otome – Faceless One Blog

Goodbye, Overtime! This Reincarnated Villainess Is Living for Her New Big Brother Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Isekai, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Otome, Game Elements, Politics

Synopsis:

Yukimura Rina is an overworked twenty-something systems engineer who’s dangerously close to her breaking point. Her only comfort is an otome game with a charming side character, the brother of the villainess, who soothes her weary heart. She gets so hooked that she forgoes sleep and ends up blacking out…only to wake up inside the game as the villainess, Ekaterina. She’s now the little sister of her favorite character! Her new brother Alexei is handsome, kind, and responsible—the whole package. Rina, now Ekaterina, would be happy just staying by his side, except for one little problem. If she allows the game to run its course, she and her brother are headed straight for a terrible future! Can Ekaterina overcome the doom flags that threaten her new family and the empire, while also preventing Alexei from working himself to death? (Source: J-Novel Club)

Navigating Death Flags and Brotherly Love!

Written by Chidori Hama and illustrated by Wan Hachipisu, J-Novel Club’s latest title follows on from an earlier manga release.

Goodbye, Overtime is the latest in a long line of light novel releases focusing on the Otome genre. Following a Japanese businesswoman as she wakes up in the body of famed villainess, Ekaterina, her journey takes the form of many others within the genre as she attempts to quash a series of doom flags to stop her own downfall. The twist? Both she and her brother are major brocon/siscons.

Despite using an unusual gimmick, however, there’s more to this series than meets the eye.

Chidori’s Otome series is equal parts competent and well-written, ultimately creating a story with surprising depth. From the very start, the author’s seasoned penmanship is put on full display as they immediately add background to the game world.

This is displayed best when looking at Ekaterina, the villainess. The motivations behind her original obsessive behaviour towards the prince are made clear with scenes taking a closer look at the emotional abuse and isolation she and her mother suffered at the hands of the family’s matriarch. This informs Rina which direction to take Ekaterina for a journey of redemption and doom avoidance.

As the story continues, it also becomes clear to see that even the series’ main gimmick has extra layers. Originally played for a few laughs, the deuteragonists’ unusually close displays of affection evolve into a more down-to-earth sibling relationship. Through thick and thin, they’ll always protect each other, and their more over-protective nature stems from the two of them being all that’s left of their family.

Finally, what helps this series stand out in a crowded field, is giving Ekaterina more grounded reactions to the fantastical and horrifying aspects of the world.

For the volume climax, a monster attack threatens the academy. Not out of place for an Otome series, the experience between in-game and real life are miles away, and the Japanese businesswoman side of Ekaterina shows this. Even if you’ve experienced the scene hundreds of times within the game, it’ll still bring you on edge considering your life is on the line, and it’s something that series within the genre tend to neglect. The resulting scenes provide a fresh sense of realism that most series often miss.

For its opening instalment, Goodbye, Overtime provides an offering that goes beyond the generic setting and seemingly gimmicky twist. Key to this success is the author’s seasoned writing skills and clear focus for fleshing out the original game world. Most important of all, however, is how the author has turned a quirky plot device into the heart and soul of the series. By volume’s end, it’ll be all but guaranteed that you’ll be rooting for Ekaterina and Alexei to escape their doom and create a new and exciting future for each other.

Goodbye, Overtime! Vol. 1

My Rating: 9/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the first volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Fake Saint of the Year: You Wanted the Perfect Saint? Too Bad! Vol. 4 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, School Life, Villainess, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Otome, Game Elements, Misunderstandings, Romantic Subplot

Synopsis:

Ellize gave her life to save Verner’s and rid the world of the witch for good—or so she thought! Unfortunately, while the poor people of the royal capital are grieving the loss of their beloved (fake) saint, the witch’s curse strikes again! A giant abomination that contains the darkest emotions of all the previous witches materializes and marches on toward Ellize’s final resting place. But who else can save Fiori from the strongest, most wicked foe in its history if not for its greatest (fake) saint? Bear witness to the true ending of Kuon no Sanka in the last volume of this thrilling comedy, followed by a collection of short stories! (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Fake Saint’s Final Threat!

