The Complicated Love Life of Ivil Antagonist, Empress of Mars

by RavensDagger, Zura Johnson (Narrator)

Ivil Antagonist has everything a woman could want.

Power enough to blanket out suns and turn worlds into molten hells, a fleet of warships at her command, and the fear of an entire space-faring nation.

But she's silently growing tired of being at the top. There is no place more lonely for someone who has killed all of the competition, and she knows that it will be impossible to find an equal.

And so, Ivil Antagonist takes a great risk, asking a powerful oracle a simple "Where can I find true love?"

Genres: Romance, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Adult

Audible Audio

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

A bird that likes comfy and happy things, and also knives. Once ate a god’s eye and awakened the ability to see all that is good in the world. Known to steal shiny ideas and baubles. Currently forbidden from writing his own bios.

Reviews

[Issy Waldrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It's sweet, adorable, and a whole lot of fun. Yes, it is a bit silly at times, but that is highly intentional, and honestly part of the appeal. Puns galore, and a story that pokes fun at its influences. But underneath that is a really great story, of a powerful woman searching for the one thing that she can't gain via sheer power and influence alone, and that will make her whole and a better person. And of course, of the people who get drawn into her sphere, and the effect that they have on her life.

I'd even be inclined to say that this is one of Ravensdagger's best works.

[Zoe Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been alternating between lit-rpg and sapphic romance for the past year or two (when I first discovered lit-rpg). I have enjoyed Stray Cat Strut a bit, but got tired of it some moons ago. Then two days ago I stumbled across the audiobook for this one. And I LOVED it, like seriously this is now a contender for my favorite book PERIOD. The humor is phenomenal Ivil is somehow simultaneously an absurdly behaving, borderline godlike, not really even human anymore while feeling completely realistic in a world not invincibly different from our own (well if you are comfortable ignoring a bit of physics and fast forwarding a few centuries). And that's just the ****-tagonist (like she's the pro who named herself anti IDK). The personalities and relationships are amazing, every minute felt like another new moment of riveting action or backbreaking laughter (fyi I was dying of aww cute *heart eyes* the entire time). And seriously 26, Ivil has caused plenty of war crimes in her own universe but not letting 26 come here is one committed on us (not saying anything else about her read this.

[Robert Fusinati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a Royal Road reader, so I’d like to first acknowledge that my review may be outdated. The version of the book that will be published has likely gone through numerous edits compared to what I read, but I did, unmistakably, read Ivil Antagonist by RavensDagger, and it was lovely.

RavensDagger is a master of the first chapter hook. They present you with a premise that feels like an itch you can’t scratch: something you have to see through to the end. What a treat, then, that this is one of a few RavensDagger works that truly DOES end.

To be critical for a moment, the story ran a few chapters longer than I would have liked. I ran out of steam about 90% of the way through, and decided to power through.

I’m glad I did. The ending was nice! Given the setup, I’ve convinced myself that this is the right ending for the series. The book gave me what I expected to get from the word go, and combined with the prose of a fairly seasoned writer, sometimes that’s all I want in a story.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a refreshing twist on the usual sci-fi story. We have an all-powerful empress who's already conquered everything, yet she feels completely alone. Watching Ivil, who can literally destroy worlds, struggle to find something as simple (and complicated) as love was both funny and surprisingly heartfelt. The humor really worked for me, with lots of clever puns and playful jabs at classic sci-fi tropes, but it never overshadowed the emotional core. I especially enjoyed how the supporting characters gradually shaped Ivil's growth and helped her reconnect with her humanity. It's charming, witty, and genuinely touching. It's not about gaining power; it's about learning how to be vulnerable, and that's what makes it stand out.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time experience with RavensDagger and honestly it won’t be the last time. I’ll now keep reading.

I had the greatest pleasure to experience this book in audio narrated by Zura Johnson. Every emotions, every feelings are captured so beautifully and nicely. I listed to this book while working and honestly I couldn’t stop myself

[Chris Upshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute!

It's silly but not too silly. Wry without being sarcastic. Genuine in its camp. Cute sexy and fun. Loved it.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty Six is best but Ivil is a great as well

[Cloak88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted sci-fi romance with lots of little nods to popular franchises.

Review to follow

[Rey Hawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Peter Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give 5 stars. I did this, because i laughed my way through it, it all the right notes and did not pretend to be anything other than a very enjoyable romp.