Villains Are Destined to Die

The latest otome game is all the rage recently, so a regular university student decides to see for herself if its fame is well-deserved. She clears the normal mode in no time and finds herself pitying the villainess, Penelope Eckhart. Penelope is a fake―a replacement for the duke's missing daughter, the protagonist of the game.

Initially confident about clearing the hard mode as well, the woman is shocked by the sheer leap in the level of difficulty, eventually passing out from exhaustion. However, when she wakes up, she no longer recognizes her surroundings, for she has been reincarnated into the body of the villainess!

In a world where everyone seems to be out for her blood, Penelope must make wise decisions that keep her away from the death route. A tyrant prince, a suspicious magician, a nobleman from a fallen nation, or one of her nasty adoptive brothers―whose affections will she win?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

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Background

Villains Are Destined to Die is an adaptation of Gwon Gyeoeul's Agyeok-ui Ending Jugeum-ppun web novel series. It is originally a webtoon series which has been officially published in book format by D&C Webtoon Biz (디앤씨웹툰비즈) since February 26, 2021.

The series has been published digitally in English by Tapas since October 24, 2020. The volumes have been published by Yen Press under the Ize Press imprint since November 8, 2022.

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Eckhart, Penelope

Main

Regulus, Callisto

Main

Eckhart, Reynold

Main

Eckles

Main

Verdandi, Winter

Main

Eckhart, Derrick

Main

Emily

Supporting

Eckhart, Duke

Supporting

Countess Dorothea

Supporting

Kellen, Gloria

Supporting

Reviews

Mar 2, 2025

Account_Name

Recommended

Preliminary (160/? eps)

[You can find more information about my review style on my profile]

▶Summary and recommendation: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Villains are destined to Die] is a story about a tragic cast of characters twisted into villains by the circumstances of their birth, society and its systems.

⚠️This manhwa features slavery and portrays it in a manner many will find very uncomfortable.

A struggle fantasy. [Villains are Destined to Die] is a story following a Korean woman possessing the body of Penelope. The villainess of a romance dating game. She has to struggle to survive and find a way to escape this world where no one is on her side.

This is ...

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Oct 11, 2024

Peachijou

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (109/? eps)

Spoiler

I feel like this story had a lovely premise. I liked how the main character had a similar family situation to penny before she transmigrated. I couldn't handle the cruelty toward certain characters; humans by nature are hypocritical. I hate how she treats Eckles and barely acknowledges his existence. I understand her distain and whatnot from her previous experience when playing through the story via game.

I feel like a lot of penny's family tries over and over to make it up to her and it is never met with reciprocation. She is a tragic character archetype, but it just isn't consistent. Her only goal ...

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Aug 31, 2023

BasedMan123

Not Recommended

Preliminary (124/? eps)

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.

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Poll: Villains Are Destined to Die Chapter 120 Discussion bunny_donut - Apr 14, 2023	1 replies	by ivy_of_elusia »» Mar 5, 2:31 AM
Poll: Villains Are Destined to Die Chapter 162 Discussion Gerard546 - Sep 13, 2024	5 replies	by NiaAlexandria »» Feb 21, 7:04 AM
Pictures/Images? Carol - Jan 24, 2023	24 replies	by Yumerei »» Nov 3, 2024 5:17 AM
Poll: Villains Are Destined to Die Chapter 160 Discussion NaMroz - Sep 10, 2024	0 replies	by NaMroz »» Sep 10, 2024 2:51 PM
Poll: Villains Are Destined to Die Chapter 152 Discussion melodyily - Jun 20, 2024	6 replies	by Miebh »» Jul 5, 2024 7:04 AM

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