Reaching its epic conclusion, the final volume of Fake Saint of the Year finds the cast of Kuon no Sanka facing their toughest opponent yet.

In the final volume, things aren’t looking good for the citizens of Fiori. The (fake) saint is dead, and the grievances of the saints throughout history have grown form into the most all-mighty witch. With their greatest light extinguished and tragedy and sorrow engulfing the world, who will save Fiori in its time of need?

The Brightest Timeline

The saint is dead…or at least she was for the first few chapters. After dying in battle upon defeating Alexia, the end of the previous volume left the rest of the Kuon no Sanka cast at a bit of a loss as the final boss, the witch of all witches, makes an appearance ready for the grande finale.

With a big final fight on the horizon, it’s understandable that the author didn’t want to keep Ellize dead for long, not that this was in any doubt given the series’ temperament. She’s able to return with the help of a little in-universe magic, and the fight between her and the amalgamation of witches constitutes the rest of the main plot.

Taking the part of a long, drawn-out battle, the fight between them is suitably epic and grand for a final climax. Over half the novel is dedicated to the fight and sees Ellize dig deeper than ever before. The actual finishing move, however, was sappier than I would’ve liked.

The Darkest Timeline

As for the rest of the volume, the pages are filled by two feature-length extra stories. Perhaps better placed in a .5 volume and the final fight added on to volume 3, they are strong entries into the series nevertheless.

The first features Ellize as she travels to the darkest timeline and one of the original endings of the game. A type of “have your cake and eat it” situation, it achieves Fuudo’s dream of pairing off Eterna and Verner. Additionally, it provides an interesting look at the Otome world without the overpowered version of Ellize.

The second story sees Ellize go back to Japan for a few adventures. Not as strong as the first extra story, it still gives some great goodbye moments between Ellize and Proftea.

To conclude, Fake Saint of the Year’s climactic volume manages to stick the landing, creating a series filled with action, comedy and tragedy.

My only gripes about the volume come from knowing that only half the novel is focused on the main plot and that some of the extra stories could have done with a change of perspective. A look at Alexia or Eterna’s new life beyond a single line wouldn’t have gone amiss.

For anyone looking for a new Otome or villainess series to get stuck into, this series shouldn’t escape your notice.

Fake Saint of the Year Vol. 4

My Rating: 8/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the fourth volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord Vol. 4 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Villainess, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Misunderstandings, Strong Lead, OP, Otome

Synopsis:

After defeating the god of evil, Yumiella has finally surpassed the level cap of 99. While this achievement ought to be a joyous occasion for a power-obsessed gamer like her, she can’t seem to focus on it with her marriage to Patrick just a few months away. When the reality of what a big, aristocratic wedding really looks like starts to set in, Yumiella realizes that while she wants to get married, she really doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of a whole ceremony. Impulsively fleeing home to clear her mind, Yumiella ends up in the neighboring kingdom, where she finds that the citizens are completely terrified of her. A mysterious man gives her shelter so that she can avoid conflict, but despite her best efforts, Yumiella finds herself entangled in the conspiracies surrounding a power struggle in the kingdom. How will she use her newly leveled-up Yumiella Strength to get out of trouble this time? (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Hidden Boss Goes Undercover!

Managing to defeat her double and a demonic dark entity, the fourth volume in the series finds that even the hidden boss has trouble in paradise.

As Dolkness County prepares for the wedding of a century, the latest release in the series sees relations between Yumiella and Patrick at an all-time low. After they get into an argument, Yumiella flees only to crash land into the roof of someone in the neighbouring kingdom. Thinking it’ll be a great place to lie low, the hidden boss’ hopes are dashed when the unfortunate crash victim’s owner is seemingly involved in shady conspiracies and the kingdom’s long-held aspirations for war.

Crashing Right Into the Action

Back to the usual antics, the story this time around gets going after Yumiella and Patrick get into an argument. Quite literally crash-landing into the action, our titular hidden boss becomes embroiled in plots and conspiracies alongside her flatmate, Gilbert, who looks suspiciously like Patrick.

