What do you think?
Rate this book
歴史に残る悪女になるぞ [Rekishi ni Nokoru Akujo ni naru zo] (Novel) #1
I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History, Vol. 1
I’ve never been able to stand the typical heroine’s "goody-two-shoes" routine. Thankfully, all my dreams come true when I’m reincarnated as a villainess! Determined to become a woman that no one can criticize, I do my best to train my body, improve my intellect, and hone my magical skills. But for some reason, the harder I try, the more everyone seems to like me! No matter―I'll betray their every expectation and become the greatest villainess the world has ever known!
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Read
May 31, 2025why did this turn so dark near the end?!?
July 28, 2026
The show really dumbed down the greatness of the novel.
November 22, 2025
For those of you who have been following my review of this particular series, you know that I started with the anime and then the manga and only recently did I get my hands on the light novels. This is my first read through on the light novels, I'm very excited with high hopes to get to new content soon. I was a bit disappointed though with this particular volume which I'll go into detail below.
If you're familiar with the anime and the manga, you'll know the particulars of the story arcs and beats. You also know, or note from my reviews, that the manga has been very close in matching the anime. They're almost identical. I was surprised to finally have some changes to compare with.
In the light novel there are some interesting differences. I think it's probably a safe assumption that the light novels were written first over in Japan and then probably the manga and anime. Unfortunately as far as I can tell it's completely backwards for translation. As a result for me I have learned the story from that particular cannon.
When it comes to the changes between the light novel version and the visual adaptations the biggest thing that I can say is the storyline is streamlined. They are a lot of key moments with minor changes that the changes improve the story beats. That being said, there are a couple dramatic differences that I have yet to decide for myself whether the changes, or exclusion of those particulars, or for better or worse. Honestly I think those dramatic differences won't really be determinable until I finally reach new content. They're details that don't seem to really have a significant impact on how a story develops but completely changes the flavor of certain characters like her brother Henry.
Before I forget, this particular installment covers the story from origin beginnings up through the kidnapping arc. It ends with her going into seclusion for studying. This is actually one of the small changes for the story that I think could go either way as far as whether or not it changes the overall beats. In the visual adaptations the idea to lock herself up for 2 years until she can get to level 90 wasn't her father's idea but hers, but in this particular Canon it was completely her father's idea to basically lock her up for 2 years. I prefer the visual adaption Canon for this particular because it makes her feel more like a badass and less like a prisoner of overprotective parents. I honestly can't say if it'll change the story much but it's definitely part of that streamlining I mentioned.
Another detail that I'm still pondering over is finding out that certain characters from the love interests have actually committed murder. This is not something that gets touched upon in the visual adaptations. While it makes for an interesting spice towards those two particular characters I'm not sure if it's a necessary feature yet. I am curious though if this has any influence over why these particular characters are resistant to the saint's brainwashing. It's definitely food for thought, and as I go into the next volume I hope that we will wrap up all of the established season 1 content and I will finally get some new content...
If you're familiar with the anime and the manga, you'll know the particulars of the story arcs and beats. You also know, or note from my reviews, that the manga has been very close in matching the anime. They're almost identical. I was surprised to finally have some changes to compare with.
In the light novel there are some interesting differences. I think it's probably a safe assumption that the light novels were written first over in Japan and then probably the manga and anime. Unfortunately as far as I can tell it's completely backwards for translation. As a result for me I have learned the story from that particular cannon.
When it comes to the changes between the light novel version and the visual adaptations the biggest thing that I can say is the storyline is streamlined. They are a lot of key moments with minor changes that the changes improve the story beats. That being said, there are a couple dramatic differences that I have yet to decide for myself whether the changes, or exclusion of those particulars, or for better or worse. Honestly I think those dramatic differences won't really be determinable until I finally reach new content. They're details that don't seem to really have a significant impact on how a story develops but completely changes the flavor of certain characters like her brother Henry.
