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Cover of Accomplice to the Villain

Accomplice to the Villain

by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·Assistant to the Villain #3·Ongoing Series
3.8 on MoodReads (3 ratings)4.1 on Goodreads (92,219)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

The slow-burn payoff between Evie and The Villain finally delivers in book 3, paired with a plot twist that will have you immediately reaching for book 4. The humor stays sharp while the emotional stakes genuinely land.

Synopsis

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.” Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss. Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire―or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread. Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain. A magical office comedy with grumpy bosses, snarky frogs, and definitely-not-feelings. The Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Assistant to the Villain Book #2 Apprentice to the Villain Book #3 Accomplice to the Villain Book #4 Adversary to the Villain

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book 3 delivers the Evie-Villain payoff readers have been screaming for since book 1. The open-door spice (ch. 75) is a step up from the series fade-to-black roots, though it stays euphemistic—don't expect full steam. Plot stakes escalate hard with war, prophecy, and genuine sacrifice. Seven POVs sounds chaotic but Maehrer keeps the humor sharp across all of them. Must read in order. Ends on a cliffhanger with book 4 (Adversary) announced. Perfect for readers who want humor AND real romantic tension in their romantasy.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.10 ★ (92.2k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

336 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2025

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Multi-POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Medium Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (female)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Em Eldridge

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
villain gets the girlboss/employeeworkplace romanceforbidden lovefated mateshidden past revealedsecret relationship
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

whimsicalhumorousromanticdramaticsuspensefuladventurous

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

whimsicalwittyconversationaldramatichumorous

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

moderate

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

magical office comedygrumpy boss sunshine assistantcrowned frogs and weaponized sconescozy chaos with real stakesfound family with villains

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

sunshine/optimistprotectorbold

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

villain MMCpossessive alphasecretly softmorally gray MMC

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

grumpy sunshinebanterhe falls firstonly soft for themferal devotionprotective love interest

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
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🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
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Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

emotional / lovingintense / passionateslow burn with late spice

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensionanticipationpossessive/protectivemine declarationseye contact intensityplayful banter

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (11)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
child abuse (referenced)violencegraphic violencedeathtorturekidnappingmurdercaptivitymanipulationwargrief
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

royal court / palaceworkplace / office

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

humans only

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredaddictive readobsessedromantic fulfillmentthe swoon

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

summer eveninglazy Sundayvacationat nightcozy evening

Assistant to the Villain

Assistant to the Villain

#1 Assistant to the Villain

Apprentice to the Villain

#2 Apprentice to the Villain

Accomplice to the Villain

#3 Accomplice to the Villain

Adversary to the Villain

#4 Adversary to the Villain

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PagesHow long the commitment is.336
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2025
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.10 ★ (92.2k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Assistant to the Villain #3
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