i read the tiktok villain romance book so you don't have to ❤️😈

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  • čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
  • check out G2A here: www.g2a.com/
    today we are discussing this book that caught my eye because i love villain romances!
    check out my fall vlogs on my second channgel ‪@Leonie_Christel‬
    00:00 first impressions
    3:56 why villain romance is so popular
    11:26 should you read this book?
    17:05 my major gripe
    18:35 analysing the tiktoks
    21:24 what i would have changed
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    🌺 a b o u t m e
    Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 25 year old girl from the Netherlands who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave).
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Komentáře • 644

  • @joelleblanc8670
    @joelleblanc8670 Před 8 měsíci +4702

    This would have been funnier if the Villain had been a floating head, a gross monster, or a talking skeleton... then the joke would be her thirsting for him and seeming totally unhinged.

    • @ettaetta439
      @ettaetta439 Před 8 měsíci +4

      Yep, and they probably still would've had more chemistry because you just know the author would've been forced to write the best banter to replace the scenes where they would've made out in a typical YA story instead. Since the author can't use physical attraction as a cheat code. And you just know the TikTok girlies would thirst after him anyway. "I want that skeleton up my--" and all.

    • @july3817
      @july3817 Před 8 měsíci +533

      Or something so unbelievably mundane like a bedsheet ghost

    • @rubiesstories
      @rubiesstories Před 8 měsíci +91

      oh my GOSH im going to write this right now😂

    • @diamandcharme-kerhorest7221
      @diamandcharme-kerhorest7221 Před 8 měsíci +144

      This is litterally the Overlord anime (my favorite part is that he is absolutely not interested in any of his simps and it makes it even better)

    • @cjradenbaugh
      @cjradenbaugh Před 8 měsíci +131

      She’s like “There’s just something about him 😍.”

  • @amyr3293
    @amyr3293 Před 8 měsíci +3770

    I feel like megamind probably has a better villain romance than this 😂 such a good film

  • @marisophi
    @marisophi Před 8 měsíci +2304

    Nimona!!!! is a villain-assitant story, not romance, that actually has them doing a ton of villanous shit!

    • @Aria20286
      @Aria20286 Před 8 měsíci +92

      YESSS!! and the movie is great too!

    • @marinayamaguti4777
      @marinayamaguti4777 Před 8 měsíci +30

      best movie of the year!

    • @unavezms8167
      @unavezms8167 Před 8 měsíci +46

      Also I am convinced it's GAY.

    • @marisophi
      @marisophi Před 8 měsíci

      @@unavezms8167 thats a given with my recs

    • @jenny5272
      @jenny5272 Před 8 měsíci

      Convinced? What do you mean convinced? The two male characters literally kiss.@@unavezms8167

  • @y-m-x
    @y-m-x Před 8 měsíci +840

    As someone who's not a villain romance fan, what I've noticed is that people are just quick to forgive villains based on even the smallest redeeming qualities, whereas they're unforgiving towards "hero" love interests for the smallest flaws. There's this idea of "well the villain's SUPPOSED to be bad, but the hero isn't." I think this is why authors choose to make heroes less deep because that depth is used against them. Probably also another reason people now write anti-heroes rather than heroes.

    • @R3FL3CTI0NS.
      @R3FL3CTI0NS. Před 7 měsíci +135

      Frfr I'm so tired of people bashing heroes for literally the stupidest things, and then complain about how "heroes barely have any depth / aren't as interesting as villains or morally grey character." Probably because they aren't given a chance? Because being "deep" and "good" at the same time is somehow not believable for some people. Absolute bullshit.

    • @habibamusse
      @habibamusse Před 7 měsíci +85

      ⁠Finally I've found my people!!! I don't understand this trend of bashing the hero and the romanticization of villains. The narrative these days is that the villain is misunderstood and the supposed good guys are actually the real evil and while that can be a good storyline it's so overused to the point that that's how people view the entire genre if that makes sense. Like all villains are these misunderstood people fighting the system and all hero's are out here upholding the problematic status quo.

    • @sketchyarte6270
      @sketchyarte6270 Před 6 měsíci +13

      i feel like this line between oh the hero is just unforgivable and oh the hero has no depth is really thin and hard for authors to control. people have different standards: not completely similar morals (though i do know there are universal morals that most people generally agree upon but still) so some specific things would really tick others off even if that thing is relatively minor (for me, stealing a book. i don’t mind stealing in general, but stealing books really ticks me off because of my family) so it’s really hard

    • @Ashbrash1998
      @Ashbrash1998 Před 5 měsíci +9

      I've seen this in got, you'll see people go after like Dany for example for X,Y, Z. But completely ignore how other characters also did the same exact thing. Let alone that Tywin Lannister did that and even worse crimes to kids and even his own family.

    • @ashd.3055
      @ashd.3055 Před 5 měsíci +3

      People also don't seem to be forgiving of real life people trying to be good. From my personal experience just trying to be polite or seeing an allegedly decent person running for election but didn't get the votes because they were too religious or soft-spoken. I've also seen this aimed at historical figures.

  • @cjradenbaugh
    @cjradenbaugh Před 8 měsíci +1114

    Well now I’m gonna write a story where the assistant actually has to assist the villain, slower burn romance, sexy villain who only emotionally opens up to the assistant, and the assistant who really starts to love not only the villain but villainous things….
    Wait… that’s kinda like Hannibal. 😬

    • @Someone-or8tp
      @Someone-or8tp Před 8 měsíci +175

      I'd really like to read a story where the villain hires this assistant and the assistant is doing the most, to the point where the villain is like "ok, can you actually calm down? I appreciate the enthusiasm but I think skinning someone alive at the princesses masquerade ball is a bit much just to prove a point. like actually please you're scaring me???" and if you want it to be romance, the villain is actually very into the plucky assistant who outdoes him at everything like yeah this 5ft-something, glasses wearing english major with eyebags heavier than my dark childhood backstory is indeed planning several ways to destroy my enemies without me even needing to lift a finger and that is so sexy of her anyway I'm not gonna get on her bad side she scares me

