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私は敵になりません! (Light Novel) #1
I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! Volume 1
From an early age, Kiara has been plagued with dreams of another world—dreams in which a girl she doesn't recognize plays a strategy RPG called “Farzia: Kingdom at War”. Farzia is, in fact, the same kingdom where Kiara currently lives. Oh, and one other thing: there's an enemy character who's also named Kiara, though her name is Kiara Credias. Naturally, as with any other RPG villain, this enemy is slain by the heroes.
So when her adoptive father, Count Patriciél, orders her to marry Viscount Credias, Kiara comes to a horrifying realization: perhaps those “dreams” were visions of things to come! She hatches a plan to get the hell out of Dodge and create a new future for herself—one where she STAYS ALIVE, thank you very much!
So when her adoptive father, Count Patriciél, orders her to marry Viscount Credias, Kiara comes to a horrifying realization: perhaps those “dreams” were visions of things to come! She hatches a plan to get the hell out of Dodge and create a new future for herself—one where she STAYS ALIVE, thank you very much!
253 pages, ebook
First published September 25, 2015
124 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 2, 2021
Wow, I really like this one, though why hasn’t the RPG MC popped up yet? Plot hole maybe? Meh, doesn’t matter, it’s very good so far. 4, onto the next, stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
My jam right now.
August 6, 2020
There’s been a sudden rise over the past few years of females being reincarnated as the villainess of an otome game and trying to avoid a bad ending, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! perhaps being the most popular. I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! is totally different you see — Kiara, formerly from Japan, is in a strategy RPG game! Totally different…despite being surrounded by hot guys and trying to avoid certain death.
So yeah, not very different after all.
After being summoned for her surprise wedding at age 14, adopted-out Cinderella Kiara realizes the dreams she’s had over the years were of her life in Japan, and she’s been reincarnated as an antagonist of a Final Fantasy Tactics-style game. Game-Kiara shows up as a recurring Boss before eventually dying at the hands of Alan, the protagonist. Heroine-Kiara believes that if she doesn’t get married, she’ll avoid lining up with Game-Kiara’s backstory. So she sneaks into the baggage compartment of a nearby carriage and falls asleep inside.
When she awakens, guess who she sees: Alan, along with his guard Wentworth and the eccentric, charming Reggie, whom Kiara doesn’t recognize from the game. Kiara manages to avoid being turned over and even gets hired as Alan’s mother’s attendant. Both out of self-preservation and a fondness for her benefactors (particularly Reggie), Kiara tries to prevent the tragedies of the game, which is set about two years in the future.
The best way I can describe I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! volume 1 is a cheap jigsaw puzzle where, even though all the pieces connect, there are gaps, pieces that require a lot of force to snap together, and peeling cardboard. Parts of this story don’t seem to jive together. At age 11, Kiara was forced to carry around a bottle of poison (which she still has at the start of the novel) and learn how to fight with a knife. Not only do we never see Kiara use her self-defense skills, she never hones them either. Alan’s mother is a tough sword-wielding noblewoman whose other female attendants also have skills. Since Kiara is so determined to make sure Reggie and company stay alive, why not ask her friendly mistress for training in swordsmanship?
Instead, Kiara is secretly determined to be a spellcaster like Game-Kiara, but magic is very rare in this monster-filled world. The one mage she does meet refuses to directly assist her, so Kiara ends up pouring through books to learn anything. Even what little she does discover we only find out after she’s assembled the ingredients and forced to test out her theory. This is the kind of development that should be explored when comes up with the idea, not after. How she officially ends up a spellcaster is also rather ridiculous (let’s ask a captured enemy to help!), but maybe you can chalk it up to game plots often being rather contrived.
That, as I mentioned before, happens late in the novel. After she arrives at Alan’s place, it’s a lot of “I did this, then I did that, then that happened”. Reggie gets closer to her physically and emotionally, Alan is on guard, and Wentworth admires her dedication, but these feel often too few and far-between. Maybe it’s also because of the way the I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! volume 1 is structured. There’s a quick prologue and side story, but otherwise, it’s only four chapters long. Length-wise, it’s not any shorter than most light novels, but for much of the novel, when something happens, it doesn’t last as long as I would have wanted. The side story, for instance, was the type of content I wanted directly in the story: an actual incident we get to experience right along with Kiara, not a glossed-over narration.
But maybe volume 2 will be an improvement now that the game is starting and Kiara can’t just hang out in the library looking for answers. Plus, best boy Reggie is likely to be around full-time, and I give credit for Kiara finally being a heroine who isn’t obtuse about his feelings for her — and vice versa. But while Kiara may not be Bakarina in denseness, the novel also doesn’t nearly reach Bakarina levels of fun.
- Krystallina
So yeah, not very different after all.
After being summoned for her surprise wedding at age 14, adopted-out Cinderella Kiara realizes the dreams she’s had over the years were of her life in Japan, and she’s been reincarnated as an antagonist of a Final Fantasy Tactics-style game. Game-Kiara shows up as a recurring Boss before eventually dying at the hands of Alan, the protagonist. Heroine-Kiara believes that if she doesn’t get married, she’ll avoid lining up with Game-Kiara’s backstory. So she sneaks into the baggage compartment of a nearby carriage and falls asleep inside.
When she awakens, guess who she sees: Alan, along with his guard Wentworth and the eccentric, charming Reggie, whom Kiara doesn’t recognize from the game. Kiara manages to avoid being turned over and even gets hired as Alan’s mother’s attendant. Both out of self-preservation and a fondness for her benefactors (particularly Reggie), Kiara tries to prevent the tragedies of the game, which is set about two years in the future.
