“In the Easy Mode of Daughter of the Duke Love Project!, you play as Ivonne, the duke's long-lost daughter who quickly gains the affection of the various male characters to win the game. Very easy! In Hard Mode, you play as “villainess” Penelope Eckhart, the duke's fake daughter who starts her adventure with negative affection points. Very hard…and filled with gruesome deaths?! Misunderstood and pining for love, one girl finds that she has much in common with Penelope and tries again and again to get her “good ending.” She is granted one more try…when she falls asleep and wakes up as Penelope herself in the hostile world of the game!” (Ize Press)
Being ‘isekaied' into a dating sim (otome) is far from an original concept, as both genres' staying power will also, likely, continue to be a familiar formula in both manga and manhwa. Consequently, the format has left some reluctant to explore new titles without existing hype (like a manga or heavily recommended by the fanbase) and readers can be picky with which titles they are going to invest time in. These elements do stack against “Villians are Destined to Die” which is one of the first titles to be released through Ize Press and likely unfamiliar to those who don't read webtoon-formated work. However, the series makes an impressive debut, offering up enough unique elements to make it notable in the, otherwise, saturated sub-genre.
Notably, the book impressively melds the real-life drama of the ‘player' to her new role within the game. This is exemplified through exploring the neglect the player had previously suffered in a household ruled by men and how she has to relive those emotions in-game as Penelope. The process of being forced to take on a subservient role, consequently, triggers both memories of past trauma and a degree of self-resentment being forced to play a ‘role' the young woman fought to escape in her family life. This element is explored subtly, only glimpsed at in brief flashbacks, yet it adds a psychological edge to the book that makes it deeply engaging. Furthermore, the young woman having empathy for the ‘villain' before transforming into her, adds another unique angle to the story. Undeniably, the idea of waking up as the ‘villain' or an ‘undesirable character in an isekai is nothing new, but the way “Villains are Destined to Die” masterfully balances all these elements makes it a notable entry in the genre.
The art direction adds a needed visual flair to the work, and Suol's rendition of royalty in bright colors and picturesque peak physicality creates a perfectly apt romantic atmosphere. This is further highlighted by the glossy paper in the print edition that helps the bright colors to pop. At the same time, there is a lack of environments/backgrounds in the work that leaves large empty spaces on the pages that make certain points of the book feel uninspired. Thankfully, the story is so deeply engrossing and the characterizations perfected that readers are unlikely to get tripped up on these details (or lack thereof). Overall, the presentation of the book is continuing to adhere to the high standards seen through the first batch of Ize Press releases.
As strong as certain elements of the story are, there are slight imperfections that is difficult to fully accept. Notably, the casual use of expletives cheapens the dialogue, bringing an element of immaturity into the writing. Unfortunately, this does limit the series from reaching a wider age range, as the material in the first volume is relatively tame otherwise. This is not a condemnation of using swearing, but rather a case of how it feels off in this particular release. Additionally, Penelope does show a degree of mistreatment towards the lower class. While this makes sense in the context of the story, it does make it slightly difficult to fully support the protagonist through these moments where she leans into the role of using her power to condescend. These elements, though minor hiccups in the overall experience, keep the work from being just shy of perfection when it comes to the story.
Ultimately, “Villians are Destined to Die” takes a few missteps that have it land slightly short of its full potential, yet the inventive approach to the isekai genre that brilliantly juxtaposes the real-life trauma of the ‘player' and Penelope still makes the book a notable entry into the genre. Combine this with a lush visual direction and a knack for creating page-turning drama and “Villains Are Destined to Die” should be a must-read for those looking to explore the best manhwa has on offer.
