“Life in hard mode for “villain” Penelope Eckhart means with every step forward, she's shoved five steps back. Just when things seem to be stabilizing between her and the brothers, she finds herself coming to blows with Reynold, who insists on dredging up the past—an affront Penelope refuses to take lying down. To make matters worse, she's forced to attend the hunting tournament hosted by the crown prince…and Callisto + weapons = a recipe for DANGER!” (Ize Press)
“Villains are Destined to Die” continues on at a steady pace, imbued with the charms of its protagonist delicately trying to balance the opinion of others to avoid death, find love, and eventually escape the dating sim she finds herself trapped in. To this point, the series has proved to be competently constructed and deeply engaging due to its slight fantasy twist to an, otherwise, traditionally constructed historic-romance manhwa. That said, volume 3 of “Villains Are Destined to Die” is easily the best to date due to the continued growth of Penelope as a character.
Notably, Penelope begins to ease into her role as royalty and is becoming less afraid of the imminent threat of death as most of the romantic interests start to turn favorable, quelling their default murderous intent towards her, established in the inaugural release. This also gives Penelope the ability to be vocal about her desires and struggles, with multiple instances in the third volume of her speaking up and commanding respect or understanding from those around her. There is a lot to be admired in the independence and strong will Penelope starts to show in the series, making the already admirable character all the more of an endearing protagonist to navigate through romance and drama..
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In addition to the continued personal growth of Penelope, the various love interests are starting to collide as their indifference and hatred of Penelope changes to affection. This gives the reader a different perception of the various suitors who were previously one-dimensional in their scorn toward Penelope. A notable highlight is a confrontation between Eckles and Derrick, the two putting Penelope in a precarious position where she has to navigate the feelings of two drastically different personalities and ensure neither loses their affection ‘level' for her.
The art, though consistent and unchanging in style from volume one, becomes exponentially charming with each subsequent release. This is largely due to the fashion-forward designs of SUOL, with Penelope looking impeccably elegant throughout volume 3–even in men's hunting outfits. As the series grows and each character's persona is better established, there is an additional charm to be found in the mannerisms and fashion of the various male suitors. The book, undeniably, still remains slightly cold due to its digital art approach, but under the engaging narrative, this negative lessens with each release.
If you are currently following along with “Villains Are Destined to Die”, volume three proves the title is a stand-out in the historical romance genre. Those who have yet to check out the series but are intrigued should find solace in knowing that three volumes in, continues to impress and improve. Out of the historical romance manhwa titles currently available in print, “Villains Are Destined to Die” is a gem.