Unlike previous volumes, the fourth in the series bucks the trend, opting for a lower stakes threat. The conspiracy in the Kingdom of Lemlaestia and the return of the heroine, Alicia, are all overshadowed by Yumiella’s powers going out of control. And even that’s fixed with a quick word from Patrick. In some ways, this story should’ve come before volume 3. With her powers going out of control, it would make more sense why Lemn and the God of Light would want Yumiella eliminated. Paralleled alongside an already out-of-control Yumiella, it would serve as a wake-up call for her on the dangers of levelling up too quickly. Unfortunately, placing it afterwards feels like the volume was meant to fill in a gap for the next arc.

While the plot is underwhelming, what has soured me about this series a little bit since its previous entry is the way the characters treat Yumiella. They’ve gone from seeing her as an overpowered but lovable goofball to seeing her as this ever-present threat. Whilst the latter has always been true of those who don’t know her, this latest volume has seen the change of attitude occur in those closest to her.

Given Yumiella’s overall strength, this strong reaction is expected when she meets strangers, but not from Eleanora and Patrick. As her closest friends and the ones who’ve known her the longest, they should know her intentions. So, when they come to see her new power-up as a threat, it comes across as a little cruel and mean-spirited. I hope this is leading to something rather than the new norm between them.

Despite the convoluted entrance into the plot and its lowered stakes, there are some moments of joy to be found throughout. The interactions between Yumiella and Gilbert are a lot of fun. Cut from the same cloth, the dance of misunderstandings that alludes to the fact that they’re badmouthing each others’ real identities works well within the comedy of the series. Furthermore, Alicia’s return is handled well. After a year in prison, her newly acquired erratic behaviour is to be expected given her circumstances.

To conclude, whilst the same loveable antics can be seen throughout the volume, I can’t help but be underwhelmed by the overall plot. Add to this the new direction in which characters close to Yumiella treat her, and I can only hope that this volume is a blip in the road.

Villainess Level 99 Vol. 4

My Rating: 6/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the fourth volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Young Lady Albert is Courting Disaster Vol. 4 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Villainess, Shoujo, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Otome, Game Elements, Misunderstandings

Synopsis:

Another school year begins! This time, Mary’s friends from Elysiana College join her at Karelia Academy for an exchange program. With crybaby Parfette, icy Carina, and ambitious hunter Margaret thrown into the mix, Mary’s life becomes all the more boisterous. But her lively routine is swiftly interrupted when Veltina, a younger girl from the exchange program, swoops in and starts doting on Adi! Veltina openly loathes Mary, taking every opportunity to bully her. The girl’s cheap tricks remind Mary of her in-game self and shake loose yet another insight: Veltina is an original character from the Heart High anime! Could Veltina have past-life memories too? How will former villainess Mary deal with this targeted harassment? And why does a strange dark mist swirl within her chest whenever Veltina embraces Adi? It’s enough to make poor Mary fear that her heretofore blissful relationship with Adi may be headed through troubled waters for the very first time… (Source: J-Novel Club)

Lady Mary and the Curious Case of Indigestion!

Lady Veltina and Lady Mary

Having found her happy ending, my latest review catches up with the cast of Young Lady Albert as someone seems set to tear the young lovers apart.

In the series’s latest instalment, Lady Mary suffers an about-face, discovering what it is like to receive petty harassment and bullying. As her friends from Elysiana join the academy in an exchange program, their reunion is cut short when someone else on the program steals the limelight. A junior member of the exchange, Lady Veltina creates ripples, openly doting on Adi and treating Mary with copious amounts of venom. Whilst her treatment of Mary amounts to little more that childish tricks, her open affection towards Adi causes an awakening of strange feelings within Mary.

As the story of the Heart High anime begins, the novel’s main plot follows the conflict between Lady Mary and Lady Veltina. A hilarious ordeal to add to Mary’s growing list of oddballs, it finds her at the mercy of all manner of childish tricks reminiscent of what the original Lady Mary would do.

From silly name-calling to committing faux pas on guest invitations, Lady Veltina’s actions can be shooed away with little more than admonishment or just ignoring her.

