Accomplice To The Villain Immediate Thoughts & Reactions | Fangirl Breakdown

Summary

Detailed Summary of "Accomplice To The Villain Immediate Thoughts & Reactions | Fangirl Breakdown" Episode of Dear Fantasy Reader

Introduction to the Episode In this episode of Dear Fantasy Reader, hosts Hannah, Kinsey, and Karly delve into their initial reactions and thoughts on "Accomplice to the Villain" by Hannah Nicole Mair, the third installment in the "Assistant to the Villain" series. The discussion is rich with enthusiastic insights, character analyses, and plot revelations, making it a must-read for fans of the Empyrean series.

Content Warnings and Excitement The episode begins with Karly issuing a content warning and spoiler alert for "Accomplice to the Villain" and the entire series, ensuring listeners are prepared for in-depth discussions (00:20). Kinsey expresses her immense excitement, revealing that she has made 182 annotations on her Kindle, filled with exclamations like "oh my God" and "I'm dying," particularly about the character Shayla (00:58).

Overall Impressions Both hosts share their delight in reading the book, emphasizing its role as a comforting and enjoyable read amidst their usual selection of more intense novels. Kinsey highlights the book as a "comfort read" that met her expectations, while Karly praises the series' ability to improve with each installment, declaring "book three is my new favorite in the series" (01:27, 02:20, 02:46).

Favorite Moments and Scenes The conversation shifts to favorite moments within the book. Kinsey recounts a startling moment at the very first line of chapter one, where Tristan’s head is dangling, leading her to scream in shock (03:01). This intense opening sets the tone for the gripping narrative. They both highlight the scene where Evie and Tristan are forced to stay in the Lover’s Suite with a mirror ceiling, a classic "forced proximity" trope that they find hilarious and engaging (04:30, 05:03).

Character Discussions

1. Evie
   Evie stands out as a favorite character for both hosts. Karly appreciates how Evie subverts typical fantasy tropes by reclaiming her power, contrasting the often powerless female protagonists in the genre (06:20). Kinsey admires Evie’s growth into a confident and badass character, emphasizing her strategic intelligence and ability to gather information by appearing flighty—a clever inversion of expectations (06:43, 07:06). They both commend Evie’s complexity, noting her as a "very smart" and "capable" protagonist who keeps others guessing (08:12).

2. Tristan
   Tristan's character receives high praise for his depth and evolution. Kinsey admires his protective nature and the way his struggles with lost magic are portrayed with nuance, moving from denial to acknowledgment (09:04). Karly highlights Tristan's reserved demeanor and his unwavering support for Evie, appreciating his actions that often remain secretive, underscoring his genuine care without expecting anything in return (10:43). The hosts discuss their anticipation for Tristan to possibly possess his own form of magic, though they humorously hope it might be something quirky and fun (35:12).

3. Kingsley
   Kingsley’s storyline, particularly his curse, is a focal point of their discussion. Kinsey shares her anxiety over Kingsley's transformation and disappearance, revealing her deep emotional investment in his fate (11:47). Karly echoes these sentiments, expressing sorrow over his struggles and the emotional weight of his predicament (12:21). Their concern culminates in relief when Kingsley breaks his curse, though they remain cautious about future plot developments surrounding his character (27:55).

4. Lissa and Blade
   While brief, Lissa is noted for manifesting power similar to her mother, adding layers to the prophecy element of the series (14:00). Blade, though a secondary character, is appreciated for his humor, with both hosts expressing a desire to see more of him in future books (15:16).

Relationship Dynamics and Payoffs The hosts delve into the romantic arcs, particularly focusing on the slow burn between Evie and Tristan. Kinsey expresses frustration over the prolonged buildup but ultimately praises the sweet and intimate payoff, finding it fitting within the story's thematic framework (16:16, 17:08). They discuss how the climax avoids overly explicit content, maintaining the book’s storybook tropes and ensuring the intimacy feels genuine and heartfelt (17:22).

Plot Twists and Surprises Several plot twists are unpacked during the episode. The revelation that Merv is the traitor comes as a surprise to both hosts, especially for those who hadn’t revisited previous books (29:39). They discuss the intricate prophecy elements, including Tristan’s true lineage and the confrontation with the king, which diverges from their initial expectations (22:14, 24:04). The betrayal by a seemingly minor character adds depth to the narrative, showcasing the author’s ability to subvert typical fantasy expectations (29:28).

Expectations for Future Installments Looking ahead, Kinsey and Karly share their hopes and speculations for upcoming books. They express excitement about potential character developments, such as Tristan gaining his own unique magic, and wish for creative expansions of the kingdom’s lore (35:23, 37:47). The hosts also muse about possible spin-offs and prequel series that could explore the magical beings and history of the kingdom, reflecting their enthusiasm for the series' rich world-building (37:36).

Character Arcs and Development The discussion touches on the character arcs beyond the main protagonists, such as Tati and Claire, and the dynamic between Evie and her family. Tati’s background and the contrast with Evie’s upbringing provide additional emotional depth to the storyline (31:07, 31:31). The hosts appreciate the diversity of characters and their unique backgrounds, which contribute to the series' engaging narrative tapestry (31:07).