    • @Vitearys
      @Vitearys Před 8 měsíci +28

      Doctor Robotnik and agent Stone

    • @sleepy.timaeus.arts.
      @sleepy.timaeus.arts. Před 8 měsíci +14

      @@Someone-or8tpoh i love that 👀

    • @thgritic102
      @thgritic102 Před 5 měsíci +3

      ​@@Someone-or8tp
      Satan's Secretary manga is like this. On hiatus however 😭

    • @Someone-or8tp
      @Someone-or8tp Před 5 měsíci

      @@thgritic102 AYO?? I'm very interested. On my way to go look around for it

  • @kjarakravik4837
    @kjarakravik4837 Před 8 měsíci +1040

    I think another important factor in villain romences is that the villain isn't actually the realistic type of evil we face in everyday life. They're not rарiѕtѕ, реdоfiIеѕ or child аbuѕеrs. And I know nаzi romances are a thing but they are very much a separate genre

    • @janjanbinks1710
      @janjanbinks1710 Před 8 měsíci +234

      It's a WHOLE GENRE?!?

    • @prettypoptacular
      @prettypoptacular Před 8 měsíci +38

      there's a genre for pedophile love?!?!?

    • @someonewho
      @someonewho Před 8 měsíci

      @@scylla5867there are so many nazi romances, just search up the movies.

    • @elle8786
      @elle8786 Před 8 měsíci +151

      ​@@prettypoptacular in anime, that's called shotacon and lolicon, it is real, and yes, it is very disturbing

    • @prettypoptacular
      @prettypoptacular Před 8 měsíci +28

      @@elle8786 honestly at this point is it wrong to judge anime watchers for being perverts? especially the hardcore ones

  • @milkcrownASMR
    @milkcrownASMR Před 8 měsíci +1289

    The ironic villain cliche character you described kept reminding me of Dr. Doofenschmirtz from Phineas & Ferb. Now that - that’s a romance assistant villain book I’d love to read

    • @gwennifernguyen1751
      @gwennifernguyen1751 Před 8 měsíci +7

      🤣🤣🤣

    • @BlackReshiram
      @BlackReshiram Před 8 měsíci +63

      as a kid i shipped perry w doof weirdly enough lol
      now as an adult i know better though THANK GOD LMAO

    • @lacabraasada2326
      @lacabraasada2326 Před 8 měsíci

      I will take the D from Doofenschimirtz

    • @nikkim7038
      @nikkim7038 Před 8 měsíci +16

      @@BlackReshiramSTOP ME TOO

    • @gaymiens
      @gaymiens Před 8 měsíci +15

      @@BlackReshiramhave you read the doofenperry kpop twitter stan au (serious question)

  • @Anastasia-ex6sv
    @Anastasia-ex6sv Před 8 měsíci +449

    “People decided to Stan the blandest slice of shadow they could find” I have no idea what your talking about but this line made me laugh

  • @katelynmarie1603
    @katelynmarie1603 Před 8 měsíci +967

    You should read nimona! The central relationship (villain/sidekick) isn’t romantic, but there is a very angsty childhood friends villain/hero romance, and it’s also just really good. The recent movie adaptation is also great, even though they’re pretty different!

    • @ymn3112
      @ymn3112 Před 8 měsíci +52

      Came here to say this! Nimona is so good, I adore it. It's one of those ATLA style kids stories that have so much more complexity that unwraps as you get older. It critiques power, imperialism, propaganda, all the while being an incredibly wholesome feral daughter adopts tired dad story 😭💜

    • @nitebreak
      @nitebreak Před 8 měsíci +4

      it was a fun read for surr

    • @yasminechoerryscherry3701
      @yasminechoerryscherry3701 Před 8 měsíci

      ​@@ymn3112the movie had me in tears

  • @Heriarka
    @Heriarka Před 8 měsíci +428

    I would actually like to see more villain romances that aren't about fixing the villain and are just about the love interest spiraling along with the villain's insanity, tbh tbh. Bonnie meets Clyde kinda thing.
    Let me feel like it's okay to actually be a villain fangirl
    Recommendations welcome

    • @persialionheart
      @persialionheart Před 8 měsíci +15

      Not villain but Villainess who the male lead supports without question.
      The Villainess Turns the Hourglass.
      It's also a comic which I definitely suggest reading because the drawings are beautiful.
      Genres: fantasy, romance, revenge, regression/time manipulation
      It's about a girl who was a wretched villainess who tried to poison her stepsister (who is seen as a saint because she is so kind and benevolent *bleh*) and gets executed because of it. But she finds out just before her execution that her stepsister instigated it all and actually was pulling the strings behind the main girl's plots in order to ensure the main girl's death. But as she dies, she gets a second chance and goes back in time about 10 years before and she resolves to get her proper revenge on the stepsister, starting by actually becoming well-mannered unlike in her past life where she was seen as vulgar. Her aim is to be seen as the saint whilst her stepsister is seen as the wicked Villainess when actually the main girl is the one who has been pulling the strings this time around.
      Then comes in the main guy (who is one of my favourite male leads ever) who just so happens to be enemies with the stepsister's allies and the two join forces and become a greater power than anyone ever expected.
      I'm trying to be as vague as possible because I don't want to spoil anything because this is genuinely worth the read. Though I wouldn't really say the main girl is spiralling to insanity or this is a bonnie and Clyde type of situation. Moreso than anything she is very manipulative and is able to use her knowledge of the future to her advantage to surround herself with the right people and use them as well as gain the upper hand in situations where she couldn't have without her knowledge.
      One more thing, the hourglass. This is probably the most important thing of the story. The hourglass is what allowed her to go back in time in the first place and it is a magical object which is very important to how she is able to manipulate the people and situation around her for her benefit.
      I will be honest, she is not the darkest villain ever, but she is definitely morally grey. It depends on the perspective you see her really. She wants something, she gets it no matter what. And the main guy will gladly help her get it.
      Woah long explanation but I really love this story.

