I didn’t really like this book as I found it hard to get in to and a little boring. I understand why people like this book but it wasn’t for me.

I want to start by saying this book was pretty amazing. It left me speechless at the end so therefore I will have to purchase the next book to figure out what happens. I was not very happy about the book to start off with because it didn’t really catch my attention, there was a lot happening but nothing was happening all at the same time. The book really kept you in suspense until around chapter 40 then it started to explode with action, which is a good way to end the book so you read the next one. I am really a fan of books starting off with action and the whole book is action packed but this was a new twist in reading for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I couldn’t put the book down and definitely would recommend this book.

Wow! Wow! Wow! This was a 10 star read hands down! I did not want to put it down and if I was not doing Entangled Insiders Read-A-Long, I probably would have binged read this one! Thank you so much Entangled Publishing for hosting this event and introducing me to Evie and Villain! I have already started Apprentice to the Villain because of that ending!

If you are considering reading Assistant to the Villain, do it! I loved the plot, the playful banter among the characters (not even just Evie and the Villain) and the slowest but most adorable slow burn romance ever. Oh and we cannot forget Kingsly and his signs! He was so adorable and I cannot wait to see (read) more of him in the next book.

Overall, I rated it 5 stars but if I could it would be a 10 star read because I could not stop thinking about this book! In fact, I will probably go right to reading Apprentice to the Villain once this is posted!

I picked up this book because I’m always drawn to stories that focus on the Villain rather than the Hero. Villains are so often more interesting, full of depth, complexity, and relatable flaws, and Assistant to the Villain did not disappoint!

This story follows Evie Sage, a young woman from a small town who desperately needs a job to support her sick father and younger sister. After a literal run-in with The Villain himself, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her quirky determination and offers her a position as his assistant. What follows is the absolute best mix of office comedy, ridiculous workplace politics, witty banter, and a sloooow-burn romance that keeps you glued to the page.

What I Loved:
1. The witty office banter had me smiling and giggling from start to finish.
2. The character dynamics, especially the grumpy “I never smile” boss paired with his sunshine assistant, made for hilarious, cheeky, and sometimes swoony scenes.
3. The fantasy worldbuilding added so many fun, whimsical touches: mischievous pixies messing with the copier, a frog friend holding up one-word signs at the perfect time, and even a dragon with a cutesy name. I loved these fun details!

Favorite Moments / Quotes:
“Don’t touch the boss’s hair, Evie!”
“Don’t find torture attractive, Evie!”
“Don’t let the boss quiver your insides, Evie!”
… and many more that had me laughing out loud.

Who I’d Recommend It To:
Anyone looking for a lighthearted fantasy romance with an over-protective, morally grey MMC and a sunny, lovable FMC. If you enjoy witty banter, fun office dynamics, and a slow-burn romance that makes you grin and swoon, this is the book for you.

Final Thoughts:
Yes, it’s tropey—but that’s entirely the point, and it embraces those tropes in the best possible way. I absolutely adored how much this book made me laugh, smile, and root for these characters. Already can’t wait to read the sequel!

Such a good read! suprisingly cozy for it being about a villian's enterprise, but the romantic comedy shines through. I absolutely adore Evie and can't wait for her to break through more of the Villain's walls. Also, that cliffhanger is absolutely criminal

I never thought this book would making me this happy. I was laughing throughout at all of their antics.

Let me tell you, of all the tropes ’He is only soft to her’ is top tier and that exactly is how Tristain treats Evie.

Man, I loved all the eccentric and quirky characters in this book along with the beasts. The story and characters had depth. When the twist hit, my jaw was on the floor.
The ending was so unexpected and I’m so glad book 2 is already out.
Can’t wait to see the new adventures of the Villain, Evie and their mismatched family.

-Gaslamp romance (?)
-Adorable and Quirky characters.
-Morally grey H.
-He is only soft to her.
-Hilarious, found family and highly recommended.
-Highly recommended.

A fun read with witty banter, the beginnings of a cute love story, and a comic relief frog who communicates in one word phrases. If you’re looking to dip your toe into fantasy or just want something without 100 pages of world building, this is the book for you.

This should have been my first ever fantasy’s book! It drew me and I couldn’t stop reading it!!!
Holy cow!
There were so many funny moments in there you can’t help but giggle!
This was such a good book!

Such a cute take on the fantasy genre! When unemployed Evie accidentally stumbles upon the kingdom’s most feared Villain in the woods, he makes her an offer she can’t refuse.

Absolutely one of my top reads of all time. I love the humor, the tension, and of course, the villain!!! This series has been one of my favorites since day 1. I absolutely recommend!!!

This book was such a fun ride. Thank you so much to Entangled PR for holding this group read and sharing a free copy of the book with me.
An ordinary girl becoming the assistant to a terrifying Villain is soooo my kind of read. Evie starts off overwhelmed, constantly questioning why she agreed to this job, but she grows into her role, gaining confidence and realizing she’s capable of so much more than fetching coffee and cleaning up bloodstains (you know the usual kind of 9-5 lol) I loved watching her transition from flustered assistant to someone who could actually stand toe to toe with dangerous people AND keep her composure. The Villain himself is layered in a way I didn’t expect. He’s very much so ruthless, calculating, and, OF COURSE, murderous, but Maehrer gives us glimpses of his vulnerability and humour that make the romance tension everything!!! Im a sucker for good banter and slow burns, and this book did it all for me. I thought the plot was really good, the mix of office politics (but make it evil of course), sabotage, betrayals, and a growing threat against the Villain’s empire was interesting and kept me flipping the pages. The stakes build nicely, and while it never loses its rom-com heart, there’s enough danger to keep you hooked.

