Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Hannah Nicole Maehrer is an American fantasy-romance author and TikTok creator, known there as @hannahnicolemae, born in 1997 and raised in eastern Pennsylvania, where she studied psychology at Penn State before turning a viral TikTok concept into a publishing career. That concept became Assistant to the Villain (2023): Evie Sage takes a job nobody else wants, personal assistant to Rennedawn's most feared official evildoer, and discovers her terrifying new boss is actually dry-witted, fair, and has zero patience for the corrupt nobles doing real harm in his kingdom. The book was an instant bestseller and launched a series now four titles deep, with Accomplice to the Villain (2025) topping both the USA Today and New York Times lists. Maehrer's cozy fantasy leans on banter and a slow-burn workplace romance rather than dark stakes or dense worldbuilding, making it an accessible, comfort-read entry point into fantasy romance for readers who want charm over grimdark intensity. New readers should start with Assistant to the Villain and continue in publication order; it is one continuous story building toward a planned fifth and final volume. There is no screen adaptation yet, though the series' TikTok-native origins and huge fanbase make one a natural next step.