    • @akirachiyoko2134
      @akirachiyoko2134 Před 8 měsíci +1

      ​@user-vw9lj1yn1b Lolita isn't a romance. Hurbet is a pedo and the book is written from his perspective

    • @faust4896
      @faust4896 Před 8 měsíci +39

      the contrast between these two suggestions, please-

    • @persialionheart
      @persialionheart Před 8 měsíci +3

      @@faust4896 lool

    • @harmonussy
      @harmonussy Před 8 měsíci +5

      Hannibal.

  • @rosemary709
    @rosemary709 Před 8 měsíci +161

    hear me out: a hero, but with all the qualities of a villain - Geralt of Rivia

    • @FernBlackwood1995
      @FernBlackwood1995 Před 4 měsíci +5

      Absolutely.

    • @KaiHung-wv3ul
      @KaiHung-wv3ul Před 3 měsíci +7

      And like, not even one of those edgy antiheroes, an actual, classical hero.

  • @caro6968
    @caro6968 Před 8 měsíci +211

    This made me reflect a little on what I want in a villain romance and I think the idea of the villain slowly corrupting the hero to the point where they are willing to destroy the world for the villain is just 😙👌

    • @FarhanaK
      @FarhanaK Před 8 měsíci +6

      ....So Hannibal the series? lol

    • @Ashbrash1998
      @Ashbrash1998 Před 5 měsíci +4

      We don't get enough of stuff like this, if anything I'm confused why we don't

  • @justwonder1404
    @justwonder1404 Před 8 měsíci +631

    Your villain studies class made me think of something. I don't think we have a lot of 'enemies to lovers' books where the villain is female the righteous male hero slowly fall for? I'm not even exactly a fan of the trope in general, but that would be interesting. As always, love your review.

    • @neojuns3852
      @neojuns3852 Před 8 měsíci +60

      if you have any recommendations with female villains x hero stories please let me know i would love to read some because they sound amazing! 💖

    • @AngelKagome
      @AngelKagome Před 8 měsíci

      @@neojuns3852 If you are fine with sexually explicit content, you could check if Wretched by Emily McIntire is for you. It's a really great book, and it's inspired by Wizard of Oz. It is contemporary though, and Dark Romance-y. Do check the trigger warnings. :)

    • @AgathaMF
      @AgathaMF Před 8 měsíci +8

      I wish there were, that sounds amazing to me!

    • @Samantha-br5wn
      @Samantha-br5wn Před 8 měsíci +71

      Not sure if this exactly fits what you’re looking for but renegades by Marissa Meyer is a villain/hero enemies to lovers, where the female is a villain. She was raised by villains and the main guy character was raised by superhero’s, and just has a great plot exploring good and evil. Definitely recommend!

    • @SanjanaShinde-ou6kf
      @SanjanaShinde-ou6kf Před 8 měsíci

      @@neojuns3852 mindfuck series by S T Abby has a plot like this its basically a serial killer x detective romance

  • @jenn7077
    @jenn7077 Před 8 měsíci +135

    Yeah I was very underwhelmed by how little actual villainy happens lol. We are just TOLD he is a villain, not shown.

  • @ihaveaname699
    @ihaveaname699 Před 8 měsíci +479

    What usually draws me into villain romances - and maybe villains in general - is that villains don't necessarily have morals. It's that quote about how a hero will give up their loved one for the world, but a villain will give up the world for a loved one. A villain can torture and murder whoever they want, but a hero will usually take the high road to save the people they love. Which actually tends to go wrong for them and get their loved ones in more trouble. That's fun sometimes, but I prefer to watch them go feral.
    Although that quote certainly isn't true all of the time. If we expand the range to more than just love interests - spoilers for Spiderverse 2, like massive spoilers, like stop reading oh my god - Miles Morales gets to risk _all of existence_ for his dad and still be literal Spiderman. That's great! I love that! Give me more of that please!

    • @yoshitheorbit1118
      @yoshitheorbit1118 Před 8 měsíci +63

      Since we are questioning that phrase of the hero and the villain, I want to say that personally I never liked that phrase of the villain will sacrifice the world and blah blah blah; I always thought that the hero would be like "Fxck off, I won't submit to you making me choose one" and find a way to save both the loved one and the world, and succeeding.

    • @ihaveaname699
      @ihaveaname699 Před 8 měsíci +18

      @@yoshitheorbit1118 Exactly, you get it. That's good too!!

    • @tuluppampam
      @tuluppampam Před 8 měsíci +22

      Morals doesn't mean good. This means that villains usually have morals, but they're very different to normalcy. A truly immoral being is probably impossible

    • @himejoshiheart
      @himejoshiheart Před 8 měsíci +14

      @@yoshitheorbit1118 the hero will find a way to save both, yet the villain will give up the world without a thought.

    • @maevem316
      @maevem316 Před 8 měsíci +7

      Yeah, I've always taken umbrage with that quote. I don't think the type of hero who would bend/break their morals for a loved one's safety is even that uncommon! I think a better version of the same idea is like... a villain would kill a dude to get you your favorite chocolate. A hero would maybe decide the chocolates aren't worth it, lol. If you want that *intense* "no one but you matters to me in this world" devotion, that's what you can get from a villain romance

  • @lenani9143
    @lenani9143 Před 8 měsíci +131

    A villain and a hero automatically have tension as antagonists - just like rivals - and that is immediately sexy. Also, a villain definitely appeals to our "I can change him"-complexes

  • @shihohinomorisbiggestfan
    @shihohinomorisbiggestfan Před 8 měsíci +531

    I saw this in the bookstore and when I read the back of it I cringed so hard

    • @TheBookLeo
      @TheBookLeo  Před 8 měsíci +209

      i think this would be really fun for some people but just really not for me

    • @CoreenMontagna
      @CoreenMontagna Před 8 měsíci +41

      I liked it, but was cross when I realized it wasn’t a standalone.

