Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 1

악역의 엔딩은 죽음뿐 [Ag-yeog-eui Ending-eun Jug-eumbbun] (Comic) #1

by SUOL (Artist), Gwon Gyeoeul (artist)

"A villain living life in hard mode… whose every path leads to death." Playing Daughter of the Duke's Super Love Project as the easy mode heroine, Ivonne, makes charming the male characters a breeze. But once you switch to hard mode and step into the shoes of Penelope, the misunderstood villain, it's nearly impossible to even stay alive! So imagine the shock of suddenly waking up in Penelope's body—you know right away that your life is on the line. With love interests who will kill you if their affection meters drop too low and the inability to speak without choosing from pre-selected dialogue, it quickly becomes clear that Penelope's chances have been rigged from the start—and this villain might just be destined to die!

Genres: Manga, Manhwa, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The edge this has over other isekai villainess stories is a good one - we understand how the character came to be regarded as a villainess in the first place and the woman who becomes her has first-hand experience being in a very similar situation. It also makes better use of its mobile otome game trappings than many others I've read. Definitely worth it for villainess fans, and worth a glance even if you're not.

EDIT: Yup, still excellent on a re-read.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first taste of an isekai that hooked me in within the first few pages! It follows a main character who gets sucked into a video game that she’s playing while in college. The game, not too dissimilar from her own life, places her in a situation where she is forced to win the affection of those around her or end up dead. As readers follow her through the story, they get an opportunity to see her use her knowledge of the video game to keep herself/this character alive before the dukes daughter makes it back home. The plot is a little more complicated than my explanation, but it’s definitely worth checking out. I’m already reading the second volume. The artwork is superb!

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart could not handle this story…

WOW! I have never read a villainess/otome game isekai story like this where I *genuinely* felt extremely nervous that the heroine could *actually* die! I mean, there have definitely be points in other stories where I felt that's a possibility, but in this one, it honestly seemed like a REAL reality. So scary!

Penelope is an epic heroine and love her attitude given her real life circumstances. I think it makes her determination to get out of this world much more meaningful and convincing. Plus, she doesn't end up "transforming" the villainess aura the character had before she was her. Typically that is my favorite part of this genre. Seeing a character completely change the villainess, but Penelope isn't afraid to "pull rank" as she said in regards to one situation. Granted, saying that, if you're read it, someone could definitely argue she's not acting like the loud "dog" apparently she has in the past. But I just feel there are moments where she's not willing to roll over and be stepped on. She's out to save and look after herself AND improve her living conditions I guess you would say. SUPER good stuff!

This is probably the first time reading this kind of story where I'm at a loss of which guy I want to be the end game. I know Penelope is feeling one guy is the one, but I really don't think its going to be that simple. *nervous laughter* I'm actually looking forward to seeing her interact with all of them (except maybe the Crown Prince…) because I really don't know who she should end up with. Interesting experience since I usually "latch on" to one guy and that's it for the rest of the series. LOL!

The art is STUNNING! Truly, absolutely gorgeous and very pretty to look at!

Overall, this story completely surprised me! I thought it would be your "typical" villainess isekai and I was *extremely* wrong. I've never felt so afraid for a character and have my heart beating faster when reading like I have with Penelope's story! LOL! Definitely looking forward to the next volume and super glad I already preordered it! This is going to be fantastic series to keep reading!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ☆

not me invested already & it’s only the first volume .. absolutely love the concept of this one!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binged read all 85 chapters in 6 hours that are so far released when I am writing this. It's a damn good story. It's about a girl getting trapped in an otome game. However, she's the "villainess" character but on the most challenging game mode where any choice could cause her death. She had to pick from 5 "love interests" to escape the game, win their affection, hopefully before being killed.

I usually read "webtoons" or "manhwa" whenever I have a slump on reading in general or want to read something easy to get into. But usually, I don't find the stories of manhwa to be on pair with manga or even typical novels. However, I was surprised by how captured I was by this manhwa; the story was very engaging. I find a lot of characters intriguing, especially the "love interests," and it does storylines that I didn't see coming. I will try to keep up with new chapters of this series in the future.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

EDIT/ Finished S01 @ CH. 44

4,5 stars

Probably one of the best isekai webtoons with a female heroine.

