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Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer Narrator: Em Eldridge
Series: Assistant to the Villain #2
Published by Tantor Audio on August 20, 2024
Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Humor, Romantasy
Length: 12 hours and 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Libro*Kobo*Chirp*B&N
Goodreads
NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. -Mgmt
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome, evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat . . . out-of-evil-office.
But Rennedawn is in trouble, and all signs—Kingsley's included—point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom's magic, and it's made The Villain's manor vulnerable to their enemies . . . including their nemesis, the king.
Now it's time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain's lair, his nefarious works, and maybe the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.
It's time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It's all so . . . so . . . delightfully fun.
But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?
Contains mature themes.
©2024 Hannah Nicole Maehrer (P)2024 Tantor
Also in this series: Assistant to the Villain
Apprentice to the Villain is book two in the Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer and narrated by Em Eldridge.
A total emotional rollercoaster! Between the prophecy, a scavenger hunt, and that agonizingly slow-burn romance, this book is non-stop. I couldn’t put it down!
I was completely hooked by the multiple POVs in this installment! It was so captivating to dive into the unique thoughts and experiences of the different characters—I truly couldn’t get enough. Beyond the perspectives, the humor is top-tier; I found myself giggling, cackling, and laughing out loud throughout the entire story. A total delight!
The world-building expands beautifully in this sequel with the introduction of new magical creatures and captivating side characters. While they are technically secondary characters, the chemistry between Becky and Blade is so electric that they truly deserve their own novel. Of course, we have our princely frog, Kingsley, who is as delightful as ever—he brings so much humor and joy, providing the perfect comic relief just when the tension peaks.
The sexual tension between Evie and Trystan is absolutely off the charts. You find yourself rooting for them so deeply, yet the constant hurdles—whether they’re external threats or their own internal hesitations—keep them apart in the most frustratingly perfect way. Those swoon-worthy moments are electric and make the wait so worth it!
This installment is a total whirlwind adventure, packed with unexpected twists and turns. Following the Prophecy to uncover new secrets was captivating, and while it wraps up some threads, it leaves you with even more burning questions. It’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish!
Audio: After reading the first installment in print, I decided to switch to the audiobook through my library. Em Eldridge is a fantastic narrator; her distinct character voices are crisp and clear. She nailed the humor and kept the pace the whole way through. I highly recommend the audiobook.
Rated: 4 Stars
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
About Em Eldridge
Em Eldridge is a professional audiobook narrator and voice actor with over 100 titles to her credit. Based in Los Angeles, she specializes in romance, fantasy, and YA, often using various accents including Southern and British. She is known for her work on Assistant to the Villain and has received an Earphones Award.
About Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Hannah Nicole Maehrer—or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae—is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. When she’s not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she’s writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2026 Audiobook Challenge
- 2026 Beat the Backlist Challenge
- 2026 COYER Out To Lunch Again
- 2026 Library Love Challenge
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I think I’d like to read these.
I really hope you enjoy the Assistant to the Villain series whenever you get the chance to start it! I’m having such a great time with it so far.