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

Cover Illustration for Volume 1

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

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

The Evil Queen’s Beautiful Principles Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Romance, Drama, Tragedy, Villainess, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Revenge, Politics, Conspiracies, Ruthless Protagonist

Cover Illustration for Volume 1

Synopsis:

A woman reborn, Crown Princess Luxeria is derided as a doll, beautiful and docile. But that’s merely the mask she wears. Powerful magic courses through her veins—magic that can corrupt hearts, erase memories, and pluck one’s innermost thoughts from the air. After years of being confined to a tower, she is finally set free…only to become embroiled in a grand conspiracy that kicks off with her parents’ murder. Thrust onto a tragic stage of love and betrayal, she will play her part to perfection. (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)

The Doll Princess’ Revenge!

From the same author that brought us The Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter comes the newest light novel series from Seven Seas Entertainment featuring revenge, tragic romance and kingdom-building.

Personal Vengeance

Revenge can be a difficult theme to manage. A balance of catharsis and believable motivations, it’s a theme that, on the whole, The Evil Queen’s Beautiful Principles navigates adeptly.

Key to this successful navigation is the volume’s central revenge act – Luxeria, the protagonist’s revenge against those who murdered her parents. Acting as a puppet ruler over the novel’s first half, it allows the revenge plot to build bit by bit. Throughout, her façade allows her to plan secretly gathering allies, leading to the perfect moment of catharsis as Luxeria reveals her true intentions in a bloody wedding sequence. It’s well-focused and staged, helping to feed into Luxeria’s prized narrative as the cold-hearted queen.

Unfortunately, the rest of the volume’s subplots aren’t so well-focused.

Romance and a Revenge for the People

In the case of the volume’s climax, the focus is taken away simply due to the novel already having peaked. Going one step beyond a personal vendetta, she takes her plans to stop the kingdom’s bureaucratic decay and create a system that helps both commoners and the nobility equally. A fine concept in practice, unfortunately, it falls foul of the fact that not one member of the nation’s ministry holds a candle to her power and, therefore, barely feels like a threat.

As for the series’ romantic subplot, the problem stems from an overall lack of connection between the series’ two romantic leads. Beyond a small flashback, Luxeria and Wilhelm barely speak more than two words to each other throughout the entire volume. As a result, I find it difficult to connect with their love story, and what’s more, I barely find it believable that she would use her abilities on him in a way that could endanger her entire motivation as ruler.

Fortunately, the theme of friendship is one subplot that offers some light at the end of the tunnel. The relationship between Luxeria and Alicia is the only link that the protagonist doesn’t sever from their childhood years. Offering a very different side to Luxeria from the ruthless ruler, their fun-loving moments together come as a welcome tension-breaker. Although, even this subplot suffers from a few holes. Explaining a plot point as being happenstance isn’t exactly a favourite of mine. 

To conclude, whilst the story’s central revenge plot is well-focused and delivers the perfect amount of catharsis, this positivity doesn’t extend towards the rest of the story. A less-than-stellar climax and an underdeveloped romantic subplot mean that I won’t be picking up the sequel in the series.

The Evil Queen Vol. 1

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 first volume of this series physically and digitally through the distributors listed on the Seven Seas website.

Revolutionary Reprise of the Blue Rose Princess Vol. 3 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Reincarnation, Politics, Conspiracies

Cover Illustration for Volume 3

Synopsis:

The Romantic Finale For The Blue Rose Princess & Her Adviser!

After the eventful visit to Erdal, Princess Alicia finally confesses her feelings to Clovis. The two savor a short-lived period of bliss—but memories from Alicia’s previous life suddenly plague her, etching the fear of losing Clovis deep in her heart. Resolved to prevent his death, Alicia hatches a plan, only for it to create a rift between the new couple…?! How will Alicia’s revolutionary reprise end for her, Clovis, and everyone they’ve worked with throughout the years? (Source: Cross Infinite World)

The Princess’ Problems in Erdal!

Saving the best till last, the final outing of Revolutionary Reprise ramps up the pace as Alicia and Clovis close in on the tragic events that led Alicia to wake up in the past. Revolving around the relationship between the Kingdom of Heilland and the Empire of Erdal, it sees the series’ titular romantic duo trying to catch a traitor willing to start a war for the sake of unification between the two nations.