Damn this story, my heart hurts. To see how all of them treat a child like that breakS my heart and I feel like crying. I’ve never felt so deeply for a character before.

Basically, this is a story about our main character basically fighting for her life in a very messed up game that's filled with messed up characters. When I say messed up I FUCKING MEAN IT. Her home life is so abusive and toxic, the amount of injustice in this makes my blood boil. I honestly want to throw the whole household away
(╬￣皿￣)凸

The webtoon is currently @ ch. 8 but I've read the novel up to ch. 35 @ ch.85 of S02 and I've only read 44 chapters so far but all I can say is fuck the all male characters and this fucking sadistic game. Seriously every fucking male character here is so messed up and they have no really reason to be like them!!! (Except for the Prince...maybe...whom I like because he didnt actully fuck up Pen, he was just a stranger to her situation) Specially 'the brothers'. I cant decide which one was worst, her real ones or the fake ones. (╯°Д °)╯╧╧ And I dont want to spoil anything but the game settings hard mode is realllly realllly fucked up. However, our main character is so strong, I've no doubt she'll survive these assholes.

I can guarantee the story will get better and she will put her foot down on her needs and demands so hang in there and give this one a chance!!

THE ART:

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought it today, read it TWICE. And that’s with other new books to choose from.

I love it, am obsessed and HAVE TO WAIT SOOOOO LOOOONG for the next volume!!

WHY DO I TORMENT MYSELF LIKE THIS!!!

5, this is a keeper and re-read for me, stars.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely, and unexpectedly, addicted. This was so...damn...good! The art style is so pretty, the characters have super intriguing backstories, and the entire concept of the story is very unique.

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO MUCH FUN. I love isekai manhwa where the heroine gets transported into the dating sim game they've religiously been playing. So, when they get into this new world, they know all the rules and steps to follow in order to survive.

And in Villains Are Destined to Die, Penelope has to create good relationships with any of the 5 love interests in order to win the game. If their attraction meter goes below 0%, she can get killed by any of them and it would be game over.

The isekai manhwa I've read never had stric rules, so this is fun to read!!! Even Penelope when she first came into the world, she couldn't talk because she only had the already established answers the game provides you. So that's so interesting omg?? I really liked where this is headed and all the characters are very interesting. I feel like Penelope is going to make everyone fall for her and even care for her. Like even her house and household - they're going to start to care for her and protect her and that's so *ugh* because she was previously the villain (and acted that way) so no one liked her lmao. I LOVE ME A VILLAIN MAIN CHARACTER SO MUCH.

[Alessa ✪ ( on semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only will say this
Callisto Regulus, you can have all my babies 💕💕👌🫶

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one of my favorites 🧡

[v *✲ﾟ*｡★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ahhh COMPLEX MORALLY GREY MAIN CHARACTER WHO'S A TOTAL BADASS check
the love interests are meh, but the mc i love her

[tomoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

tomy 1-5. przyjemne, ślicznie narysowane i całkiem zabawne. odwrócenie konwencji, gdzie w grze randkowej zamiast robienia słodkich oczek i uwodzenia haremu chłopaków, bohaterka musi kombinować, jak się zachować i co powiedzieć w każdej interakcji, aby nie zginąć XD

