Assistant to the Villain Summary, Characters and Themes
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is a humorous, romantic fantasy about finding your place in the world, even if that place is working for the kingdom’s most feared villain.
It follows Evie, a young woman trying to care for her family in a kingdom that offers her little in return, who lands a job as an assistant to the Villain after an accidental encounter in the forest. What begins as a job of survival becomes a space where Evie discovers her strength, questions good and evil, and finds herself entangled in palace intrigues, betrayal, and the growing, complicated connection she shares with her brooding employer.
Summary
Evie is the caretaker for her younger sister and her ailing father in a kingdom where survival is a struggle. After failing to secure a job at the fair, she enters a forbidden forest and discovers a wounded man, who turns out to be the Villain. Contrary to rumors, he is young and strikingly handsome. Evie helps him escape the king’s soldiers, and he offers her a position as his assistant at his manor. Despite knowing he is dangerous, her desperation and curiosity push her to accept.
Five months later, Evie has adapted to her bizarre workplace, complete with severed heads hanging from the ceiling when plans go wrong. Her previous job ended violently, leaving her with a permanently unhealed glowing wound, but her new job feels like an improvement. Her biggest daily challenge is Becky, the head administrative assistant, who dislikes her for unknown reasons. Evie handles ledgers and chaos while noting discrepancies, unaware that these will tie into larger troubles.
Evie’s clumsiness draws the Villain’s attention, and despite his cold image, he checks on her when she falls, revealing moments of unexpected kindness. When a healer demands secrets for treatment, Evie jokingly confesses to dreaming about the Villain, only to find him standing in the doorway. The Villain, whose real name is Trystan, struggles with how much Evie’s presence affects him. Her cheerful energy disrupts his carefully constructed darkness.
Trystan believes there is a traitor in his ranks, and Evie, with no ability to betray him due to the magical terms of her employment, takes on the task of helping find the mole. When a ticking sound in Trystan’s office turns out to be a bomb, Evie tries to throw it off a parapet but gets stuck. Trystan arrives just in time, shielding her from the blast. The event reveals that whoever planted the bomb intended to hurt Trystan by harming Evie.
Despite the danger, Evie refuses to quit her job, as it is the only thing in her life she feels she chose for herself. Trystan continues to involve her in his efforts to uncover betrayal within his ranks, and their relationship deepens. At a tavern, she pretends Trystan is her lover to get rid of her ex-boyfriend, creating a moment of unspoken closeness between them. They discover that the bomb was made with parts sold by Trystan’s estranged brother, Malcolm, indicating the betrayal is part of a larger conspiracy.
The investigation leads Evie to suspect Becky, but as suspicions shift and tension rises, Evie accidentally discovers that Blade, her friend and dragon tamer, has been hiding secrets about stealing a dragon from the king. At home, Evie’s father, weakened by a mystic illness, reminds her of her promise to protect the family, forcing her to carry guilt over hiding the truth about her employer.
Trystan’s past unfolds as it is revealed that he was once the king’s protégé, used for his magic until he became too powerful, leading to his imprisonment in darkness. His escape and transformation into the Villain were born from betrayal and survival. Trystan’s mission against the king includes capturing dangerous creatures like the guvre, a venomous being the king wants to use for its rumored healing properties.
During a storm caused by the guvre’s imprisonment, Evie and Trystan’s team share a rare moment of laughter and companionship, but danger quickly returns as the guvre’s mate arrives to rescue it. Evie’s quick thinking helps subdue the creature, and her bravery leaves Trystan shaken by how much he cares for her. They confront dangers together while sharing moments that hint at the growing connection between them.
A party invitation promising a cure for the mystic illness lures Evie, Blade, and Becky into a trap where they encounter Trystan’s father, the core healer. Chaos erupts when the guvre is released, and Trystan’s sister and Evie are caught in the chaos, forcing Evie to protect Trystan while pretending to be his wife to escape capture.
Betrayal strikes again when it is discovered that Evie’s father, previously thought to be sick, has been spying on her and working for the king all along, even planting the bomb that almost killed her. His betrayal shakes Evie’s world, leaving her grappling with the realization that her family’s stability was built on lies.
Trystan comforts her as best he can, and the two share a fragile peace, with Evie recognizing her feelings for him even as they prepare for the battles ahead. However, the king’s forces arrive, capturing Trystan while Evie is left to fight for her life. She kills the blacksmith who once wounded her, finally reclaiming her power in the process.
In the aftermath, Evie returns to the manor, hanging the blacksmith’s severed head from the ceiling as a declaration of her resolve. She vows to save the Villain, even if it means becoming one herself, ready to face whatever darkness is necessary to protect the man who became the center of her world.
Characters
Evangelina Sage
Evie is the resilient, warm-hearted yet internally burdened protagonist who carries the weight of her family’s survival while quietly yearning for her own space in the world. She is defined by her practicality and her spark of irreverent humor, making her capable of treating hanging severed heads with the same dry nonchalance she uses to handle her sister’s giggles.