Before I forget, this particular installment covers the story from origin beginnings up through the kidnapping arc. It ends with her going into seclusion for studying. This is actually one of the small changes for the story that I think could go either way as far as whether or not it changes the overall beats. In the visual adaptations the idea to lock herself up for 2 years until she can get to level 90 wasn't her father's idea but hers, but in this particular Canon it was completely her father's idea to basically lock her up for 2 years. I prefer the visual adaption Canon for this particular because it makes her feel more like a badass and less like a prisoner of overprotective parents. I honestly can't say if it'll change the story much but it's definitely part of that streamlining I mentioned.
Another detail that I'm still pondering over is finding out that certain characters from the love interests have actually committed murder. This is not something that gets touched upon in the visual adaptations. While it makes for an interesting spice towards those two particular characters I'm not sure if it's a necessary feature yet. I am curious though if this has any influence over why these particular characters are resistant to the saint's brainwashing. It's definitely food for thought, and as I go into the next volume I hope that we will wrap up all of the established season 1 content and I will finally get some new content...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2025
Nice and fun. Enjoyable read. Provided a good change of place. One issue (that is with a lot of series nowadays) is this.
According to Wikipedia, there are eight novels out in Japan, with the ninth coming out in about a month. Two are available in English, with a third coming out in about a month. Therefore, it will be years if ever for the series to conclude. So what does one do? Read a book, wait a year or so and then check the next one? Knowing that at some point you may have years invested in a series that never actually concludes (due to cancellation by a company, cancellation by a translator, an author not continuing the series, or the author passing on)?
Alternatively, one can only pick up books that are in series that -have- concluded... but that results in not supporting new authors or new series, which leads to those series not being able to conclude due to financials.
Not related to this specifically, but when I finished the first book and went on to see how much was remaining, these thoughts - which again follow a lot of series nowadays - came to a forefront.
According to Wikipedia, there are eight novels out in Japan, with the ninth coming out in about a month. Two are available in English, with a third coming out in about a month. Therefore, it will be years if ever for the series to conclude. So what does one do? Read a book, wait a year or so and then check the next one? Knowing that at some point you may have years invested in a series that never actually concludes (due to cancellation by a company, cancellation by a translator, an author not continuing the series, or the author passing on)?
Alternatively, one can only pick up books that are in series that -have- concluded... but that results in not supporting new authors or new series, which leads to those series not being able to conclude due to financials.
Not related to this specifically, but when I finished the first book and went on to see how much was remaining, these thoughts - which again follow a lot of series nowadays - came to a forefront.
June 9, 2025
I love, love, love this!!!! OMG i was obsessed with the anime when I first watched and just had to know more, so I decided I had to read the light novel (first time I've done that, normally I just stick to the anime) and I'm so glad I did!!
The only thing that I found dissapointing is that my favorite scene in the anime, when Duke gets furious at Liz after Alicia almost dies getting kidnapped, isn't in the light novel. Well, I'm actually still holding out hope that it's in the second volume, to he honest. but other than that, I think the novel is sooo much better and the anime was already amazing!!!
The only thing that I found dissapointing is that my favorite scene in the anime, when Duke gets furious at Liz after Alicia almost dies getting kidnapped, isn't in the light novel. Well, I'm actually still holding out hope that it's in the second volume, to he honest. but other than that, I think the novel is sooo much better and the anime was already amazing!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2025
I do wish that we could see more of others’ pov on Alicia’s actions.
I do admire the artwork but Liz doesn’t look much older than Alicia here
I admit i was disappointed Duke didn’t lash out at Liz for nearly getting Alicia killed like he did in the manga and anime. Is it the same for the Japanese version?
I do admire the artwork but Liz doesn’t look much older than Alicia here
I admit i was disappointed Duke didn’t lash out at Liz for nearly getting Alicia killed like he did in the manga and anime. Is it the same for the Japanese version?
March 4, 2025
I can understand why Alicia despises Liz; she's such an annoyingly naive, idealistic goody-two-shoes who acts like we should forgive those who do us wrong. If she were in the real world, she'd be the type of woman whose husband cheats on her consistently, yet she keeps forgiving him and will blame herself when said cheating husband leaves her for another woman, finally.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews