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Quick answer: If you liked Apprentice to the Villain, try Assistant to the Villain, Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust, The House in the Cerulean Sea, A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking and Howl's Moving Castle. They are cozy, funny fantasies with big hearts.
Hannah Nicole Maehrer's Apprentice to the Villain continues the story of Evie and the villain she works for, mixing workplace comedy, romance and fantasy. Readers who love it want more light, funny fantasy with banter and found family. These 15 books deliver the mix, with low-stakes fantasy, cozy magic and lovable misfits.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant to the Villain | Hannah Nicole Maehrer | Adult | the first book |
| Legends & Lattes | Travis Baldree | Adult | readers who want cozy fantasy |
| Bookshops & Bonedust | Travis Baldree | Adult | readers who liked the first |
| The House in the Cerulean Sea | TJ Klune | Adult | readers who want comfort |
| A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking | T. Kingfisher | Adult | readers who like a clever heroine |
| Nettle & Bone | T. Kingfisher | Adult | readers who like fairy-tale quests |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | Teen/Adult | readers who want comfort fantasy |
| The Princess Bride | William Goldman | Adult | readers who want laughs |
| Guards! Guards! | Terry Pratchett | Adult | readers who like satire |
| Tress of the Emerald Sea | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | readers who like fairy-tale quests |
| The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches | Sangu Mandanna | Adult | readers who like cozy romance |
| Sorcery of Thorns | Margaret Rogerson | Teen/Adult | readers who like library fantasy |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like darker humor |
| The Hobbit | J.R.R. Tolkien | All ages | readers who want a classic |
| Heartless | Marissa Meyer | Teen/Adult | readers who like retellings |
1. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
The first book in the series, in which Evie takes a job as the Villain's assistant. Start here if you have not read it.
Best for: the first book.
2. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Viv, a retired orc mercenary, opens a coffee shop in a fantasy city. Small stakes, big heart.
Best for: readers who want cozy fantasy.
3. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
A prequel in which Viv recovers in a seaside town and opens a bookshop. Gentle and warm.
Best for: readers who liked the first.
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Linus Baker visits an island orphanage for magical children. Warm and funny.
Best for: readers who want comfort.
5. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
Mona, a 14-year-old baker with minor magic, gets mixed up in a murder. Funny and sharp.
Best for: readers who like a clever heroine.
6. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
A princess sets out to kill a prince with the help of a witch and a bone dog. Dark, funny and sweet.
Best for: readers who like fairy-tale quests.
7. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie is cursed to be old and moves in with the wizard Howl. Funny and sweet.
Best for: readers who want comfort fantasy.
8. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Westley and Buttercup face pirates, giants and Prince Humperdinck. Funny and romantic.
Best for: readers who want laughs.
9. Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
A dragon appears in Ankh-Morpork, and the Night Watch must stop it. A great Discworld start.
Best for: readers who like satire.
10. Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
Tress sails the Spore Sea to save her love. Whimsical and heartfelt.
Best for: readers who like fairy-tale quests.
11. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
A witch finds a cozy home and found family. Warm and romantic.
Best for: readers who like cozy romance.
12. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Elisabeth, a librarian, fights sorcerers and monsters with a sorcerer's help. Fast, witty and romantic.
Best for: readers who like library fantasy.
13. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
El Lazarus Lake attends a school where monsters hunt students. Sharp and funny.
Best for: readers who like darker humor.
14. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo joins a company of dwarves in a comfy quest. A classic of cozy adventure.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
15. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
The Queen of Hearts' backstory in a Wonderland retelling. Sweet and tragic.
Best for: readers who like retellings.
How to Choose
For the first book, read Assistant to the Villain. For cozy fantasy, try Legends & Lattes or The House in the Cerulean Sea. For humor, pick Guards! Guards! or The Princess Bride. A simple plan is to alternate a cozy book and a classic. Most of these are light and clean, though some include a little romance. Good companions include the Discworld books, which share the same satirical heart, and audiobooks, which add a comic voice to the dialogue. If you like romance, choose The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Assistant to the Villain first?
Yes, because Apprentice to the Villain continues the story.
Is it a romance?
Yes, it mixes workplace comedy with romance and light fantasy.
Is it YA?
It is written for adults but is clean and suitable for older teens.
What is cozy fantasy?
It is fantasy with low stakes, warm characters and comforting settings.
Is Apprentice to the Villain the end of the series?
It is part of an ongoing series, so check the publisher's site for new titles.
Is the series spicy?
It has romance, mostly closed-door, and focuses on humor.