Indigestion or Jealousy

What can’t be easily shooed away, however, are the feelings brought about by Lady Veltina’s constant fawning over Adi. Serving as the major conflict of the volume, the plot forces Mary to come to terms with her true feelings for Adi.

At first, fearing that it might be a serious case of chronic indigestion, it is through her friend’s tireless work that she’s able to face up to the truth of her jealousy. This results in a much-needed outpouring of emotion from Mary, similar in style to the one given by Adi only two volumes previously. Moreover, with each other’s feelings laid-bare, it puts both protagonists on equal footing within the relationship emotionally.

After a previous volume, which mainly consisted of side stories, I’m glad to see that the latest edition of Courting Disaster is a fantastic return to form.

Much in the same fashion as the series did with Adi in the second volume, the story of the latest outing forces Mary to come face to face with the depths of her feelings for her beloved husband.

This comes to pass through the use of Lady Veltina. A handy mirror into her own past, her constant doting on Adi makes Mary realise a horrible future where she and Adi are no longer together. No longer content in merely watching the drama unfold, for the first time, she truly has to fight – a move that inevitably makes their relationship stronger.

Courting Disaster Vol. 4

My Rating: 8.5/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the fourth volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Fake Saint of the Year: You Wanted the Perfect Saint? Too Bad! Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, School Life, Villainess, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Otome, Game Elements, Misunderstandings, Romantic Subplot

Synopsis:

With the royals off his back, Fudou Niito is finally free to focus on his main goal: getting rid of the witch to make sure his favorite waifu and the rest of the cast of Kuon no Sanka can finally enjoy a happy ending. Everything seems to be going according to plan at first. He’s gathered seven of the magic academy’s finest students (plus one creepy teacher) and armed them to fight the witch. But right when he’s about to put his scheme into action and send Verner and others down to the basement…his beloved Eterna suddenly goes missing! Thankfully, a trip to the neighboring pond and a little help from Profeta, the clairvoyant turtle, is all Niito needs to find her. He rescues his waifu without a hitch, but there’s just one teensy-weensy complication—Eterna has finally awakened as the saint! What’s Niito to do now that there are two saints in town?! (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Fake Saint’s Fated Battle!

The True Saint and the First Saint

Having fought off royal interference and the witch’s loyal knights, my latest review follows the Fake Saint’s story as a fated battle appears on the horizon.

As Fake Saint of the Year reaches its penultimate instalment, the story finds Elize finally ready to take action against the Witch. Unfortunately, her best-laid plans are about to go awry. Alexia’s latest scheme has shuffled the board, causing Eterna’s powers to be awakened. What’s more, the appearance of the first saint and Verner’s confession all put a spanner in the works as Elize attempts to stop the continent’s millennium of suffering.

The third volume of Kabedondaikou’s Otome gender-bender is all about putting the final pieces into place. This starts when Eterna awakens. A shock to the titular protagonist at first, it doesn’t hinder her overall plan to have the strongest academy students weaken the witch. Things change, however, when Elize discovers the first saint whilst training her hopefuls.

An interesting addition to the series, Alfrea is the furthest thing from saintly. Whilst being a fascinating insight into the evolution of the saint’s image, she also provides much-needed information on the witch’s curse, especially given that the original witch was her mother.

Alfrea isn’t the only important source of information. Niito also discovers the truth behind the Otome Game. Confronting the scenarist, the author ultimately provides a satisfactory conclusion behind the transmigration.

The Unfortunate Witch

For the third volume’s grand finale, the focus falls on the battle between the fake saint and the witch, Alexia.

As the first volume to give major page time to Alexia, her overall mood can best be described as scared shitless – no wonder Elize had to turn to such a roundabout plan. Anybody would be willing to run away if their allies had been killed and they faced the strongest saint in recorded history. In a way, you almost feel sorry for Alexia, who has been forced into a vicious cycle where expectation and hatred ride hand in hand.

In regards to the battle itself, it’s a team affair. What should’ve been an easy conclusion, however, is swiftly changed as Verner’s powers run wild, and the volume ends on a harrowing cliffhanger.

