Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Here is a summary with spoilers for Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

After the events of the first novel, Trystan Maverine, known across Rennedawn as The Villain, is imprisoned by King Benedict using enchanted chains that suppress his death magic. Benedict manipulates Trystan psychologically by claiming Evie Sage is dead and later stages a public unmasking to expose Trystan’s identity. During the event, Evie appears inside a glass coffin presented as The Villain’s final victim, only to suddenly awaken alive. Evie and Trystan escape the Valiant Guard aboard Fluffy, a dragon cared for by Blade Gushiken, and return to Massacre Manor. Blade reveals that one of Trystan’s magical guvres is pregnant, fulfilling the first sign of Rennedawn’s prophecy.

Though Trystan tries to intimidate and distance himself from Evie, she remains unfazed by his reputation and continues navigating his dangerous world with optimism and determination. Her cheerful resilience steadily breaks through Trystan’s cold exterior, forcing him to confront emotions he does not understand. At the same time, King Benedict continues plotting to use Evie as a pawn to expose and destroy Trystan while maintaining control over Rennedawn. Trystan struggles with growing feelings for Evie and fears the prophecy may mean they are destined to destroy each other.

Using letters left behind by Evie’s missing mother, Nura Sage, Evie and Trystan travel to a dangerous cave seeking answers. Inside, a monstrous cave guardian gives Evie a vial of stardust and calls her the “daughter of wishing stars.” Outside the cave, the Valiant Guards ambush them, but one knight suddenly turns against the others to help them escape. The knight is revealed to be Gideon Sage, Evie’s older brother who was believed dead. Gideon reunites with Evie and their younger sister Lyssa Sage, though tension remains because Gideon carries secrets connected to Nura’s disappearance and the king’s plans.

The stardust reveals a magical map leading to Heart Village, a neutral village known for innovation and hidden knowledge. Evie, Trystan, Kingsley, Clare Maverine, and Tatianna travel there searching for answers about Nura and the prophecy. Instead, they are captured by a theatrical troupe led by Evie’s cousin Helena. While imprisoned underground, Evie and Trystan nearly drown after accidentally flooding their cell. During the escape, Evie demonstrates a growing magical connection to her dagger, controlling it telepathically. Helena eventually admits that Nura once stayed in Heart Village and gives Evie a pouch belonging to her mother.

Inside the pouch is a broken piece of a picture frame from Evie’s childhood home. Evie and Trystan travel there and uncover more information about Nura’s past before being interrupted by Trystan’s brother, Malcolm Maverine. Malcolm helps repair some of the conflict between himself and Trystan and provides them with a photograph of two girls, one of whom is Nura. Back at Massacre Manor, Evie confronts her imprisoned father, Griffin Sage, about the photograph. Griffin reveals the second girl is Renna Fortis and blames Gideon for what happened to Nura’s magic.

Gideon later explains the truth. His magic allows him to suppress the abilities of others, and as a child he unknowingly used it to stabilize Nura’s dangerous powers. One night, after Gideon fell asleep early, Nura’s uncontrolled magic exploded outward, injuring Gideon and erasing his memories. Gideon has blamed himself ever since for losing their mother. Meanwhile, Lyssa accidentally teaches Fluffy to breathe fire, burning part of Hickory Forest and revealing how unstable magic across Rennedawn has become.

The group eventually travels to Fortis Fortress seeking Renna Fortis. They are accompanied by Becky Erring, Trystan’s HR manager, who reveals Renna is her mother. At the fortress, sentient plants drag Trystan into the Trench of Anguish, where magical hands force him to relive his worst memories and warn that Evie will become his downfall just as he will become hers. Renna reveals that Nura supposedly died, leaving behind only another vial of stardust, but it becomes clear she is still secretly working with King Benedict. The group flees the fortress as the Valiant Guard arrives to arrest Trystan.

When they return to Massacre Manor, the estate is under siege by the Valiant Guard. During the battle, the Guard captures the female guvre while Griffin escapes imprisonment. In the chaos, Lyssa accidentally spills stardust onto a crystal slab that once belonged to Nura, transforming it into a piece of midnight sky containing a single star. At the same time, Kingsley finally reveals his true identity as Crown Prince Alexander of the Southern Kingdom. Years earlier, Trystan’s mother hired an enchantress to kill Trystan, but Alexander accidentally walked into the spell first and was transformed into a frog instead.

Evie and Trystan return the transformed slab to the cave guardian. The guardian places the magical star into the cave ceiling, where it transforms into Nura Sage herself. Nura reveals she became a wishing star and has been watching over her children the entire time. Though her memories are fragmented, she confirms that the prophecy connected to Rennedawn consists of four parts and that the kingdom’s future depends on uncovering them. Before the collapsing cave separates them, Nura is restored to human form.

Back at Massacre Manor, Trystan becomes increasingly withdrawn because he believes the prophecy means he and Evie are destined to destroy each other. His death magic has also begun weakening in ways seemingly connected to Evie’s presence. Evie learns there is a traitor within the manor tied to Griffin’s escape, further damaging trust among their allies. Despite everything, Evie refuses to abandon Trystan and vows to uncover the full truth behind the prophecy, the kingdom’s fading magic, and King Benedict’s manipulation.

As Rennedawn edges closer to collapse, Evie and Trystan grow closer emotionally despite the danger surrounding them. Their relationship evolves from antagonism into trust and love as they continue uncovering secrets about Nura, the prophecy, and their own destinies. By the end, Gideon begins suspecting the true villain mentioned in the prophecy may not be Trystan at all, but Evie herself.