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I'm in Love with the Villainess Light Novel #4
I'm in Love with the Villainess (Light Novel), Vol. 4
SAVING THE WORLD FOR EACH OTHER
Rae and Claire may have thwarted the assassination attempt on the pope, but life in the Nur Empire was never going to be easy. Intrigue abounds, from a brewing power struggle between the empress and her daughter, to the ever-present threat of Nur's demon neighbors, to the growing fires of another revolution. Worse, yet another danger lurks just out of sight, one that threatens not only nations, but the entire world...
Rae and Claire may have thwarted the assassination attempt on the pope, but life in the Nur Empire was never going to be easy. Intrigue abounds, from a brewing power struggle between the empress and her daughter, to the ever-present threat of Nur's demon neighbors, to the growing fires of another revolution. Worse, yet another danger lurks just out of sight, one that threatens not only nations, but the entire world...
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2021
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561 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 3, 2022
Claire and Rae are still in the Nur empire, trying to make the world a better place. There were demons last time, which might become relevant again, but only after a cooking contest, a fancy ball, endless betrayals, discussions of gender issues, and a whole lot of politics.
This one is going to hurt. However, this volume had a lot less of what I like about this series and a lot more of what Inori does not do particularly well. While I said last volume justified its existence, I don’t know that the same can be said for this one.
The first part of the book is probably the best, as the digressions from anything important here are okay and feature Claire and Rae being totes queer for one another (although Rae having to fight off advances from one of her students constantly is… a thing…), which is great.
The ballroom sequence winds up being pretty fun, although the cooking competition is a weird digression that doesn’t really lead anywhere (though the running gag about rampant capitalism driving Rae nuts is pretty good) and sees the allegedly impressive cooking chops of a six-year-old girl.
Which leads me to my next point - too many people in this book are ludicrously special and that ends up proving to be dull, since if everybody is special, well, nobody really is. To this end, Rae and Claire end up becoming even more special and this thing feels like it’s turning into a shonen fighting tournament in terms of abilities.
The commentary on gender dysphoria is appreciated, I believe it’s still a bold stance for a Japanese author to take, but the storyline this ends up involved in is very ham-fisted and the ending is way, way too pat. I’m glad the series is constantly throwing stones against society for social justice, but it doesn’t fit well.
Everything here feels like a precursor to the final volume and not in a good way. Hindsight might make me view this more fondly, but for now it’s filled with a lot of annoying parts where Rae says she knows something or someone but will explain it later and never does.
There are literally no answers to any of the many questions that keep coming up and even the attempts to raise the stakes feel very underwhelming. Partially because the story takes no time to really emphasize the stakes, pulling its punches constantly this time around. This volume might have the most boring and silly coup ever plotted.
Inori’s truly at their best when writing a goofy school romance between an overly affectionate girl and the villainess who hates her. The brilliant big reveal of everything Rae had done while in school was a properly climactic moment and there’s nothing here even close. The lone bonus story at the back where Claire’s tsundere tendencies have unintended consequences is the best thing in the whole book.
This is just a story that gives too much time to the wrong things, suggests far too little for foreshadowing, provides no answers, and rushes between its plot. Just giving a name (a boring name at that) to some great menace lurking in the wings is no great shakes of a cliffhanger. One character who leaves and comes back turns out to have changed prodigiously and it feels absolutely unearned because the description of their actions is so scant.
Apparently the final volume is really something and I certainly hope it is, but until it arrives I can only review what’s in front of me and this series has never been weaker for my money. Light novels are thinner and more direct by their nature, but this just doesn’t work as well as it needs to.
3 stars - there’s just too much going on and not enough done with it for my liking. Even with my huge blind spot for this series it’s impossible to overlook my issues with how this plays out. Hopefully the final chapters will redeem this arc.
This one is going to hurt. However, this volume had a lot less of what I like about this series and a lot more of what Inori does not do particularly well. While I said last volume justified its existence, I don’t know that the same can be said for this one.
The first part of the book is probably the best, as the digressions from anything important here are okay and feature Claire and Rae being totes queer for one another (although Rae having to fight off advances from one of her students constantly is… a thing…), which is great.
The ballroom sequence winds up being pretty fun, although the cooking competition is a weird digression that doesn’t really lead anywhere (though the running gag about rampant capitalism driving Rae nuts is pretty good) and sees the allegedly impressive cooking chops of a six-year-old girl.
Which leads me to my next point - too many people in this book are ludicrously special and that ends up proving to be dull, since if everybody is special, well, nobody really is. To this end, Rae and Claire end up becoming even more special and this thing feels like it’s turning into a shonen fighting tournament in terms of abilities.