To conclude, Fake Saint of the Year’s latest outing continues the series’ strong writing style.

Steadying the narrative towards its conclusive battle reveals numerous highlights, including the first saint, Alfrea, and the Witch, Alexia. Both are interesting additions to the series not only because of their well-developed characters but also due to how they flesh out the Otome Game’s world-building.

With plenty of plot threads still hanging, I’m looking forward to more enjoyment of the series as it reaches its finale.

Fake Saint of the Year Vol. 3

My Rating: 9/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Villainess, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Misunderstandings, Strong Lead, OP, Otome

Synopsis:

Things have calmed down since Duke Hillrose’s coup d’état, and now Yumiella can return to focusing on Dolkness County. Lady Eleanora has even moved into the Dolkness estate, making every day a little livelier as the county continues to flourish. Just when things seem to be back to normal, a mysterious boy that has been plaguing her dreams appears before Yumiella, claiming to be the god of darkness. The boy, called Lemn, says there are parallel worlds, and he knows that Yumiella isn’t really “Yumiella.” Will Yumiella have to reveal that she was from another world in a past life, and if so, what would that mean for her and Patrick? On top of that, Lemn reveals that one of his other selves was killed by…the Yumiella from that world?! Defeating a version of herself from another world would raise Yumiella’s level cap, allowing her to surpass level 99, but can she face this god-killing version of herself? (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Hidden Boss is Seeing Double!

What Makes This Yumiella Different!

Having defeated demon lords, an uprising, and the church’s magical barrier, the third instalment of Villainess Level 99 finds Yumiella facing off against her most powerful opponent yet – herself!

Peace doesn’t last long on the Dolkness Estate. Even after stopping a country-wide uprising, the troubles keep on coming. This time, Yumiella and her motley crew gain the attention of some of the local Gods. Not visiting on a peacekeeping mission, they agree not to eliminate Yumiella on the condition that she help them with a little multiverse problem. Throughout the infinite universes of the Otome game, one of the other Yumiellas has been causing a lot of death and destruction.

With a plot involving two different versions of Yumiella, you can expect this volume to be heavily focused on the series’ titular protagonist. The volume’s focus mainly showcases the uniqueness of our version of Yumiella through the clever introduction of a multiverse filled with the same version of the Otome’s original hidden boss.

Furthermore, to differentiate herself from those in the multiverse, this volume finally deals with Yumiella telling the truth to Patrick and Eleanora about being a reincarnated person. Given how Yumiella acts, this fact isn’t hard for either of them to believe, making the reveal all the easier on her. Additionally, revealing this fact provides a perfect reason for Lemn and Sanon to stop attacking her.

The Battle of Ones and Twos

In a multiverse filled with exhaustive Yumiellas, there’s another that has managed to escape the crowd – this volume’s supposed antagonist.

Typical for the series at this point, the version of Yumiella that’s supposed to be a bringer of chaos and destruction isn’t all she’s cracked up to be. Although she might fight like cats and dogs with this universe’s Yumiella (which is hilarious, by the way), she doesn’t seem up to much killing or destroying.

This lack of bloodlust is likely due to the real mastermind behind Yumiella 2’s outburst – The Dark God. The only slightly weak point of this volume, The Dark God is stereotypically evil with heaps of overpowered administrative abilities. He is defeated in typical Yumiella fashion, however, which is always fun to read.

Overall, the latest volume of Villainess Level 99 manages to continue this series’ signature hilariously entertaining ride. Raking up the danger on previous volumes, it finds the protagonist pitted against Gods and even herself.

Key to this volume’s enjoyability comes from Yumiella’s reincarnation confession and the introduction of Yumiella 2. The former finally puts to rest a hanging plot thread, whilst the latter shows the hilarious consequences of having two very different versions of Yumiella in the same room.

