If Darcy Were a War Criminal
If Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer was a breath of fresh air, then Apprentice to the Villain is a full-on swoon, clutch-your-heart, scream-into-a-pillow moment. The second installment in the series dials up the tension, those long, lingering looks where someone might get caught. The accidental hand touches that last a beat too long. And when the leads finally lock eyes? Reader, I had to take a cold shower. That’s the energy Maehrer brings in book two.
The series centers around Evie Sage, a bright, capable heroine with Pinkie Pie energy and the work ethic of someone who will color-code your demise. “She wasn’t light; she was color. Every single one…” She’s matched by The Villain himself: dark, brooding, sharp-tongued, and thoroughly wicked, just as any respectable villain should be. “We’re all monsters in the end. At least mine lives in the light.”
Book one introduced us to the castle, the chaos, and the delightful grumpy/sunshine banter between these two opposites. Evie took on the role of executive assistant to The Villain, keeping the staff fed and afraid, the candles lit, and his favorite drink within reach. Their chemistry, even then, carried the story.
“This woman was unraveling him like a bloody ball of yarn.”
Book two picks up right where we left off—and it doesn’t let up. Evie is juggling everything: protecting the castle, managing a rogue’s gallery of lovable misfits, and navigating her own growth. The stakes are higher. The tension is sharper. And Evie’s evolution as a character, still true to herself, but deeper, more resilient, shines through.
Maehrer doesn’t overburden the story with worldbuilding. Instead, she gives just enough to ground us, focusing the emotional spotlight on the characters. And thank the literary gods for that, because the side characters in this book shine.We get more backstory, more depth, and a whole lot of found-family goodness. (Someone please commission a Kingsley novella immediately. He steals every scene he’s in.)
“Sometimes family isn’t a thing we are born into but a choice we make. Sometimes”—Evie smiled—“the people who love you most in your life are the ones who choose you.”
As for the romance: if you’re looking for smut, this ain’t it. But if you love a slow burn that will leave you pining and frothing like a Regency heroine pressed against a windowpane, you’re in for a treat. That said… Hannah. Please. Give us something in book three that goes beyond the spice level of a halved bell pepper. I’m begging. I’m pleading. At least jalapeño-level tension. I’m not emotionally equipped for another year of yearning.
“She breathed, ‘It’s so beautiful.’ Her boss had been silent beside her, but now he replied hoarsely, still gripping her hand, ‘Yes, it is.’ And when she turned, he was looking at her.”
If your heart fluttered during the Lake Scene or you’ve ever replayed the ungloved hand-touch from Pride and Prejudice, Apprentice to the Villain is your emotional home. I literally whispered, “Oh my heart,” when I finished. Then I got mad. Because the next book isn’t out for a year. And in my best Veruca Salt voice: “But I want it nooow.”
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