Book review: Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

From the moment I first met Evie Sage, I knew Hannah Nicole Maehrer was a genius. Unlike most people who became obsessed with Assistant to the Villain, I had never seen any of her skits - I had a friend who told me I had to read the book and I took her word for it. And I am so glad I did. The world of Rennedawn is vibrant and magical, while also being a perfect balance between comedy gold and serious high stakes. And most importantly, we find out the answer to the question left by the last page of Assistant to the Villain:

What happens when the Villain's sunshine assistant decides to become his apprentice?

I will admit, I was slightly afraid the answer to that question would turn Evie into an unrecognizable version of herself. But I am happy to report that was not the case. Instead, we see what it means to be joyfully villainous. There is a moment in the book where Evie explains that almost every single person who has hurt her has done so in the name of "good" and I think it's an excellent way of explaining the heart of these books: that just a person says they are good doesn't mean they actually are. Actions speak louder than words, and while Evie and Trystan's version of evil does involve torture and murder, it also involves looking out for the common people and trying to save the world - it just happens to be in the name of spite. I think that this nuance in looking at Rennedawn is one of the book's biggest strengths, with lessons that we can apply to looking at the world today.

What I loved the most about these books is Maehrer always has something to say about family. In the first book, it was all about Trystan's family - and how his taking up the role of The Villain had fractured them. The second book, however, is all about Evie's family. After her father's horrific actions in the first book, Apprentice to the Villain explores the consequences of Griffin Sage's actions through the eyes of his children. His manipulations run deep, and it's clear he truly does not care his actions have hurt his children. And while they pick up the pieces, ones that have been shattered for far longer than Evie realized, we see that the Massacre Manor gang is truly a found family. I appreciated this theme and the way it was presented. And it shows that surrounding yourself with people who care about you can be as much of a family as those who are your flesh and blood.

Now, I've talked a ton about the themes of the book, but I know what you're thinking: Ash, what about the romance? Maehrer is what I would call a slow-burn queen in the way that she writes the romance of Evie and Trystan. Her writing is a masterclass of showing the longing between the two characters while giving realistic reasons they feel they can't be together. It's never something that could be fixed with a quick conversation, my absolute least favorite trope, and the two of them have legitimate baggage they have to deal with individually and together. Destiny and prophesies might have something to say about their relationship, but at the core Evie and Trystan are two very hurt people, who need to heal before they can be together. And I love the realism that comes with the way this relationship is explored. It makes the build-up believable, while also keeping the dramatic tension going in a way that doesn't make the reading experience frustrating.

While Assistant to the Villain had the dual point-of-views of Evie and Trystan, Apprentice to the Villain actually has four! The additions of The Knight and Becky's viewpoints are thoughtful additions to the narrative and bring a new perspective to the characters we grew to love in the first book. I truly do not think this story could have worked without the extra point-of-views and I hope Maehrer gives us new viewpoints in the sequel. It's a fun way to show off the worldbuilding while letting us see characters and locations in a new light.

Now, I am happy to say that while this book does end in a slight cliffhanger, it is nowhere near as bad as Assistant to the Villain's - which my wall was thrilled about since it meant I did not throw my book at it. I read entirely too many books in a row with crazy cliffhangers, so I was relieved this one left the story complete. However, that lack of a cliffhanger was a perfect ending - as it set up the next book perfectly. I'm already waiting for the official title and release date reveal, so I can immediately start my countdown afterward.

Apprentice to the Villain is available through Entangled Publishing.