Book Review: Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

 

Book Review: Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Book 3)

by The Book Pup on January 9, 2025

Blurb for the book (on Goodreads):

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.

My Summary:

Evie Sage's journey from assistant to apprentice to accomplice continues as she fully embraces her role in the Villain's world. But with greater responsibility comes greater danger, and this time, the threats are more personal than ever.

As Evie navigates political schemes, magical complications, and her evolving relationship with the Villain, she discovers that the line between hero and villain isn't as clear as she once thought. With everything on the line, Evie must make impossible choices that will define not just her future, but the fate of everyone she cares about.

My Review

Content note: This book contains a spicy scene, which is new for this series!

I have been OBSESSED with this series since book one, and Accomplice to the Villain was amazing.

Let's start with what I loved (basically everything): Evie's character development continues to be phenomenal. She's not losing herself to become darker; she's discovering new facets of who she's always been.

The Villain remains the perfect morally gray love interest. The banter, the tension, the way they challenge and support each other was described perfectly. The balance between romance and plot was absolutely nailed.

The humor is still top-tier. Even in the midst of serious, high-stakes moments, the book never loses its wit and charm. Evie's inner monologue had me laughing out loud, and the found family dynamics continue to warm my heart.

The plot twists and political intrigue kept me hooked, and the magical elements are woven seamlessly into the story. Maehrer has created such a rich world that feels both fantastical and grounded.

Now for my tiny complaints: there were a few stretches in the middle where the pacing slowed down just a teeny bit, and I found myself slightly less engaged. Nothing major, but enough to notice, especially because I never felt bored in the previous books. Also, this book includes a spicy scene, which took me by surprise! It's not something I'm particularly used to, and I'm usually committed to read non-spicy YA books, so that was an adjustment. If you prefer fade-to-black romance, just be aware going in.

BUT HERE'S THE BEST PART: I went into this thinking it was a trilogy, so when it ended on a cliffhanger, I was initially devastated, until I discovered we're getting a FOURTH BOOK! More time in this world with these characters? Yes please! The cliffhanger left me desperate for answers, and knowing we get another book makes the wait so much more bearable.

Despite my little complaints, this book was absolutely fantastic. The character development, romance, humor, and plot all work together beautifully. If you've loved the series so far, you'll love this continuation.

4.5/5 pawprints 🐾🐾🐾🐾 (rounding to 5 because that cliffhanger has me HOOKED)

You can find the book on Goodreads here!

Important notes:

• Read the previous books first. This won't work as a standalone!
• Contains one spicy scene (new for this series)
• Ends on a cliffhanger, but book 4 is coming!

Cheers, and happy reading!

The Book Pup

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