The commentary on gender dysphoria is appreciated, I believe it’s still a bold stance for a Japanese author to take, but the storyline this ends up involved in is very ham-fisted and the ending is way, way too pat. I’m glad the series is constantly throwing stones against society for social justice, but it doesn’t fit well.
Everything here feels like a precursor to the final volume and not in a good way. Hindsight might make me view this more fondly, but for now it’s filled with a lot of annoying parts where Rae says she knows something or someone but will explain it later and never does.
There are literally no answers to any of the many questions that keep coming up and even the attempts to raise the stakes feel very underwhelming. Partially because the story takes no time to really emphasize the stakes, pulling its punches constantly this time around. This volume might have the most boring and silly coup ever plotted.
Inori’s truly at their best when writing a goofy school romance between an overly affectionate girl and the villainess who hates her. The brilliant big reveal of everything Rae had done while in school was a properly climactic moment and there’s nothing here even close. The lone bonus story at the back where Claire’s tsundere tendencies have unintended consequences is the best thing in the whole book.
This is just a story that gives too much time to the wrong things, suggests far too little for foreshadowing, provides no answers, and rushes between its plot. Just giving a name (a boring name at that) to some great menace lurking in the wings is no great shakes of a cliffhanger. One character who leaves and comes back turns out to have changed prodigiously and it feels absolutely unearned because the description of their actions is so scant.
Apparently the final volume is really something and I certainly hope it is, but until it arrives I can only review what’s in front of me and this series has never been weaker for my money. Light novels are thinner and more direct by their nature, but this just doesn’t work as well as it needs to.
3 stars - there’s just too much going on and not enough done with it for my liking. Even with my huge blind spot for this series it’s impossible to overlook my issues with how this plays out. Hopefully the final chapters will redeem this arc.
February 16, 2024
Un autre bon volume (avant-dernier tome de la série donc je vais définitivement finir la série de livre, je suis content·, je pense que ça fait longtemps que je n'avais pas lu une série de plus de trois volumes) dans ce monde créé par Inori. Si quelques renversements de situation étaient prévisibles (à mes yeux), l'écriture est maintenant bien maitrisée et on a (quand même beaucoup) de personnages à suivre et à explorer.
Ce volume me semblait toutefois très épisodique avec 4, 5 scènes très différentes n'ayant qu'un lien ou deux avec les autres. On sentait vraiment la construction derrière le volume plutôt qu'un flot narratif continue. C'était toutefois un peu comme lire des nouvelles/novella liées donc ce n'est pas si pire non plus.
Ce volume me semblait toutefois très épisodique avec 4, 5 scènes très différentes n'ayant qu'un lien ou deux avec les autres. On sentait vraiment la construction derrière le volume plutôt qu'un flot narratif continue. C'était toutefois un peu comme lire des nouvelles/novella liées donc ce n'est pas si pire non plus.
November 19, 2024
Początek wydawał się bardzo oderwany od reszty serii, czułam się trochę jakbym czytała fillerowy odcinek anime ALE WSZYSTKIE WĄTKI POLITYCZNE SPRAWIAJĄ, ŻE MAM TO GDZIEŚ BO SĄ TAK DOBRE!!!!! NIE MOGĘ ZNIEŚĆ TEGO, ŻE KOLEJNA CZĘŚĆ JEST OSTATNIA!!!
also
kocham inkluzywność w tej serii/srs
also
kocham inkluzywność w tej serii/srs
March 8, 2022
In the fourth volume of the ‘I’m In Love With The Villaness’. After thwarting the assassination of the Spiritual Church’s pope, Rae and Claire focus again on trying to start a revolution within the Nur Empire. Acquiring various allies is not easy though, and it is soon clear that Rae's knowledge on the world based on her experience with the game in her previous life, is rather limited. Things are afoot that have definitely never been mentioned in the source material, and may lead to a greater threat.
Volume 4 focusses more on the plot and world building and less on the Rae and Claire’s romance, although Rae and Claire's domestic life is not ignored. I am intrigued about what exactly is going on even if I am not a very big fan of some of the writing techniques used (having the main character comment to herself things that hint these are written long after events and things might have gone differently if she had known then what she knows now) to raise those questions with the reader. Still, these were not so common as to distract and there are more subtle clues. Of course, while enjoy reading the continued adventures of Claire and Rae. Some of the side plots such as cook off felt kinda pointless the cliff-hanger ending is a bit irritating as well. Overall, Vol.4 was a funny, cute, and had quite a few surprises I couldn't see coming... I Couldn't put it down until I got to the end. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun fantasy romance novel.