    • @gericb4181
      @gericb4181 Před 8 měsíci +67

      I just can't believe that the book isn't about a villain going around doing funny villainy! Like what? Isn't that the story that title, cover and map were actually made for? 😶

    • @Moonstar79
      @Moonstar79 Před 8 měsíci +40

      @@CoreenMontagnaI think standalones are getting increasingly underrated

    • @SkookieCat_Arts
      @SkookieCat_Arts Před 8 měsíci +22

      I did the exact same thing. I’m kinda tired of hot villains, I just want a cute/funny story about em, so I’m making one, it’s gonna be a comic and the plot is basically “villain accidentally adopts the hero” the hero is like, 7. Haven’t actually gotten anything except character designs finished yet but I’m working on it.

  • @nozomisouffle
    @nozomisouffle Před 8 měsíci +83

    20:20 I also feel this way about fanfictions that get adapted into original stories. It works as a fanfiction because we project all the lore of that character onto the characters, but once you make it an original story, you also need to write the background story you ripped off them when making it an original story in order to make it cohesive. Otherwise I have no reason to get attached to the main couple

    • @TwistedTeaRex
      @TwistedTeaRex Před 2 měsíci +3

      This is why as a fanfiction writer I have not published anything... because I would need to build an entire new world for the characters and make them fit into it. You're not supposed to just Find & Replace the names and a few setting details then call it an original work.

  • @Moonstar79
    @Moonstar79 Před 8 měsíci +57

    I like to think the reason we all like villain romances is because, in a sense, they're truly optimistic about humanity. It's the ultimate version of "love conquers all"-- evil is literally purged from this person for YOUR sake, and that's on top of it feeling forbidden and edgy in the first place. That, I daresay, is sexy.

  • @PiraticalMaid-of-All-Work
    @PiraticalMaid-of-All-Work Před 8 měsíci +61

    So if I got this straight, it’s based on a TikTok series commenting on clichés, but now as a book it *is* just the clichés.
    Also when I read “villain romance book” I thought it was an enemies-to-lovers but villain edition, basically two villains falling in love. Which could be interesting.

  • @nitzeart
    @nitzeart Před 8 měsíci +91

    So to conclude... it's just a Wattpad romance 😂 (nothing wrong with that, I enoyed my share of those back in the day, but they're not published books for a reason. They narrative is often so episodic and doesn't tie together very well.)

  • @lisakxv
    @lisakxv Před 8 měsíci +355

    watching you review bad books makes me think they’re actually good and immediately want to read them

  • @Kriseaf
    @Kriseaf Před 8 měsíci +150

    If you want a *villain* story, read Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots. It's not cozy, it's not *really* a romance, but it's definitely evil and fantastic.

  • @kimberlyd6382
    @kimberlyd6382 Před 8 měsíci +139

    You know it’s a good video when Leonie brings out the white board! 😂

  • @CharlesRoger893
    @CharlesRoger893 Před 8 měsíci +77

    I wasn’t able to answer it when you first asked so I’ll give my opinion here:
    Villains are interesting because they are usually very conflicted. It makes more for a fun time to dissect them and psychoanalysing them. And it’s just fun to have a morally dubious romance (granted it should be reasonable).

  • @telkins3388
    @telkins3388 Před 8 měsíci +36

    I just finished this book last week! I have a variety of criticisms that I give a lot of grace for: i.e. the Villain is hot, the main character thirsts immediately but she does kind of do the 'yeah but he's bad so I shouldn't' - I can get behind that lusty behavior even if it's unhinged.
    What I can't get behind is we completely lose any 'villainy' after the first third. Bodies in the entryway, screams in the halls - only in the setup. It's like the author decided 'okay and now we've reached the point in which we reveal he was Villain-in-name-only and the Villain now needs to be the Hero. The audience and Evie needs to forget about all the torture and murder because I don't actually want to address the moral conundrum or gray areas.' We lose all chance at getting villain depth.

  • @KelseyRodriguez
    @KelseyRodriguez Před 8 měsíci +21

    YES omg I'm so glad I wasn't the only one that thought this was some weird wattpad bullshit

  • @skyethorne4568
    @skyethorne4568 Před 8 měsíci +156

    I absolutely loved and devoured this book, like could not stop reading, completely obsessed. I thought it was so fun and I loved the characters, but it was also a book I knew wouldn't hit for a lot of people so all your points are valid. But I just wanted to comment to encourage people who were interested in picking it up to give it a try

    • @howdyimvictoria
      @howdyimvictoria Před 8 měsíci +24

      Same!! I ate this book UP. Did I cringe a time or two? Hell yeah and I absolutely loved it

    • @skyethorne4568
      @skyethorne4568 Před 8 měsíci +13

      @@howdyimvictoria yes!! leaning into the cringiness made it more fun

    • @CoreenMontagna
      @CoreenMontagna Před 8 měsíci +12

      I really enjoyed it too, but was not prepared for the fact that it wasn’t a complete story. So I was really annoyed at the ending, or more accurately, the way the story stopped.

    • @PayalGupta_4951
      @PayalGupta_4951 Před 8 měsíci +10

      same!! the writing was juvenile but that worked as a charm for me and I was vibing the whole time.

    • @skyethorne4568
      @skyethorne4568 Před 8 měsíci +6

      @@CoreenMontagna that's so valid! I thought it was a standalone for half the book but then I saw someone post something about how crazy the cliffhanger was and realized it's part of a series. I'm really glad I knew beforehand bc otherwise I probably would have been upset too

  • @emilymoran9152
    @emilymoran9152 Před 8 měsíci +28

    I'm listening to a reaction-read of 'Heaven Official's Blessing' right now (which I've read before) and it really hits this wonderful sweet spot where ALL the characters have a certain level of moral greyness where you're going "I love you, but...hmm" or "Yikes, girl! But also, I get it!" Even the cinnamon-roll Taoist god main character, who is overall as pure of heart as you can get, had a point in his backstory where he almost went SUPER dark. The love interest is a ghost king who is thought of by the other heavenly officials as this absolute villainous menace...and from their perspective, he kind of is! Mainly because he doesn't like how they treat the MC. But he does genuinely cause blood rains and rule over a ghost city where some...questionable stuff happens. At the same time, while he doesn't usually go out of his way to help anyone but the MC, he also doesn't tend to harm any innocent mortals, and might actually help sometimes (because that's what his BF would want!). They're all interesting complex characters, is my point!

