Okay.

YES.

Everything about this book YES!!!

We love The Villain. We love Evie. We love Becky

Honestly this cast of characters is just fabulous and the banter between them. The Villain and his brooding broods and the love romance blossoming between everyone.

The storyline is amazing and the funny witty cast and their adventures are just adorable and engaging where you can't help but read and unputdownable

It was entertaining, but at times a bit repetitive, the plot is interesting. I didn't like the lack of communication between the main characters, because it's a lack of listening, rather than communication Evie tells him all the time that she's in love with him and he decides to ignore it completely instead of sitting down and talking about things.
It's been a bit chaotic, but I like the evolution of the more minor characters, as well as the introduction of new points of view.
Recommended for those who want to read a cosy fantasy book with touches of romance and comedy.

Evie and Trystan return in this continuation of a series that somehow manages to be charming and heartwarming amidst tales of death, decapitation and eyeballs.

This second book of the series sees the wider cast given a greater role, with backstories galore as well as a deepening if relationships.

The humour is whip smart and the plot races along setting us up for a much anticipated third installment.

This is the second book in the Assistant to the Villain series. I loved the first book; I had so much fun reading it. The characters are fresh and relatable, making them impossible not to love. The first book ended with a cliffhanger, so when I saw the ARC for the second book, I knew I had to request it and was thrilled to receive it.

Apprentice to the Villain starts right where Assistant to the Villain ended, with the Villain locked up in the dungeon by the true villain of the book, King Benedict. For a moment, the Villain thinks Evie is dead, and it was incredibly emotional to see how unraveling that made him.

The highlight of the book is definitely Evie and the Villain’s relationship. It's a slow burn and sometimes frustrating, but I couldn't help being completely giddy every time they interacted.

The side characters are amazing as well. Becky from HR is by far one of my favorite characters in this book; she has come a long way from the first book, and her character development is remarkable.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable and entertaining book, and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thanks Netgalley and Random House UK for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

I adored these books so much! The Villain and Evie and their little found family just make me 🥹🥹🥹

This second book really expanded on the world as a whole. You get more from the characters, more from the romance and more of the world outside of the Villains manor which I really enjoyed. I loved the cozy feel of the first book but I also loved that this one expanded more on the worldbuilding while also keeping that warm, cozy feeling. The writing is so immersive and I love the characters so much, it felt like being right there with them!

This didn't suffer from second book syndrome at all. I was pulled in from the very start and it kept me hooked the whole time, I never wanted to put it down. I think you could definitely read this in one sitting if you had the time, it held my attention completely. I think the pacing and balance of every element was perfect throughout the book, you get tense scenes, actions scenes, romantic scenes and you really see the characters and plot develop more.

The romance is literally my favourite thing in the world, Evie and Trystan are major grumpy x sunshine goals. I did think the miscommunication trope was used a bit too much at times which kind of bugged me but it wasn't a big deal because they're so endearing. I also loved that we got some side romances, Becky and Blade in particular are adorable and the author really seems to write couples that just get each other on a fundamental level and stand by each other and I really loved that.

The characters are really likeable and they all have very distinct personalities. They are all neurodivergent coded babies, I will die on this hill. I loved their found family and the way they all see each other, they don't have to pretend and they accept each other fully. I loved how while it is mostly lighthearted there are also deeper scenes with family and friendship, it really makes you empathize and connect with the characters.

The magic system was interesting and I liked how it was developed more in this book. The whole story about Rennedawn and the magic is intriguing and I can't wait to see how that turns out. I hope the guvres get their happy ending too🥺

This is a cozy fantasy romance that will just have you feeling all the feels. It felt like a warm hug and, iykyk, that feeling when you can unmask and actually enjoy it/feel comfy. If you liked Sorcery of Thorns or Villains and Virtues, or you love a feel good, found family, grumpy x sunshine story, I recommend this one! I am so grateful I was approved for an ARC, this is such a great read and I am beyond excited for the next book

If you liked Assistant to the Villain, you'll probably like the sequel too. It's super silly, and full of the same brand of humour that filled the preceding book. However, unfortunately it was not for me. I've seen that the idea for this series spawned from a series of Tiktoks, and I can see it fitting much better in that format. The characters are entirely two-dimensional and ridiculous, as are the plot lines. The dialogue is similarly clunky, and while it is easy to see how various parts would make for good Tiktoks, they simply do not work in a novel.