A True Future Queen

A step up from the author’s previous writings, the plot of the third volume makes for a tense read. Successfully employing numerous twists and turns, it proves to the very last page that Alicia and Clovis’ happy ending is a hard-fought affair.

With her citizens and even the Empress under threat from the unionists and their malicious schemes, facing off against members of the empire’s highest nobility forces Alicia to put all her previous training into practice and don the role of a future queen. In this plot, all of Alicia’s previous interactions and development over the past trilogy come into play here as she uses wit, cunning and intelligence to ensure a peaceful solution that doesn’t end in all-out war.

Alicia’s interactions with the Empress are particularly noteworthy. As conversations between a present leader and a future one, they show how far Alicia’s come to be able to gain approval about becoming a future queen.

Clovis also gets his own moments to shine throughout this volume. Whilst getting more in touch with his emotions makes for good progress, his best moments come as he proves himself every bit a match for the princess. By the end of the volume, it only takes a few words from Alicia for Clovis to know what to do.

A Usurper in the Empire

As for the usurper’s side, thanks to some quick thinking on behalf of the story’s heroes, it culminates as a trial. The Prince and Chancellor Yggdrasil are revealed to be behind the plot. A short-lived alliance, their different reasons for wanting reunification end up being their undoing.

The prince and Charlotte steal the show in these segments partly due to the final touches of development being added to make them complex and nuanced characters. In this volume, Charlotte moves away from the typical light novel Otome heroine archetype. Despite her lovesickness and admiration for her father, she’s still able to break away from their moments of folly and act alongside Alicia for what is right.

At the same time as Charlotte, the Prince finally reveals his full character. Long held under the shadow of his mother, his need to break free and accomplish something beyond the powers of the Empress is understandable and makes for a natural progression for his character. His eventual repentance also makes sense as a result.

Overall, the climax of the Revolutionary Reprise saga makes for a solid ending to this tragic romantic fantasy. Including a final plot filled with twists and turns and a set of nuanced, complex characters, it’s a series that is highly worth checking out.

Revolutionary Reprise 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 through the distributors listed on the Cross Infinite World website.

The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power: Forget My Sister! Turns Out I Was the Real Saint All Along! Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Drama, Romance

Sub-Tags: Personal Growth, Politics, Family

Cover Illustration for Volume 1

Synopsis:

Lady Carolina, the overlooked daughter of a powerful duke, has always believed herself to be the black sheep amid her illustrious kin. Her father is the distinguished prime minister; her elder sister, a prodigious mage destined to become their nation’s next Saint. In comparison, Carolina resigns herself to a quiet existence in their shadows until a sudden and unexpected royal decree alters her destiny, thrusting her into a political marriage with the formidable “Bloodthirsty Prince” of the neighboring Empire of Malcosias. Determined to prove her worth, Carolina takes a bold step into a world fraught with both political and mortal peril. As royal obligations intertwine with hints of true love and the stirrings of her own latent power, Carolina moves ever closer to understanding what it truly means to be exceptional. (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Powerless Daughter’s Journey to the Empire!

Written by Almond and illustrated by Yoshiro Ambe, The Oblivious Saint Can’t Contain Her Power is the latest license to grace the J-Novel Heart line of novels.

Following the story of Carolina, the premier volume in the series finds the protagonist at a point of great change in her life. Sick to death of her sister’s constant abuse, her chance to escape comes in the form of a royal decree commanding her to take part in a political marriage. Ushered away to the Empire of Malcosias, her new life as the bride of the “bloodthirsty prince” will bring a whole set of new challenges for the meek duke’s daughter. From political upheaval to assassination attempts, life for Carolina will never be quite the same again, and that’s before she discovers she might not be so magicless.

The Saint Misunderstands

The Oblivious Saint’s story takes a similar form to the often-used “suffer then rewarded” trope. Faced with acts of abuse or indifference from her family, Carolina’s reward in this situation is her chance at escape through political marriage.