  • @soot9145
    @soot9145 Před 8 měsíci +146

    I need a villain romance book where the villain is like a crazy seriel killer. Like a Ghostface type

    • @kjarakravik4837
      @kjarakravik4837 Před 8 měsíci +28

      That is the plot of Dorian Gray and also kind of Phantom of the Opera (which has a book!)

    • @skyhideaway
      @skyhideaway Před 8 měsíci

      ​@@kjarakravik4837i wouldn't really call dorian gray a romance novel though. it has hints of queercoding but overall, it's just a story about the protagonist spiralling into a corruption arc.

    • @RogueVideoRaven
      @RogueVideoRaven Před 8 měsíci +33

      Ghostface? Oh boy do I know a few self insert fanfics you would like

    • @hopehowell5579
      @hopehowell5579 Před 8 měsíci +6

      I don't know who or what Ghostface is, but I'm always open for new fanfic recs. Drop the link

    • @laurapoljus1168
      @laurapoljus1168 Před 8 měsíci

      ​@@RogueVideoRaven😂😂😂😂

  • @scorpionbraid
    @scorpionbraid Před 8 měsíci +30

    A good assistant to a villain/ romance exists in the form of What We Do In The Shadows.

    • @chkingvictim
      @chkingvictim Před 8 měsíci +3

      talk about slow burn, too 😭😭😭

    • @jiminici3351
      @jiminici3351 Před 8 měsíci +1

      which characters does this apply for? :)

  • @TheYellowcrush
    @TheYellowcrush Před 8 měsíci +34

    You NEED to read Starter Villain by John Scalzi! It is wild, but does exactly what you were expecting in this: plays on all the villain tropes with humor and tongue-in-cheek references and over-the-top antics. Talking cats, lasers, and absurdity done right.

  • @zoid5911
    @zoid5911 Před 8 měsíci +9

    Without a description of the villain's appearance I will actively picture skeletor

  • @boots1622fan
    @boots1622fan Před 8 měsíci +16

    i like villains because of the 'i can fix him' thing but im like dead serious about that. Like can you imagine the immense like... joy or w/e to see someone who has been through so much, felt that their life was over, and then they get better and they're happy? idk. i dont love the idea of love curing illness or w/e but it is scientifically proven that having people who support you increases the likelihood of recovery. Also when the villain tries to do something nice or normal but its awkward but theyre trying their best? that is the cutest shit. also to reiterate on my first point: if the person who hates you the most can turn into the person who loves you the most? i feel like thats the biggest win, like how could you ever feel bad about yourself again at that point.
    i think maybe the reason why i feel this way is that i dont think that 'evilness' or whatever is like. a real thing. like an innate trait someone can have. If someone is a bad person they can still get better without changing their core values. Like, revenge isn't a core value, but justice is, and they could get that in a healthier way.
    I think this just comes from me wanting people who have been shitty to me to apologize and do better. the most unrealistic fantasy lmao but what a thrill it would be

  • @eloa5
    @eloa5 Před 8 měsíci +64

    If you want to read a very good villain assistant read Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots. It's not a romance, but a very very good portrayal of good vs bad and villains vs hero

    • @gailm.8190
      @gailm.8190 Před 8 měsíci +4

      Yes!! I was going to mention this book, too! 🎉

    • @shadowdancer909
      @shadowdancer909 Před 6 měsíci +3

      I recently read that and loved it! It does have some romance but it’s not a focus. It’s the protagonist having feelings but not necessarily acting on them. Also the protagonist is bi which I love!

  • @cheses.
    @cheses. Před 8 měsíci +26

    God now I'm thinking about some tiktoker writing about Megamind being the main love intrest 😭

  • @Alenaexists
    @Alenaexists Před 8 měsíci +86

    Hey Leonie! I’m currently in high school and you single-handedly made me get back into reading. Your reviews and recommendations are so well thought out and not just like “omg everyone will love this book!” I love how you recommend some books I’ve never heard of that gives me a different perspective into reading. I’m currently reading The Hawthorne Legacy (second inheritance games book) and I wouldn’t have been invested in these wonderful stories without your perspective into reading! Just wanted to say this because I’ve watched you for a while and never really commented so thank you ❤❤

  • @MeMyshelfAndI
    @MeMyshelfAndI Před 8 měsíci +25

    I am a plot-driven reader and did not think this was a plot-driven book, lol
    What I _did_ think was that I was expecting an NA Romantasy, but I felt like I got a middle-grade.
    There was nothing about the vocabulary, grammar, depth, nuance, characters, nor themes that gave anything I wouldn't put in front of a ten year old. And given that it has a really similar setup to Nimona (a YA graphic novel turned into a Netflix movie), I was honestly surprised to find that Nimona had so much more depth and nuance and social commentary despite being less than half the length and literally for children.

  • @ohhiimweirdperson6919
    @ohhiimweirdperson6919 Před 8 měsíci +19

    it's not a romance, but a book with a better execution of this concept is Nimona by ND Stevenson. it's about a young girl that becomes her favorite villain's assistant. there's not a romance between them but it kind of has that vibe. i read it in high school and it's really good

  • @cat-ara5249
    @cat-ara5249 Před 8 měsíci +6

    I love when villain characters admire the hero for a trait that no one else appreciates/sees. I also love when they’re character foils. Or when the villain is pretending to be good as part of their plan, and they fall in love with the hero. But they still end up betraying the hero because they’ve come this far and they can’t just stop now

  • @Liriodelagua
    @Liriodelagua Před 8 měsíci +15

    I liked the color palette in the middle, with the lilacs and violets, very pretty and relaxing.