Volume 4 focusses more on the plot and world building and less on the Rae and Claire’s romance, although Rae and Claire's domestic life is not ignored. I am intrigued about what exactly is going on even if I am not a very big fan of some of the writing techniques used (having the main character comment to herself things that hint these are written long after events and things might have gone differently if she had known then what she knows now) to raise those questions with the reader. Still, these were not so common as to distract and there are more subtle clues. Of course, while enjoy reading the continued adventures of Claire and Rae. Some of the side plots such as cook off felt kinda pointless the cliff-hanger ending is a bit irritating as well. Overall, Vol.4 was a funny, cute, and had quite a few surprises I couldn't see coming... I Couldn't put it down until I got to the end. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun fantasy romance novel.
January 20, 2022
With the issues surrounding the visit of the pope out of the way, Rae and Claire can focus again on dealing with the Empire. Acquiring allies is not easy though, and it is soon clear that Rae's knowledge on the world based on her experience with the game in her previous life, is rather limited. Things are afoot that have definitely never been mentioned in the source material.
Volume 4 focusses more on the plot and less on the romance, although Rae and Claire's house life is not ignored. I am intrigued about what exactly is going on even if I am not a very big fan of some of the writing techniques used (having the MC comment to herself things that hint these are written long after events and things might have gone differently if she had known then what she knows now) to raise those questions with the reader. Still, these were not so common as to distract and there are more subtle clues. Of course, the cliff-hanger ending is a bit irritating as well. It is not the life-hanging-in-the-balance type, but still. I certainly hope volume 5 gets translated...
Volume 4 focusses more on the plot and less on the romance, although Rae and Claire's house life is not ignored. I am intrigued about what exactly is going on even if I am not a very big fan of some of the writing techniques used (having the MC comment to herself things that hint these are written long after events and things might have gone differently if she had known then what she knows now) to raise those questions with the reader. Still, these were not so common as to distract and there are more subtle clues. Of course, the cliff-hanger ending is a bit irritating as well. It is not the life-hanging-in-the-balance type, but still. I certainly hope volume 5 gets translated...
January 9, 2024
This did NOT need to have 100 pages about a cooking competition before the plot starts 😭
December 15, 2024
Not todos los personajes de esta historia siendo mujeres lesbianas y mujeres trans, me encanta tbh. Se nota que la autora lo es porque habla súper abiertamente de ambas cosas. De verdad que es la primera vez en una historia japonesa que veo a alguien hablar tan libremente de la homosexualidad y de la identidad de género, además se nota que sabe de lo que habla.
Este volumen continúa la historia de Claire y Rae, aunque también se enfoca en otros personajes nuevos, y tal vez sea por esos que no le he puesto 5 estrellas ya que yo estoy aquí por Claire y Rae.
En cuanto al mundo, me gusta que vamos descubriendo las tramas políticas de cada lugar y todo. Los otros 3 volúmenes de novela ligera los leí hace 1 año pero no los había retomado hasta ahora. Ya solo me queda una para terminar, y aunque me hice spoiler sin querer de un gran plot twist, estoy emocionada por que lo expliquen
Este volumen continúa la historia de Claire y Rae, aunque también se enfoca en otros personajes nuevos, y tal vez sea por esos que no le he puesto 5 estrellas ya que yo estoy aquí por Claire y Rae.
En cuanto al mundo, me gusta que vamos descubriendo las tramas políticas de cada lugar y todo. Los otros 3 volúmenes de novela ligera los leí hace 1 año pero no los había retomado hasta ahora. Ya solo me queda una para terminar, y aunque me hice spoiler sin querer de un gran plot twist, estoy emocionada por que lo expliquen
March 1, 2022
Great as always!
October 21, 2022
3.5/5
I feel like they should've just ended the series after Vol.2...
I feel like they should've just ended the series after Vol.2...
March 8, 2024
I really liked this book, and I think that it was a good series! So glad that this was the first series I started and finished.
January 7, 2024
The fourth volume of
I'm in Love with the Villainess
is a rather interesting installment, to say the least.
Plot-wise, the author closes the Nur Empire rebellion and succession act successfully and, at the same time, prepares the story for its final act. I enjoyed the empire's plotline development and resolution, since I had wanted to see Philine growing up and being more in control of the situation. Although, as I went on reading, I was more and more interested in whatever was brewing behind closed doors since it is a secret that has been going on for some time. Overall, both plotlines were quite consistent and satisfying.
