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

Apprentice to the Villain contrasts chosen and birth families, each of which profoundly impacts the characters’ decisions, sacrifices, and ultimately, their paths to redemption. Family in the novel is defined not solely by biological connections but by the depth of relationships. The characters’ chosen families provide them with the support they need to overcome their struggles, making these bonds a true source of strength.

Trystan’s relationship with his family of birth is fraught with tension. His father, Arthur, represents a painful connection to his past. Even when King Benedict captures both Arthur and Trystan, although Trystan argues for his father’s release, their relationship remains strained—after escaping, Trystan refuses to read a letter from Arthur. Similarly, while Trystan’s mother initially fought against sending him to King Benedict, she later hired an enchantress to kill him. Despite Trystan’s love for his family, they mostly serve as a burden to him. However, as the story progresses, Trystan mends his relationship with his siblings, offering a glimpse of hope that some kinship ties can be repaired, even after years of resentment and conflict.

Becky, too, endures deep familial strife. Her mother, Renna, colluded with King Benedict while searching for a cure for her own mother Ramona’s illness. When Becky refused to give the king her magic, Renna tried to siphon it from her, an act of betrayal that drives a wedge between them. In response to this abandonment, Becky cut off ties with her relatives: “When she left her family, she’d vowed to live by solitude and organization as the only ways to find even a semblance of comfort in this mixed-up world” (39). However, when Becky’s brothers react to their mother’s actions with horror and confusion, the novel offers a glimpse of potential sibling reunion. While Becky has distanced herself from the whole of her birth family, it becomes clear that her mother’s betrayals leave all of her children feeling disillusioned and disconnected—and possibly united by these emotions.

Betrayal and abandonment similarly mark Evie’s family of origin. Her father’s multiple betrayals weigh heavily on her, as do the actions of her mother and brother, who left her to fend for herself. Even her relationship with her sister Lyssa is complicated, as Evie sees her inadequacy as a substitute parent. Despite these challenges, Evie slowly begins to repair her relationships with some of her family. She forgives her brother Gideon, gains a deeper understanding with Lyssa, and eventually reconciles with her mother Nura. However, while these ties offer Evie some comfort and healing as she works through her past, her relationship with Griffin enables her worst impulses: He refuses to apologize for his misdeeds, and in response she gives in to the temptation to torture him.

In contrast, chosen family provides the most powerful and sustaining relationships in the novel. Trystan’s close-knit group of friends—Clare, Tatiana, and Kingsley—is his true support system. Kingsley sacrificed himself for Trystan, taking on a curse meant for The Villain and transforming into a frog, a testament to the depth of his loyalty and love. Even after such seemingly friendship-ending conflicts as Clare and Tatiana’s failed engagement, the group comes together to help each other. Clare and Tatiana save Evie and Trystan on multiple occasions, and Trystan, despite his fears for Kingsley’s safety, reluctantly includes him on dangerous adventures. Evie also finds solace in her chosen family, who gives her unwavering support. For example, Becky and Blade ensure that she is all right after her difficult encounter with her father. This reinforces the idea that one’s chosen family can meet needs that their birth family often fails to. Throughout the novel, the bonds forged by choice prove to be stronger and more meaningful than those determined by kinship alone.