Villains Are Destined to Die

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"Villians Are Destined to Die" or "Death is the only ending for the villainess" is a very well-written Otome isekai manhwa. Based on the novel, it's very accurate and sticks to the original story magnificently.

STORY | 10 | The plot in this is pretty great. Easy to follow, with plenty of cliche moments that don't really bother me as a reader. Compared to other manhwa I've read, it's unique. It's very painful and heartwrenching, with many moments that push me to keep reading. Overall, my favorite thing about this plot though is the game aspect. It's interesting as hell watching Penelope's decisions, and the turns ... it takes.

ART | 10 | I'm no artist, but this is stunning. It's colored beautifully and has great pannels. I also really enjoy the unique style, it's memorable.

Character | 9 | I really like Penelope as an MC. She's relatable, intelligent, and very self-aware. The only thing I dislike is some of the other characters. I feel that they can be developed a little more? The good thing though is as a reader I have the ability to hate her brothers just as much as her LOL.

Enjoyment | 9 | I enjoy it a-lot, clearly. The only thing though, is some chapters are skippable or sometimes a little boring.

Overall I'd give it a 9.5/10 !

EDIT: I've now finished the novel, and I will say. I hope it does not follow with the later chapters.

The story is very much a mixed feeling one; there are a ton of predictable moments, some exiting features and of course a good piece of morale advice that can be detected from it!

There are amazing chapters which I've re-read several times. Which feel warm, engaging and exciting. The romance felt natural and lightheartedly clumsy, and rewarding. For example her interaction with Eckles showed a lot of signs of a character who didn't know how to love and court and probably didn't have a lot of friends in their life.; by buying things for someone and giving gifts is a common way of ... behaviour for someone who had a rough childhood and I was glad to see that included. These scenes demonstrated very well how unfamiliar she was with the world, romance and becoming genuinely close with people. At the same time it showed how desperate Penelope was to complete the game and get out.

On the other hand Penelopes treatment of Eckles contracted very much this appease technique; instead of treasuring him like a lot of people in that position would do, she quickly cast aside Eckles, ignoring him until she got bored of the world. Then when she felt done playing with the other leads, then she came running after him again to gain favour. A lot of the time her character flaws are explained either as her trauma or because it's someone elses fault. Or because its a game so whatever can happen and she can act however without consequences.

There is little growth for most of the characters but it is a good work if you want something light, attention grabbing and that you don't think too hard about.

This Manhwa had an interesting premise, which it abandons by chapter 10? 15? 20? I don't exactly remember, but roughly around that time, the idea that the main character is in mortal danger from one wrong move is gone. It devolves into a character drama, the point of which is… I'm not exactly sure. The protagonist doesn't seem to care enough about anything to commit to any one goal. She doesn't fix Penelope's life and relationships, she doesn't vent out her frustration at the situation, she rarely talks to her main escape vehicle, that is Eckles. She lacks character, therefore not being a character.

“Penelope” ... fails at both kindness and manipulation. She is apparently so stoic as to not mentally crumble from being in mortal peril all the time, but she still chooses to yell at her brothers for being bastards to her. Why? I'm not sufficiently convinced she gives a damn about Penelope's life. Her only goal is apparently to get 100% favorability with a character to win, and she picks Eckles as her way to do so… and then forgets about him. There's one thing I can see her caring about, and that is to avoid the crown prince (even way after we as the audience know he isn't a danger to her). Aside from that ONE desire of hers, she has no actual motivations. Her inner mind is telling the reader otherwise, but I can see that she doesn't do anything of her own accord. She is forced into situations by circumstance or by literal quests telling her what to do. Never since the working class of Martinaise has the world seen such an inert person, unwilling to do the bare minimum to save her own life. Oh, and also I have to love the protagonist who falls face-first into being a manipulator, while not being able to read emotions WHILE HAVING A LITERAL INDICATOR OF LIKABILITY. Also, she is actually insane and has a slave, who she emotionally abuses. OF course, it's not even remotely framed as one of the most abhorrent acts of immorality man can commit.

Also, the rest of the characters are hit or miss. Flip a coin each time a character interaction happens to guess the quality of it. Also, they're supposed to want her dead, but they really don't. Also, also, when it comes to favorability for her brothers, it makes no sense, once it crosses into 20%, they are already madly in love with her (romantically, of course. This is East Asia, baby, if normal incest is commonplace, step-incest is super normal, apparently.) But while being in love with her, they still behave like dickbags. The pink haired gremlin at least stops at just insults and later on genuinely tries to understand her feelings. The other absolute hobgoblin straight up betrays her and almost lands her under an executioner's axe. Somehow, I am supposed to not hate this person.

Also x3, the pacing is shit. Penelope's very important birthday doesn't feel like a looming disaster if it didn't happen by chapter 50. It's chapter 124, the Third Season has ended, and it still hasn't happened. I don't know why I'm reading this.

Anyway, although I've listed all the negatives and all the reasons you shouldn't read this. I personally enjoy the plot progression and some character interactions. It's moderately fun. Like 5/10 barely above dropping it altogether fun.