Her past, marked by the betrayal of her mother and the brutal wound from the blacksmith, has taught her that safety and freedom are not easily earned, yet she persistently seeks a place where she can belong without sacrificing herself. Her adaptability in working for the Villain reflects her layered courage, and her bubbling curiosity leads her into moments of soft defiance and mischief even in the face of death.
Despite enduring fear and exhaustion, Evie clings to her independence and the rare joy she finds in the manor, treating her employment with Trystan as both rebellion against the world’s unfairness and an assertion of her agency. Her capacity for love remains steadfast under her guarded exterior, which is why she eventually recognizes the Villain not only as her employer but as someone whose survival matters deeply to her, even if it terrifies her to acknowledge it aloud.
Trystan Arthur Maverine
Trystan, known to the world as the Villain, embodies the paradox of darkness laced with reluctant tenderness, a man who has chosen to become what the world fears in order to oppose a tyrant king while remaining deeply haunted by the parts of himself that were shattered in the king’s dungeon.
His intelligence, magic, and brutal tactics cloak a deeply fractured soul that finds itself unwillingly softened in the presence of Evie. While he maintains his sharp wit and ruthless efficiency, Trystan’s interactions with Evie reveal his underlying craving for genuine connection, an impulse that clashes with his self-loathing and fear that anything he loves is destined to be destroyed by his proximity.
He is amused, exasperated, and quietly enchanted by Evie’s courage and humor, allowing himself moments of vulnerability that often frighten him as much as they heal him. Trystan’s arc is a slow surrender to the realization that love does not weaken him but clarifies the reasons for his fight, even as he continues to shoulder the heavy title of the Villain in a kingdom that needs monsters to resist tyranny.
Becky
Becky is introduced as the cold and unwelcoming head administrative assistant, embodying the daily discomfort Evie faces in the workplace.
However, as the layers peel back, Becky is revealed to be a fiercely determined individual who carries her own burdens, such as her grandmother’s illness, which fuels her reckless actions like infiltrating the king’s palace in disguise.
She is stubborn, competitive, and driven, creating a dynamic tension with Evie, yet their shared vulnerabilities and goals reveal an unspoken respect beneath their bickering.
Becky represents the many individuals working within the Villain’s manor who navigate the blurred lines between villainy and survival, showing that even sharp-edged individuals are shaped by desperation and quiet hopes for their loved ones.
Blade
Blade serves as the dragon tamer and a source of warmth within the manor’s often violent ecosystem, providing Evie with a rare, uncomplicated friendship.
His past, marked by the theft of a dragon to save it from the king’s cruelty, aligns him with Trystan’s rebellion despite his fears and the lies he tells to protect himself. Blade’s openness and humor contrast with his insecurities about being perceived as a traitor when his lies are uncovered, yet his loyalty to Trystan and his protective nature toward Evie shine through.
He is both an anchor in the chaos of the manor and a reminder of the everyday humanity that persists even among those serving a man the world sees as evil.
Tatianna
Tatianna is the healer whose pragmatic demeanor masks a quietly fierce loyalty to those she cares for.
Her own childhood of being a healer overshadowed by expectations forged her into a pragmatic caretaker who refuses to indulge in sentimentality when there is work to be done. Her history with Trystan’s family and her closeness to his sister deepen her role within the narrative, making her a trusted, steady presence capable of handling the messiest of situations with clinical precision and the occasional blunt quip.
She is especially significant in Evie’s arc, helping her endure the excruciating healing of her wound, symbolizing that true healing often requires painful confrontation of the past.
Trystan’s Sister
Trystan’s sister appears as a quiet but essential presence, serving as a reminder of the life Trystan once had before becoming the Villain. Her ability to make sleeping potions and her connection with Tatianna and the blue ink contribute to the unraveling of the traitor mystery.
She reflects the familial bond Trystan still preserves despite his belief that he is beyond redemption, embodying the part of him that is still capable of love and connection even amid chaos.
Evie’s Father
Evie’s father initially appears as a frail, ailing man whose illness binds Evie to her family, but he is later revealed to be a complex antagonist in her personal story.
His betrayal—spying for the king, planting the bomb that nearly killed Evie, and selling her to the blacksmith—strips him of any innocence, aligning him with the kingdom’s cruelty. Yet his actions also serve to highlight Evie’s strength as she confronts the truth and reclaims her power, choosing to align herself with Trystan rather than the man who raised her in lies.
His deception underscores the central theme of monstrousness, forcing Evie to acknowledge that it is not titles but choices that define who is truly monstrous.
Malcolm
Malcolm, Trystan’s estranged brother, adds to the narrative’s examination of fractured family ties and unintended betrayals.
His impulsiveness and questionable decisions often create complications, such as selling the bomb timer while drunk, making him a source of both tension and dark humor within the storyline. His relationship with Trystan is layered with resentment, unresolved affection, and exasperation, reflecting how deeply family can both wound and protect, depending on the moment.
Themes
Survival and Desperation
Evangelina Sage’s every action in Assistant to the Villain is underlined by her deep need to keep her family alive, no matter the personal cost. The decision to take a position as an assistant to the Villain is not a daring adventure for her; it is a necessity, a last option for survival when the world has failed to offer her other dignified paths.
