. After her last position ended in disaster, she's desperate to find a new post, before her family runs out of food. So when the infamous Villain of Rennedawn offers her a job as his assistant, Evie has little choice but to say yes. Working for The Villain is less daunting than she'd imagined, except for the severed heads adorning the office from time to time and the occasional screaming coming from the torture chambers. The hardest part is hands down the devastating crush that Evie develops on her terrifying, evil, and undeniably hot boss. As she fights to keep her growing feelings at bay, Evie realizes that someone has infiltrated The Villain's secret headquarters, leaking secrets to the king. Between managing the interns, seeing to magical supply shipments, and helping her all-too-attractive boss search for the traitor, Evie has never found work more rewarding.
Is It Any Good?
Funny, fast-paced, and enjoyable, this book combines office comedy and classic fantasy, with plenty of flirting sprinkled in. Assistant to the Villain pulls together a variety of tropes while still feeling original. The mysteries of the plot and character backstory are interesting enough, but the real draw is the humor and slow-burn attraction, clearly author Hannah Nicole Maehrer's strong suit. This story is fantasy-light, with a very traditional fairy tale fantasy world, complete with kings, dragons, and magical healers. There is not much depth to the world building, so epic fantasy lovers may be disappointed. The pacing is occasionally uneven, but the humor is consistently rewarding. Moral questions about right and wrong, the place of women in society, and guilt over the actions of others are woven into the story, giving a bit of substance to what is otherwise a fairly straightforward bit of fun entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Evie's positive and cheerful attitude makes a difference in her workplace in Assistant to the Villain. How does her empathy impact the lives of those she encounters? How does her sunny disposition affect the nefarious actions of The Villain?
Evie rationalizes working for The Villain by considering practical needs such as supporting her family. What other morally questionable actions do the characters in this novel take? Do you think this teaches anything about how people make ethical decisions in real life?
Is the violence committed by The Villain justified by his past? Does fighting against tyranny forgive violent actions? How do the characters rationalize their choices? Can you think of real-life situations where violence might be rationalized?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Entangled: Red Tower Books
- Publication date : August 29, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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