Apprentice to the Villain,

Blending workplace comedy with romantic fantasy, the humor-driven fantasy romance series beginning with Assistant to the Villain translates viral digital storytelling into published literature. Hannah Nicole Maehrer gained widespread attention on TikTok through comedic skits depicting the daily interactions between a powerful fantasy villain and his optimistic assistant.

Career & Background

Maehrer grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, where she spent her childhood crafting imaginary narrative worlds inspired by animated films. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology before building a online audience on social media under the handle @hannahnicolemae. Her viral comedy skits led to a publication agreement with Red Tower Books, adapting her digital comedy sketches into full-length novels.

Writing Style & Themes

Maehrer's writing combines traditional fantasy tropes with workplace sitcom dynamics, presenting moral grey areas, rapid-fire comedic dialogue, and romantic tension involving villainous protagonists. She frequently develops her stories while listening to music, drawing inspiration from contemporary pop culture and fairytale archetypes to construct tongue-in-cheek romantic fantasy.

Major Works

• Assistant to the Villain — The debut novel in the fantasy romance series follows Evie Sage as she takes a job working for the realm's most feared villain, balancing administrative duties with fantasy peril and growing romantic tension.
• Apprentice to the Villain — The second installment in the series continues the story of Evie and her villainous employer, expanding the political intrigue and supernatural threats surrounding their workplace dynamics.
• Accomplice to the Villain — The third book in the series deepens the narrative stakes as Evie becomes further entangled in her employer's dangerous plots and overarching realm conflicts.