The Reason She Lives as a Villainess

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This was a very good straight to the point mamhwa. It was a little fast paced but it never got boring and it ended well. It didn't leave any loose ends and the story wrapped up well. That said, the story felt kinda shallow. There wasn't really any emotional tie in. Im not sure what it was about it that made me feel that way but it felt more like I was reading a report about what was happening rather than being absorbed into a story. It was still good and id totally recommend it for someone looking for a story that ignores all common ... tropes. The way the 2ml backs down as soon as his best friend says he has feelings for her is amazing. Also I love how straightforward the characters are. They come up with clear plans and execute them. The author doesn't waste our time by creating fake mystery to waste our time. It was a refreshing straightforward story.

your typical isekai where mc ends up in a diff world and knows about her ending and tries to prevent it.

1. story 7/10 - took awhile to pick up the pace but after that the plot line and climaxes were all quite interesting and kept me engrossed enough to want to find out about what comes next and how they'll resolve the situation
2. art 9/10 - great artwork and beautiful character designs; each panel was quite stunning in the way it was drown and outfits were beautiful
3. characters 5/10 - romance at the start seemed a bit quick in the development and you don't ... really feel for the characters in terms of development and motivations. mc seems to adjust way too quickly in the world / as a villianess and i found it hard to really be invested or like any of the characters
4. enjoyment 6/10 - got a bit dry and stale but overall a simple and easy to follow isekai story with beautiful artwork and a decent plotline

would recommend to those who have time to read to pick it up and give it a go but a fair warning it is not for everyone.

[More info about my review style can be found on my profile]

▶Summary and recommendation: -----------------------------------------------------------------
It is hard to recommend this as there is nothing that stands out about this manhwa. It is a very formulaic revenge fantasy Otome Isekai, with some glaring issues with its romance.

▶Story, romance and characters: ------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside of the romance subplot, this is a revenge fantasy with very one dimensional villains and characters, and not much tension.
A unique problem of this manhwa is how polite and understanding characters are. I am a fan of communication and solving drama through dialogue, but at the level this manhwa does it; it comes off as ... robotic.

i.e.
"May I help you down the carriage? It will involve physical contact"
"No, I do not feel comfortable with physical contact"
"Understood, I respect your decision"

While polite, and desireable in the real world, it comes across as stiff and distant in a romance story.

On the topic of romance, the way it starts is forced, with little chemistry between the characters. Once they fall in love the author's intent with the romance becomes apparent. It is abundantly clear that the author wanted to write a healthy relationship with communication and respect between the couple. While this is praiseworthy, it comes at the cost of the actual realistic romance.

▶Artwork: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The art is probably bordering on ugly, or well into ugly territory for some readers. It does not serve the story in any capacity, and the character designs are uninspired. Very little care has gone into the creation and presentation of the world, and you will see very little of it or characters outside of the main cast.