My Review

First Impressions

On my first read, this was an easy 5/5. The petty, layered revenge, the political maneuvering, Aria’s unapologetic villainess mindset—it all hit so hard. I flew through the chapters and immediately understood why this series is so beloved in the villainess genre.

On my second read, I still really enjoyed it, but the shine dulled a bit. The emotional high wasn’t quite as strong, and certain parts felt like they wrapped up too quickly. Some of the side characters, who had so much potential, never got as much development as I wanted. So my score dropped slightly to a 4/5 feeling—which here I’m converting to an 8/10 for consistency.

That said, the core of the story still holds up: this is a revenge narrative where the main character truly is a villainess. She’s not secretly pure-hearted under a scary reputation; she’s ruthless, strategic, and absolutely willing to hurt those who wronged her. And for a lot of readers, that’s exactly the appeal.

Where It Stumbles

• Certain conflicts—especially later in the story—are resolved a little too fast, undercutting the buildup.
• Several side characters feel underdeveloped or underused, despite being positioned as important pieces on the board.
• The third season/last stretch doesn’t land quite as cleanly as the earlier parts; the main revenge peak is so strong that the aftermath feels stretched out.
• For some readers, Aria’s continued coldness even after achieving her goals can feel off-putting, especially toward innocents.

What Still Works

• Aria is one of the clearest examples of a true villainess FL—manipulative, brilliant, and not overly sanitized.
• The hourglass time-travel mechanic creates real tension every time she chooses whether to flip it or not.
• Mielle’s downfall, especially the lead-up to her beheading in chapter 98, is extremely satisfying as a revenge payoff.
• The art is consistently gorgeous: detailed outfits, expressive faces, and rich historical fantasy vibes.
• Asher/Asterope’s hidden identity and involvement add another layer of intrigue and romance to Aria’s schemes.

TL;DR

A sharp, satisfying revenge story with a genuinely villainous heroine who fully leans into her role. The pacing wobbles near the end and some side characters could have been explored more, but overall it’s still a standout villainess manhwa and absolutely worth reading—especially if you love watching karma come with interest.

Novel Structure & Arcs

Within the light novel series, the main story is divided into a total of 252 chapters and 23 arcs:

• 1. The Villainess Turns the Hourglass
• 2. A New Meeting
• 3. A Changed Future
• 4. Oscar Frederick
• 5. Revenge
• 6. The Secret of the Hourglass
• 7. A Poor Little Lamb Falls into the Hands of a Wicked Woman
• 8. Testing and Trial
• 9. Testing and Trial (II)
• 10. Asterope Franz
• 11. The Future Different from the Past
• 12. Secret
• 13. Revenge (II)
• 14. The Wicked Woman Comes Ashore
• 15. The Scandal of the Century
• 16. Revenge (III)
• 17. Lie for Lie
• 18. An Irreversible Choice
• 19. Confirmation
• 20. The Result of Choice
• 21. Self-destruction
• 22. There Is No Mercy
• 23. Reverse Destiny

In addition, there is an epilogue as well as three side stories, accounting for a further 36 chapters:

• Epilogue
• Extra Story I: In the New Future with Someone She Loves
• Extra Story II: Jealousy
• Extra Story III: A Wicked Woman Is a Wicked Woman Forever

Additional Reader Commentary

Cain, Responsibility, and Revenge

One reader perspective argues that Aria is 100% responsible for her step-brother Cain’s death. From that point of view, she knew Mielle was acting strangely and had the hourglass with her, meaning she could have saved him, but chose not to. The reasons suggested:

• Letting Mielle suffer more from the guilt of having accidentally killed her own brother.
• Aria wanting Cain dead because he was the one who executed her in the past timeline.

That commentary also emphasizes that while Cain wasn’t a perfect person, he genuinely believed Aria had tried to poison Mielle in the original timeline, and his actions came from that belief. After the rebellion and his pardon, he seemed to be trying to get his life on track and be a better son. From this lens, Aria’s commitment to revenge outweighs any chance of forgiveness—and the reader even suggests that, if necessary, Aria would have thrown Jessie, Annie, or Sarah to the wolves if it meant securing her revenge.

Ending, Epilogue, and Emotional Tone

Another reader describes this as a “good series” that they fully understand others calling “great,” while personally stopping just short of that. The first two seasons are praised as strong, “nails perfect” in many places, but the series struggles with wrapping up the main story neatly in the last season.

According to that opinion, the story peaks with Aria finally achieving her revenge, then drags a bit in the aftermath. The third season feels shorter and less focused, and the epilogue—while long and full of extra content— ends up feeling like “more story than the actual ending was.”

That same reader also mentions that while they could accept Aria’s villainy toward those who wronged her during the main plot, her continued coldness and harshness toward innocents afterwards lowered their opinion of her. It’s one thing to be ruthless to traitors and manipulators; it hits differently when that coldness is directed at people like children. In the end, they still call it “certainly not bad and certainly worth a read,” but wish the series had stuck the landing a bit better instead of rushing the closing chapters and relying on an extended epilogue.

A Notable Reader Rant

This final section highlights a passionate reader rant that perfectly captures the essence of what it means for Aria to be a villainess in the true sense of the word:

I’m just gonna respectfully state my opinion to all the f***ing dense people out here complaining about her “horrible” personality. First of all, if your brain is still working, may I ask: do you even know the definition of the word “villainess”? The clue is literally in the name — “villain.”

A villainess is a female character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot. Yes, she is one. She is a walking red flag. A wicked and shrewd woman. A manipulative human being. Not your typical kind and caring heroine. Why are people expecting her to be nice?

People also keep saying Mielle will “change” in the present timeline. Honey, no. There is nothing to fix. And for those saying Aria was “using and manipulating” people like the pink-haired tutor — it’s a revenge story. Of course she’s using strategies to survive and get back at the m*****f****** twisted family that ruined her life.

Someone even said “she has no mercy.” I beg your f***ing pardon??? Imagine being executed because of those b*****s, getting reincarnated, and then just forgiving them for everything they did? Are you on something?

If you can’t handle her villainous actions, maybe go read The Villainous Princess Wants to Live in a Gingerbread House so you can pass away from kindness and sweetness instead (respectfully).