Evangelina Sage is desperate for work. With a ten-year-old sister and sick father at home, she carries the burden of providing for her family. While wandering through the Hidden Forest on her way home, she spots a dark figure who turns out to be none other than the infamous, evil Villain that plagues the land of Rennedawn. During the encounter, Evie goes from witnessing a possible crime to accepting a job offer. Over time, she gets used to the operations of Massacre Manor and her moody, temperamental (and undeniably attractive) boss. But when several top-secret missions and inventory stocks are sabotaged, Evie and the Villain realize that one of his employees is a possible spy for King Benedict – the Villain’s arch-nemesis. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is the highly-anticipated fantasy novel in which Evie and the Villain work together to prevent the destruction of his evil empire. And they just might rub off on each other in the process. 

Despite Evie’s bubbly personality, she’s not the least bit phased by the Villain’s preferred methods of running his business. In fact, she finds it helpful that the number of heads dangling from the ceiling is a good indicator of her boss’s mood that day. Nearly all of her coworkers – from the interns to the Malevolent Guards – find his brooding personality unnerving. But Evie can’t help but see past his rough exterior. She isn’t afraid to be honest with him (although she is perhaps a bit too honest at times). Consequently, he begins to grow a soft spot for Evie. And readers will grow a soft spot for him as a result. 

As readers progress through Assistant to the Villian and the duo’s private investigation, they get to know the world, magic, and characters involved in the story. Both Evie and the Villain have heartbreaking and troubled backstories. And they add to their complexity as characters and their inevitable chemistry and bond with one another. Yes, we have a slow-burn romance among our hands, readers. But despite the trope, I absolutely adored the dialogue between the intimidating, evil, and mysterious boss and his energetic, friendly, and witty assistant. Readers will laugh while they swoon. 

Maehrer’s author journey is remarkable. What began as a hilarious TikTok series turned into a publishing deal and much-anticipated book. And I can certainly see why she gained thousands of fans through her short videos. The young social-star-turned-author shows off her talent for world-building, chemistry between characters, and plot twists. I honestly didn’t have any leads as to who the traitor among them was. And once the perpetrator was revealed, I absolutely did not see it coming. Assistant to the Villain is a fun, charming, and entertaining read. 

Hannah Nicole Maehrer joins us for a Cantina Conversation to talk about how her dream of bringing this story to life came to be, and her plans for future projects. Keep an ear out for an upcoming episode of The Nerd Cantina Show podcast and preorder Assistant to the Villain, available August 29.