Series · romantic comedy
Assistant to the Villain
The Assistant to the Villain series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer has 4 books and is best read in publication order, starting with Assistant to the Villain (2023).
- Books
- 4 books
- First published
- 2023
- Status
- ongoing
- Last checked
Start here: Assistant to the Villain (2023) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Assistant to the Villain
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Assistant to the Villain - Book 2:
Apprentice to the Villain
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Apprentice to the Villain - Book 3:
Accomplice to the Villain
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Accomplice to the Villain - Book 4:
Adversary to the Villain
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Adversary to the Villain
About the Assistant to the Villain series
Evie Sage needs a job badly enough to take the one nobody else wants: personal assistant to the Villain, Rennedawn's most feared official evildoer. She expects torture devices and casual cruelty. Instead she finds a boss with dry wit, genuine (if gruff) fairness, and absolutely no patience for the actual monsters -- corrupt nobles, scheming princesses -- causing real harm in his kingdom.
Hannah Nicole Maehrer's cozy fantasy rom-com runs on banter rather than angst: Evie's chatty, self-deprecating narration, a slow-burn workplace romance with her unnervingly competent boss, and a fantasy-court setting used mostly for comedic set pieces rather than grimdark stakes. It's low-violence, high-charm, and leans hard into 'found the guy everyone's scared of, he's actually just tired and wants his paperwork filed correctly' as a romantic premise.
For readers who want fantasy romance that's genuinely funny rather than dark and brooding, with accessible worldbuilding and a will-they-won't-they office dynamic transplanted into a kingdom of prophecies and evil-doing, this series is a comfort-read favorite.
How to read this series
Read in publication order -- Assistant to the Villain, Apprentice to the Villain, Accomplice to the Villain, Adversary to the Villain -- as one continuous romance and plot arc rather than stand-alone visits. A fifth and final volume is expected to close out Evie and the Villain's story, but as of August 2026 it hasn't been titled or dated, so newcomers should simply start at book one and follow the series as it continues.
Frequently asked questions
How many books are in the Assistant to the Villain series?
Four published so far -- Assistant to the Villain, Apprentice to the Villain, Accomplice to the Villain, Adversary to the Villain -- with a fifth and final volume expected to conclude the series.
What order should I read Assistant to the Villain in?
Publication order: Assistant to the Villain, Apprentice to the Villain, Accomplice to the Villain, Adversary to the Villain. It's one continuous story.
Is the Assistant to the Villain series finished?
Not yet. A concluding volume is expected but has no announced title or release date as of August 2026.
When is the next Assistant to the Villain book coming out?
No title or release date has been confirmed yet for the next installment.
Do I need lots of fantasy knowledge to start this series?
No. It's a comedic, low-worldbuilding entry point into fantasy romance built around banter and a workplace-style romance rather than dense lore.
Reading order last verified .