  • @annaptakova3242
    @annaptakova3242 Před 5 měsíci +3

    "the most enemy that anyone can ever enemy" is the best line at least of the day, if not a year (and I'm watching 25 hours before new year, I'd know)

  • @draupadih3980
    @draupadih3980 Před 8 měsíci +61

    Todays gonna be stressful but now it’s better. Love to see you again Leonie!

  • @mario98730
    @mario98730 Před 8 měsíci +24

    I see that shot and lighting design Leonie! That purple accent with the orange practicals was such a nice look I love how you keep changing your setup its very fun

  • @wingdingdoes6687
    @wingdingdoes6687 Před 8 měsíci +11

    "Book based on a funny tiktok skit" is such a red flag. and i LOVE tiktok skits!! but you've gotta put Something More into them!!

  • @lemmidraws
    @lemmidraws Před 8 měsíci +12

    I loved the Uncle Iroh reference at the end 😂 it annoys me as well when I get to to the end of a book that I wasn’t fully invested in and thought it was a stand-alone, only to realise it’s part of a series 😒

  • @septembergold8095
    @septembergold8095 Před 8 měsíci +18

    "Which honestly would be a funny villlain, just a floating head"
    Me, remembering my D&D party's fight with a demi-lich "Sure sure sure, very funny, big laughs"

    • @FernBlackwood1995
      @FernBlackwood1995 Před 4 měsíci

      Sounds like Nahsrah from Fear & Hunger. I’ll pray for you.

  • @Hazel-eo3iu
    @Hazel-eo3iu Před 8 měsíci +5

    The author originally got started on TikTok by making videos that were along the lines of I love blank trope and then the series was built on that foundation so it was always just a funny series that showed off different tropes. The book definitely reflects what the author's original intentions were with creating the TikTok series as opposed to someone who just decided to write a book because they had an idea for a story. I say this as someone who has watched almost all of Hannah's Assistant to the Villain series and has thoroughly enjoyed it.

  • @sorenbruns5541
    @sorenbruns5541 Před 8 měsíci +7

    Love the Community shoutout. Best sitcom of all time. And yes, perfect for learning about tropes and story mechanics.

  • @philoniganatra
    @philoniganatra Před 8 měsíci +7

    I was about to pick this up today, saw the tik tok sticker, and then put it back down🙈🙈🙈🙈

  • @sketchyphoenix7315
    @sketchyphoenix7315 Před 8 měsíci +7

    I strongly recommend Hench by Natalie Zina Walschotts. It's a great villain assistant story with critiques on the collateral damage of superheroes.
    Thanks for making this review!

  • @anaelisam1
    @anaelisam1 Před 5 měsíci +3

    From your review, i think this would work a lot better as animated comedy short than as a book, I love the premise but idk if the format is the right one for it

  • @Local-Lesbian
    @Local-Lesbian Před 6 měsíci +1

    knowing you watch community makes me so happy

  • @runa_7022
    @runa_7022 Před 6 měsíci +3

    to me, this book read like a bunch of head canons put together rather than a cohesive story. like it read the same way tumblr drabble/hc posts would read if u shoved them all together in a huge masterdoc or smth. idk if that made any sense but thats what i felt-

  • @SyPotato
    @SyPotato Před 3 měsíci +1

    I was actually on board with the humor in this book you described and I do love plot over romance, so I was just about to add this book to my list, but when I heard about your main gripe with it, my excitement fell. A story about a villain but no fun villainous activities??? Aw man... what a missed opportunity...
    Love your villain studies list!! I will use it as an exercise!
    I have been casually writing in google docs about a silly idea from a dream I had, where there's a sidestory of a hero who constantly banters/flirts with the villains' DOCTOR. The doctor only treats villains of course. It was such a fun little writing exercise for me to have this unhinged doctor who lacks apathy and wishing others wrath, but has a gift in healing others instead. Meanwhile, the villains themselves behave in such a hammy, over-the-top, ridiculous, monologue-driven way, I was laughing so much as I wrote it. Very fun exercise!!

  • @SauronsAccntnt
    @SauronsAccntnt Před 8 měsíci +11

    Your initial hopes for this book remind me of two I've read and enjoyed! *Between* by L.L. Starling and *Throne in the Dark* by A.K. Caggiano. They were both so charming: Quirky, cozy, banter-y, and with characters that challenge the tropes of good and evil. Plenty of fun side quests and delightful supporting characters.
    Edit: I realize these are not villain romances per se. But since they dabble in the shadowy parts of the love interests they could be a good read for others looking for not-so-squeaky-clean leads.

    • @SauronsAccntnt
      @SauronsAccntnt Před 8 měsíci +1

      I'll share my main gripes:
      *Between* really is a behemoth tome and it takes a bit to get to the good stuff, but I really think it's worth it. This story has imperfections that feel like reading a new-ish writer's work but the author really had a special story here that I have actually re-read to visit with all the characters I'd missed.
      With *Throne in the Dark* I felt the author stretched the story across multiple installments to the effect of putting off some very necessary resolutions in order to keep the adventures going, rather than letting things fall where they naturally should, ya know. Some of the hero/heroine interactions ended up feeling a bit flat, but I was still charmed enough by the world to recommend it for light reading.

  • @unhingedwoman
    @unhingedwoman Před 8 měsíci +5

    Awww I loved it. It was so cute and didn’t take itself seriously.

  • @Moosewrites
    @Moosewrites Před 8 měsíci +8

    Ok…I can’t believe I’m doing this. But if you want an ACTUALLY SATISFYING villain romance, with deep understand of the villain’s backstory and unforgettable characters, please check out the book, The Cave and the Houseboat by Moose Shoemaker.
    It’s not a romance novel, but has an unexpected romance subplot. And the villain is a chick, too. ❤

  • @nerd26373
    @nerd26373 Před 8 měsíci +16

    We appreciate your effort and hard work on this channel. We wish you all the best.

