Notorious No More: The Villainess Enjoys Feigning Incompetence Volume 1

稀代の悪女、三度目の人生で【無才無能】を楽しむ Light Novel #1

by Hanako Arashi, Jeremy Browning (Translator), Wan☆Hachipisu (Illustrator)

Laviange, the first daughter of House Robur, is known for being disagreeable, irresponsible, talentless in magic, and utterly uneducated. Everyone believes she’s completely incompetent—but is she really as useless as they say? The truth is far stranger. This is Laviange’s third life. In her first, she was a legendary villainess and genius mage. In her second, she was an ordinary woman who lived to the age of 86—in Japan?! For her third life, she’s decided to take it easy. Hiding her magical talent, she happily plays the part of an inept young noblewoman, enjoying the freedom it brings. But her carefree days come to an abrupt end when an outdoor training exercise goes horribly wrong. With the sense of an old lady and the power of an unstoppable mage, her accidental rampage turns her reputation on its head. The most hated girl in high society is about to become its most beloved?! The strongest villainess’s riotous comedy begins!

Genres: Light Novel, Manga, Fantasy, Magic

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2023

About the author

嵐華子

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good enough to go Goblin Mode and skip showering and other important to do things today.

4, I wish the second volume was out already, stars.

[Pieter · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining popcorn read with some fun twists to the usual villainess stories. For one thing, the MC had died of old age in a previous happy family life which results in her acting a bit like it (in the usual anime way, but still) and of course treating the kids around her as such as well. For another, social rank and position feels a lot more solid in that for example just because kids want something doesn't mean it happens and actions have repercussions beyond just personal. So no prince just annulling an engagement. The MC still is OP, and faces little true challenge, and many of the other tropes common to the genre are still there. Still, with those twists and some enjoyable characters it was all in all a good read.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was boring overall, though there were moments of humor. The problem is that it’s very repetitive - she thinks everyone is “adorable,” “cute,” etc when they’re doing anything. It gratuitously throws in hints of GL, where she’s drooling over one of her upperclassmen, but it’s also trying to convince us that she sees them all - even this upperclassman - as grandchildren. So…is she in danger of lusting after her granddaughter? The author can’t seem to decide.

Most of the humor comes from her bizarre non sequiturs in serious conversations and complete ignorance of certain plots against her. Even her teammates realize she and the guy she’s talking to are on totally different pages in the conversation, though in some ways it still made sense.

The characters flip back and forth between being remorseful and seeming to see the light, then a paragraph later they are foolish, irredeemable assholes.

It ended up being very disjointed and it was difficult to like anyone because they were so inconsistent. It’s not that it was bad exactly, but it certainly was not good.

[Al Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost put the book down about a third of the way through. But I did push through. It turned out to be an okay read. The thing that annoyed me was the fact that she can’t figure out who she is. One minute she’s a doting grandma the next she’s an all powerful witch and then she’s a teenage fan girl. Sometimes all in 3 or 4 pages. Overall I liked the concept. I just wish she could pick a lane. I don’t know if I will continue with this series

[Emile Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick read. loved the narration style and the twisty dialogue, truly does feel like Lavi is that old woman now stuck dealing with teenagers so just letting them run circles around her and trip themselves up. the hamburgers are an absolute vibe, i’d bring them to a fantasy world if i could

every so often Lavi flexes her KI and it flattens everyone in a 200 ft radius. i think it’s wonderful, and honestly, funny as hell.

