Audiobook Review: A Cozy Fantasy Romance

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Narrated by: Em Eldridge

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

Summary from Goodreads:

Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, level headed assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Confession:

This was such a fun read that I had a really hard time putting down. I often found myself either laughing out loud or snickering to myself over the banter and circumstances that the characters found themselves in. This is such a fun and lighthearted read that I am so glad I picked up.

The story is told through two points of view: Evie and The Villain. Evie was such a fun and sunshiny character that I loved instantly. She has such a way about her, but she was still just enough on the side of naive that made her really endearing. She goes through the most growth and has a bit more page time than The Villain. It was such a joy to watch her morals change over the course of the book. The Villain, of course, was grumpy and prone to killing people who annoyed him, but he really cared for his employees. He especially has a soft spot where Evie is concerned. I loved his nickname for her – “little tornado” – which described her quite well. He also shows some growth throughout the book, finding himself listening to Evie’s advice and maybe not killing someone every time he gets angry. Their romance was quite the slow burn, but very sweet, especially when they start to admit that they have feelings for each other.

The cozy fairytale setting was perfect. I loved all of the characters and the creatures that populated this world. The office dynamics were also quite fun, I especially liked the rivalry between Evie and Becky. I have to give a little nod to Kingsley, the crown wearing frog, who spoke by holding up signs with one or two words on them. We get a hint towards the end as to who he really is and I can’t wait to hear more of that story.

The plot was also very interesting although it did lag in a few spots. I thought going in that this was a standalone book, but was really happy that it is going to be a series. I really want to know more about The Villain’s backstory, and his rivalry with King Benedict. There are some other minor plot lines that I hope get developed more over the course of the books. The magical system could use a little more development. It felt a little sketchy at times and not well explained, but it isn’t super important to the story either, so I can except it as is for now. The writing sometimes felt a bit on the young side, more YA than adult, and the romance was quite chaste, so I think older teens might enjoy this just as much as adults.

The narrator did an excellent job. She had a perfect voice for Evie, who carries the majority of the narrative, but she also did well be The Villain. She also does a good job giving voice to the various characters that populate this wonderful world.

If you are looking for a fun, cozy fantasy with two main characters that you will fall in love with, then I highly recommend you give this book a chance. It was such a fun read that I really enjoyed and continue to think about even a week later. I am really looking forward to continuing this series and seeing where it goes.