Her father’s illness, her role as a caretaker for her younger sister, and the haunting memory of abuse at the hands of the village blacksmith that left her with a glowing, unhealed wound are constant reminders that survival often demands impossible choices. This reality forces Evie into environments that challenge her moral boundaries, making her stand beside severed heads and work under a man known for murder and cruelty.
Her willingness to step into danger again and again, whether it is disarming a bomb or facing down a guvre, is less a sign of fearlessness and more a sign of the desperation that comes when every moment is lived on borrowed time and scarce coin. Her drive to keep her family safe, to secure medicine for her father, and to provide a stable home for her sister means that she cannot afford to care for her own safety or comfort, even as she finds a strange solace in the dark halls of Trystan’s manor.
The backdrop of the kingdom’s mystic illness epidemic and the cruelty of those in power only heightens the harshness of her reality, presenting a world where survival is a daily negotiation, and desperation becomes the silent companion to each choice Evie makes.
Identity and Perception
Throughout Assistant to the Villain, the tension between how people perceive themselves and how others label them shapes the narrative. Trystan is publicly known as the Villain, a title that strips him of any complexity, reducing him to an embodiment of fear and cruelty in the eyes of the kingdom.
However, through Evie’s eyes, this label fractures, revealing a man capable of tenderness, humor, and protectiveness, even as he remains capable of violence and vengeance. Evie herself wrestles with how the world views her: a lowly assistant to a monster, a caretaker clinging to survival, and an unimportant young woman whose worth is often dismissed.
Yet within the walls of the manor, she discovers glimpses of who she truly is—someone valuable, capable, and needed, even if the acknowledgment comes in the shadow of a man who terrifies everyone else.
The idea that identity is constructed both internally and externally recurs, as seen when Evie hangs the caricatured poster of Trystan in the office, forcing him to confront the absurdity of his feared image, or when she pretends to be Trystan’s lover to escape a life-threatening situation, momentarily stepping into a role that reveals hidden desires. The book suggests that identity is never singular or static; it shifts depending on who is watching and what is at stake.
For Trystan, embracing the role of Villain is a protective shield forged by betrayal and a past filled with pain, while for Evie, claiming the title of assistant is a reclamation of autonomy in a world that leaves little space for women to exist outside of others’ expectations.
This layered exploration challenges the ease with which society flattens individuals into titles and rumors, asking readers to consider the cost of living under the weight of others’ perceptions.
Betrayal and Trust
Trust is a fragile currency in Assistant to the Villain, with betrayal lurking in the shadows of nearly every relationship. Evie’s father, the man she sacrifices her safety and comfort for, is revealed to be the ultimate betrayer, having spied on her, faked illness, and orchestrated acts that endangered her life.
This betrayal cuts deeply because it collides with the fundamental faith that family should protect rather than exploit. Trust is also complicated within Trystan’s world, as his efforts to build a network of allies are constantly under threat from the king’s spies and the inevitability that betrayal may come from those closest to him. The bomb plot, the traitor within the manor, and the constant attacks from the kingdom test Trystan’s ability to extend trust, forcing him to balance suspicion with the need to build genuine bonds if he hopes to succeed in his rebellion.
The tentative trust between Trystan and Evie becomes a quiet but powerful lifeline for both characters, each seeing in the other a reason to believe that loyalty and care can exist even in dark places. However, this trust is not blind; it is forged through trials, misunderstandings, and moments of vulnerability, such as Evie quitting when she believes Trystan doesn’t trust her, or Trystan’s near panic at the thought of Evie being harmed.
This theme underscores how betrayal is a wound that changes a person, but it also highlights how trust, when carefully offered and earned, can become a force that defies the expectations of a world ruled by cruelty and self-interest.
Power, Control, and Rebellion
The world of Assistant to the Villain is dominated by hierarchies of power, and the fight to reclaim control shapes many of the characters’ decisions.
Trystan’s transformation from a servant of the king to the feared Villain is a rebellion against the structures that sought to use and discard him, a reclamation of agency in a world that tried to chain him in darkness. His pursuit of revenge against the king, capturing dangerous creatures and building his network, is not merely about vengeance but about asserting his right to exist outside the dictates of a corrupt ruler.
Evie’s journey is also a rebellion, though quieter; every choice she makes to continue working, to survive despite fear, to save Trystan, and to confront betrayal is an act of reclaiming control in a life that has been shaped by others’ decisions and violence. The king’s relentless attempts to maintain his power, from sending spies to capturing guvres for their venom, highlight the brutal lengths to which those in authority will go to maintain control. Yet the rebellion led by Trystan, supported by Evie’s sharp mind and will, illustrates that power structures are not unbreakable, and even within dark, violent systems, moments of resistance and defiance can emerge.
The book examines how power is wielded, how it corrupts, and how it can be challenged, making clear that rebellion is often born from those who have been forced to the margins, finding strength in the darkness to oppose the light that has failed them.