def a story i simply read with my brain partially off. i think if i thought too hard about it, i could find inconsistencies with the social strata, but like. that’s not what im here to do today. very enjoyable, would not hold up in court

my only slight issue was the out of left field vore, randomly in the third quarter of the book? maybe i missed some other things but like, i was truly not expecting that one random single page of xenomorph-style spider babies bursting out of a teenager’s mouth and then stomach, then turning around and starting to eat him. did that exploding dagger just hit one of the spiders, or did it actually kill the idiot too? or did he get fucking,,, eaten alive by spiders after they exploded from his stomach

i prefer that he exploded. my god

like, very seemingly lighthearted story! cooking insects in the woods with spices! and then! all of a sudden! BAM spiders crawling out of your throat and your belly explodes outward with crawlies

even if maybe the events themselves of the novel before that aren’t lighthearted, they’re certainly treated as such by the narration, and actually (this is important), the bit with the spiders is too! glossed right over by the older teens/adults that find his nearly dead body

like, i’m gonna read at least the second one, but. goddamn. why suddenly spiders (if there’s more vore im done with the series. can’t.)

[Mariána K · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to decide between whether this is a three-star or four star quality book story. The story itself is rather generic and the leading character is often annoying in her choice and behavior and wording etc. Most of this feels like choices the writer made. Despite my complaints though I still found myself engaged and interested in continuing along the story. So four stars for getting me to read despite the fact that it was fairly generic and had annoying MC.

As for the story itself it reminds me a lot of "past the monster meet my lady" crossed with your average villainous story. Not a whole lot of originality in here but the balance of the bits is interesting.

I find it hard to particularly recommend this anybody, again I feel like it's more of a three star but because I actually feel interested in reading the next volume and kept reading without fail, I just couldn't give it three instead of four.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

February 2026
Kindle edition

I made a mistake on this one. Thought it was manga but nope, light novel. I really need to check the samples first. I enjoyed this one. I liked the characters and the FMC is an adorable grandma. She feels like an old soul and its funny that that's the comment from the people that know her, whereas the ones that don't call her incompetent and villainess.

I like that the brother is trying to reconcile. Can't stand the mother. The sister needs smiting. Haven't decided on the father yet. The prince was a joke, but curious about the first prince. Stayed up late to finish. Brought the next one and would've attempted to read that one too. Alas, it was a weekday.

[Wolfkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the closest to something I've been looking for. I read a lot of isekai with stupidly OP male characters of all sort of personalities the default being obtuse. I don't read a lot with female protagonists gaining a superpower or overskill in another world. There's Killing Slimes for 300 years and that's about it.



Mostly when i see a female protagonist they're in courtly settings as Dames or Countesses or Royals or whatever. Not that that isn't fun. Not Sew Wicked Step-mother is a delight.



I'm not saying it doesn't exist and hasn't existed. Obviously it does and has. I just don't see it and so I've been looking for it. This is pretty close. Our main character was a super genius mage in a fantasy world, reincarnated to Japan for a super peaceful second life and then reincarnated back into the fantasy world where she's given up and is playing the incompetent boob royal.

The first thing that strikes me is this story moves SLOW. Not glacial but this isn't a book that overplays it self like Classless hero. That was a story with one gimmick. It played itself IMMEDIATELY and then proceeded to repeat it self 5 times exactly the same way until current. This isn't a review of that but I'll say it becomes utterly boring.



Laviange Robur does possess some of the traits of a typical protag of this genre. She doesn't understand normal people anymore. Now a Japanese manga with a protagonist who can't understand social situation is a common as swallowing your own breath. But what makes her unable to understand is her age. Having lived two lives one of which was very long lived she sees herself as matronly. So even powerful people are just like children to her and their hatred merely temper tantrums. It makes her obtuse in a rather unique way. And still the story doesn't overplay her. A gentle dose of politics. A gentle dose of her assuming the insults people sling at her are just adolescent hormones. Yields a book that is fun to read without getting boring even if it doesn't really go anywhere until over half way through the book.

Good pacing, good characters, power scaling that's restrained, should be a fun series if it can keep it up which is going to become harder with that ending. A new suitor. IIRC someone who understands her true power. Changing school politics. An incoming demonic invasion?