Final Thoughts and Ratings In their concluding remarks, both Kinsey and Karly unanimously declare "Accomplice to the Villain" as their favorite in the series, awarding it five stars with no reservations (34:52, 35:01). They express eagerness for the next installment, hoping for satisfying resolutions to lingering plot points and continued character growth (35:12, 36:49). The episode wraps up with a playful speculation on the title of the next book, showcasing their excitement and creative engagement with the series’ future (39:13).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Kinsey (00:32): "I have 182 annotations on my Kindle, and most of my notes are some variation of me saying, oh my God. Or screaming or I'm dying."
• Carly (02:27): "This book three is definitely my favorite of them all. It was just so good."
• Kinsey (03:01): "I started reading, and all of a sudden I just screamed. And it was the very first line of chapter one."
• Carly (06:20): "Evie just really grew into herself. She was so much more confident... she was just very secure with herself and pretty badass."
• Kinsey (10:43): "He very much is just like, I'm gonna make sure she's okay. But he never expects anything in return."
• Carly (16:16): "I almost think that the scene where they're in the room with the mirror ceiling was almost more spicy in a way than the actual spicy scene."
• Kinsey (22:14): "We finally got payoff. It wasn't what I was expecting, I'll admit."
• Carly (27:55): "I'm nervous. I just need to see that."
• Kinsey (35:12): "I'm also obviously hoping they defeat the king in, like, the most humiliating way, fulfill the prophecy, and then Evie’s gonna become his princess, and we'll be, like, happily ever after."

Conclusion This episode of Dear Fantasy Reader offers an enthusiastic and comprehensive breakdown of "Accomplice to the Villain," highlighting the hosts' deep engagement with the book's characters, plot twists, and romantic dynamics. The detailed discussions provide valuable insights for both avid fans and newcomers to the Empyrean series, capturing the essence of what makes this installment particularly beloved. With a perfect rating and eager anticipation for future books, Kinsey and Karly exemplify the passionate fangirl experience that defines Dear Fantasy Reader.

Transcript

[Carly]

Foreign.

[Kinsey]

Dearest Fantasy Readers, welcome to the Dear Fantasy Reader Podcast, where we travel through the pages of our favorite Romantasy novels. I'm Kinsey.

[Carly]

And I'm Carly.

[Kinsey]

Today we are going to be sharing our initial thoughts and reactions to Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Mair.

[Carly]

With that content warning and spoiler alert for Accomplice to the Villain and the entire Assistant to the Villain series. If you haven't read it in its entirety, you should save this episode. Go do that and we'll be here waiting.

[Kinsey]

Also, this podcast is rated R in content and language. Okay. I have been dying to talk about this book, very impatiently waiting for somebody else to read it too. So to say that I'm excited to talk about it is quite the understatement, if you can't tell. For those that are watching on Patreon, I have crocheted my very own Kingsley that is sitting on my shoulder.

[Carly]

And he's adorable.

[Kinsey]

He's super cute. I'm so proud. So, first things first, we just gotta dive into our initial reactions. I have 182 annotations on my Kindle, and most of my notes are some variation of me saying, oh my God. Or screaming or I'm dying. And of course, my Shayla.

[Carly]

That's so on brand.

[Kinsey]

It's very on brand for me because there were definitely like, oh, my Shayla moments. But this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025, and I was having a great time. Like, I was just highlighting, like, anything that made me laugh, anything that made me swoon. It was really fun.

[Carly]

Well, I love it because I think I picked up this series because of you, because you started it this year and you were really loving it. So I picked it up and read it too, and it's been really fun.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I love that. Just like the whole series in general is just like, meant to be a good time. Like, this is one of those few books where I'm like, okay, I can sit back and relax and just be a passenger princess. And it's ridiculous and it's meant to be silly and it's just so lighthearted. And I read a lot of traumatic books most of the time. So it's a really nice change of pace.

[Carly]

It's definitely a comfort read.

[Kinsey]

It is. It's definitely a comfort read. And it's so fun and it met my expectations.

[Carly]

I feel like this most recent book really actually defied my expectations. I feel like each book in the series has gotten better and better, and I don't often Feel like that when I read a series where every book I'm like, oh, this is my new favorite in the series. I mean, book three. It's my new favorite in the series.

[Kinsey]

I'm the exact same way. This book 3 is definitely my favorite of them all. It was just so good. It was favorite moment.

[Carly]

You started off. Kenzie, I know you have something you're just dying to talk about.

[Kinsey]

Okay, so this one's not necessarily a favorite moment, but. So I had started the book before Carly and Hannah, and we were on FaceTime about something completely unrelated, but, like, I was, like, multitasking. So I started the book as soon as I got it, and so I'm, like, reading it, and all of a sudden I just screamed. And it was the very first line of chapter one. I was like, oh, my God. And Kylie's like, what? What happened? Is there spider? Spider? And I was just, like, freaking the fuck out, because, first of all, I was hyped because it started in Kingsley's point of view. And I love Kingsley, if you can't tell, but he's so cute. And so I was like, yay, it's Kingsley. And then it was like Tristan's head was dangling, and I was like, what the. But the rational part of me knew that the author wouldn't kill the main character off page, but there was still that fear. I knew it had to be a nightmare, but I was like, what if it's a flashback or something? I don't know. I was nervous, but that got me good.

[Carly]

Yeah. Or a vision of the future or something like that. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

So I was just like, you can't kill one of my favorite book boyfriends like this.

[Carly]

And I just want to explain that the reason why I asked her if it was a spider is because the last time I was on the phone with Kinsey and she screamed like she was being serial murdered was because of a spider. Which I understand. I'm not judging, but that's why I jumped to that and not something more dire.

[Kinsey]

It was like my spider scream, in my defense. But favorite moments, I have to say, one of them was when they were forced to stay inside of the suite. The lover's suite with the mirror ceiling.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Kinsey]

That was hilarious. And forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes.