Character and relationship-wise, I am sad that we did not get as much Rae-Claire alone time as I wanted. It is definitely the best part of the series, and, while it makes sense to focus on other aspects of the plot, I cannot help but still crave more. They still had some very cute moments together, as expected, which I bookmarked to revisit later. The last (bonus) chapter was the cherry on top because we got to see the whole family being lovely together. Also, I feel like Joel Santana deserves a thumbs up for all the talk she brings to the table and for being a fantastic character.
In conclusion, this volume of I'm in Love with the Villainess promises an outstanding next volume, and I am here for it.
*4,5 stars*
Plot-wise, the author closes the Nur Empire rebellion and succession act successfully and, at the same time, prepares the story for its final act. I enjoyed the empire's plotline development and resolution, since I had wanted to see Philine growing up and being more in control of the situation. Although, as I went on reading, I was more and more interested in whatever was brewing behind closed doors since it is a secret that has been going on for some time. Overall, both plotlines were quite consistent and satisfying.
Character and relationship-wise, I am sad that we did not get as much Rae-Claire alone time as I wanted. It is definitely the best part of the series, and, while it makes sense to focus on other aspects of the plot, I cannot help but still crave more. They still had some very cute moments together, as expected, which I bookmarked to revisit later. The last (bonus) chapter was the cherry on top because we got to see the whole family being lovely together. Also, I feel like Joel Santana deserves a thumbs up for all the talk she brings to the table and for being a fantastic character.
In conclusion, this volume of I'm in Love with the Villainess promises an outstanding next volume, and I am here for it.
*4,5 stars*
February 16, 2023
Volume 4 of I'm in Love with the Villainess is an amazing book. From the adventures between Claire and Rae, to the development of May and Aleah, this book is filled with endearing, yet petrifying, wholesome, yet suspenseful scenes, and starts building away from a world Rae believed she knew. In this volume, Rae, Claire, and their daughters have hardly any time to rest and wind down from their attempts of changing the Nur Empire. This leads to some arguments and clouds their judgements. Despite this, their trust and love for each other allows them to come to agreements and work together throughout the story. Rae, however, starts to find that more and more details in the world are left out of the game, from small things such as names, to large, possibly alarming things, which leads to wonder how much of the world has but left out of Rae's knowledge, and will it impact her ability to help and live in the world of Revolution. All in all, I loved this book, and I look forward to reading the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2025
Me sigue gustando, me mantiene enganchada y quiero seguir sabiendo todo el entramado político, más encima con la promesa de una lucha con demonios ya oficialmente ahdoaksj Mi único gran pero fue esa parte del concurso de cocina muy innecesario, pero dale, leo lo que sea xd
Rae y Claire las quiero mucho, aunque estuvo más centrado en la trama (que disfruto) tampoco es que me las hayan dejado de lado, igual veíamos su cotidianidad en la casa junto a las peques (incluso con Dole).
Y las subtramas de los demás personajes igual fueron entretenidas, quedé metida con la situación de Lilly eso sí 👀
Por último no puedo no mencionar el especial del final y lo que sanó mi corazoncito cuando May y Aleah abrazaron y le dijeron a Rae que la querían 😭😭😭
Rae y Claire las quiero mucho, aunque estuvo más centrado en la trama (que disfruto) tampoco es que me las hayan dejado de lado, igual veíamos su cotidianidad en la casa junto a las peques (incluso con Dole).
Y las subtramas de los demás personajes igual fueron entretenidas, quedé metida con la situación de Lilly eso sí 👀
Por último no puedo no mencionar el especial del final y lo que sanó mi corazoncito cuando May y Aleah abrazaron y le dijeron a Rae que la querían 😭😭😭
May 28, 2024
For all the machinations of the Empress and the demons and the church, the moments that work best are the quiet ones: the love in the found family of Claire and Rae and their two adopted daughters, the trials and joys of parenting, and Rae supporting a trans student to embrace womanhood and transition. Volume 4 suffers a bit from the Empire storyline being stretched out over 3 volumes, whereas the Revolution storyline of the first two volumes was more tightly plotted, but I'm excited to see where the conflict between the demons and the church is going in volume 5.
December 31, 2025
Ok si los anteriores eran fanservice este es el significado en su totalidad de fanservice, jamas pense que en un libro de drama politico pudiese haber 50 paginas solamente de un concurso de cocina, fue demasiado gracioso eso, denuevo, una continuacion esplendida de lo que nos tiene acostumbrado esta autora, los conflictos y las peleas son sumamente interesantes, mas con el apartado politico, y las protagonistas siguen siendo increibles, me sorprende como no baja de calidad esta obra, ya quiero leer el ultimo y a la vez me da pena terminar esta historia, increible de inicio a fin
June 25, 2023
3,25
I'm confused. Very, very confused.