Villainess Level 99 Vol. 3

My Rating: 9/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

A Royal Rebound: Forget My Ex-Fiancé, I’m Being Pampered by the Prince! Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Slice of Life, School Life

Sub-Tags: Otome, Character Growth

Synopsis:

Amelia is back at the academy for her final year, and she has much to look forward to: her good friend Marie’s wedding to Third Prince Julius, the birth of the crown prince and princess’s child, and, after her graduation, her own wedding to Fourth Prince Sarge. However, although the countermeasures taken to reduce cold-weather damage to the kingdom’s agriculture have been bearing fruit, there is still much work to be done to combat the food crisis now looming over the entire continent. In particular, the rain-producing magical tools that the Kingdom of Bedeiht provided to the Beltz Empire haven’t been working as intended, an issue which could both jeopardize the already-shaky relations between the two nations and serve as the tipping point for political disputes within the empire. As the developers of the tool, it’s up to Amelia and Sarge to return to the empire to investigate the problem, uncover the truth about the enigmatic empire, and maintain the peace of the continent. (Source: J-Novel Club)

Hidden Histories and Happy Endings!

A Trip of Friendly Relations

Defeating a former fiancé and an out-of-control emperor, A Royal Rebound’s final volume makes way for the sound of wedding bells. With all four members of the royal family preparing for marriage, including Sarge and Amelia, a renewed bout of trouble in the Beltz Empire threatens to stop their happy endings.

A Royal Rebound’s final volume has made significant improvements over its previous release. Whilst I found an imbalance in the overall length of the mystery last time around, the latest instalment takes the series back to its roots with a well-balanced mystery.

The mystery this time around takes place as Sarge and Amelia attempt to set up friendly relations with the empire by helping to fix their desertification issues. Set amidst the tumultuous first months after the toppling of the previous emperor, the scientific couple soon discover that there’s something very unnatural about the way magic is being siphoned and how the country is slowly heating.

Past Actions and Present Mysteries

Attempting to discover the mystery behind the empire’s loss of magic and constant heating, the series is thrown into a deep dive about the continent’s history. This wider view into A Royal Rebound’s universe reveals an era of desperate times and dark magic, an appreciated piece of exposition that goes far into explaining the current circumstances of the three featured nations.

Remnants of this dark magic are what Amelia senses whilst in the Beltz Empire’s capital. Through her keen senses and Sarge’s magical abilities, they can put an end to an ancient device that uses spikes of magical energy to feed an environmental catastrophe.

Their resulting actions lead to a newfound peace between all three nations on the continent. With the final mystery laid to rest, everyone can have their customary happy ending.

To conclude, A Royal Rebound’s final outing leaves the series ending on a high note. As a final volume, the mystery this time around was wholly entertaining. It delved deeper into the world’s history whilst providing a believable reason for the Beltz Empire’s desertification. Moreover, the romance angles of the series all felt well deserved by the end.

Throughout its three-volume run, the series concludes every plot line, mystery, and happy ending, thus ensuring a satisfying whole story.

A Royal Rebound Vol. 3

My Rating: 8.5/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

The Invincible Little Lady Vol. 4 Review

Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Slice of Life, School Life, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Cute, Heartwarming, Otome, OP, Misunderstandings

Synopsis:

Mary discovers a secret room built under the Academy. When she and Prince Reifus go to investigate it, they discover a box containing a circlet. At the behest of a mysterious voice, Reifus puts it on, causing him to transform from a handsome prince…into a beautiful princess?! Feeling responsible for her involvement in the incident, Mary tries to resolve the situation—but fixing this won’t be easy! (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Surprise Princess and a Vampire Queen!

The Prince Turned Princess

Ever since enrolling at the academy, Mary has noticed that a lack of oversight at the school has meant the potential for world-ending disasters around every corner. To put a stop to this, Mary’s newest goal is to stop these disasters before they get started.

In The Invincible Little Lady’s fourth instalment, Mary’s new preparedness plan has the cast of colourful characters stumble across a secret room in the academy. Devoid of anything other than a diary and a circlet, what should’ve set off alarm bells came too late. Through a strange and mysterious power, Prince Reifus is turned into a princess with seemingly no way to turn back. What follows is a quest-filled volume as Mary and the gang search for a way to return the prince from a princess.

