Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #2)

Evangelina (Evie) Sage is the protagonist of Assistant to the Villain. A 23-year-old woman, Evie left school at 13 to care for her baby sister Lyssa after their mother abandoned them and their father became ill. Evie is pretty, with curly black hair and light blue eyes. Hannah Nicole Maehrer portrays her as a determined optimist—loyal, bubbly, and cheerful. Her relationship with Trystan falls into the sunshine/grumpy trope common in romance.

Although Evie is typically forthright, she conceals her emotions when she fears burdening others. Becky observes that Evie “was in a constant state of fulfilling the needs of others” (107), and even Evie reflects that she has “always taken care of [herself] with a false smile and brittle strength” (146).

Assistant to the Villain traces Evie’s journey toward self-awareness and finding where she truly belongs, while Apprentice to the Villain deepens her growth and self-actualization. Evie becomes more comfortable asking for help and asserting herself. In Assistant to the Villain, she temporarily quits her job after feeling insulted by Trystan. In Apprentice to the Villain, Evie defies Trystan’s orders by sneaking back to her village, showing how much more independent she has become.