The story didn't manage to make me want to finish it on the spot (like the previous volumes have), but it had some interesting elements: like the plot point surrounding the LGBT+ identities of some of the side characters.
I'll be reading the 5th volume when I feel like it, which can either be in a few days, or in multiple weeks. But right now, I need a nap.
I'm confused. Very, very confused.
The story didn't manage to make me want to finish it on the spot (like the previous volumes have), but it had some interesting elements: like the plot point surrounding the LGBT+ identities of some of the side characters.
I'll be reading the 5th volume when I feel like it, which can either be in a few days, or in multiple weeks. But right now, I need a nap.
May 10, 2024
En realidad la historia tendría que haberse quedado en el volumen 2 pero bueno, como ya sólo queda 1 pues supongo que me lo leeré. Es muy fuerte que siendo una novela ligera igualmente haya tenido como 50-75 páginas de relleno con el concurso de cocina. Se nota que el segundo arco fue un afterthought en comparación con lo bien que estuvo el primero pero en fin, tampoco me arrepiento de haberlo leído porque está entretenido supongo.
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June 1, 2025Toujours un coup de cœur malgré un tome que je trouve un peu plus faible que les 2 précédents, conséquence notamment d'être le milieu de l'arc.
On sent que Inori maîtrise mieux l'écriture depuis le tome 1, mais je regrette simplement que certains arcs reprennent des idées déjà utilisées précédemment (le personnage transgenre qui cache son identité notamment).
Reste que je pourrais mourir pour cette famille et que j'ai bien hâte pour le dernier tome.
On sent que Inori maîtrise mieux l'écriture depuis le tome 1, mais je regrette simplement que certains arcs reprennent des idées déjà utilisées précédemment (le personnage transgenre qui cache son identité notamment).
Reste que je pourrais mourir pour cette famille et que j'ai bien hâte pour le dernier tome.
November 8, 2025
Okay, after a slow start, Act II of this series is definitely growing on me, and the cliff-hanger ending of this volume resulted in me reading the last book in the series in just a couple of hours the next morning after I finished this one. Inori certainly seems to be doing something a bit different with Act II than she did with Act I....
August 5, 2022
Ultimately it doesn't quite pay off the potential of volume 3. The lore and exposition are more plentiful but less interesting, and it starts feeling like things just happening. It strays from the key ingredient: Rae and Claire. Their dynamic is much less in focus, and what is there instead isn't good enough to compensate. Not bad, but disappointing.
September 10, 2022
this very much felt like set up for the final volume. still had some of its charm points but the focus on a plot mostly centered around new characters took away from the rae and claire dynamic that's really the highlight of this series. i did appreciate that inori spent a chapter being like trans rights!!! tho
3 stars
3 stars
September 1, 2024
Pretty mid. Outside of the politics stuff or in regards to the numerous fetch quests that the heroes partake only for all that progress to be thrown out the window (eugh), it's strongest remains in when its about Rae and Claire being gay together with their adopted foster children through the 1st chapter of this volume and the bonus chapter in the very end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
I'm honestly pushing through the series because I've bought all volumes as soon as I finished the first book. It seriously shouldn't had had continued.
The author now seems to know where the story is going, but everything is still so slow... And there were so many pointless scenes that I could cry.
I can't wait to finish this, and I don't mean it on a good way. :(
The author now seems to know where the story is going, but everything is still so slow... And there were so many pointless scenes that I could cry.
I can't wait to finish this, and I don't mean it on a good way. :(
November 5, 2025
Love my girls Rae and Claire and happy with any extra content. however, this volume felt more like a collection of short stories rather than a completed novel. I also found that it ended rather suddenly and left me feeling like I'd missed chapter's or it was unfinished. Having said this, I will probably still read volume 5.
April 1, 2022
I was going to rate it 4 stars, but the tsundere short story did it in to me.
October 20, 2022
OMG estoy totalmente in con la trama. Se ha puesto todo intenso, si una revolución no era suficiente ahora tenemos esto. No puedo esperar al quinto libro.
November 14, 2022
on my gay shit [4]
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January 7, 2023Good book.
When the word "age gap" is used I wonder if it's legal(because of incest in this series, I do worry about other immoral/unhealthy dynamic relationships).
When the word "age gap" is used I wonder if it's legal(because of incest in this series, I do worry about other immoral/unhealthy dynamic relationships).
May 10, 2023
not the best volume till far but fun nonetheless
May 21, 2023
Fantastic
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews