The best cosy fantasy and paranormal romance books

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Reading lists

Cosy fantasy books for spooky season

Accomplice to the Villain

&#x1F438 &#x1f3f0 When falling for the brooding, off-limits boss means excusing his magical murder plots and enduring a sassy amphibian sidekick – all because you love a bad boy… &#x1f3f0 &#x1F438 
 
&#10024 The third book in the bestselling fantasy rom-com series from the TikTok sensation about the sunshine assistant to the grumpy evil villain and their unexpected romance… &#10024 
 
 
REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.” 
 
Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss. 
 
Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire?or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread. 
 
Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain. 
 
Readers are OBSESSED with Hannah Nicole Maehrer... 
 
&#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 ‘This book [has] my whole heart … I need more. Book 4, please, and thank you!’ 
&#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 ‘My favourite in the series … I was genuinely on the edge of my seat … I physically don’t think I can wait until book four’ 
&#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 ‘It truly makes the world seem just that more magical … I’m not sure I’ll ever get bored of books set in this world!’ 
&#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 ‘WHAT a book! I picked up the first book thinking it'd be a cute and fun read... Reader... I was WRONG … volume three solidifies ATTV as genre-defying fantastical farce … an absolute treat’ – ***** Bookseller review 
&#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 &#11088 'A truly delightful shenanigan-filled romantasy … I constantly found myself grinning and giggling … My favourite book of the series!’ 
 
The Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order. 
Book #1 Assistant to the Villain 
Book #2 Apprentice to the Villain 
Book #3 Accomplice to the Villain

Hannah Nicole Maehrer, or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae. is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. When she's not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she's writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.

REWARD OFFERED: Apprentice to The Villain wanted for treason (light), magical property damage (alleged), and one incident involving a weaponized scone (accurate). Frequently seen with a grumpy frog (crowned, judgmental). Answers to “Evie” or “Stop that.” 
 
Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss. 
 
Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire?or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread. 
 
Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain. 
 
Readers can't wait to get their hands on a copy: 
 
'I have never been so hyped for a book before' 
'I will be buying this book so quickly even the dragon will be spooked!!' 
'OMG finally!! I can't wait to have it in my hands!' 
'As soon as it is out, I am going to run to buy it!! Cannot wait.' 
'Giggling. Kicking my feet. I can't wait to read this!' 
'I love this series so much, I've been hooked since the beginning. I'm so excited for the book.' 
'I love Evie and the Villain so I NEED it.'

Apprentice to the Villain

The hilarious grumpy x sunshine fantasy rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation 
 
‘The slow burn was burning, great twists and turns and one of the rare books that actually made me laugh out loud’ ***** Reader review 
‘Hilarious, heart-felt, and wonderful…incredible fairytale fantasy’ ***** Reader review 
‘The banter was perfection.’ ***** Reader review 
 
NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behaviour and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. ?Mgmt 
 
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. 
 
Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? 
 
But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs point to catastrophe. 
 
Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies ... including their nemesis, the king. 
 
Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie. 
 
It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun. 
 
But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice? 
 
Readers love Apprentice to the Villain: 
 
‘My most anticipated book of the year and it did NOT disappoint’ ***** Reader Review 
‘I absolutely loved this book’ ***** Reader review 
‘OH MY DAYS, I have such a profound love for these characters’ ***** Reader review 
‘The tension and banter between the leads is well-written and laugh out loud enjoyable’ ***** Reader review 
‘I couldn’t put this down’ ***** Reader review 
‘These books have a bit of everything! Humour, romance, suspense, drama, blood, magic AND A TALKING FROG!’ ***** Reader review 
‘I am overwhelmed by my love of this series and its characters’ ***** Reader reviewThe Assistant and the Villain series is best enjoyed in order: 
Book #1 Assistant to the Villain 
Book #2 Apprentice to the VillainHannah Nicole Maehrer, New York Times bestseller, October 2023

NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behaviour and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. —Mgmt 
 
Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office. 
 
But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs – Kingsley’s included – point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies ... including their nemesis, the king. 
 
Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie. 
It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun. 
 
But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?

Assistant to the Villain

The #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy rom-com from the TikTok sensation about the sunshine-y assistant to the grumpy evil villain and their unexpected office romance… 
 
'The slow burn romance was done so well - all the tension and build up with the characters' relationship had me grinning like crazy' ***** Reader Review 
'Perfect blend of fantasy, romance and laugh out loud writing!' ***** Reader Review 
 
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, level-headed assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things in General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. 
 
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. 
 
So, when a mishap with Rennedawn's most infamous Villain results in a job offer, naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. 
 
Don't find evil so attractive, Evie. 
 
But just when she's getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat...and not just the literal kind. 
 
Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain-and his entire nefarious empire-out. 
 
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work... and ensure he makes them pay. 
 
After all, a good job is hard to find.... 
 
Readers have fallen head over heels for Assistant to the Villain: 
 
‘One of my favourite reads of the year’ ***** Reader Review 
'The perfect one-sitting binge read for any fantasy or rom-com lover' ***** Reader Review 
'I absolutely raced through this novel . . . I loved this book so much, it was laugh out loud funny, the characters were amazing and the tension was high!' ***** Reader Review 
‘This book is a must read. It's funny, it's got tension, slow burn, Great FMC and the villain, yum!’ ***** Reader Review 
‘I couldn’t put it down’ ***** Reader Review

The most fun you&rsquo;ll have whilst reading a fantasy book

A greatly entertaining read, with characters you get to like and care about

Hannah Nicole Maehrer, or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae. is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. 
 
When she's not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she's writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. 
 
Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, level-headed assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things in General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits. 
 
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn's most infamous Villain results in a job offer-naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don't find evil so attractive, Evie. 
 
But just when she's getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat...and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain-and his entire nefarious empire-out. 
 
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work... and ensure he makes them pay. 
 
After all, a good job is hard to find...

Hannah Nicole Maehrer

HR Update: The position of “adversary to the villain” has been filled. Evie Sage does not recall applying. 
 
Evie has always tried to be helpful, loyal, and only mildly involved in treason. But with a dangerous prophecy threatening the very magic of Rennedawn – not to mention the race to claim its necessary artifacts before King Benedict does – things are starting to feel… less like a career path and more like a serious problem. 
 
The prophecy won’t stop pointing in Evie’s direction. The Villain’s magic keeps choosing her. And honestly, if you’re going to be accused of evil anyway, you might as well commit. 
 
Unfortunately, the more Evie leans into her alleged villain era, the more her boss starts acting like the hero of a completely different story. Trystan is getting closer – closer than is wise, advisable, or even remotely professional – and looking at her like she’s already chosen a side. His. 
 
Which is deeply inconvenient, because if Evie can’t save the kingdom’s magic, she might just become its greatest threat.

Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Books by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Assistant to the Villain

Articles featuring Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Cosy fantasy books for spooky season

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