[Ijattrashtie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randomly pick this novel last night. the plot are quite fast at some part but better than other light novel who dragged the story into two to three volume. the arc was completed in one volume with hint of the antagonist. I love that I can actually place the point of view of a grandma in a young villainess. There's action and gore part mixed in. though I enjoyed the grandma and her grandchildren part more. more helping of meat for favorite grandchild. hohoho
the ml (not the original fiancee) are pitiful even though he's actually would be super hot in other light novel. I hope he would be redeemed in the next volume.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavi

First let me start by saying my review of this book is going to be biased, because I absolutely love Lavi!! She is the true package: peaceful goodwill and unbending death all at once. So pure hearted yet jaded while remaining strictly practical. This reincarnation with a twist, reverse isekai felt like a breath of fresh air using an unconventional heroine to return honor to the nobility. The haughty prince actually learns how wrong he is, the fake "heroine" doesn't actually steal the prince, and Lavi flexes on them all.

[Maxx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! While some scenes dragged on for longer than necessary, i would say 80% of the time i was reading, i either had a contented smile on my face or was vocally laughing and reacting to some of the scenes in the story. Definitely worth the read!

[Emrys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will give this story kudos for how not stupid people are.

lav being done with many of the shenanigans of her foster sister, her fiance and the rest of them is refreshing.

I also find it refreshing that she has no interest in romance, helps that she views everyone around her as her juniors or even grandkids.

I do however hope that in the coming books we also see her dealing with unexpected things.

Sadly while I do enjoy this story, this first book felt more like a exposition booklet rather than a story. We get introduced to many of the people that built the system for the Academy, the country and so forth.

My hope is that the other books in this series will be less of that.

Sadly one my main downside to this story is Lav herself. She's not a awful character in design or interest. She is interesting but I also felt that I had a hard time clicking with her. My hypothesis is that because she's already had her character arc off screen we are now viewing the character of someone who wishes to not change or develop further. Which in my mind makes it less enjoyable. I am hoping that the other books will change that.

Still the story was enjoyable and I am very glad I read it. Can recommend this to someone who wants a bit deeper thinking behind a villainess story.

[Gioia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unpopular opinion: this one wasn’t for me.
The protagonist is presented as smart, powerful, and morally good—but she often comes across as a doormat. I can understand wanting to avoid bloodshed, but never standing up for herself after years of abuse and disrespect felt unrealistic. For someone described as intelligent, her planning skills are questionable; fighting magical monsters seems easier for her than building a better life.

I also struggle with the trope “I made your life miserable for years and 99% of this book, but now please forgive and love me". Finally, I found the writing style rather convoluted and difficult to follow.

I know many readers loved this book, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun!!! What an absolute delight.

I even enjoyed reading the side stories from other POVs, which I tend to find pretty hit or miss.

Just - I had such a delightful time reading this, I’m very much looking forward to the next one!

Has the bearings of a new favourite series of mine.

[Marisa Uyehara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and a little dark

Very entertaining and fun read. The story can get a little heavy when compared to most light hearted and fun light novels. Most of the time it's fun and silly. Enough dark realism to keep it juicy. I definitely recommend.

[Nancy Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really entertaining. Interesting world, characters, and development. Waiting for next volume.

[Reichis · Rating 3 out of 5]

MC is too OP for my liking. But it's oki, feels more like we get thrown into like Vol 2 or Vol 3 not reading from the start.

Eh... it's fine.

[Kevin Weinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I really enjoyed the humor and world building. Looking forward to the next book! It is a fun read and the characters are interesting.

[Keyante Mosely]

Dnf

[Bigbootyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. a bit wordy at times and some parts are dragging.

[Dantalian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sympathique

[My · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a fun ride this was, I liked this one. However, docked points for over-exposition and Laviange not picking a lane: girl, are you a doting grandmother or a dirty old man?

[Mysterious Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.70/5

For a debut novel it was unexpectedly good 😌 but a little long sometimes. Looking forward to volume 2