  • @moeshrooms385
    @moeshrooms385 Před 8 měsíci +15

    I just saw this at Barnes and Noble yesterday and was thinking of picking it up but ultimately didn’t, based on the title I suppose I made the right choice lol!

  • @PuddleOfEmotion
    @PuddleOfEmotion Před 8 měsíci +7

    I just read Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots and it has the same basic premise but I absolutely adore it and would platform it above this one, which I had gotten at the same time

  • @larakinan7081
    @larakinan7081 Před 8 měsíci +6

    Hearing you talk about this makes me think of Zhu Li and Varrick from The Legend of Korra 😂

  • @eshitasahu
    @eshitasahu Před 8 měsíci +2

    10:08 omg!!! you're literally describing acomaf......I love that book!! I know there's a lot of stigma about sjm.......but I would love for u to read some of her work.....especially the acotar series!!

  • @BleistiftSchwert
    @BleistiftSchwert Před 8 měsíci +2

    I love the dramatic head move at 22:11 when you said „Betrayal“. Really felt that!!!

  • @Reymklsn
    @Reymklsn Před 8 měsíci +18

    The moment you said you wished there were more villainous stuff in the story and then we watched her Tiktoks I was like yep, this is going to be a series, and we will see more of their vigilantes together in future books.

  • @SynapticCleft13
    @SynapticCleft13 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Just uploaded while I was binge-watching some of your previous book reviews. This feels like free therapy.

  • @larabronson.author
    @larabronson.author Před 8 měsíci +10

    Me furiously taking notes ✍️ for when I write my version of a villain romance. Also, fairytale retelling x villain romance, anyone?

    • @tsifirakiehl4250
      @tsifirakiehl4250 Před 8 měsíci +1

      That sounds like fun!

    • @CharlesRoger893
      @CharlesRoger893 Před 8 měsíci +1

      That sounds fun! I once had an idea of a story where the main character was summoned by the villain and had to join his army while trying to save the heroes.

    • @larabronson.author
      @larabronson.author Před 8 měsíci

      @@CharlesRoger893 That’s a great a idea!

    • @unavezms8167
      @unavezms8167 Před 8 měsíci +1

      That's why I like Hades/Persephone retalling. I mean Persephone literally crosses river Stix to avoid marrying Zeus.

    • @larabronson.author
      @larabronson.author Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@unavezms8167 At the moment, I planning to write a Beauty and the Beast retelling. But might consider writing a Hades/Persephone as well. Which ones are your favorite?

  • @lukaspedraza5194
    @lukaspedraza5194 Před 8 měsíci +3

    I feel like this kinda story could easily be adapted into a Scott pilgrim style anime project or something, you know? Not necessarily the same art style, per se, but in a similar over the top animated style of expressions and effects and line delivery.

  • @pranisharijal1458
    @pranisharijal1458 Před 8 měsíci +8

    I love the tiktok series cause it's genuinely fun. The reviews of this book however is putting me off from reading it.
    To be fair, it is her very first book. If she writes more, she can improve.

    • @elizabethblack2674
      @elizabethblack2674 Před 8 měsíci

      If the writing is supper cringe it's kinda her editor's fault.

  • @kaleyburchette
    @kaleyburchette Před 8 měsíci

    i’ve seen this ALL OVER tiktok and have been asking around as to if it’s actually good so you timed this perfectly!!!

  • @victoriaspirito3191
    @victoriaspirito3191 Před 8 měsíci +4

    For a reeeally good villain assistant story you can pick up the graphic novel nimona
    Its really sweet❤❤

  • @irregular_huh4459
    @irregular_huh4459 Před 8 měsíci +1

    You should try a Terry Pratchett book if you want subversions of fantasy tropes! "Guards! Guards!" is a great one.

  • @whxmsii
    @whxmsii Před 6 měsíci +1

    I'd love a book where we follow the the villain's perspective of the person or underlying trying to fix them and its like a horror story.
    Similar vibes to "I fear no man, but that thing..." *cuts to obsessed admirer idk* "it scares me."

  • @ArianaTosado
    @ArianaTosado Před 8 měsíci +1

    I missed these videos SO much!!! Leonie’s TENTACLE ENTANGLEMENT and GOTHIKANA videos are my all-time faves lol I’ve been praying for an addition to the collection.

  • @BookChats
    @BookChats Před 8 měsíci +3

    So, I think the tone is a lot different but have you read Hench? The protagonist starts the book doing temp work villains, but is seriously injured by a HERO™️ and when she recovers physically, she wants revenge and gets herself hired full time by a big name villain.

  • @vanillaplanifoliae
    @vanillaplanifoliae Před 8 měsíci +2

    leonie is so beautiful!! fall aesthetic vibes are immaculate 🍂🖤

  • @ZaidKhan-xo2tw
    @ZaidKhan-xo2tw Před 5 měsíci +2

    I would definitely read a book with a villain as the center of story and digest all clichés if the villian has Megamind's humor and can say "Oh you don't know what's good for bad."

  • @Azathothtrolls
    @Azathothtrolls Před 5 měsíci +6

    The author should've aged down the characters cuz both humour and dialogue are juvenile, it would've made for a good cartoon but as a book it's not the worst but it definitely was disappointing.

  • @PamNg
    @PamNg Před 8 měsíci +6

    if villain romance is of interest, you NEED to read Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots!! The romance isn't really the main point and it's more rumination of the entire "industry" of superheroes and how it actually creates villains :p But the Heroine's relationship to her boss, the Villain~ is soooooo satisfying and good.

    • @debbieg.4882
      @debbieg.4882 Před 8 měsíci

      Hench is a fantastic book!

