Holiday Review: I'M IN LOVE WITH THE VILLAINESS

Thanks to the runaway success of My Next Life as a Villainess, otome-based isekai stories are more popular than ever.  Eventually, creators started to ask "why would I want to become the villainess when I could date her instead?"

I'M IN LOVE WITH THE VILLAINESS (Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou), based on the light novel series by Inori., with character designs by Hanagata and art by Aonoshimo.  First published in 2020 and first published in North America in 2021.

PLOT:

Rei had previously been just another overworked office lady, one whose only outlet for fun was playing the otome game Revolution.  One day she nodded off only to find herself within the world of the game in the role of the protagonist Rae Taylor.  Now she's determine to follow her heart and win the affections of her favorite character: the haughty blonde villainess Claire Francois.

STORY:

This story was way more fun than I anticipated.  I was skeptical not because this is a yuri manga or because of the (increasingly tedious) otome game set-up.  I'm just normally I'm not a fan of characters who debase themselves masochistically for the sake of their love interest, regardless of their orientation.  It works here, but why?

It helps that there is still some modicum of restraint in the relationship between Rae and Claire.  Rae might be all too happy to serve Claire, to have her step on her, or be verbally abused by her, but she takes this abuse with a smile instead of an ahegao face.  Rae's feelings for Claire may be expressed in silly ways, but her feelings are sincere and not played up for anything pervier than a nosebleed.  Otherwise it's treated more like a playful romantic comedy.

If anything, there's a sort of Looney Tunes quality to Rae and Claire's interactions.  Claire tries her hardest to bully Rae, Rae deflects her efforts with waves of affection, leaving Claire to plot her next mood in increasing frustration.  As Claire's efforts escalate from standard schoolroom bully tactics to dueling via school tests and Rae serving as Claire's personal maid (don't ask, long story), the silliness of her pettiness grows with it, roping in the rest of the game's supporting cast.  

Yet in spite of it all, we get hints that Rae recognizes something about Claire that no one - not even Claire herself - would admit: that Claire isn't used to being admired for something beyond her looks, social status, and wealth, and doesn't really know how to process it when given.  It's a nugget of sincerity in what is otherwise a fairly silly story, but it lends the romance the touch of seriousness needed to make it feel like more than just another gag.

ART:

I've had better than average luck with the light novel adaptations I've covered this month.  Like our previous example, the artwork here isn't all that far removed from the original light novel illustrations.  In fact, it improves on them by focusing a little less on making the characters pretty and more on letting them do wild takes for the sake of the comedy.  Otherwise it's perfectly competent manga art, being neither pretty enough to be outstanding nor amateur enough to distract from the story.

RATING:

I'm In Love With the Villainess is a frothy, light-hearted tale that gives its well-worn premise a sapphic spin.  You don't have to be an otome game fan to get the jokes, just someone who can appreciate a yuri series that isn't Serious Business all the time.

This series is published by Seven Seas.  This series is ongoing in Japan with 2 volumes available.  1 volume has been published and is currently in print.

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