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Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore

A charming, must-read 2025 cosy fantasy romance debut with grumpy/sunshine vibes, small-town magic, and heartwarming second chances
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( 1,098 ratings, 453 reviews)
Brief Description
"I have rarely read a book so charming...Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore might not be a villain anymore, but she's definitely stolen my heart." Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love "An irresistibly delightful cosy fantasy" Sarah Beth Durst, New... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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A former villainous witch, a grumpy alchemist and a town that needs saving...what could possibly go wrong?

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"I have rarely read a book so charming...Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore might not be a villain anymore, but she's definitely stolen my heart." Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love

"An irresistibly delightful cosy fantasy" Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"Pure magic!" Jenna Levine, USA Today bestselling author of My Roommate is a Vampire

She traded curses for carnations. But old magic dies hard...

Guy Shadowfade is dead, and Violet Thistlewaite is out of a job. After a lifetime as the dark sorcerer's right-hand witch, she's ready to turn over a new leaf. And this time, she wants to sprout peonies instead of poison.

The quiet town of Dragon's Rest seems like the perfect place to start over. Violet opens a flower shop, swears off dark magic, and does her best to be...good. Even if her reputationβ€”and her mildly homicidal, sentient houseplantβ€”make that tricky.

Her vibrant bouquets soon charm the locals, but nothing she does seems to impress the grumpy (and infuriatingly gorgeous) Nathaniel Marsh, the alchemist she's forced to share a greenhouse with.

But when a strange blight begins to rot the roots of Dragon's Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work togetherβ€”through their fears, pasts, and growing feelingsβ€”to save the town.

And as old secrets start to surface, Violet can't help but wonder: does a former villain like her truly deserve a happily-ever-after?

A heartwarming cosy fantasy, perfect for fans of Assistant to the Villain and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Tropes:

  • Cosy Fantasy Romance
  • Small-Town
  • Low spice
  • Villain Redemption ARC
  • Only One (b?e?d?) Greenhouse
  • Found Family
  • Grumpy x Sunshine

Praise for Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore:

"What an addictive and immersive debut! Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore is the true epitome of a cosy romance…it was like a warm hug, but there was also a ton of suspense and conflict...you'll want to live in it forever" Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

"The cosy fantasy romance genre has a new star! Emily Krempholtz's wonderfully assured debut, absolutely charmed me" India Holton, internationally bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

"I absolutely adored this cosy, magical gem of a book! Heart, humour, and healing...I never wanted to leave the enchanting town of Dragon's Rest" Reader Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781408736425

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 November 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Sphere

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 252g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Emily Krempholtz has never quit her day job to go open a flower shop, but that might be because she works with stories all day for a living, so she's already doing what she loves. As a bestselling ghostwriter, editor, and book coach, Emily has worked with hundreds of writers as they write and publish their books-and she's delighted to finally send one out into the world with her own name on the cover.

When she's not writing or reading, Emily bakes cakes that look like the books she reads and changes her hair colour like it's some kind of mood ring. She lives in sunny Colorado, where you'll often find her in the mountains-either hiking (and pretending to be a character in a novel) or curled up in a hammock with a good book (and also pretending to be a character in a novel). She's on a lifelong quest to discover the magic in the world and has a sneaking suspicion that the written word is where she'll find it.

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