Apprentice to the Villain deluxe hardcover

Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s “Apprentice to the Villain” is getting a special edition hardcover, and the rollout has already turned into a preorder event for readers who follow the author’s BookTok-driven fantasy series. Parade reported on May 19 that Maehrer had unveiled the new edition and that fans moved quickly to place orders, posting reactions including “You’re killing my wallet.” Amazon, Target and Books-A-Million listings show the book as a preorder item under the title “Apprentice to the Villain (Special Edition Hardcover).” Those listings describe the release as part of Maehrer’s “Assistant and the Villain” series and present it as a collectible-format reissue rather than a new installment. ### What exactly is being released? Amazon’s listing identifies the book as a special edition hardcover of “Apprentice to the Villain,” the second main entry in Maehrer’s series. (parade.com) The retailer lists a November 3, 2026 publication date and a preorder price of $32.99 in the United States. Books-A-Million says the edition includes bonus content from the author, full-color endpapers, a linen cloth hardcover with foil treatment and foiled edges. (amazon.com) The retailer also says the edition is available only in the United States and Canada while supplies last. ### Why are readers treating it like a new event? Parade’s May 19 report said the announcement drew immediate reaction from readers online, including posts asking for the whole series to receive the same treatment. (amazon.com) The outlet quoted one fan response as, “You’re killing my wallet,” capturing the collectible appeal that often drives special-edition buying in romantasy publishing. (booksamillion.com) Maehrer’s official website describes her as a fantasy romance author known on TikTok as @hannahnicolemae and links readers to preorder pages for her books. The site says she is known for the “Assistant and the Villain” series, which helps explain why a redesigned edition of an existing title could generate another sales push. ### Where does this book fit in the series? Target’s product page places “Apprentice to the Villain” as Book 2 in the “Assistant and the Villain” series. (parade.com) The same page lists “Assistant to the Villain” as Book 1, “Accomplice to the Villain” as Book 3 and “Adversary to the Villain” as Book 4. Entangled Publishing’s page for the standard edition describes “Apprentice to the Villain” as the follow-up to “Assistant to the Villain.” That framing matters because the special edition is tied to a series that already has an established readership rather than a standalone backlist title being rediscovered. (hannahnicolemae.com) ### Is this only one retailer’s exclusive push? Target, Amazon and Books-A-Million all have active product pages for the special edition hardcover, suggesting a broad retail rollout rather than a single-store exclusive. (target.com) The product metadata across those pages matches on author, title and special-edition positioning. Amazon’s listing also identifies Maehrer as a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, a credential repeated on other retail pages. (entangledpublishing.com) That sales history gives booksellers a clear marketing hook as they open preorders months ahead of publication. ### What happens next for readers who want it? The November 3, 2026 release date now appears on the U.S. Amazon listing, while retailers including Target and Books-A-Million are already taking preorders. (amazon.com) Parade’s report said fans were also asking whether other books in the series would receive matching editions, but the currently visible retail pages are for “Apprentice to the Villain” only. (parade.com)