[Carly]

Yes.

[Kinsey]

So, like, it's delicious. Yeah. They're locked in a room. They can't leave one bed. And then it's awkward because it has, like, the sex ceiling with the mare.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Amazing.

[Carly]

That was one of mine, too. It's really, really Funny. That scene is hilarious.

[Kinsey]

It was so good. I think that was probably my favorite scene, if not the ending, which we'll talk about later, but any other favorite moments for you?

[Carly]

You know, I had so much fun reading this book. I don't. I feel like it was the book I needed at the time. I needed it because I think I was like, between some more serious reads. It was like a rollercoaster of a good time kind of feeling where I was just, like, ready for the next peak, you know, like, over and over and over again with this book. The ceiling mirror was pretty, pretty good. I felt like every time they kissed, though, I was like, let's go, let's go.

[Kinsey]

That was every time I wrote, screaming or any time I wrote. Oh, my God.

[Carly]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I almost enjoyed the buildup with the kisses and the slow burn more than the actual payoff of what happened. I mean, I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself here.

[Carly]

It was a great payoff, though.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Okay. You ready to talk about some characters?

[Carly]

Yes.

[Kinsey]

Who do you want to talk about first?

[Carly]

Evie. I want to talk about Evie.

[Kinsey]

All right.

[Carly]

I think my favorite thing about this book is how it kind of subverted. I don't know if you would call it a trope or some sort of plot device, but so often in fantasy books, I feel like the female main character has to give up their power, but instead she gets hers back that she didn't know she ever had. And I was like, yes.

[Kinsey]

And it was the man that was powerless.

[Carly]

Yes. I loved it so much. I was like, this is fantastic, because sometimes I see those lists on Instagram pages that support writers where it's think of a popular trope and reverse it and see if you can do something with that. And that's what this felt like. And it was a fantastic payoff. I loved it.

[Kinsey]

Oh, yeah. I also loved, like, I felt like Yvie just really grew into herself. She was so much more confident, like, as her position as the Apprentice. But then also, she was just like, yeah, I'll torture people. Like, I'm down. Like, she was just, like, totally owning, like, oh, I'm the wicked woman, and I know what I want. He wants just something temporary. I'm not going to even let him have something temporary. I'm like, all or nothing. You can't have me. Like, she was just very secure with herself and pretty badass.

[Carly]

Yeah. She knew what she wanted. She knew what she was willing to do to get it. She knew what she wasn't willing to do, like, what lines she Wasn't willing to cross. And I just really loved her character arc across this series. I really appreciated her. And I think what I also really like about her as this person who maybe comes across as a people pleaser to a certain extent, but for her, it's. I don't know, a way to survive in this world, but also, it's actually just a very smart way to get a lot of information.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

When you see those scenes in movies with reverse interrogations, that's what I feel like. Evie's doing all of these books. She's gotcha. Tricking people into thinking that she's this flighty girl. She's actually very smart.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

She learned so much because of it, about people and motives and, like, what's going on. And, like, I. I just love that about her because she's like, yeah, people see me this way, but that's them underestimating me only benefits me most of the time.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Everyone assumes she's some naive character who isn't dangerous, but actually, she's coming for you. You better watch it. No, I loved her. I also loved Tristan, obviously.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Oh, God. What not to love about that man? He's in my top three.

[Carly]

He was really enjoyable in this book the most. I've enjoyed him across the series where I just felt like you really got to see more of his struggle, which I appreciated. It was less denial and more acknowledging the struggle of it, which I really liked.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Like, he's like, I saw you die before. I don't want you to die again. So he was, like, very. I almost felt like he was more reserved, like, not just because of his magic losing control, but, like, he was really protective over Evie, and, I don't know, I loved him.

[Carly]

That is one of my favorite microtropes. And I think it comes up really specifically in book two in the language he uses where he's like, I thought you died, and I'm not gonna lose to you again. Like those scenes where a character thinks they've completely lost somebody and they find out that they haven't, and they are like, I'm never letting that happen again. That is one of my favorite micro tropes.

[Kinsey]

It was so good.

[Carly]

It was done so well, too.

[Kinsey]

And back to that house that they were floating in, and she almost fell to her death. And he was like, heck, no. He was so pissed. Oh, my God. And also when they were like, first person to find the frog gets to spend the night with Evie. And he was just like, I'm finding this fucking frog. He knows what he wants. He knows what he wants.

[Carly]

That was funny. I loved that part. I loved how broody and stormy he was about that. Yeah, that was funny.

[Kinsey]

For his woman. He's just gotta do that for his woman.

[Carly]

He doesn't expect anything from her. He doesn't expect anything in return. He very much is just like, I'm gonna make sure she's okay. But he never expects. Expects anything. And it's not that he doesn't expect anything of her. Like, he gets how smart she is and how capable she is, but it's like he literally just wants to be in her presence. And I just love that about him.

[Kinsey]

I love how half the time, the things that he does for her, it's even a secret. He doesn't want her to know that he's doing all these nice things. So with the flowers, when she moved into her office, he was writing the note, pretending he was Merv and all these other characters. Characters. And so she's like, well, at least they're being nice to me about my promotion. But really, the whole time, it was actually him. But he knew that she needed that space.

[Carly]

And so, yeah, he's, like, always supporting her. They're so cute.

[Kinsey]

We gotta talk about Kingsley.

[Carly]

I think I texted you at one point. I was like, if anything happens to this frog, I will not be okay.