Trystan and Evie are back and better than ever! Following on straight from the epic cliffhanger we had left after Book 1, this new installment takes us right back into the action with the Villain and his newly appointed Apprentice.

This book gives me so much joy and the dynamic between Trystan and Evie makes me giggle and kick my feet like no other. It was also so wonderful to learn more about those we met in Book 1, and some very new additions too.

Oh and Kingsley is still the King of EVERYTHING!

How long till Book 3?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As a sequel, it does a fantastic job of maintaining the lighthearted banter that made the first one so enjoyable. While the slow-burn romance is drawn out—perhaps more than I’d personally prefer—it still works well within the story’s pacing. That said, the writing remains engaging and well-executed, keeping readers invested. Overall, it's a strong continuation of the series, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment.

a good continuation from the last book! I really enjoy this series and I'm super excited for the next one 🫶

AMAZING. I have been waiting for this book since I finished the first and it did not disappoint at all! (Except for the wait for the next one 😭) one of my favourite series ever! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Three and a half stars.

Evie Sage is assistant to The Villain, aka Trystan Maverine. She's all sunshine and tweeting birds like Snow White or Pollyanna while he's all disembowelled enemies and getting interns to fight to the death on a slow Monday morning.

The book starts with King Benedict having captured The Villain, somehow magically supressing Trystan's death magic, and being very evil (think the prince in The Princess Bride). Can Trystan's Malevolent Guard plan a daring rescue?

To recap on the characters, there's Evie and her little sister Lyssa, their father sold them out to the King and pretended to be sick for years so that Evie would work to support the family. Trystan has a fearsome HR manager Becky, a frog with a crown called Kingsley (who is really an enchanted man), an ogre who makes cakes and sweets, a beast master called Blade who looks after two magical creatures called guvres and a dragon called Fluffy.

Basically, smash together the creatures and magic from Harry Potter, a little bit of folklore of Stardust, the aforementioned The Princess Bride and maybe a bit of Shrek, and a soupcon of Lothaire.

Evie's in love with her evil overlord, Trystan's in love with his sweet innocent assistant. They need to foil Benedict's evil plans, find Evie's mother, save magic, etc, etc, etc.

I did really enjoy this ... but in an effort to be clever and twisty there seemed to be a lot of people not really being dead, pretty much everyone is in disguise, and sometimes there needs to be a lot more progression between scenes rather than just abruptly launching into the next adventure, because it feels disjointed.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Absolutely adored this book!! A great follow on from the first and kept a lot of the light hearted banter alive in the book. I do find the slow burn is a very slow burn where as I would prefer it a bit quicker but that’s just a preference of mine. Either way, it was well written and I can’t wait for the third one. Without doubt this will be a re-read ❤️

Again, This was a hilarious, over-the-top adventure that created a similar feel to assistant to the villain. But now with different POVs. I do have to say in the beginning I had to get used to the writing again, but then it was really enjoyable. And the cliffhanger ending was just mean! I can't wait to read what is in store for Evie and the villain in the next book :)

The first book was pure *chefs kiss* so the follow up was a must read! I really enjoyed the first and now, as I’ve grown to get to know the characters, I couldn’t wait to join in with them again and see what was about to go down. And boy did it go down!

Right from the start we were flung into the action and even though it took a few chapters for me to find my feet in the story but once I got a grounding, I was hooked. Couldn’t read it fast enough! The chapters are fairly short so it makes it super easy to just keep reading one more chapter and then one more turns into five… then ten… whoops.

The whole tropes are everything I love. Grumpy x Sunshine, villains and enemies to lovers kind of vibes. It’s such a novel book and with one from the perspectives of the hunted villains, love it. Also, Kingsley still stands as my favourite character and this has not changed!

It was a book you need to devour and it was everything I had anticipated and hoped for. Roll on book three!!! (+ more exclamation marks). I cant wait to read how it will all develop.

She did it again! and i am dying....well maybe not but i feel a little dramatic after finishing this fabulous story. I was so excited to receive an arc of Apprentice to the villain and immediately dived in. When i read the first line of chapter one i gasped but of course found myself cackling at the first line of chapter two, you guys know what i mean!

This did not fall into the second book trap and was an exciting story in its own right, i'm just feeling a bit lost now after that cliff hanger and don't know how i will last a year to find out how it all works out!

The villain is back and he's as grumpy as ever!

Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers Penguin and NetGalley for giving me this ARC to review.

