Apprentice to the Villain

I loved the first book and thoroughly enjoyed this as well, a fun adventurous romp

★★★½☆ - Almost There

Better then the First

So, I read book one back in August, and while it was okay, it felt like more of a palate cleanser—something light and fun but not overly memorable. That said, I was glad I picked it up. Going into Apprentice to the Villain, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I ended up liking it a bit better than the first book.

The slow-building tension between Evie and Trystan was a major highlight. Their dynamic felt electric, filled with longing and unspoken feelings that added so much to their interactions. Trystan’s unwavering loyalty and protective nature stood out, and the way Evie matched his intensity made their scenes together both entertaining and emotionally charged.

Evie’s character really came into her own in this installment. Watching her embrace her strengths and step into a more assertive role was satisfying. Her abilities were intriguing, but the story didn’t delve deep enough into their origins or mechanics. It felt like we were supposed to just accept her newfound powers without much explanation, which was disappointing.

Trystan, however, stole the show for me. As the Villain, he’s effortlessly charismatic, commanding attention in every scene he’s in. His complexity as a character made him the most compelling part of the book, and his moments with Evie were easily my favorites.

While the romance was strong, the rest of the story faltered. The pacing became uneven in the latter half, and the fantasy elements felt underdeveloped compared to the first book. For a romantasy, the world-building should have been more robust, but instead, many events felt random and lacked sufficient context. The inclusion of side character perspectives didn’t add much to the story and sometimes detracted from the main plot.

The ending left me feeling unsatisfied, as it didn’t tie up enough threads to leave a lasting impression. While I’m curious about what’s next for Evie and Trystan, I’m also cautious in my expectations. This book had moments of brilliance, but its potential was undermined by inconsistent execution. Here’s hoping the next installment delivers a more cohesive and impactful narrative.

4.75/5

This book was so good???

I missed Evie and Trystan. They are amazing. And the plot of this book was fantastic. Now the only thing I hate is that we have to wait for the third book at least another year when I want to find out the ending now. And now I learned that there's a 4th book too???

I loved Gideon although I wish this book only had Evie and The Villain's povs. I think while Gideon and Becky were amazing, their povs weren't that necessary (perhaps not counting the epilogue which was very interesting and now I have QUESTIONS).

I hope everything ends well on the third book - and that Evie and Trystan will have their happy ending.

Still very fun, but I regret reading it now because it ended on a cliffhanger of sorts and I'm going to forget that by the time the next book comes out.

3.5 stars. Just as much fun as the first book. I adore Tristan and Evie, plus all of the other characters in the manor

Excellent book!

I enjoyed this equally to the first but I did feel like it was a tiiiiny bit too long!!! I love all the characters though and will deff be reading the next book

I really enjoyed the first book and have waited a year to get my hands on this one. Pity, it was disappointing.

It's got middle book filler almost as bad as Crescent City (I'm still sore about those first 500 pages...). It's just not getting anywhere fast. The characters are great but the plot jumps and never really gets anywhere. There's lots of themes that other books have done in recent years (Shadow Daddies, Dragons) that don't get the same development here. Instead of taking one theme and running with it, it feels like it's got all of them going at once so nothing gets fully developed.

It's obviously very tongue in cheek and there's some cracking one liners. Evie's character develops and I can't picture The Villian as anyone other than The Darkling from Shadow and Bone. So there's lots of positives. I just had to read the book quickly because I knew if I set it down I'd struggle to go back to it. For a story that's an “office” setting with adults the romance has strong YA vibes that just gets frustrating. Will I read book 3? Probably, I'd like to see how it all ends. Would I recommend book 2? Mmmm, I think a good synopsis would work.

i love evie and the villain so much like omg. wdym i have to wait til 2025 for the next book. wdym. but also that last chapter about evie being "unmasked" was hella confusing. didn't they already address that in the beginning of the book? idk why it was brought back up as some cliffhanger thing but whatever i still loved this.

“Apprentice to the Villain” is a fantastic second installment that ups the ante in all the best ways. It brings back everything fans loved from the first book—murder, sass, flirtation, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—while layering in fresh elements that elevate the story even further. With new POVs and more couples to root for (or fear), the stakes are higher, the betrayals sting deeper, and the plot twists keep you guessing until the very end. The added angst balances perfectly with the humor, creating a rollercoaster of emotions that leave you hungry for more. The dynamic character development and unexpected alliances add richness to the already captivating world. If this book is any indication, the third installment is going to be epic!

Very cutesie. Very fun. Very demure.