[Kinsey]

And I had already read the book, and I was like, I wonder. But no, I was so anxious the whole book. I was like, I swear to God, Hannah, like, if you kill this fucking frog. I was so stressed every time that he would forget himself and then run away. Especially at the end when they were like, we don't know where he went. I'm like, and he didn't have his crown. He could have been anywhere. He could have been lost forever. And I was so stressed for him.

[Carly]

Yeah, I was so sad for him in this book. Like, he. You could tell. Like, he really believed, like, he was eventually gonna forget himself, forget his friends, and just kind of fully become this frog. And also, I just think, like, the insight into his head in this book was really interesting. Cause I think it was, I don't know, well balanced with him getting to peek behind the curtain of how insane of a transition this was for him and how difficult it was for him. And in some ways, it's kind of isolating. But also in some ways, it was kind of freeing where he could be in spaces and observe things and people would forget about him because he was just a frog.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Which was, like, sad, but also interesting for him because he Must know so much.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, he does know a lot. And I will say I was also very suspicious of him, like, when this ceiling collapsed and then he, like, happened to be there. But, like, he sees everything because they're like. Well, he can't really communicate because he can't talk, so he's just in every room for every conversations. If he were a human, he probably wouldn't be participating in everything that he is as a frog. Like, he wouldn't be invited to every single meeting. I'm sure he would for most, but, yeah, it was kind of sad that he is sort of forgotten in a way.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

But I did really enjoy that pov. Like, that was one I was hoping for but not really expecting. And I like how every single book, she gives us new point of views, so I really enjoyed it. But it was also very sad when he was like, I think I was supposed to remember something, and then you just see him go downhill.

[Carly]

It was so tough. But we got that insane payoff at the end.

[Kinsey]

Yes. Which we're gonna talk about later. We're gonna hold it in. Hold it in. The only other character I really wanted to talk about here is Lissa, and only because she manifested the same power as her mom. And I think it's wild that you have these two sisters and they're both part of the prophecy. I'm like, what are the odds that this one family has, like, the two most important parts of the prophecy?

[Carly]

Yeah. This whole prophecy thing, I'm finding, like, it's fun in a way, in this book just because the series is more fun.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

But I actually think this prophecy is more intricate than, like, other parts of the book. And I just. I just really liked that part of it. But it does make me wonder, like, what is going on, that there's something more going on with Evie's family that we're gonna find out in book four.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Besides her parents being garbage. But we'll find something else out besides that. Yeah, no, it was pretty crazy, but I thought all the characters were pretty awesome. No complaints. Except for the king and her parents.

[Carly]

I do wish, I guess, maybe I would have gotten a little bit more of Blade in these books because he's so funny.

[Kinsey]

He is.

[Carly]

And I get why, because there was a lot going on in this book, and I do think that that was pretty well balanced as far as staying at the manor with the staff and, like, following Tristan and Evie through their adventure. And so I do think it was well balanced. But I do wish we would have gotten a little bit more of Blade, because he is just so funny.

[Kinsey]

He is. He's one of my favorites.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

He's just so great. Okay, I've been trying to hold this in. We're talk about their relationships.

[Carly]

Everyone be prepared for Kinsey to scream.

[Kinsey]

No. I think in, like, every review I've made for this series, I'm always like, hananette Colmere loves to torture us with slow burn, just like Tristan loves to torture people. But, like, I'm so glad we finally got payoff. It wasn't what I was expecting, I'll admit. Maybe it was a tad less than what I was expecting.

[Carly]

I thought it was very sweet.

[Kinsey]

It was sweet. It was like a green chili pepper and just all the kissing and lead up. I almost think that the scene where they're in the room with the mirror ceiling was almost more spicy in a way than the actual spicy scene.

[Carly]

I think it was, too. And I think that was kind of the point. I think once they were finally together, that intimacy was very. It wasn't about the lust of passion. It really was about the connection between the two characters. And so I actually thought it was really sweet because I really felt like, you saw how much they cared for each other. I thought it was really sweetly done and fit in with the theme of the books.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Carly]

I think if it was this wildly spicy scene, it would have felt a little out of pocket with the book theme, with it being very heavily storybook troped. The wild sex scene would have felt weird.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. No, we would have been like, what.

[Carly]

The f. I'm sure there's some fan fiction out there. That's what people want. But I felt like, for the book itself, I thought the payoff made sense and it was just so. Like I said, I keep using the word sweet, but that's the way it felt. It felt intimate and sweet, and it wasn't, like, spicy.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

But, yeah, it made sense for the characters, though. And I really enjoyed the payoff. I was like, oh, my gosh, this is so sweet. I remember to kind of just soothe her smiling through the scene, like, oh, it's finally happening for them.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Because they've been in denial for so long. And half the book, I was yelling at them. I'm like, you love each other. You both say that you love each other, but you won't be together. And so finally, when they're like, okay, this is what we want. We're going to be together. I was like, oh, my God, finally. And now there's more conflict. But obviously, fine. It's fine.

[Carly]

I Love, though, that he's so, like, I don't care at the end. Like, he does not care.

[Kinsey]

Well, that was like, one of her stipulations, too, is, like, you can't care about what the fate monster, or whatever they called it. Yeah, you got to control your own fate. And so he's like, I'm owning it. And I love that for them.

[Carly]

Well, and I love that part when he gets back to the manor and he realizes, like, what's happened while they were gone. And he was like, while I was with Evie, this is what was happening. He's like, but I can't bring myself to regret it. And I'm like, yes, don't regret it. I hate it when that happens in a book. It's just personally for me, like, I don't know if it's sully is the right word, but I feel like it kind of, like, taints what happened between them a little bit. So I hate it when that happens. Like, at least for me personally, that's just how I feel. I understand why writers use that in books, but I don't like it personally.

