Snatched at a young age and raised to be a villain, Violet is an interesting lead in this fun cozy read.

So often we see the underdog in books, raising up from the ashes of some village or other, and here, we have the one that made the ashes. Violet never really wanted to be a bad guy, and was more a victim of the big bad defeated before the story began, and thankfully one of the plucky heroes who took him down noticed and left her be free with a simple message. "Be good"

"Be good" becomes Violet's mantra as she works on her dream and goals, and breaking free from her past, taking the first steps towards a future not as the "Thornwitch, bane of all existance" and instead as Violet, the local florist. Almost like a reformed Poison Ivy from DC Comics. She even has a plant that likes sharp things.

I really enjoy these after the adventure type books, after reading This Will Be Fun (another good read, highly recommend checking it out!) I was hoping to find another interesting book in the same vain, and this did not disappoint. I mean, what DO you do, after 'peaking' in a fantasy setting at 20-something? Or in this case, after being declared evil incarnate for your whole life?

Recommend this one for anyone who wants to know about the other people after the heroes beat the bad guy and have their happily ever after, and the how the world adjusts to it as well.

Thank you to Berkley and to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this! Very cozy. Very fun. I loved reading about Violet's struggle with being good and her struggles in using her magic, as well as Nathaniel's struggles with what to do with his future.

How I feel about this book in a word: OBSESSED.

This book will definitely be in my top reads of the year, if not my absolute favorite.

The title and gorgeous cover immediately drew me in from the moment I saw it. So, top marks for those! Then the synopsis had me intrigued and I knew I had to read this book. The concept of a villain trying to change and be a good person, wrapped in a cozy fantasy world, mixed with a little romance, had me absolutely hooked, and only grew stronger the more of the book I read.

I loved the entire atmosphere of this world! The entire town of Dragon’s Rest is definitely one I would want to visit. The magic was fun and quirky, the characters a hoot.

Each character felt very well created. Solid. They felt like their own person with depth, and the dynamics between each of the characters felt well founded. Each and ever character, even the secondary characters, was a gem. I mean, honestly, Bartleby and Jerome the Gnome almost stole the show.

Violet and Nathaniel’s chemistry worked so well together and I loved how they helped each other overcome their anxieties and fears. Pru was amazing and I hope she gets her own book one day!

I loved the way the characters came together near the end – I was pleasantly surprised by the WHY of it and felt that it was the best way the story could have gone.

Even things like the chapter titles, the flower graphics above the chapter, and the shop signs – OH MY GOSH, THE SHOP SIGNS – just made this book come together into absolute perfection for me. And again, I feel like Bartleby needs a second shoutout because he the best.

I also really loved the overall message of this book. That good is not something you are, it’s something you do.

This is a book I will definitely buy to have a trophy copy of on my shelf and will likely become a comfort reread for me. I highly recommend it and will be following the author for further books – the fact that this is her debut is so awesome!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Berkley, and the author for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book!

My review is already up on Goodreads and will be posted on Instagram on Friday, April 4.

The character growth in this book is phenomenal; I loved experiencing the grief and self-acceptance of both Violet and Nathaniel. It felt genuine, and I enjoyed that both characters had their own setbacks and their own journeys that weren't necessarily linear. The quirky cast of characters and creatures in town was wonderful, and I want more backstories from so many of the other characters! I hope we get more of this world!

oh violet, my quirky, funny, lovely, amazing female main character!! i had a great time with this one - i enjoyed the banter, the pacing was just right and honestly any time i picked it up i didn't want to put it down. and the ending was so cute! yes absolutely ready this one. thank you netgalley for the arc!!

Summary:
Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore is a charming, poignant story about redemption and second chances. Set in a charming town called Dragon's Rest, Violet and her grumpy greenhouse co-habitator struggle for second chances and redemption through charming flower bouquets and alchemy. They don't trust each other at first, but have to work together when a blight threatens to kill every plant in town.

Thoughts;
I loved this story and couldn't put it down. It was funny, charming, sweet, and sad at times, but a lovely read over all about redemption and learning to forgive past hurts and move forward.

VIOLET THISTLEWAITE IS NOT A VILLAIN ANYMORE was so much fun to read! It was cozy and cute and I can not recommend enough.

I love Violet! Her reflective nature and quiet strength are so admirable. I love a second chance and this whole book was incredibly fun and beautiful. I hope there is a book 2 so we can return to the world!!!

This was very cute! A cozy flower shop, a small town, and an enemies to lovers romance. If you loved Legends and Lattes you will love this as well!

4.5 stars.

I loved this book a LOT. Violet was raised by a villain, to be a villain. She committed murder and terrorized communities under the auspices of her adopted father, a wicked sorcerer/wizard. We meet her right after the villain has been vanquished by a hero who finds Violet waiting and tells her "go, be good".

So, Violet decides it's time to change. She's remorseful for her villainy and wants to have a cozy and comfortable life. She wants to forget she was ever a villain and just sell flowers.

There are some pretty dark things in this book and yet, it remains so cozy. She settles into a small village and makes friends, grows plants, and learns more about her magic. She fights with her landlord and then, they fall in love. They end up fighting evil together and everything works out in the end.

I'm not sure I totally understood her character arc, going from being able to take lives to wanting to save lives... but there was something really beautiful about it all the same. It was a lesson in redemption and grace but touched on these issues with lightness and humor.

Ugh, I don't feel like I can do this book justice through my review, but I would read more in this world and by this author. It intrigued me and I want to live in this world some more.

“Violet Thistlewaite is Not A Villian Anymore” elevates the Cozy Fantasy genre to new heights. Violet was once the feared right hand of an evil sorcerer, but after he’s killed and she’s given a second chance, she sets out to leave villainy behind her.

Violet moves to the sleepy, small town of Dragon’s Rest and decides to use her powerful plant magic for good and open a flower shop. She initially clashes will her neighbor, a grumpy alchemist named Nathaniel who runs the apothecary shop, but something romantic is growing between the shopowners. However, the two soon end up as allies when a mysterious blight and a figure from Violet’s past threaten to damage the livelihood of the townspeople. Violet also must wrestle with sharing her dark past with her newfound friends and the complexities of redemption.

“Violet Thistlewaite is Not A Villian Anymore” is a fantastic rumination on second chances. This novel plays with the reader's heartstrings like Pru does her violin. The secondary characters and lore of the novel are fantastic and incredibly rich, from a homicidal houseplant to a garden gnome allergic to flowers, and it’s clear they have their own stories to tell.

With lush scenery and incredible descriptions, its easy to be transported to Dragon’s Rest and be trapped in the pages of the book. The rich prose and story arc trap the reader in a trance, and while you may think you may have this book figured out, it changes shape and leaves you shocked in the best of ways.

My only quibble is that I wish this book was longer, but I can be sated knowing this book was acquired in a two-book deal. I can only hope this second book returns us to this magical world and explores it further.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain anymore. This light enemies to lovers romance is a gentle easy read.

I absolutely adored this cozy, magical gem of a book! Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore was the perfect blend of heart, humor, and healing, with just the right dash of romance to make it completely irresistible. From the very first page, I was captivated by Violet’s journey of redemption and self-discovery, and I never wanted to leave the enchanting town of Dragon’s Rest.

Violet is such a compelling, layered character—her determination to reinvent herself, to shed her past and become someone better, felt so honest and relatable. And Nathaniel? The ultimate grump with a gooey center. His reluctant partnership with Violet was pure magic—the tension, the banter, the slow-burn connection that bloomed between them had me grinning and swooning in equal measure.