Assistant to the Villain
You'd never think a novel that takes place at an office would feel like escapism and comfort, but Assistant to the Villain marries fantasy camp and workplace romance tropes to do just that.
The Zammer Review: 5 out of 5 stars.
I rented Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer from my library on a whim, purely because the cover looked fun, and I was not led astray.
Set in a fantasy world, our main character Evie is hired to be the titular Assistant to the Villain after tragedy strikes Evie’s family and she must support them financially. The villain is a legendary figure whose schemes and plans make him a mystery to the rest of the kingdom, but an otherwise reasonable employer (and office crush) to Evie. Thus, when it appears a mole is sabotaging the Villain’s plans, Evie works closely with the Villain to find the traitor and secure her job.
The fantasy setting was such a smart concept for a workplace romance—it allows for dramatics without being cringeworthy, unbelievable, or alarming because archetypes are to be expected and camp themes are on brand. I got a kick out of the fantasy analogs to the real world (cauldron brew for coffee, magical bargains for NDA/non-compete contracts, and more).
The publisher and readers alike draw comparisons to many different TV shows, but it most reminds me of the Shrek 2 scene at the Fairy Godmother’s cottage (read: hexes and potions factory). Imagine a story all about Jerome the Receptionist; that’s the energy of Evie’s world.
“‘Normal’ was for those who didn’t have the ability to stretch their minds past the unreachable end.”
This book is well-written and cleverly constructed. Evie is a complex character trying to navigate her place in the world reckoning with questionable ethics and morals that come with working for a “bad guy”.
I like the depiction of Evie and the Villain’s dynamic—their relationship is quite sweet. Again, because this is a lighthearted fantasy setting, many of the Villain’s actions that would be 100% dealbreakers in real life are easily overlooked. Plus, we learn enough about the Villain’s backstory that you know he’s more of a criminal with a code, instead of indiscriminately evil.
“…a good book often felt like the same comfort as the heat of sunlight brushing your cheeks.”
I couldn’t have put it better myself. This novel is entertaining, comforting, and exciting. The cast of characters is varied and the dialogue between them plays out seamlessly; it feels more like a script. I found myself laughing out loud in one moment, and trying to predict what would happen in the next moment.
I’m giving this five out of five stars because I flew through it—the pacing, the story, the characters, the dialogue, and the tension all make it a well-rounded story that I can easily see myself rereading. It’s the first installment of a series and ended on a cliffhanger, so I plan on reading the second book, which I hope lives up to the standard that the first set.