    • @BookChats
      @BookChats Před 8 měsíci +1

      I loved Hench but I think selling it in any way as a romance is misleading the reader based on what we get in the book.
      BUT, if you want to see a Hench going around doing and dealing with Villain stuff. Hench >>>>

  • @soymikleo
    @soymikleo Před 8 měsíci +2

    the way i had this on my tbr, ur making or breaking its spot there
    fr ^-^

  • @jannekewade-dejong2773
    @jannekewade-dejong2773 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Love that my favorite tv show Community got a shout-out in your video. The show does a great job of making fun of tropes from different genres of movies like you said. I'm also from the Netherlands (my dad is from Rotterdam) - I don't know if you could tell from my Dutch name Janneke de Jong but I always enjoy seeing someone else from the Netherlands on CZcams

  • @lihaec
    @lihaec Před 8 měsíci +1

    Yess!! I’ve been wanting to see ur opinions on this book eek, u always know what to serve us SLAYY LEONIE🥰😙❤️

  • @eliza.the.earthling
    @eliza.the.earthling Před 8 měsíci +4

    ❤ Duuude I’ve been waiting for you to upload! I have lost track of time whilst travelling (blame jet lag from Australia to Greece!) and have been watching old videos of yours and other booktubers’ while commuting to keep me sane 😂 I will watch this on a ferry tomorrow but shame you didn’t like this book from the look of it because it sounded fun.

  • @loraserafimova7750
    @loraserafimova7750 Před 8 měsíci +4

    BUT DO WE LEARN HIS NAME EVENTUALLY????

  • @victoriakohler627
    @victoriakohler627 Před 8 měsíci +4

    Renfield, he’s the Assistant to Dracula and is exactly what we expect from it😂

  • @harrietjanecooper3859
    @harrietjanecooper3859 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I really liked this book. It was just a quick fun read

  • @llamachai
    @llamachai Před 8 měsíci

    I love Leonie's videos! It's always a joy to see them upload during my work hours so I can listen in ☺
    And of course, you gotta hum along with the outro at the end until it's finished - it'd be criminal not to lol

  • @macandcheese4138
    @macandcheese4138 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Watching my favorite book loving CZcams channel while sick
    Greatest way to spend my time❤❤❤

  • @Katranga
    @Katranga Před 8 měsíci +1

    When you’re describing Community making fun of tropes, the word you’re looking for is “meta”, and it’s my favourite 😊 Thanks for reviewing this! I saw it on Goodreads and it didn’t look as good as it could’ve been lol

  • @elisabethp3699
    @elisabethp3699 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Love the video as always, but I have to say: LEONIE! Your hair looks gorgeous!

  • @NellyVilla09
    @NellyVilla09 Před 8 měsíci +41

    I’ve been so on the fence about reading this one! What a great timing for this video leonie, we commend your efforts 🫡

  • @sakinanadeem2458
    @sakinanadeem2458 Před 8 měsíci +1

    you have no idea what this did to my day . PS : it made me super happy !

  • @kelleyeasterling
    @kelleyeasterling Před 8 měsíci +1

    I really did enjoy this, but I find random situations and corny humor is my kind of thing. It wasn't a masterpiece, but I had fun. And I loved the end! I'll read the next book

  • @persialionheart
    @persialionheart Před 8 měsíci +1

    I've recently been into villain- actually more villainess type of tropes and let me tell you now. My number one favourite Villainess romance book (which also got turned into a comic (which I actually read before I read the book)) is The Villainess Turns the Hourglass. 100% Recommend for anyone who is looking for a smart female lead and the most satisfying revenge with a side of the best supportive male lead in existence. I've read so many comics (a lot of them being adaptations of books) about the 'villainess' where she isn't really a villainess and is quite benevolent but the female lead, Aria, is calculative, manipulative and driven in her own aims. She is also even a little petty when it comes to getting the revenge she wants but I find that is a good point as even with her pettiness, she knows how to tune it to her own will and achieve what she wants. Meanwhile, Asher, the male lead, supports her in any way he can and actively helps her in revenge whilst also successfully accomplishing his own agenda. Both of them are so beautiful to look at that you can't even think to look away (if you read the comic that is).
    Oh how I wish I was isekaied into a fantasy novel so I could just admire my favourite characters from afar!
    Though just saying, the romance will only be a small bit at the beginning which gradually builds up in the end. It's sort of slow burn but that's because the romance is only secondary to the incredible plot. I liked it though because it was very natural how they progressed. It was honestly the perfect story for me to read because I love romance but I really cannot hold onto the story if a plot is rubbish. Honestly this story just raised my expectations even higher.

  • @AnotherEmi
    @AnotherEmi Před 8 měsíci

    Community is my favourite series! I'm so happy you like it too~

  • @lua6914
    @lua6914 Před 8 měsíci +2

    you:"would be a funny villain, just a floating head" *me immediately thinking about the metatron*

  • @d.edwardmeade3683
    @d.edwardmeade3683 Před 8 měsíci +3

    Great video 😁😁👏👏👏... and a beautiful setting as usual! Very cozy and Autumnal 🎃🍁🍂

  • @cynthiapucheanu34
    @cynthiapucheanu34 Před 8 měsíci

    Such great lighting you had there!

  • @MickeyLissey
    @MickeyLissey Před 8 měsíci +2

    love love love your content!!

  • @luiiiandmovieee
    @luiiiandmovieee Před 8 měsíci +2

    To this "villains have more layers" I would agree because it's easier to give those characters more layers because we're more interested in the Why. "Why is it that the villain is evil?" That's a logical question. But no one asks why the hero is good. And why would you ask? Being good is how people SHOULD be so it's not unique or interesting to be good yk.
    Imagine a world where it's normal to be evil. Imagine a story that is about demons in hell. They're supposed to be evil so that's not interesting. No one cares about WHY a demon is evil, they just are. But when a demon is good, that's unique, that's multi-layered. (Yeah, maybe I'm thinking about good omens again).
    Maybe villains are not really multi-layered or interesting because they are evil, but because they are outside of the norm