Evie Sage needs a job so that she can help look after her ailing father and younger sister. Desperate for anything to keep food on the table, she accepts the role of assistant to the Kingdom's most notorious reprobate - The Villain.

Overall this book was irreverent and fun, but did feel like it still needed some work. The romance is VERY slow burn, and the plot dragged a little in places. I enjoyed the twist though - and am only disappointed that the book ended just as it started to get good!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

A phenomenal read - I was slightly wary going into this, for fear it had been over-hyped thanks to TikTok, but I could not have been more wrong.

A great mix of adventure and fairytale, with some office relationships thrown into the mix. The development and growth in Evie between the start and the end of the book was wonderfully managed, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what she manages to get into next.

I loved the inclusion of Becky - after all, we all know someone like that at work!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

This was SO much fun!!!!

I won't lie, I had seen the author's tik toks where this idea was born, but only here or there. I thought I knew the vibe I would get, and I did, but it still managed to surprise me.

I think if you love the movie Ella Enchanted, you'll love this book. It's basically a cozy fantasy romance! Sometimes you just need to read something fun, silly and romantic, and that's what this was.

It's clear to me that the author really understands the classic plot beats of a good romance. The way the hero protects the heroine, the way they have to save each other, the Mr Darcy hand flex of frustrated love!! I think the romance was my favourite part of the story. There is a plot here, to do with who could possibly be sabotaging the Villain's plans, but we only really get into the heart of that at the end. And you know what, that's ok! Because I was having a good time reading about the interactions of Evie and The Villain.

I really liked Evie as a main character. Sometimes 'sunshine' characters can be a little bit too much. But I think it worked with this story because Evie isn't one dimensional. The author also acknowledges how some people might see her as a bit annoying. It strikes a nice balance and creates a more well rounded character. The Villain...well, I wasn't swooning, but I definitley enjoyed him.

One thing I will say is that I didn't realise this was going to be a series. We were getting so close to the end and I was waiting for things to wrap up and they just didn't, and only then did I realise. It meant I was expecting more romantic moments and more resolution which I didn't get. Because this is a series. Which mayyyybe should have been put in the marketing somewhere. It's fine because I would read a sequel but it just meant I was waiting for something that I am now going to have to keep waiting for - for over a year.

I had so much fun reading this book. I didn’t go in expecting a sort of medieval/fairytale fantasy setting so it took me a minute to adjust, but once I did I had a great time! This book is light, fluffy, and as sweet as the villain’s cup of cauldron brew. There’s a gentle mystery to keep the pages turning, but really you’re there to revel in the Evie/Villain interactions and to soak up the vibes. I grew deeply attached to all the characters, laughed out loud and gasped QUITE LOUDLY at the end. I absolutely loved sunny Evie’s attitude towards villainy and her unexpected bloodthirsty side, and after that ending I am READY for book 2!

This is my new favourite read of 2023. I loved this book and would 100% recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy with a strong female lead, suprising humour, and a slow burn romance. It had my attention captured the whole way through and I simply couldn't put it down. It's such an different and interesting concept of a villain that's been written in a very entertaining way, with humour, action, adventure, magical beasts, royal gaurds, and more. I found myself smiling and laughing at so many moments in Assistant to the Villain, from the concept of an office for a villain, to the witty remarks of Evie to her boss. Evie and Trystan have such great energy when they're together that it's hard not to hope they fall for each other. There are so many great characters in the book, Blade, Beck, and Tatianna all being favourites. I can't wait to read book 2 and hope there's alot more books in this series to come as I would gladly read many more stories set in this world with the same set of characters!

I really loved this book it was so fun to read and really funny and the characters were great but ugh the cliffhanger!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded to 4

This was a pretty fun read, full of tongue-in-cheek humour and interesting characters. The plot was a little slow at times, with a lot of banter that didn't feel like it had a huge amount of substance - you can certainly see how this book was developed from a comedy sketch series. But it was still an enjoyable read which made me laugh plenty of times. Very easy to devour quickly, and an interesting start to a series.

In a fantasy kingdom, Evie is in desperate need of work. Her luck turns for the better (maybe), when she saves her kingdom's villain from some hunters. Since the pay is good, she becomes his assistant. But the more time they spend together, the more Evie and the Villain get closer. But now more than ever, someone is trying to get the Villain killed if not captured by the Kings and Evie needs to figure out which employee is snitching the Villain's affair to the king. But the betrayer is closer to Evie that she could ever think.

This story took an original view on a standard fairy-tale setting. We get to cheer for the Villain because after all, he might not be as evil as everyone thinks. Yes, he enjoys killing people and hanging dead heads in the entrance of his castle, but other than that he wants revenge on the king. Evie is a walking accident. She doesn't have a filter between her brain and mouth, so she speaks whatever she thinks. Moreover, she's can't help but find herself in embarrassing situations—one after the other. It was a cute reading, but I was expecting a little bit of spice between the Villain and Evie. It's a clean romance.

I loved this book!

I saw it all over tik tok and I was not disappointed by it. The characters were well thought out and I enjoyed the dynamics and the challenges they had to go through.

I will be purchasing this when it comes out and I cannot wait for more.

I have mixed feelings about this book, so I’ll spell out the good and bad bits, so that you may decide for yourself whether to read this book. In the good column, I enjoyed the slow burn office romance, the unlikely friendships, and the mystery of who the traitor was. On the bad side I didn’t like that this was a fairy tales/magic type story as it didn’t come across that way from the blurb, and I wouldn’t have bothered with it had I known. Also, and most importantly in the cons column, it ends on a complete cliff hanger that makes it feel as though you’re halfway through the story, and not the kind that makes you want to buy the next book, but the kind that makes you wish you’d never picked up this one. So there are both good and bad points to it, but personally I felt the bad, particularly with the ending, fair outweighed the good, and I genuinely wish I’d never bothered wasting my time reading it

Such a unique book, I loved the plot, and oh my god the characters were so amazing!! I definitely will be recommending it!!

This was such a good, fast paced, humorous read! It's grumpy x sunshine (Villain and his Assistant), filled with evil, villainous fun, comedy and a spark of romance.

Synopsis
'The Villain, King of Darkness, Haunter of Dreams' is seeking an Assistant, and that luck of the draw goes to Evie - she needs the for her family, money's money at the end of the day, even if you are working for the notorious Villain.

Even though he is 'evil', Evie finds The Villain rather attractive, and The Villain grows a little soft spot for her. But there's something else lurking like a rat, something that wants to take The Villain down, and even Evie if she gets in the way. 

Thoughts
Five star read easily, I read this in one sitting and was drawn in completely with the fun, the humour, the mayhem and the slow simmering bloom of a romance between The Villain and his Assistant.

'We're all monsters in the end. At least mine lives in the light'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this copy. This review is voluntary.