Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 29/09/2023
Published by: Tantor Audio
ISBN: B0C41TSC87
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Cover:
Though I do not find this design particularly striking, I cannot deny that the purple background and simple illustrations nicely represent the story.
Writing:
With a loose historical setting, random creatures and unexplained magical powers, the world-building in this story lacked the depth needed to make much of an impression on me. I also struggled to find the simplistic, fairytale-style narrative engaging, especially since the humour fused into it generally fell flat for me. Despite all this, there were some vivid scenes that stood out to me, and it was very satisfying to have dual points of view from both Evie and the Villain.
If life was built on regrets, we’d have monuments the size of giants.
Storyline:
Given the title of this book, the light, bizarre storyline was not surprising. While I initially found it entertaining, I gradually lost interest as the storyline had little substance. Only the twists and revelations towards the end really piqued my interest, but these were not enough to coax me into continuing this series.
Main character:
Evie’s spontaneous and sunny personality made her character really cute. Her struggles and slight character growth also add some depth to her character. However, I simply could not relate to or connect with her overly innocent, clumsy and selfless personality.
She was everything he never deserved but longed for anyway.
Secondary characters:
Despite the secondary characters having different backstories and struggles, I could not connect with or care about any of them. Something about their interactions with Evie felt inauthentic and forced. Even the Villain failed to make a strong impression on me, as his character was little more than another super-attractive, rich and broody (but secretly caring) trope.
Romance:
Although there were some cute moments between the characters as they worked together and got to know each other, I could not get over how unrealistic and awkward their connection seemed. I also found little about their grumpy/sunshine romance particularly remarkable, mainly because it remained pretty much one-note throughout the story.
Narration & Audio:
While parts of this story are nicely brought to life by the narration, I struggled with the odd inflexions used by Em Eldridge. This made the listening experience jarring, and I found it hard to immerse myself in the unfolding story.
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At the end of the day, ‘Assistant to the Villain‘ is a bizarre, simple read that I initially found entertaining. Sadly, the writing, storyline, characters, and narration made it hard for me to remain invested in the story. Those who enjoyed could also love Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto, as it is another light, comical read.
Do you agree or disagree with anything mentioned above? Let us know in the comments below. For those who have read this and want to discuss it, here are a few questions (contains spoilers!!):Â
Q: What did you think of the saboteur mystery?
My answer: I initially found this mystery exciting as it brought some depth to the story. However, it was not long before my interest fizzled out since the mystery seemed underdeveloped and the stakes low. Despite this, I was utterly shocked by the revelation of who the saboteur was, as I had been confident that it was Evie’s work nemesis. This twist (along with several others towards the end) gave the story a strong ending.
Q: Do you have any predictions for the next book?
My answer: Well, the Villain has to escape from the king somehow. I also predict that Evie will discover she has magical powers similar to what her mum had. Sadly, I do not see myself continuing this series, so I may not know if I am right.
Q: What did you think of the humour in this book?
My answer: Several moments at the start were so unexpected and bizarre that I burst out laughing. However, the humour generally made me cringe, especially since each joke seemed to come with a cue to laugh.
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