Apprentice to the Villain

by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Review

The Villains series continues to impress me with its layered storytelling and the way it challenges traditional ideas of good versus evil. I love how these books flip the script, showing us that not all villains are truly bad, and not all heroes are automatically good. It’s all about perspective—whose side of the story we’re hearing—and that nuance makes the world feel so much richer and more real. These stories keep reminding me that every character has depth, motivations, and flaws that make them far more than just labels of “hero” or “villain.”

What really stands out to me in this installment is the development of the familial bonds. The chosen family that’s forming feels authentic, warm, and absolutely unmatched in its strength. Watching these relationships grow and deepen adds so much heart to the darker themes of the series, creating a balance that makes me even more invested. I’m already eagerly looking ahead to book three, curious and excited to see how the characters will continue to evolve and what new twists their journeys will take.