In which we realize the frog is the smartest one in room
Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Stars: 5
Perfect if you like:
Morally gray villains
Take charge heroines who might also be slightly morally gray
Office romances
Slooooooooooow burns
Cute frog princes
When I read about the Assistant to the Villain in the Sunday New Times last year, I clicked from the story right to Amazon, downloaded the book to my Kindle, and proceeded to not leave my arm chair all day. I tore through Maehrer’s novel in one sitting, laughing, smiling, crying, loving every moment with these characters. And even though I knew it was a three book series, I was still devastated. I had to wait a WHOLE YEAR to read the next book. So you think I would learn my lesson and savor the second novel, but I couldn’t help myself. I sat down in my armchair and I read Apprentice to the Villain once sitting. And now I have another year to wait until I get the next installment.
I’m not going to go into detail about the plot. For one thing it would spoil some of the first book. And for another, it is just one of those books you hand someone, someone you know at their core is a reader who appreciates seriously dry humor along with unrequited love, and say “Just read it.” And they will and they will love you for it.
This series is just everything I want in a book. It mixes humor with some tough topics, like shitty parents and physical assault. But it is also a story of found families and learning to accept that you are good enough, no matter what your family tells you. And it has that whole fantasy/magical aspect and doesn’t wish they had a little magic somedays?
So I am saying to you, dear reader, because I know you love a good story, just read these. You will lose a weekend, but you won’t even be a little sad.
Comments