Assistant to the Villain

Assistant to the Villain, Book 1

By: Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Narrated by: Em Eldridge

Length: 13 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn's most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don't find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she's getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat . . . and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work . . . and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Contains mature themes.

©2023 Hannah Nicole Maehrer (P)2023 Tantor

Critic reviews

"In this audiobook, Evie Sage is navigating financial challenges and takes on the role of assistant to a notorious villain, diligently managing office tasks and supporting his exploits.... Em Eldridge's narration adds a subtle depth to the characters. Eldridge's voice work...plays a role in making the audiobook a compelling journey into the captivating world of Evie and her enigmatic employer." (AudioFile)

Cliffhanger

Just be prepared this is a slow burn with zero spice. It ends on a cliffhanger. I do look forward to the sequel and enjoyed the story.

I really struggled with the narrator on this audiobook. Her voices were good but the cadence of her voice was frustrating to listen to. It was like listening to Ai brought to life. The inflections were not correctly timed and it was really noticeable at the end of sentences. I tired really hard not to let it bother me but it was so distracting to listen to.

Couldn’t finish

I am usually one who finishes a book no matter what. I just cannot with this one. The narration is without a doubt the worst I’ve heard. I don’t mean to sound unkind to the actual person but it just sounds like a high school student trying to play act as a radio journalist.

Narration is awful, story is amazing

The narrator is perfectly AWFUL, but the story itself had me rolling with laughter. I recommend you read the physical copy to avoid the horrid narrator.

Comedic Slow-burn Cliffhanger

Be warned there are mild spoilers in this review:

This story surprised me! I’m not usually a reader who enjoys achingly slow burns in my romances but the way the romance felt so organic interspersed with the mystery made it a very enjoyable read that didn’t leave me wanting to throw something. I do want to throw things over the fact that the story ends in a tremendous cliffhanger.

Watching the stiff and socially awkward hunk of a villain learn to identify that he has been head over heels for the cute and quirky girl he made his assistant since the moment he met her was adorable. The one kiss we got out of this couple was pretty hot but that is all we get so this book reads a little more on the YA side as far as the romance goes but it does deal with heavy themes like SA. The comedy was very cutesy and lightened some of the darker scenes as the FMC definitely deals with her insecurities and trauma with humor.

I really can’t wait to see what happens with some of the side romances as well as our little frog Prince 👑 in the next book. I am dreading what The Villain is going to have to endure before The Villainess ends up saving him in the next book. I really can’t wait for the foreshadowed transformation from assistant to Villainess as well. The next book can’t come soon enough!

Enjoyed every second

Fantastic story, wonderful characters. The story has a way of pulling you in and not letting you go. Just one more page..... I can't wait for the next book.

Must Read!

I’ve followed this author on social media for quite a while and was VERY excited for this release. It did not disappoint!! Read it now!

please get the whole series!

this story is great but I want to finish hearing the rest! please bring the rest to audible!

Voice Actor Awful, book FANTASTIC

Despite the voice Actor being absolutely dreadful, the plot, character development, and dry humor made this a four star listen. I may just read it anyways because it was just such a great story.

Not My Favorite Audiobook

The story itself was very cute, however, I had a difficult time with the narrator. There were a lot of awkward pauses, the readers rhythm was very choppy, and some emphasis on words was frustrating.

Good Story, Narration Left Lacking.

I enjoyed the story. However, the narration left something to be desired. She had a nice voice, but I had an issue with how she read the story. It felt like it wasn't cohesive and pulled me out of the story a lot, which caused me to take longer to finish the book.