[Kinsey]

No, it regresses the story a bit.

[Carly]

Well, especially when you have a long, slow burn. Like, if it's some people hooking up in the first half of a first book of a series, and fine, because there's a lot of time to make up for it. But when you have this. You're in book three, this long, slow.

[Kinsey]

And burn, there was a lot of yearning. So you can't regret it after three books worth of yearning.

[Carly]

Exactly. And I love that even with everything that happened while he was gone, he's like, no regrets.

[Kinsey]

He's like, half my office is dead, but hashtag, no regrets.

[Carly]

Yeah, I love that.

[Kinsey]

No, I was very happy. And also, I love that everyone else is pairing up, too. I mean, it's literally a fairy tale book, but, like, everyone is coupling up. So, like, we finally got Blade and Rebecca to kiss and, like, say, I love you too. And then Tati and Claire are like, oh, we've made a mistake. Like, maybe we should try to be together again. And then there's Gideon and Keeley, and I think Kingsley will end up pairing off with Winnie, the daughter of the Enchantress. But, like, it was, like, kind of there. And so, like, before his curse actually got broken, I was like, is she gonna, like, kiss him? Like, it's gonna be like, the Princess and the Frog. Like, she's gonna kiss him to break the curse. I was just waiting for it, and I was like, oh, that would make so much sense. And then confirm that she's his true love or whatever.

[Carly]

But I kind of wondered if biting her had something to do with it. Like, because he bites her and then takes off, and then he comes back, and I wonder if that was, like, just kind of like a. A funny little twist on a trope.

[Kinsey]

You know, like he swapped saliva with her, but, like, only he donated it.

[Carly]

Yeah. Like, instead of kissing her, he bites her, then he gets turned back.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Is there, like, a ship name for Blade and Rebecca at this point?

[Kinsey]

We can make one.

[Carly]

I think it would be funny. I think.

[Kinsey]

Bleca. Bleca.

[Carly]

Raid. Oh, that's cute.

[Kinsey]

Rebade.

[Carly]

I want to see the office, give them one and have Becky just be, like, so mad about it.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. I was like, oh, Becky. And I was like, wait, that's her fucking name?

[Carly]

Raid. I think that one probably works the best. Probably.

[Kinsey]

You like Raid?

[Carly]

I feel like they do need a ship name, though.

[Kinsey]

What even is Tristan and Evie? Do they have a ship name?

[Carly]

I don't know that they do.

[Kinsey]

Trevi. Trevi.

[Carly]

Trevi's cute.

[Kinsey]

Evsten.

[Carly]

I think Trevi's cute. Trevi or Trevi?

[Kinsey]

Trevi.

[Carly]

Trevi. Something like that. That's cute.

[Kinsey]

Cause Tristan. Tri. Tri. Tri. VVvy. Trivvy. I'm like, I need to keep my vowels consistent. Trivvy. Nah. I love Blade and Rebecca.

[Carly]

I love the second chance, too, with Totty and Claire. I love that they're like, second chance.

[Kinsey]

Me too. Shuffs this. All the romances, I love them. Okay, we gotta talk about that ending.

[Carly]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kinsey]

This is what I have been dying to talk about. Me, too, because I read the book a lot quicker than you, and so I've just been, like, waiting and waiting and waiting to talk about this. Okay, so in order. Well, I don't know. Technically, we get the final pieces of the prophecy. Like, her parents show up and they take the plant, and I don't even. I can't even articulate my words here. Evie's magic. That shit was crazy.

[Carly]

So I love that. I love that twist.

[Kinsey]

I just want to know if Tristan, like, actually has his own magic. But that was crazy. I mean, we all knew that she was already the villain of the prophecy just because of her being revealed to everybody in book two. But to have it end up being like, she is the one with the death magic.

[Carly]

I want him to have magic, and I want it to be something really funny.

[Kinsey]

I know, because everyone's still gonna be super intimidated by him. I Wonder if they're gonna keep it a secret that they, like, power swapped.

[Carly]

Yeah, it'd be interesting to see how they handle that information out there if they don't want people to know.

[Kinsey]

And every member of Evie's family and every member of Tristan's family do have magic, so I'm willing to bet he does actually have powers.

[Carly]

Something.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, we'll see. But yeah. Dude, that was crazy. When the king showed up and, like, everything hit the fan when it was.

[Carly]

Building up, I thought that the twist at the end was gonna be not that Tristan was the king's or that king. Oh, my God.

[Kinsey]

I forgot about that part. How did I forget about that part?

[Carly]

I thought it was gonna be that Tristan was Kingsley's brother. The other kingdom.

[Kinsey]

How the fuck did I forget that part of the prophecy? I'm just skipping over it.

[Carly]

His mom, like, when she went to the kingdom. Southern kingdom.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

He, like, deferred to her so much and, like, did what she said, and I was like, I think it's going to turn out that Tristan's related to Kingsley. But then it turns out he was like. Which I thought was an interesting twist, but I also think it would have been cool if him and Kingsley were really brothers and he didn't know it.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. No. And I remember, like, reading that part. Well, first of all, like, freaking out, being like, oh, my God. I was, like, kind of expecting a little bit, but then I was like, wait, did the king have a dimple, too? And then, like, I, like, went back into, like, the older books. And then I was like, he did? Yeah.

[Carly]

Where did it first show up?