Read if you like:
- grumpy x sunshine
-workplace romance
-morally gray love interest
-“touch her and die” energy
-found family

Thank you again Entangled for the free copy of this book and thank you for having these fun reading events.

I absolutely loved this book from the very first page! Hannah Nicole Maehrer has created something truly special with this comedic fantasy romance that had me hooked from start to finish.

What made this book exceptional:

Evie is incredibly relatable as a protagonist. She's clumsy, disaster-prone, and just trying her best to navigate an impossible situation. Her authenticity made me root for her throughout the entire story.

The comedic elements were brilliantly executed. The humor felt natural and had me giggling during the romantic moments. The workplace comedy aspect reminded me strongly of "The Devil is a Part-Timer" anime, which was a delightful surprise.

The dual POV between Evie and Trystan was absolutely perfect. Getting inside both of their heads added so much depth to their relationship and the overall story. The tension between them was electric and beautifully developed.

Kingsley deserves a special mention—he's the cutest character and I want to protect him at all costs!

This book incorporates beloved tropes like workplace romance, grumpy x sunshine dynamics, villain love interest, found family, and comedy/rom-com fantasy elements. However, Maehrer's execution makes everything feel fresh and engaging.

If you're looking for a fantasy that will make you laugh, swoon, and fall in love with every character, this is it. Perfect for anyone who loves humor with their romance and wants something refreshingly fun. I can’t wait to start the next book in the series!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love this so much. Evie might be the most relatable character I’ve ever read. While clumsy and not self-aware, she is incredibly sweet, trusting, and fiercely loyal. She also has a bit of a mean streak, which I appreciate. The villain is also a deeply intriguing character. I feel like this is the common theme of “are people born and evil or is evilness thrust up upon them? “

There is also a plethora of fun side characters. Each with their own personality, goals, and they all have different levels of tolerance for high jinx. Kingsley is the adorable comic relief, Becky is the only voice of reason, Tatiana is the best friend Alyssa is a cute little sister, and Blade is the well meaning, carefree one.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun, quirky, magical adventure. There’s lots of yearning, comedy, and a few twists, and turns that I never saw coming. One of my best books of the year.

Thank you to. Entangled publishing for this ARC

Assistant to the Villain is such a fun book, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Desperate for a job so she can provide for her family, Evie has a chance encounter with the mysterious, and surprisingly attractive, Villain who makes her an offer she can’t refuse. She accepts the role of his assistant and quickly learns that there is much more to him than the evil man the public sees. Can she set aside the feelings she is developing for her new boss long enough to help him find out who is behind the recent sabotage attempts against him?

Evie is kind, a little awkward, and absolutely hialrious. She really finds her confidence by the end, and I am looking forward to seeing Evie enter her villain era in the next book. Speaking of villains, I enjoyed seeing the Villain begin to open up once he meets Evie. They are a classic grumpy x sunshine duo, and he gives off major “touch her and die” energy as their workplace romance grows. The supporting characters are also entertaining, and I loved Kingsley.

The characters and plot feel like they are straight out of a sitcom, and I found myself laughing a lot throughout the book. There were some stretches where I felt like not much was happening in the story, but the writing kept me engaged nonetheless. Overall, the story is cute, cozy, and funny, so it was a quick read for me.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing this digital copy for read along participation and review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I have decided that I am mood rater as well as reader. I woke up today still thinking about the book and wanting to read the next one so I would say that is worthy of 5 stars and 1 chili pepper. I will tell you why.

This book is light hearted and hilarious. I don't remember the last time I laughed out loud so much. It had the fantasy/romance that I love (for the love of everything I wish it had more with them.) The worldbuilding was there but not too much so easy to follow. Side characters were distinct and had their own stuff happening. Character development for both Evie and The Villain were pretty good. Slow subtle changes but they were there. There was a lot to relate to, in the world, in her life with these people. She talked about the way women are treated and how she was attacked without it being so in your face, like some books do. You were there feeling her betrayals and his really. Family dynamics are hard enough in a regular family, these two have a lot of stuff in there between them both. But Evie still sees the bright side, despite the things she has had happen to her.

And the witty banter. OMG. Freaking hilarious. I laughed and laughed. And some moments I was wrecked. All I wanted was for them to get together. I pray there is a little more in the following books with them.

I loved reading this book. I almost want to say it's a good pallet cleanser because after reading some of these romantasy novels they are really heavy and intense. But this was def a pallet cleanser but more than that. I am fully invested. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Thank you Rikki at Entagled for the copy. I am so grateful!

Fluffy, fun read, not complicated, vague magic. Cozy with a dash of danger. Fun banter. Office setting in the middle of a fantastical world.