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great twist to the otome cliche. Full of powerful emotions and suspense. A Korean girl loses her mother at a young age and is stuck in a house with a hateful stepfather and 2 wicked stepbrothers. A classic Cinderella set up, but there is no happily ever after for her. She lives her life in quiet misery as an unloved burden of the 'real' family. Finally when she reaches adulthood she escapes the house even if it means working 2 jobs to live in a crappy apartment. Her new found freedom is short lived as she is isekai-ed into an otome game where she is living a hellish resemblance to her own previous home life. She is stuck in hard mode as the villainess Penelope Eckhart, where everyone instantly hates her and if the affection meter gets too negative they will not hesitate to kill her. Like herself Penelope is stuck in a house with a 'real' family of 2 brothers and a father who hate her intrusive existence in their lives. Penelope was adopted to replace the true heroine of the story, Yvonne, the long lost daughter of the duke. Having played the game Penelope knows the true daughter will be found in a years time and she needs to work quickly to ensure her survival with a crazy cast of male leads who could snap her neck if she makes a wrong turn. Watching Penelope's bravery and intelligence as she navigates such treacherous waters alone was truly a spectacular sight. Her personal pain from years of negligence and undue hate pulled at my heart strings. Penelope's struggles become even more difficult when Yvonne appears earlier than expected and what little progress she has made with the male leads gets blown away as they trip over themselves for Yvonne. Although Penelope has been working hard to earn trust and respect she had unknowingly given her trust in kind. And seeing her trust so mercilessly trampled closes her heart right back up. Even the craziest of the lot, the murderous crown Prince, is better by comparison. She doesn't believe he can love her and she doesn't even try to do more than survive her interactions with the prince. But they keep getting stuck in life-threatening situations together. From running through caves escaping crazed cultists, to fighting off assassins in the woods, and magical fights with demons. The prince slowly becomes the only one Penelope trusts to fight by her side and together they must save the kingdom from the dark spirit residing in Yvonne's body.
The epilogue was badly translated so it took me a long time to muddle through, but the overall story was amazing. I want to gush over how amazing some scenes were, but I also want to avoid giving spoilers. If you read the manhwa and like it you will devour the novel. So good. I was honestly surprised that Prince Callisto wound up being the winner of the bunch considering his very violent and temperamental intro. But Penelope is a QUEEN in all sense of the word and Callisto the only one worthy of licking her boots.

[Loni ♈⚜ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich brauche den zweiten Band, JETZT!

[Oksana OM · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️
🩷Мої враження 🎮
Вау! Це що було? Дуже цікавий сюжет та мальовка. Уявіть, що ви потрапили у гру та граєте за антогоністку, треба звабити одного з пʼяти хлопців і спробувати не померти, бо можливо, ви тоді помрете насправді😱

Пенелопа - головна героїня складного режиму гри, низькородного походження, яку прийняв герцог у сімʼю, бо вона була схожа на його втрачену доньку.

Головна героїня дуже розумна та хитра (без цього їй не вижити). Я разом з нею переживала важкі моменти її дитинства та складності взаємодії з батьком та братами. А тепер ці моменти повторюються у грі, але під дещо смертельнішим кутом.

Героїні дуже важко, адже її всі ненавидять, тож задача закохати персонажів стає ще тим викликом.
У грі треба отримати хоч одну симпатію від цільового персонажа, перемогти і не померти. Наче легко 😂

Моє улюблене -це зворотній гарем і любовні персонажі на різний смак: названі не кровні брати, спадкоємець престолу, раб, чаклун-маркіз. Ох, відчуваю далі буде гаряче!
Поки не знаю хто мені з цільових любовних інтересів подобається, але Калісто та старший брат зацікавили. Дуже чекаю продовження.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAbUD5oNd...

[kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ✨

i don’t usually read historical manwha (at least not romance) w the villainess troupe but omg have i been missing out!!! THIS WAS SO SLAY

[Joli Mamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl who lived in a neglectful and abusive household finally breaking free from her toxic living place only to end up in a similar situation by waking up in the game she used to play.

She is now the villaness, the person who was destined to be killed by those around her, and our MC has to survive using her wits in order to achieve a 'happy ending' that can guarantee her life.


So I can't believe I have to say this, but this story is good because the heroine didn't forgive her abusers.

Yup

See, in these kinds of Korean novels, the main character will always be "bullied" by those around her, and sometimes, that "bullying" will go too far. Of course the author will justify the forgiveness by saying shit like "Oh, but that was another timeline!" Or "But he was being manipulated! " and you know what? That line of thinking can go and kiss my 🍑.

Abusers👏and👏manipulators👏don't👏deserve👏forced👏forgiveness

Anyway my girl Penelope deserves the best in the world

[nixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

read all thats been released aka 128 chapters in a singular day i need psychiatric help . or just a social life idk

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one for those of us who love villain redemption arcs! What makes a villain of a story turn out the way they do? We follow the story of Penelope Eckhart as she tries to win the affections of those around her. But she isn’t the hero of this dating sim world. She is regarded as the “fake” princess and the real one is on the way to take her place. It appears as though her fate is always death, no matter what.
A player wakes up finding herself as Penelope after playing through an Otome game on normal (easy) mode. Penelope’s backstory eerily mirrors the player’s own. She knows what it feels like to be rejected by her father and two brothers. So she can instantly empathise with the video game character she has now become. But can she get back to real world?

