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⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5
Some fantasy romances take their villains very seriously.
Adversary to the Villain absolutely does not.
Hannah Nicole Maehrer's fourth Assistant to the Villain book keeps the series' cozy fantasy, workplace-romance, and comedy mix while raising the stakes around Evie, Trystan, and the magic of Rennedawn.
The catch? This is book four, and the series is still not finished. A fifth book is already announced, so readers looking for a clean ending here may come away a little frustrated.
Listen to it if: you enjoy funny romantasy, grumpy x sunshine chemistry, magical workplace chaos, and a very slow-burn relationship.
Skip it if: you need tightly plotted fantasy or a series that actually wraps things up by the fourth book.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Adversary to the Villain |
| Author | Hannah Nicole Maehrer |
| Narrator(s) (audiobook) | Em Eldridge |
| Series | Assistant to the Villain, Book 4 |
| Genre | Fantasy Romance |
| Subgenre | Cozy Fantasy Romantic Comedy / Romantasy |
| Audiobook length | 12 hours 8 minutes |
| First published | 2026 |
| Publisher | Tantor Media, Inc. (audiobook) |
The audiobook is an unabridged production narrated by Em Eldridge and published by Tantor Media. Multiple audiobook listings give the runtime as 12 hours 8 minutes, with an August 4, 2026 release date.
Evie Sage has somehow landed in a job description that sounds even worse than working for a villain.
She's now the adversary to the villain.
And, naturally, she doesn't remember applying for the position.
The story picks up with a dangerous prophecy threatening the magic of Rennedawn. Evie also finds herself caught up in a race for magical artifacts before King Benedict can claim them.
Meanwhile, the Villain's magic keeps pointing toward Evie.
And the more she gets pulled toward her supposed villain era, the more complicated things become with Trystan.
He is getting closer.
Very inconveniently closer.
The official description makes it clear that the book leans into the same fantasy-romantic-comedy identity that made the earlier books stand out: magic, workplace chaos, romance, and plenty of humor.
It's also important to know that this is not a good jumping-on point. The publisher recommends reading the series in order, starting with Assistant to the Villain, followed by Apprentice to the Villain and Accomplice to the Villain.
At the center of the series are still Evie Sage and Trystan, the Villain.
The fun of their relationship has never really been about explosive romance. It's the awkwardness.
The contrast.
Evie is practical, helpful, and somehow always tangled up in situations that should be way above her pay grade.
Trystan is supposed to be the terrifying villain.
Yet the official setup keeps pushing them into increasingly complicated territory, with Trystan looking at Evie as though she has already chosen his side.
That grumpy-versus-sunshine dynamic remains one of the biggest reasons this series works for its target audience.
There is also a very deliberate sense of romantic frustration here.
If you've been waiting for these two to stop dancing around each other, well...
You may need patience.
A lot of it.
The biggest strength of Adversary to the Villain is the tone.
Maehrer isn't trying to turn this into grim, complicated high fantasy. The series is much more interested in being funny, romantic, magical, and occasionally ridiculous.
That combination is the whole appeal.
The official publisher description even frames the series as a meeting between Once Upon a Time and The Office, which is a surprisingly useful way to understand what you're getting.
There is a real downside, though.
By book four, the long-running romantic tension and continuing plot threads can start to feel stretched. Some reader reactions to the new installment have specifically criticized the pacing, multiple POVs, and the decision to continue into a fifth book instead of ending the story here.
That won't bother everyone.
If the characters and humor are the main reason you're here, another book may feel like a bonus.
If you're mainly here for plot progression, though, the series' increasingly long runway could test your patience.
Adversary to the Villain is narrated by Em Eldridge, who also narrates the earlier audiobooks in the series. The audiobook runs for 12 hours and 8 minutes and is unabridged.
That continuity matters for a series like this.
You're not suddenly getting a different voice for a world and cast you've already spent three books with.
The audiobook's relatively compact runtime also suits the light, comedic nature of the story. It isn't an enormous fantasy commitment, and the unabridged format preserves the full story rather than trimming it down for audio.
There is one thing worth keeping in mind if you're new to the series: Em Eldridge's narration has been a point of disagreement among listeners of the earlier books. Some listeners enjoy the distinctive, quirky performance, while others have found it difficult to connect with.
So if you're unsure about the audio specifically, sampling the narration before committing is a sensible move.
Probably not for you if:
Adversary to the Villain stays firmly in the lane that Hannah Nicole Maehrer built for this series: cozy fantasy, romantic comedy, workplace chaos, and a relationship that takes its sweet time getting anywhere.
That's both its strength and its weakness.
The charm is easy to understand. The premise is unusual, the Evie-and-Trystan dynamic gives the story plenty of romantic tension, and the lighter tone makes this a very different kind of romantasy from the usual brooding, high-stakes fantasy romance.
But four books in, the slow-burn structure and continuing story may feel less fresh to readers who were hoping for a tighter conclusion.
And this isn't the conclusion anyway.
The publisher has confirmed that the series will continue with a fifth book.
For existing fans, that will probably be welcome news.
For everyone else, start with the first book. This is one series where the journey matters more than jumping straight into the newest installment.
If the premise sounds like your kind of chaotic fantasy romance, the Adversary to the Villain audiobook is worth sampling. And if your audiobook platform offers a free trial credit, this could be a good one to try with it.
Is Adversary to the Villain part of a series?
Yes. It is Book 4 in Hannah Nicole Maehrer's Assistant to the Villain series. The recommended reading order is Assistant to the Villain, Apprentice to the Villain, Accomplice to the Villain, and then Adversary to the Villain.
Who narrates the Adversary to the Villain audiobook?
Em Eldridge narrates the unabridged audiobook.
How long is the Adversary to the Villain audiobook?
The audiobook has a runtime of approximately 12 hours and 8 minutes.
When was Adversary to the Villain published?
The book was released in the US on August 4, 2026 (August 6, 2026 in the UK).
Who published the Adversary to the Villain book?
The book was published by Tantor Media, Inc.
Is Adversary to the Villain the final book in the series?
No. The publisher's current listing confirms that the series will continue with a fifth book.
How can I listen to Adversary to the Villain audiobook free?
You may be able to listen to Adversary to the Villain for free with an Audiobooks.com free trial. The trial includes a free audiobook credit, subject to current availability and terms.
