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Assistant to the Villain
by Maehrer, Hannah Nicole
Evie Sage is in desperate need of a job, which is how she ends up as the personal assistant to the most feared villain in the kingdom. It is a workplace comedy at heart, complete with office politics, annoying coworkers, and a boss who happens to be a dark sorcerer. The narrative leans heavily into the absurdity of the situation, trading high-stakes dread for sharp banter and the slow-burn tension of an office romance that should never happen. It feels like reading a sitcom script set in a dungeon. The pacing is brisk, the tone is consistently lighthearted, and the humor is the primary engine driving the plot forward. If you want a fantasy story that prioritizes genuine laughs and the comfort of a found family over grim world-building, this is your next read.
10 Books similar to 'Assistant to the Villain'
Since you enjoyed the specific brand of banter and workplace chaos found in the pages of this book, we have curated a selection of titles that share its cozy, character-driven DNA. These stories lean into the same enemies-to-lovers dynamics and the trope of the grumpy, misunderstood protector. Whether you are looking for more meta-humor that pokes fun at fantasy conventions or simply want another slow-burn romance set against a backdrop of magical bureaucracy, these picks capture that exact balance of heart, wit, and high-stakes workplace tension that makes this genre so addictive.
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Much like Assistant to the Villain, this book offers a cozy, low-stakes fantasy atmosphere that focuses on workplace dynamics and building a new life. It shares a similar charming, lighthearted tone that subverts traditional high-fantasy tropes in favor of character-driven relationship building.
by Megan Bannen
This novel perfectly captures the blend of macabre settings and sweet, bickering romance found in Maehrer's work. It features a grumpy, misunderstood protagonist and a quirky, vibrant world that balances dark themes with laugh-out-loud humor.
by Naomi Novik
While slightly more serious in tone, it features a young woman thrust into the service of a powerful, intimidating, and morally grey magic-user. Readers who enjoyed the 'assistant to a powerful villain' dynamic will appreciate the complex power balance and the evolving relationship between the leads.
T. Kingfisher is a master of the same witty, slightly absurd fantasy style that makes Assistant to the Villain so readable. This story features a delightful, banter-filled romance and a protagonist who finds herself in an unexpected, dangerous situation with a grumpy protector.
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by Naomi Novik
Fans who enjoyed the workplace-like structure and the 'villainous' reputation of the boss in Maehrer's book will enjoy the prickly, cynical narrative voice here. It features a school for dark magic where the protagonist is constantly fighting against her own reputation as a potential villain.
by TJ Klune
This book is the gold standard for 'cozy fantasy' that features a bureaucratic setting and a misunderstood, potentially dangerous figure. It shares the same hopeful, heartwarming core and focuses on the beauty of found family amidst a world that judges outsiders.
If you loved the meta-humor and the subversion of classic villain tropes in Assistant to the Villain, this is a perfect match. It is a hilarious, self-aware romance that pokes fun at genre clichés while delivering a genuinely engaging relationship.
This classic is the spiritual ancestor to many modern 'villain' romances, featuring a young woman who becomes the assistant to a dramatic, vain, and powerful wizard. It perfectly matches the whimsical, slightly chaotic energy of working for a magical boss.
This series is perhaps the closest match in terms of the 'villain and his assistant' dynamic, featuring a grumpy, dark sorcerer and a heroine who is forced to work with him. It balances high-stakes fantasy adventure with a slow-burn, banter-heavy romance.
Readers who enjoyed the professional, academic, yet chaotic tone of Evie's job will appreciate this story about a curmudgeonly professor studying faeries. It features a delightful, slow-burning romance between two highly competent, socially awkward characters.
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As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.