In all fairness, Oblivious Saint is a well-written example of the trope. To avoid a generic take on the genre, the author does a good job adding layers to the overall simplistic narrative and successfully pulls off several attempts at subversion. Carolina’s father makes for a good example of the latter.

During the novel’s first act, Carolina misunderstands her father’s actions. What she sees as indifference is quickly turned around to show remorse. Her father loves her but finds it difficult to express given the situation he’s put her in. It’s a rare act in light novel series that adds to the overall humanity of the characters.

Carolina and the Power Struggle

As for Carolina’s reward section, the author wastes no time in showing that Carolina’s happy ending will not be so easily won. As she journeys alongside her new fiancé, Edward, several mysteries appear surrounding the Empire. Power struggles, assassinations, a loss in magical strength, and the true identity behind Carolina’s powers all crop up.

Unfortunately, it is with these mysteries that my major problem with the volume appears. Given the interesting plot threads set up, I can’t help but feel that the author chose the wrong one to start with.

The plot of a power struggle between brothers lacks impact. Aside from being able to see the development from a mile away, the plot can’t get to full throttle due to the lack of players introduced and the fact that Carolina can only play the victim, given that her powers haven’t awoken.

Overall, The Oblivious Saint’s first volume sets some good foundations for its continuation. Subverting genre expectations and setting up interesting plot threads for the future holds promise for the series. Unfortunately, what sours the volume a little is the power struggle plot. Poorly placed and lacking the right impact, I can only hope the next plotline is better realised.

The Oblivious Saint Vol. 1

My Rating: 7/10

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.

Revolutionary Reprise of the Blue Rose Princess Vol. 2 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Reincarnation, Politics, Conspiracies

Cover Illustration for Volume 2

Synopsis:

The Gears Of Fate Are Turning Fast!

After deciding to become her kingdom’s ruler, Alicia takes on her first challenge to establish a wide-area trading company together with her adviser, Clovis. This venture leads them to discover dark connections between the nobles opposing their plans and the neighboring empire which Heilland waged war against in Alicia’s past life…

Six years later, Alicia makes her high society debut and accepts an invitation from the empire. There, she meets her husband from her previous life, makes a promise with the woman he loves, and faces up against the fierce but beautiful empress, all key players leading up to the “Night of the Revolution.” As Alicia struggles to change her fate, feelings for her adviser start to grow within her… (Source: Cross Infinite World)

A Princess Quells the Sparks of War!

The Council and Conspiracy

Having read the latest volume of Revolutionary Reprise, it is clear that the series has grown from strength to strength. Key to this volume’s success starts early on, as the author opens the latest volume on a tale of intrigue.

This tale of intrigue and conspiracy comes as Alicia and Clovis’ business plan meets more than the expected opposition due to a difference in viewpoint. After holding their meeting with the Privy Council, it isn’t long before either suspect foul play afoot when their already trusted business parties begin to reject their proposal.

Chief among their suspects is the current Lord Sutherland. Both he and his son Riddhe have long been a pain in the pair’s side, but this volume moves both of their motivations beyond the level of petty villainy. For Riddhe, in particular, these are defining moments for his character. While the two have misguided their love for their country alongside their hatred of Clovis, Riddhe still has room for redemption.

Upon discovering that his father’s hatred for the Graham bloodline has led him to treachery, Riddhe still has the good sense to realise that his actions are wrong and that the country can still be saved without the need for the Empire. As a result, Riddhe’s testimony against his father leads to his arrest and finds Alicia and Clovis ever closer to discovering the cause of the war – malicious forces in Erdal.

Just Another Cog in the Machine

Unfortunately for Clovis and Alicia, vague rumours about Erdal are all they’re able to glean as Lord Sutherland is assassinated. The next pieces of the puzzle are only revealed as Alicia turns sixteen.

The second half of this volume sees several shifts in the story’s pace. With Alicia now older, there’s a sense of urgency in her actions as the tragic events of her previous life come ever closer.

This is none more so felt when Alicia and Clovis receive an invitation to meet with the Empress of Erdal. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to scope out the enemy, Alicia’s newfound yet understandable reckless streak fails to identify the dangers of such a mission.

