TBR Challenge [The Hunt] Audiobook Review: Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz (Narrator: Emma Ladji)

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Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz
Narrator: Emma Ladji
Published by Penguin Audio on November 18, 2025
Genres: Cozy Fantasy, Romantasy
Length: 11 hours
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library

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Goodreads

A powerful plant witch and a grumpy alchemist must work together to save their quiet town from a magical plague in this debut cozy fantasy romance about starting over, redemption, and what it really means to be a good person.

Guy Shadowfade is dead, and after a lifetime as the dark sorcerer’s right-hand, Violet Thistlewaite is determined to start over—not as the fearsome Thornwitch, but as someone kind. Someone better. Someone good.

The quaint town of Dragon’s Rest, Violet decides, will be her second chance—she’ll set down roots, open a flower shop, keep her sentient (mildly homicidal) houseplant in check, and prune dark magic from the twisted boughs of her life.

Violet’s vibrant bouquets and cheerful enchantments soon charm the welcoming townsfolk, though nothing seems to impress the prickly yet dashingly handsome Nathaniel Marsh, an alchemist sharing her greenhouse. With a struggling business and his own second chance seemingly out of reach, Nathaniel has no time for flowers or frippery—and certainly none for the intriguing witch next door.

When a mysterious blight endangers every living plant in Dragon’s Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work together, through their fears, pasts, and growing feelings for one another, to save their community. But with a figure from her previous life knocking at her door and her secrets threatening to uproot everything she’s worked so hard to grow, Violet can’t help but wonder…does a former villain truly deserve a happily-ever-after?

October’s TBR Challenge theme is “The Hunt” (covering thriller, romantic suspense, Gothic, paranormal, fantasy, and more). On the surface, it seems pretty straightforward for October: The Hunt = romantic suspense. Serial killers, characters in danger, and people trying to solve mysterious puzzles.

I kind of went out on a limb with this one, though! I had plans for a different read, but I fell a bit behind. I started off listening well and thought I’d get more novels finished, but life threw us a few curveballs. So, I decided to use this book as my October pick instead.

Why? Well, it’s about a villain who wants to start over, redefine herself, find who she is, and learn to be good. It features magic that can be both a blessing and a curse, and it explores villains finding a new path in life and leaving evil behind. It’s kind of got a town in danger.

Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore delivers cozy, magical-town vibes, featuring a fun villain redemption arc and a grumpy x sunshine dynamic.

The story follows powerful plant witch Violet, who is finally free after the evil sorcerer she served is killed and ready to make a fresh start in life. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the book more than makes up for it with its comforting atmosphere—especially thanks to the delightful rock goblins and Violet’s wonderful plant companion.

The worldbuilding and magic system are exceptionally well done. I especially appreciated Violet’s internal battle with her inner demons, which felt relatable and grounded. It carries a great message: we can all be flawed and strive to be better, and magic itself is neither good nor bad—it all depends on the person. All of the secondary characters are a joy as well.

As for the romance, the grumpy x sunshine trope was just okay. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book without totally falling in love with it. As a debut, it’s quite nice, but it tries to juggle a bit too much at once—including the blight, her villain redemption, opening a flower shop, a frowny landlord (the male lead), fitting into a new town, and building a community. Because so much was packed in, some elements didn’t get the deep attention they deserved to be fully fleshed out.

Audio: This was my first time listening to Emma Ladji, and she did a wonderful job with the narration. The character voices were a standout highlight—they fit each character perfectly and were a breeze to listen to.

Rated: 3 Stars

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!

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
• 2026 TBR Challenge
• 2026 TBR Tackle Challenge

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