The quest is an entertaining addition to this series of misadventures. Following the few clues left by the diary found in the secret room, we’re greeted by a host of familiar side characters and a few new ones as the series seeks to expand the story’s universe by introducing new species, such as vampires and elves.

Head of the Vampires

On their journey to help Reifus, one vampire in particular becomes a standout – Victoria. Head of house Bloodrain, she comes under the attention of our titular protagonist after kidnapping Reifus (now Lady Rain).

Whilst she may seem menacing at first, this newest member of the gang quickly crumbles under Mary’s innate pressure, revealing a childish immortal who’s a little too obsessed with the gender-bent prince. With her help, however, they’re able to put the final parts of the puzzle together – discovering the location of the elves that made the circlet.

The climax of the volume sees the gang (Victoria included) travel to the elves’ domain to undo the curse. Typical of this series, their goal is mired by several fights – this time including a sassy hydra and a Lordrat. With Mary’s abilities, these threats are quickly put to bed, and the curse is eventually lifted.

Overall, The Invincible Little Lady remains a fun run-around series. With plenty of fresh capers and quirky characters, there’s lots to enjoy in the latest volume.

The Invincible Little Lady Vol. 4

My Rating: 8/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the fourth volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Young Lady Albert is Courting Disaster Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, School Life, Villainess, Shoujo, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Otome, Game Elements, Misunderstandings

Synopsis:

Mary and Adi may have tied the knot, but the hijinks aren’t stopping anytime soon in this collection of short stories! Watch as Mary’s world is freed from the shackles of the otome game series, and find out what everyone has been up to since the wedding party. Mary still dreams of running her own migratory bird restaurant—will her wish finally come true? Gainas has earned his family’s forgiveness, but can he manage to win Parfette’s heart back too? What will the icy Carina do when her ex-fiancé makes the terrible mistake of causing misfortune one last time? And although Alicia and Patrick certainly enjoyed playing their parts in their friends’ wedding, it might be time for the two of them to plan a special event of their own. However, when a certain ambitious girl enters the stage looking for her next prey, trouble strikes too close to home… These stories and more await! (Source: J-Novel Club)

Hijinks of an Otome Afterstory!

The Jilted Lovers Brigade

Having conquered Otome games and love, it’s about time that Mary started to take things easy. As dawn broaches on Courting Disaster’s third instalment, it’s time for other characters to steal the limelight. Telling their own extraordinary tales of love and woe.

Unlike previous instalments, the latest volume featuring the titular quirky villainess comes across as more of an afterstory – formatted as several shorter stories rather than one long-running narrative. As a result, we’re treated not only to more time with Mary but with the rest of the cast as well.

Gaining most of the attention this time is the jilted lovers brigade from the previous volume. With their stories of love and happy endings only just beginning, the latest volume gives each of them a short story showing that there’s love for them just waiting around the corner. In true Otome style, however, some of their paths to love are more fraught than others.

For the Love of Wild Game

As for Mary and Adi, the latest novel in the series finds the two in a sort of early marital bliss. Without the prospect of another Otome game causing problems, Mary and Adi are finally able to settle down and do the sort of things normal lovers do. Expect heaps of fluffiness and flirting as the two awkwardly dance around their new change in relationship.

Furthermore, volume three finally puts to rest a plot thread left dangling ever since the start of the first volume – the Wild Game restaurant. The strongest of several short stories, it sees Mary striving to achieve her dream of owning a Wild Game restaurant only to unearth a whole can of noble worms.

With Mary’s friends playing detective and Mary herself unaware, the series of misunderstandings go so far as to leave the entirety of noble society shocked (and eventually disappointed).

While using a short story format brings with it positives and negatives, the author of this series has used the space well. By tying up the final dangling plot threads and furthering the characterisation of the series’ many side characters allows plenty of room for new growth as the story reaches its fourth volume.

As a result, Courting Disaster’s highly awaited third volume makes for a pleasant addition to the series.

Young Lady Albert is Courting Disaster Vol. 3

My Rating: 8/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the third volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.