With all the main cast from her previous life’s tragedy present, Alicia becomes sidetracked. Faced with her former fiancé and his mistress, Alicia is determined to learn what brought them together, only to discover that they both complement each other perfectly.

Fritz and Charlotte aren’t the only ones to have a few romantic moments. Considering the stressful situation, the events in the empire have slowly brought Alicia and Clovis closer together as well.

Substance and depth have made this series stronger. From a beginning filled with intrigue to a character-filled climax, this series is making every effort to make itself stand out from the crowd.

What highlights this series is the work done on its central characters. Moving them away from their respective cliches and making them individuals with complex and conflicting motivations. This is no more evident than with Riddhe and Fritz, both of whom get heavy focus that distances them from their original one-note villainy.

With both the romantic and climatic stage set, Revolutionary Reprise has only gone from strength to strength in its sequel.

Revolutionary Reprise Vol. 2

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 second volume of this series digitally through the list of distributors found on the Cross Infinite World website.

Revolutionary Reprise of the Blue Rose Princess Vol. 1 Review

Tags: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Reincarnation, Politics

Cover Illustration for Volume 1

Synopsis:

Changing Fate By Changing Loyalties!

On the night of the Star Festival, an event to celebrate the founding of the proud, illustrious Kingdom of Heilland, Queen Alicia was stabbed through the chest and killed by revolutionary soldiers storming the castle… Or so she thought. Princess Alicia wakes on the morning of her 10th birthday, memories of the “Night of the Revolution” fresh in her mind, and realizes that she has been given a chance to redo her life. It’s not long before she comes face to face with the handsome and mysterious young man who killed her last time… Granted a chance at redemption by the whims of fate, Alicia works to change the disastrous future, this time with revolutionary mastermind turned princess aide Clovis by her side! (Source: Cross Infinite World)

The Destiny to Change Fates!

A Shake of the Kaleidoscope

Killed in the flames of revolution, Alicia is given a second chance at life to change the future and ensure the continued prosperity of Heilland. Given this second chance, Alicia will need to be careful in the decisions she takes to change the future as, much like shaking a kaleidoscope, you never know what outcome you’re gonna get.

Alicia’s first major decision upon reincarnation is hiring the man who killed her in a previous life, Clovis Cromwell, as her advisor. Having her former killer as an advisor makes for an interesting dynamic as it raises the stakes and tension with Alicia, never quite knowing where she stands with him.

Fortunately, making Clovis her advisor is a good one. He’s a capable and intelligent man able to see things in a way Alicia never could. In line with this, it’s Clovis’ analytical thinking that discovers a potential plan that could strengthen the kingdom against their neighbour’s eventual attack.

One of the main points of history that led to the revolution is Heilland’s loss to the empire. The proposal forwarded by the Marquis of Rozen will allow the nation a chance to avoid defeat through the development of merchant free movement.

Whilst the marquis can be difficult to deal with, Alicia and Clovis’ newfound partnership is more than enough to convince him to join their scheme.

The Princess and the Mastermind

Taking a closer look at the characters, this is where the main interest of the series lies. Unlike most second-chance series, Revolutionary Reprise puts great emphasis on Alicia’s first death and the trauma she experiences as a result. These traumas drive her decision-making to improve the nation, albeit for selfish motives.

By extension, Clovis is also driven by his experiences in trauma. For all of his life, the reputation of his family and the actions of his grandfather has followed him, causing nothing but pain and suffering. That ended the moment Alicia commanded him to become her advisor.

The two work well together as they help each other overcome their respective traumas, and whilst I’m not sure about the romantic angle the author’s going for, they nevertheless make for a good partnership.

Overall, Revolutionary Reprise is a strong entry into the villainess genre. Taking a mature focus on trauma and an in-depth venture into politics and noble society, the series staves off the genre’s more wish-fulfilment aspects for a grounded look at a second-chance story.

Revolutionary Reprise of the Blue Rose Princess Vol. 1

My Rating: 8/10

I hope you enjoyed my review and would love to see what you thought of the volume in the comments! If you like what I do and want to see more, consider supporting me by buying me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You can buy the first volume of this series digitally through the list of distributors on the Cross Infinite World website.