A rom-comantasy with a touch of fairy tale and the longest slow-burn you ever will witness. Perfect for fantasy lovers, or even for those who are unsure of the genre.

Good-bye Assistant, hello Apprentice! In this second book of the series, Evie steps out of her comfort zone and dips her toes in evilness whilst trying to protect the kingdom Rennedawn and the magic fading within. As catastrophe looms, it is not just Rennedawn that needs protecting but The Villain and Massacre Manor too. Not too much pressure for Evie Sage... right?

Apprentice to the Villain continues to take us on a mysterious, laugh-out-loud adventure that is the pure definition of escapism. You'll learn more of the characters we already love and admire deeply, as well as meet others who we were next expecting! As always, Hannah did not disappoint with the banter and is doing a job well done with the slow-burn tension heating between Evie and Trystan. So much so, this 'will they? won't they?' is becoming too much to bare!

I absolutely loved the first book and couldn't wait for the sequel so when I received the ARC I screamed. This book did not disappoint, I was hooked from the start and didn't want to put it down. I need the next book in my hands right now! especially with that ending and while the conclusion did feel a little rushed, I still loved it.

I loved the banter between Evie and The Villain. They are absolutely adorable and the tension between them! They had me laughing on so many occasions. Their slow burn, grumpy/sunshine romance is to die for. While I don't remember much of what happened in the first book, it is easy enough to pick up and follow. The characters were amazing, I am looking forward to reading more about Blade and Becky, as well Kingsley! Evie really steps into her own within this book, always speaking her up and actually standing up to The Villain. Don't even get me started on The Villain, every time we had his pov and he was voicing that he liked Evie, just had me squealing and kicking my feet.

I did however feel myself getting a little lost with the events that was happening because there was information with it and I think that we could've gotten a little more world building and learnt more regarding the curse, but they were my only issues with the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the first book in this series in the bookstore I knew it was something for me. I didn't get it that day, but a few days later I couldn't stop myself and ordered a copy. Although it wasn't my favorite book ever, it was an entertaining and fun read with lovely characters and a sweet romance. I was therefore looking forward to the sequel. Luckily I also discovered it on Netgalley and I was really happy that Penguin granted me a review copy.

Once more this was an entertaining and fun read from the start. The book picks up where the previous book ended and there is no time to get bored. The author came up with a lot of mini adventures our characters could go on and despite the fact that it was kinda clear that most of those adventures were getting us nowhere, it was great seeing the Villain and Evie interact, work together and grow closer, no matter how hard they try to fight their attraction.

I also like that, despite the fact that this is a more cozy fantasy and the focus is on the humor, there is still a lot of plot. There are a few really nice reveals in this book. I also really like how more and more characters start thinking about their definition of a villain. There's also quite some world building in this book, even though it's not always easy to really understand everything's importance in the bigger whole. There is also a clear goal now.

The romance is also lovely. Mostly because it's getting a little frustrating, but in the best way possible. We all know that these two are endgame. We all know that they'll find a way. But it's clear that at the moment the author does whatever she can to force them to act on their feelings, while the Villain is clearly focussed on not giving in and keeping Evie at a distance. The result is a delicious push and pull a

I absolutely adored the first book and was super happy to be able to get a copy of Apprentice to the Villian. Normally I'm always worried going into sequels but this one did not disappoint in the slightest! I loved everything about it and I'm already eagerly awaiting the next book.

This book holds some of my all time favourite characters. Evie is a fantastic character who is strong willed, bubbly and so courageous. I loved watching her develop even more in this one and I just know she's going to continue to do so in this series. The Villian is one of my favourites and I loved getting to see things from his perspective and how much his struggling with going against his feelings in order to protect Evie. I will say though that Kinglsey is my absolute favourite and I just love him 🐸.

I could easily go on and on about this book and the chemistry and tension throughout but you all need to read this series. It's absolutely phenomenal and the perfect grumpy x sunshine slowburn fantasy romance which is light-hearted and just a fun time!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After racing through Assistant to the Villain in less than 24 hours I couldn't wait to start reading the sequel and it's safe to say it completely blew me away.
I think it's even better than the first book!

I spent almost the entire book grinning from ear to ear as Evie grows into her own and both the plot and characters, who are all brilliantly written, develop.

The Grumpy X Sunshine romance is a slow-burner, filled with tension and repressed feelings and I absolutely love it.

I immediately wanted to re-read both books upon finishing Apprentice to the Villain, and if I could only hold up a one-word sign like Kingsley, it would read PERFECTION.