I would not recommend this series for people who aren’t familiar, or a fan of, Otome/Dating sim games. I’m seeing a lot of mixed opinions over on Anilist and Reddit, people seem to either love or loathe this series.
The art style is truly so gorgeous and I’m intrigued to see how the player interacts with the five male characters who are the romantic interest choices.

”This game’s got me obsessed! It’s like it’s taken over my life… wait—HARD MODE ACTIVATED. No-no-no-no-no! It has literally taken me and thrown me into the part of Penelope Eckhart. Love is easy as the heroine, but as the hated villainess, I’m trying very hard not to die… at the hands of my brothers… the prince… a fork… every possible ending is death! This world is stacked against me, but can my wits and insider game knowledge score the affection of these male characters? Or the reset button???"

4.6 Stars

[・❥・Tara ・❥・ (haitus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my FIRST webtoon about a villainess being the main character! And I Loved Every Bit of It
SUMMARY {MAYBE SPOILERS?}
The main character's past life was shitty as hell, her step father and step brothers hated her! They didn't even care! But when she finally gets to move out the shit hole and into her own apartment she dies! (I actually forgot how tho lol) She is reincarnated into a fantasy world gameplay (which she played in her previous life) where she it feels like deja vu! She's the adopted daughter of a Duke who adopted her in replacement of his missing (presumably dead) daughter. The Duke and his two sons hate her! And she could be dead at anytime!
to survive she must escape this second hell hole! But how? Well, making careful choices which won't get her head CUT OFF!

Aah, this is probably the longest review I wrote, but I really loved it! The art is exceptional, the MC is a bold and strong female lead, and her brothers are shits! Perfect!

[Leila ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me quedé en el capítulo 85 (aka final de la segunda temporada).

Me gustó, pero siento que 악녀는 모래시계를 되돌린다 1 Agnyeo'neun Moraesi'gye'reul Dwedollinda 1 me arruinó para cualquier otro manhwa de isekai por lo excelente que fue (y mi primer manhwa isekai para colmo !!! me dejó las expectativas por el cielo). Si bien Villains Are Destined to Die tenía el potencial de volverme loca (era una mina que reencarnaba en un juego otome, y el primer capítulo hasta tiene paneles con movimiento !!!), siento que estuvo bueno, pero no más que eso. Cuando salga la tercera temporada la leeré, pero tampoco estoy muriendo por saber cómo sigue la historia.

3.5 de 5 estrellas.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: abuse, slicing, needle torture, unfounded hate from everyone, victim blaming

This book is alright (and the art is beautiful) but it has a darker slant than most of the villainess stories. Be prepared for the villainess to have suffered significant mental and physical abuse both in and out of game. 3 stars because it feels toxic for her to accomplish the game's goal of "fixing her abusers" and victim blaming herself, even if that may be her only way to survive.

[Cloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Reincarnation, revenge, betrayal, and overall just addicting start to finish. Out of the long long list of villainess manhwa I've read, this is in my top three, I love a good tragedy. I've finally caught up with the latest chapter after putting it on hold for the past year and wow yes rip my heart out, i'm a Penelope apologist to my core. Let women be mean!

[warisha ‧₊˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not realise this was a two thousand page book until I realised this was a two thousand page book. I have not enjoyed anything here. It’s typical Kdrama plot, switching bodies yada yada. No fun. Only pain. And I love suffering.

[Bárbara Morais]

Eu amei demais, incrível como mesmo usando os mesmos ingredientes, cada um desses isekais de vilão tem um gostinho próprio e um jeitinho de conquistar a gente.
E PENÉLOPE, DESTRUA A TODOS!!!!!!!!!!

[Zainab Alkurmanji · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my number 1 manhwa/webtoon.
it's so perfect.
from character designs to the world to the story
everything is fantastic.

[Ann-Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good, looking forward to reading more of it.

[Yorha · Rating 5 out of 5]

08/2023 - Re-read two years later and I still love it

First read 05/2021

[Sara ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, I’m already invested 🤌