[Kinsey]

I think it was mentioned. Sorry, guys. It's been a while since I reread the book, but I want to say it was like, the second.

[Carly]

Second book. Okay.

[Kinsey]

I want to say it was when.

[Carly]

A little subtle Easter egg there.

[Kinsey]

They were, like, rescuing Tristan, and I could be totally, like, lying, but it.

[Carly]

Wasn'T a Pretty good out of my ass.

[Kinsey]

I'm pretty sure it was. Because, like, I don't think she would just, like, randomly throw that in there.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

If it wasn't.

[Carly]

I agree.

[Kinsey]

But, yeah, I know. That was crazy. But also, like, how fucked up is it that the king treated his own son the way that he did?

[Carly]

Yeah. I mean, that his own mom. I mean, his own mom allowed all that to happen to him. I will say, like, I feel like Arthur and the mom. I'm forgetting her name right now.

[Kinsey]

All I call her is bitch. In my head, that is her name. I name him. It starts with an A. I think.

[Carly]

It'S Amara or something like that. But I don't understand how his parents were together. They seem like such a wildly off pairing of people to be together. That whole thing was really. I thought that was a great twist, though. At the end, I was like, I like this. I did think it was building up for him and Kingsley to be brothers, which I thought Would. Have. Thought would have been cool, too. But I wasn't expecting him to be the king's son.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. I will say the Kingsley and Tristan Bing brothers didn't even cross my mind. Like, I was fully. Is Tristan the. But.

[Carly]

Oh, my God.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. No, Fuck his mom. She's like, one of those people that should never have become a mother and yet somehow had three kids.

[Carly]

Yeah, that was just not great.

[Kinsey]

No, wait, three kids.

[Carly]

Oh, that's right. He has another sibling that just wasn't in this book at all. Right.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Kinsey]

They didn't really see him. Malcolm, I think, is his name. Yeah.

[Carly]

I forget that he owns the bar. Yeah. He was just completely gone in this book.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. Claire was the main sibling, but. Yeah. No, she had three kids.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Okay, we gotta talk about Kingsley's curse. Well, actually, we kind of already did talk about Kingsley's curse a little bit.

[Carly]

I was just so happy for him when he came back, but I'm like, is he gonna learn how to talk again, or is that just lost?

[Kinsey]

I was so stressed just that he went missing, and I was like, this is the end. And then when he came back, I was like, oh, my God. But his T's crossed the same way as the traitor's letters. And so now I'm like, oh, no. Are they, like, setting him up to, like, be the traitor, too? Like, did he betray Tristan? I'm just, like, really nervous for him still.

[Carly]

Yeah, I have been wondering about that, too. I just. I guess, like, maybe the motivation would have been so he could, like, turn back. Like, maybe he was putting pieces in a row for the prophecy so he could. Maybe part of that prophecy was him coming back. I've been wondering that, too. Yeah, we shall see. I'm nervous.

[Kinsey]

I was just really happy for him. I'm glad that he finally broke his curse.

[Carly]

Me, too, because I was so scared for him. Through this book, I'm like, please don't fully go full frog and never come back. I'm gonna be so sad. But these books aren't the kind of books where I feel like I have to be that worried, because I think the point of these books is to be fun.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

So I wasn't super worried that we weren't going to get a happy ending for our characters.

[Kinsey]

But that being said, I mean, like, same thing. Like, I'm like, oh, these are fun books. And so I was surprised when she actually had killed Arthur because everyone else that she has killed has either been a bad intern or a member of the Valiant Guard. And so it was just kind of like, out of nowhere to kill a family member, because even, like, Evie's supposed, like, dead parents were actually alive. And so I was a little shocked that she threw that in there.

[Carly]

I do think, though, that fits in with, like, storybook tropes, though. It's like a parent dying. So I think that makes sense.

[Kinsey]

It does.

[Carly]

I mean, and I was sad for Tristan, but it wasn't like. Like, if Kingsley would have died, I would have not been okay. Oh, my God. If Kingsley.

[Kinsey]

If Kingsley died, or, like, I think if Kingsley, Blade, Rebecca, Tristan, Evie, or Tati die, I'm going to be a fucking wreck. But no, I was. I was like, oh, that's sad for you. But I wasn't like, oh, I'm gonna cry about it. Like, I didn't cry. The other twist I want to talk about is just Merv being the traitor.

[Carly]

You know, I'm gonna be really honest with you. I didn't reread book one and two before I read book three, and I was like, who is this guy? So when he was the traitor, I was like, I don't remember Merv.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, it was sad because I'm pretty sure he's, like, one of the people that came with him to Massacre Manor and knew Tristan before he became the villain. Oh. And, like, he's. He's the guard. He's not the baker. Like, he's the one that, like, keeps watch of everything, and he's the one that would run up and tell everybody when stuff was going on, which, like, made sense, but I was still just kind of not expecting it. I was expecting, like, there to be a mole and, like, someone who was there that wasn't supposed to.

[Carly]

To. I was kind of thinking it was going to be somebody in, like, the more inner circle of people. So when it was Merv, I was like, that's interesting. I thought we were going to find out it was, like, like, his sister or something like that. Like.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. I mean, Claire was sure acting all guilty. She like, he's never going to forgive me. And it was just like, you made it so that Kingsley became a frog instead of being killed. I think that's fine.

[Carly]

Yeah. But we're all just doing our best with what we've got.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. For real. Oh, my God.

[Carly]

Any other surprise twists that really threw you for a loop?

[Kinsey]

I mean, this isn't, like, a twist. This is kind of like back to the character section that I just remembered. But I loved how Tati's dad was, like, all pink, everything just to remember his daughter. I thought that was cute. Oh, yeah. I wasn't expecting to meet new family members.

[Carly]

That's right. Tati's family was actually normal. And he was so sweet and so kind. And I just remember how Evie was like, oh, that's how it should have been kind of feeling. And I really felt for her in that moment, because it's, like, one of those times where you're, like, really happy that somebody had that growing up. But also, I really wish I would have had that, too, kind of feeling. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I mean, of all of our characters, Tati's really the only one that came from, like, a good home.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Which is kind of sad.

[Carly]

I love her. She's a really interesting character. She's fun. They're all fun, though. I mean, that's kind of the point of the book. I think that's why I just love. I really like these books is I just. I just get to, like. Like you said, Passenger, Princess. It. Have fun, enjoy the characters, lean in hard to, like, those storybook tropes, and, like, just see what she does with it. Cause it's so creative. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

It's just like a silly, fun, good old time.

[Carly]

Yeah. I just. I really, really appreciate the creativity of it. I got to a point where I was really desperate for books that were different than everything else that I was reading, because there was quite a few books I was reading at the time where I was just, like, kind of felt like everything was starting to feel a little the same.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

And these are not bad. They're definitely different.

[Kinsey]

I think that's part of why I love it so much.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

It's just like you just always, every once in a while, need a little breath of fresh air. And this is that for me. And I feel like it gives off Tangled vibes, which is, like, my favorite princess movie. And so I was like, oh, love this.

[Carly]

Yeah. It is a bit like Tangled in an office environment. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

That's, like, how I describe the book to people who haven't read it before, really? I just wanted to talk to you about Kingsley because I was just so excited that he became a person. And then I was like, oh, my God, Evie. And everything Looks bad and what's gonna happen? I think of all the cliffhangers and endings, this one's the most intense. And maybe that's only because this is the only one I've had to actually wait for. Well, that's a lie. I had to wait for Apprentice, too.

[Carly]

I think this. I feel for you because when I got to the book, I was like, I'm so glad I have Kinsey to talk to you about this, But I feel like this is how I felt when I read A Forbidden Alchemy. Well, I got there. Yeah, I know, but, like, I read Forbidden Alchemy, and, like, I had to wait a while for you to get to it. And I was like, girl, you gotta read this book.

[Kinsey]

I know. I had to, like, beg you guys because we may or may not have gotten this book in advance.

[Carly]

Yeah. So, no, I just, like, I had, like, a very specific reading order I was staying on top of to keep up with all of the books. We were gonna hit on the pod, and I was like, I'm gonna get there. I know. Like, I know exactly when I'm gonna read this book. But you had. And I feel bad because. Yeah. Once I got to the end of the book, I was like, I'm so glad I have Kinsey to talk about this. Mew had no one to talk to about it for, like, a month.

[Kinsey]

Nah. I was like, fuck that reading order. Cause like I said, this was my most anticipated read. So when we got the email, I was like, oh, my God. Dropped everything. I just had to read it. So I dove right in in May. I had to wait.

[Carly]

And you did have to wait a little bit for me to catch up.

[Kinsey]

But I had to wait so long.

[Carly]

I'm glad, though, that I've read it. Now we can talk about it because it was so much fun. And I just. I don't know. I really appreciate a series where every book, I'm, like, enjoying it more every time. I don't get that a ton in series, and I just really enjoy that aspect to it. And I can't wait for the audiobook.

[Kinsey]

Yes.

[Carly]

I'm very excited for the audiobook.

[Kinsey]

Me, too. Okay, final thoughts. This was definitely my favorite of the series.

[Carly]

Oh, 100%. I think I've enjoyed it five times.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, right? Five stars, no notes. It was fantastic.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Do you have any lingering questions or hopes for the next installment?

[Carly]

I mean, I hope Tristan has some sort of power, and I kind of want it to just be funny instead of cool. I think I'd really enjoy that.

[Kinsey]

Like, what can magically clean up messes? Or, I don't know, he can tickle people. Yeah.

[Carly]

Like something silly where he's like, what the fuck?

[Kinsey]

Yeah, no need. That'd be funny. I really, really hope that he does have his own magic. I don't care what it is. But I do think it would be funny if it is something silly.

[Carly]

Yeah, I think that I would find that really fun. But, I mean, I would be totally good with it being something cool and super useful. I just feel like it would just be really funny if it was something silly that he was just like, I don't even want people to know I have magical power. He's embarrassed by. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

Well, I've wondered for most of the book, I was like, okay, is Evie controlling the knife, her magic, or is it just the magic of the knife? But if it is legit her magic, then what if he just controls a knife? He can still do a lot with that, but it's not, like, the coolest thing.

[Carly]

Yeah, I don't know. We'll see. What are you hoping for?

[Kinsey]

The magic for Tristan. I'm also obviously hoping they defeat the king in, like, the most humiliating way, fulfill the prophecy, and then since Tristan's the prince, then Evie's gonna become his princess, and we'll be, like, happily ever after. And I just, like, really want to know who actually betrayed Massacre Manor, because I don't. That it was only Merv.

[Carly]

I don't either.

[Kinsey]

And I'm just like, oh, my God. Like, is it. Is it Kingsley? So I just need to know how his. Like, that note at the end when Claire was like, huh, this looks kind of familiar, this writing. I was just like, no. So I just need to see that. But I'm also hoping that we actually get a book 5. Cause this is supposed to be the last book, the next one, book four. But I felt like she kind of left it open. Ended at the end. Like it said, the end, until we meet again, probably, or whatever. I just said for.

[Carly]

Like, she said something about the final installment, and then she said, like, probably.

[Kinsey]

Yeah. And she's like, you never know what these nincompoops. Or like, whatever. And so I'm like, so, are we gonna get more?

[Carly]

My guess is that maybe a spin off of something, which could be really fun. I'd like to see more of the kingdom because she's so creative. I feel like we could see some really interesting things.

[Kinsey]

That reminded me of the thing I was gonna talk about.

[Carly]

Okay.

[Kinsey]

I was gonna talk about the Phoenix and how they saved the town and then everyone was like, tristan's our hero. And so they're kind of like, turning him into this vigilante. And I thought that was really cool.

[Carly]

Yeah. I loved how, though, that was kind of like an Easter egg for the fact that he's not the villain. Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I mean, we always knew he wasn't really the villain.

[Carly]

Yeah. I love those so much, how he tries to hold up his villain aesthetic.

[Kinsey]

Like, no smiling, no laughter. No, I. I'm so excited. But, yeah, I fullheartedly agree. Like, I want to see more of the world expansion. Even if the storyline finishes in book four, if we get a book five, I'm like, I could just read about them doing silly things with the kingdom once he's the king and she's the queen and they're just like, exploring the kingdom because they're just, like, fun characters to spend time with and it's silly.

[Carly]

I would love a novella of Blade going off to get some other magical creature and Becky tagging along and kind of getting to see the kingdom through their eyes and stuff. That could be fun. And I also just think a prequel series could be kind of cool.

[Kinsey]

Yeah.

[Carly]

Learning about those magical beings and more about them and the history of the kingdom, I think would be interesting.

[Kinsey]

It would be. It would be.

[Carly]

Yeah.

[Kinsey]

I'm like, honestly, I don't care what's in this book, as long as it's got some yearning and love and stuff in it and we have a good time.

[Carly]

She does yearning so well.

[Kinsey]

I think probably the best of any author that I have read. It's like, the most infuriating. So, yeah, she does it the best.

[Carly]

I also just love how, though, Evie just, like, sticks her foot in her mouth all the time, but just rolls with it. It's like she's a little embarrass, but she's really kind of like, eh.

[Kinsey]

Oh, well, she just kind of, like, owns it.

[Carly]

Yeah. You know what I was thinking? We don't know the title of the next book. Any guesses? It's going to be another A. Right.

[Kinsey]

So literally the entire time I was reading the book, I was thinking about this and I'm like, attv. But I'm like, what if it ends up being because he calls her villainous? I don't even know if I'm saying that correctly.

[Carly]

That's cute. I was thinking it was going to be, like, swapped, but still villain. And it's going to be ally to the villain because he'll be her ally.

[Kinsey]

Ally. I was trying to think of A different A word. But I was like, maybe she'll just reuse the same A word but change the V word.

[Carly]

I think I saw Ally in the book at some point, and I was like, oh, I wonder if this is an Easter egg, that it's going to be Ally to the villain.

[Kinsey]

I like that. I was trying to think, what's a more coupled name?

[Carly]

Yeah, we're going to have to do a poll and place some bets and see who wins.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I like that. I liked the. I'm gonna, like, have to, like, look up, like, all these words.

[Carly]

Yeah. See what was in the book.

[Kinsey]

I'm on. Yeah, I'm gonna just search the letter A and see what comes. No, I'm just kidding.

[Carly]

That will. Oh, my gosh. Like, that'll be like, just reread the whole book.

[Kinsey]

Honestly, it would be faster at that point. And.

[Carly]

Yeah, you're gonna reread it anyway, so just keep an eye out.

[Kinsey]

Yeah, I'm already gonna reread it tomorrow.

[Carly]

Yeah. All right. Any lingering thoughts on the book before we wrap up?

[Kinsey]

Just. I hope it comes soon.

[Carly]

Well, I don't know what to tell you. Book three is not even technically quite out yet. We got an arc and we are filming this before it's even out. So I think you're gonna have a wait, unfortunately. I know.

[Kinsey]

I'm like, oh, my God, this was a mistake.

[Carly]

Hey, well, you can live in books one through three until book four is here.

[Kinsey]

That's true.

[Carly]

All right, that wraps up our initial thoughts and reactions to Accomplice to the Villain.

[Kinsey]

But luckily for you guys, this is not the end of our Accomplice to the Villain content. We have an author interview series called Dear Fantasy Author, and you won't want to miss our next interview where we will be interviewing the accomplice herself, Hannah Nicole Maher.

[Carly]

All of our episodes drop ad free a day early and in full video for Patreon members. You can check out our three tiers with perks like my PDF, annotations of Onyx Storm shoutouts, bonus resources, and more.

[Kinsey]

If you're new here and want more chaos, we've got three seasons worth of Empyrean deep dives waiting for you. It's packed with Easter eggs, wild theories, lore, spirals, and more fangirling than you could ever ask for.

[Carly]

You'll find everything linked in the show notes, our website, Patreon socials, discord, all of it. Thank you so much for joining us. Whether you join a Patreon tier, leave a review, or send the pod to your favorite Romanasy bestie. We're so glad you're here.

[Kinsey]

Until next time, dearest fantasy readers, May your chapters be devastating, your book boyfriend's feral and your TBR just one pre order away from collapse.

[Carly]

I like that. That's cute.

[Kinsey]

I can't believe I fucking forgot that he was a prince. I can't believe I forgot that. That's not going in the episode.

[C]

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