A young woman wakes up in the body of Penelope Eckart, the main antagonist of an otome game in which she’s destined to die whatever she does. In order to survive, she must gain affection points from the five main love interests… who happen to hate her.
What a gem this webtoon is! I was completely surprised by how much I loved it. Stories in which somebody transmigrates or reincarnates into the bad guy of a novel or game are common, so it’s pretty easy to get bored reading one, but Villains are Destined to Die stands apart from the crowd. Although I’d started it thinking I’d only read a couple chapters before going back to my dramas, I ended up spending the entire day with my eyes glued to it, incapable of looking away.
Penelope
The first and main reason may be Penelope, whom I may or may not have a huge crush on. Smart, down-to-earth and realistic, it’s very easy to get attached to her, especially since she’s never afraid to put people in their place and deliver hard truths. That last point in particular is very refreshing given the sheer amount of toxic characters she’s surrounded by day in, day out.
The Plot
It’s captivating from the very start: Penelope’s every interaction with the other characters (be they the game’s love interests or not) ooze with tension and chemistry. You find yourself really torn between wanting for things to work out while being very aware that most of them don’t even deserve a single glance from her. The toxicity of many of those dynamics is very well portrayed as well, and the way Penelope must and does defend herself is both admirable and very sad.
I also love the fact that you can really feel how much danger Penelope is in at all times: this Sword of Damocles hanging over her head is an almost tangible presence, and you never doubt that she could die any moment, and that she’s under constant pressure.
The Art
I may be in love with the art as well, it’s just that gorgeous. And I find the way the lighting is done for the eyes especially enchanting.
All in All…
I adore this webtoon and absolutely recommend it.
Title: Villains are Destined to Die / Death is the Only Ending for the Villainess
Country: South Korea
Author: Gwon Gyeo Eul
Illustrator: Suol
Original Version Publisher: Kakao
Novel: Death is the Only Ending for Villains
My Rating: ★★★★★
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