Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

29 reviews

lilavati's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book shouldn't work. I found the narrator's tone vaguely irritating for most of the book, and the writing hits me as trite. I swear I heard my old creative writing teacher's voice saying "show, don't tell" every few minutes. 

But Yet. 

Could I stop listening to this book? Also no. Why? I don't know! Despite all the reasons it shouldn't work - it does. 

Excellent for someone in the mood for a slow-burn romance, but that's still a light read. But I mean slow - I think they kiss twice. It also ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger. I'm sure there'll be a happy ever after at the end of the third (yet to be released) book, but you don't hit it in this one. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Murder

rustbeltcoastie's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I laughed out loud multiple times. This is morally grey hero done right, not just thinly-veiled abuse and toxicity masquerading as devotion. I’m starting the next one right away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Sexual harassment

rachelfayreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Murder

espurrr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book started out pretty silly, but then it gets so good. The characters are better developed than I expected. The plot is also surprising and fun.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mandalevelsup's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This has been one of my favorite reads of the year. It is a glorious deconstruction of grumpy/sunshine, office comedy with an absurdist twist that uses its premise to quietly reflect on how we are shaped by trauma. 

This is a book that would benefit from trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gore and Violence

arlaubscher's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror and Alcohol

indieandajean's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Assistant to the Villain is an adorable fantasy rom-com with more emphasis on the "com". The slow burn in this book will be of no surprise to anyone who enjoyed watching the tiktok series it was based on, and it makes for a lot of exasperation from a reader's perspective when you read many chapters of pining and them "almost" getting to the point. This is a feature, not a bug.

The characters are lovable, the plot moves along at a decent pace, and it has just the right amount of tropes that one would expect from a slow-burn, mutual pining, workplace rom-com. It also has a dragon, which is always a positive. 

My only complaint is that at times the book was a little too slow. There were unnecessary scenes that did little to move the plot forward or deepen the reader's understanding of the characters.  I understand that the author was given a three book deal and that where there is a three book deal about a single romance, there is going to have to be some filler. That said, the story never dragged, even through these filler moments, and it was always fun to pick back up to read. 

My review is probably somewhat biased as I fell in love with Evie Sage played by Hannah Nicole Maehrer in her Tiktok videos that were the catalyst for the books, but I challenge anyone who loves a good underdog to watch the videos or read this book and not also love the character. She, the Villain, Blade, Tatiana, and yes, even Becky, are great characters and it was fun to see them more fully fleshed out in this book. 

I am very much looking forward to book two which is coming out this fall, particularly because of the cliffhanger ending!

I recommend this one for anyone who enjoys a bit of humor in their romances, morally grey fantasy villains, dragons, and strong female characters who overcome obstacles and earn the respect of people around them. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

blackcatl's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The book starts quite slow in my opinion, and Evies character needs way more depth. In the second half, however, everything comes together and you can see way more of Evies development which I like - and missed in the beginning. Also, way more romance is needed in the first half imo. But, because of the second half, I am thrilled to read the second book and its still almost 4 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Blood

Minor: Torture, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

stories's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Good fun. Definitely for adults - some swears, quite a bit of lusting. Dual POV: Assistant & Villain. Mutual pining. 

Lots of mysterious backstories. 

Some fun characters, with solid side character development. Bonus points for at-odds lesbians. 

Some fun playing with traditional fairytale and fantasy tropes, alongside office workplace dramas. 

Working for a villain is all well and good, but when there’s a mole in the office, it’s not the *safest* workplace ever. 

Mildly cliffhanger ending, which was not my favourite. (Not least bc my library doesn’t recognise the existence of book 2 & 3 :c )

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Alcohol

Villainous deeds (murder, torture etc) occur, but off screen and typically presented in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.

straybutterfly's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing, Sexism, and Grief