Fake Saint of the Year: You Wanted the Perfect Saint? Too Bad! Vol. 2 Review

Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, School Life, Villainess, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Otome, Game Elements, Misunderstandings, Romantic Subplot

Synopsis:

After finding himself in a new body in the world of his favorite dating sim, Fudou Niito dedicates himself to playing the role of Ellize, the fake saint, to perfection. He’s dead set on defeating the witch and making sure his favorite heroine, Eterna, as well as the rest of the cast, get to enjoy a happy ending. Unfortunately, just when he thinks he’s finally found the perfect plan to do so, the royal families arrest him! Luckily for Niito, his previous life as a NEET means he doesn’t mind lazing around in the comfort of his cell. Verner refuses to accept his beloved saint’s arrest and rushes to the rescue! It won’t be so easy, though! How will Niito sort out this new mess?! (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Caged Fake and an Unravelling Mystery!

The Consequences of Strength in the Time of a Curse

Quelling the last supports of the former saint and once again making the continent a liveable place after centuries of its population living under the horrors of the witch’s curse, Fake Saint of the Year’s sequel has Ellize discover that there’s more than one party looking to stop her from discovering a way to stop the curse.

Upon unveiling the truth behind the curse – that saints who defeat the witch are doomed to become her- it comes as little surprise when the start of the second volume sees the higher-ups at the height of anxiety about the prospect of life under a witch version of Ellize. As a result, events from the original game are brought forward, with the continent’s kingdoms jointly deciding that Ellize should be imprisoned for her safety. What follows is a heated and in-depth debate featuring characters from all walks of life.

On this issue, the main characters are almost equally split between keeping her caged and having peace for a relatively short period or allowing her to live freely and potentially solve the curse. It isn’t a question that can easily be solved, and the novel makes a success of this through the painstaking detail of several characters’ motivations, either built up from the first volume or first introduced here.

Moments of particular note involve the deep characterisations of King Aiz and Supple Ment. King Aiz’s flashbacks make it somewhat understandable as to why he locks Ellize up – losing the saint he loved as well as his son to the witch made him cold and utilitarian. Supple Ment’s characterisation as a result of the debate takes a more positive light. Known for being a pervert obsessed with the saint, his revealing that he’d rather see Ellize living free shows that even he has his limits.

Under the Fate of the Unseen Hand

Eventually solving the debate through her saintly charm, the second half of the volume starts the long enthralling journey to unravelling the larger mystery of the game world turned reality and whether there’s more to the curse than meets the eye.

In an attempt to end the mystery, both versions of Niito end up on the case. The Japanese version of Niito begins his search at the Otome game’s headquarters only to find the mystery deepens further, with only the CEO unaffected by the ever-changing game scenario. By the end of the volume, their only hope lies in meeting the reclusive story’s writer.

Through this side of the mystery’s twists and turns, we’re given some of the first major insights into Niito’s original character. Strangely enough, these insights come from Niito himself. Almost in a self-deprecating way, he view’s himself as cold and detached. These views of himself translate even better under the guise of Ellize – viewing the world as nothing but a game, wanting for nothing other than to see his two favourite characters live happily, even at the cost of his own life.

On Ellize’s side of the mystery, she plans on visiting the prophet that predicts the birth of a new saint. Whilst this doesn’t end up being all that helpful, Ellize does gain an intelligent turtle who can see the future.

Owing to the intricate and detailed world-building created in its opening story, Fake Saint of the Year’s sequel is thus able to continue to keep the story fresh by adding interesting philosophical debate and an enrapturing mystery.

Sealing the deal on the series’ strength, the second volume also focuses heavily on character and motive. King Aiz and Japanese Niito are particular highlights here, each given an in-depth look at their past and their traumas and how that dictates their decisions in the present and the future; in the case of Niito, it becomes understandable why he’d be so fixated on the happiness of two characters from a game.

Fake Saint of the Year is a rarity. Expertly mixing zany comedy, serious drama and an ever-twisting mystery, it is a series that deserves my hearty recommendation.

Fake Saint of the Year Vol. 2

My Rating: 10/10

If you like what you read and what I do, why not consider supporting me through Ko-Fi. Any donation helps keep this site up and keep me writing.

You can read the second volume of this series digitally on the J-Novel Club website.