A Review of "Assistant to The Villain" by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: A Somewhat Disappointing Debut

Assistant To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Hello and Welcome back to another review, Aesthetes 💗 I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the books you are reading. Today, I have a new review for you, and it’s about a book that I had high expectations for, but unfortunately, it did not live up to them. The book is called Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, and it’s the first book in a new fantasy series.

(In case you missed my last review click on the link below 💓)

Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey: Review

TRIGGER WARNINGS:

• Parental abandonment
• Attempted sexual assault & sexual harassment
• Blood & injury depiction
• Death of a brother recounted
• Murder & attempted murder
• Torture
• Kidnapping & captivity
• Sword violence

Assistant to the Villain is about a young woman named Evie who is hired as an assistant to the most feared villain in the land, who is plotting to overthrow the king and take over the kingdom. Evie soon discovers that her boss is not as evil as he seems, and that there is more to his plans than meets the eye. She also finds herself drawn to him, despite his dark and mysterious personality.

Sounds interesting, right? Well, not so much. The book was too slow, the plot was childish, the world-building was lacking, and the atmosphere was bland. The only thing that I liked about this book was the characters, especially Evie and the villain. They had some witty and humorous banter, and their relationship was intriguing. But that was not enough to save this book from being a disappointment.

I rated this book 3.5 stars out of 5, because I did enjoy some aspects of it, but I was mostly dissatisfied by it. It did not meet my expectations, and it could have been better. I might still read the next two books in the series, which are not released yet, to see if the author improves her writing and storytelling skills. But I am not very excited about them.

I was let down by the execution of this story. The book was too slow for my liking, and the plot felt childish and predictable. The world-building was lacking, and the atmosphere was bland and boring. I did not feel immersed in the setting or the conflict, and I did not care about the outcome. The book lacked intrigue and suspense, and I found myself skimming through some parts.

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In this review, I will discuss the main aspects of the book, such as the characters, the world-building, the Atmosphere, the pace, and the plot.  I will also share my personal opinion and recommendation of the book. I read this book with a friend (HI JEWEL💗) who also had the same opinion as me (she rated it 3 Stars), and we had a lot of fun discussing it, Since It was my first time Buddy Reading. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this.

💗Characters💗

The characters were the best part of this book, and they made me enjoy some aspects of it. Evie and the villain had great chemistry and dynamics, and they made me laugh and smile with their witty and humorous banter. They also had some sweet and romantic moments, where they showed their feelings for each other. They were both complex and conflicted characters, who had their own flaws and strengths.

💗Evie💗

Evie was a smart and brave heroine, who challenged the villain and stood up for herself. She was not afraid to speak her mind or question his motives. She also had a sense of humor and a curious mind, which made her fun and relatable. She was loyal to her friends and family, but she also had an open mind and a compassionate heart. She was willing to see beyond the villain’s reputation and understand his perspective.

💗Trystan (The Villain)💗

The villain was not a typical bad guy, but rather a misunderstood hero who wanted to save the world from a corrupt king. He had a tragic past that made him bitter and angry, but he also had a noble goal that made him determined and courageous. He was ruthless and cunning, but he also had a soft spot for Evie and cared for her well-being. He was dark and mysterious, but he also had a sense of humor and a gentle side (Mostly for his assistant😉).

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💗World-Building💗

The book did not provide enough details about the world where the story took place. I did not get a clear sense of the history, culture, magic, or politics of this world. The author only mentioned some vague terms like “the kingdom”, “the lands”, without explaining what they meant or how they related to each other. The world felt generic and unoriginal, and I did not feel any connection to it.

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💗Atmosphere💗

The book did not create any mood or tone that matched the genre or the theme of the story. The book was supposed to be a fantasy romance with a twist, but it did not have any elements of fantasy or romance that made me excited or curious. The book was also supposed to be about a villain and his assistant, but it did not have any tension or conflict that made me nervous or anxious. The book was flat and dull, and I did not feel any emotion while reading it.

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💗Pace💗

The book was too slow for my liking, and it dragged on for too long. The book had almost 400 pages, but it felt like nothing happened in most of them. The book focused too much on Evie’s mundane tasks as an assistant, such as organizing papers, making tea or should I say "Cauldron Brew", and running errands. The book also had too many filler scenes that did not advance the plot or develop the characters. The book wasted too much time on irrelevant details, and it did not have enough action or drama that kept me interested.

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💗Plot💗

The plot felt childish and predictable, and it did not have any twists or surprises that shocked me or made me think. The plot was basically about Evie finding out that the villain was not really a villain, but rather a misunderstood hero who wanted to save the world from a corrupt king The plot was cliché and boring, and I did not particularly care about what happened next.

The only redeeming quality of this book was the characters, especially Evie and the villain. They had some witty and humorous banter, and their relationship was interesting to watch. The villain was not a typical bad guy, but rather a complex and conflicted character who had his own reasons for doing what he did. He also showed some signs of vulnerability and tenderness towards Evie, which made him more likable. Evie was a smart and brave heroine, who challenged the villain and stood up for herself. She also had a sense of humor and a curious mind.

The Villain's family members just came emerging out of nowhere and There were many lose points. It was getting kind of frustrating and I just had to whoosh!! my way through most of the chapters just for the sake of finishing it.

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If you are looking for a fun and engaging fantasy romance with a twist, this book is not for you. But if you are willing to give it a chance, you might find some entertainment in it.

I hope this review was helpful for you. Thank you, until then, Happy Reading! 😊💗

Disclaimer: This blog post does not contain any affiliate links. I do no receive any commission or compensation from the products or services that I mention or review. All opinions are my own and based on my personal experience.