The best way I can describe I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! volume 1 is a cheap jigsaw puzzle where, even though all the pieces connect, there are gaps, pieces that require a lot of force to snap together, and peeling cardboard. Parts of this story don’t seem to jive together. At age 11, Kiara was forced to carry around a bottle of poison (which she still has at the start of the novel) and learn how to fight with a knife. Not only do we never see Kiara use her self-defense skills, she never hones them either. Alan’s mother is a tough sword-wielding noblewoman whose other female attendants also have skills. Since Kiara is so determined to make sure Reggie and company stay alive, why not ask her friendly mistress for training in swordsmanship?
Instead, Kiara is secretly determined to be a spellcaster like Game-Kiara, but magic is very rare in this monster-filled world. The one mage she does meet refuses to directly assist her, so Kiara ends up pouring through books to learn anything. Even what little she does discover we only find out after she’s assembled the ingredients and forced to test out her theory. This is the kind of development that should be explored when comes up with the idea, not after. How she officially ends up a spellcaster is also rather ridiculous (let’s ask a captured enemy to help!), but maybe you can chalk it up to game plots often being rather contrived.
That, as I mentioned before, happens late in the novel. After she arrives at Alan’s place, it’s a lot of “I did this, then I did that, then that happened”. Reggie gets closer to her physically and emotionally, Alan is on guard, and Wentworth admires her dedication, but these feel often too few and far-between. Maybe it’s also because of the way the I Refuse to Be Your Enemy! volume 1 is structured. There’s a quick prologue and side story, but otherwise, it’s only four chapters long. Length-wise, it’s not any shorter than most light novels, but for much of the novel, when something happens, it doesn’t last as long as I would have wanted. The side story, for instance, was the type of content I wanted directly in the story: an actual incident we get to experience right along with Kiara, not a glossed-over narration.
But maybe volume 2 will be an improvement now that the game is starting and Kiara can’t just hang out in the library looking for answers. Plus, best boy Reggie is likely to be around full-time, and I give credit for Kiara finally being a heroine who isn’t obtuse about his feelings for her — and vice versa. But while Kiara may not be Bakarina in denseness, the novel also doesn’t nearly reach Bakarina levels of fun.
- Krystallina
June 4, 2022
I really loved this book I just love how light novels are written there was always something interesting going on. I loved all of the characters so much but I especially loved Kiara and Reggie most of all they have great chemistry I am really looking forward to where their relationship goes from here. I loved Kiara for her tenacity willingness to do whatever it takes to prevent something terrible from happening I also liked the fact she needs help at times and embraces that help I liked that she isn't this super strong female lead I like that she has many weaknesses and shortcomings. I really liked Reggie both for his protectiveness and his willingness to to do things he would not of done otherwise. I loved the plot it started as the MC finding out this is her second life and that she is the villainess from the game she played in her first life so she sets out to change things many things happen along the way I am looking forward to reading more.
April 14, 2021
This was okay. I like Kiara. The story and the other characters are moderately interesting, but I can't say I'm in love with any of it. That said, it's free this month on J-Novel Club, so I'll probably read at least volume 2 before I make my final judgment. It helps that the entire series is only 6 volumes, making it quite manageable. 3 stars.
March 5, 2024
I’m just a sucker for this genre okay?!
March 30, 2020
A reincarnation novel where there's quite a lot of turn based strategy combat discussed. The author, in their afterward, explains they were going for something cutesier, but instead somehow battle strategy started...
J Novel Club, which is doing a banger job of releasing titles I care about, did a good job with the translation here so feel at ease.
Largely we follow Kiara and her thoughts as she attempts to flee her fate as a NPC low tier mob character mini-boss. At times its a little confusing as she'll refer to consequences down the line for present time events, but she's usually too pre-occupied by keeping Reggie alive in the future to dwell too often.
Kiara as a person was way more into action RPGs often skipping thru involved cut scenes and dialogue to get to the battles. This helps her give concrete directions, but hinders her as often she'll remember fragments of game events or remember too late entirely.
One rather hopes her interference will bear fruit and change the plot of the game to keep her alive...but I don't know, she's pretty good at landing herself in trouble.
Also Alan we need to talk about your sensibilities and logic skills - in no universe does it make sense a teen boy would take an interest in a girl barely a year younger in a paternal manner!! Were you even taught about the birds & the bees?
J Novel Club, which is doing a banger job of releasing titles I care about, did a good job with the translation here so feel at ease.
Largely we follow Kiara and her thoughts as she attempts to flee her fate as a NPC low tier mob character mini-boss. At times its a little confusing as she'll refer to consequences down the line for present time events, but she's usually too pre-occupied by keeping Reggie alive in the future to dwell too often.
Kiara as a person was way more into action RPGs often skipping thru involved cut scenes and dialogue to get to the battles. This helps her give concrete directions, but hinders her as often she'll remember fragments of game events or remember too late entirely.
One rather hopes her interference will bear fruit and change the plot of the game to keep her alive...but I don't know, she's pretty good at landing herself in trouble.
Also Alan we need to talk about your sensibilities and logic skills - in no universe does it make sense a teen boy would take an interest in a girl barely a year younger in a paternal manner!! Were you even taught about the birds & the bees?
December 15, 2020
It's a fairly middle-of-the-road Isekai fantasy series. This time, it centers around a girl who reincarnates as a potential reoccurring mid-boss villain character in a tactics RPG prior to the events of said game. She nopes the heck out of her fate, ends up joining up with the hero of the world, and is determined to (as the title sums up) not become his enemy. Nor Prince Reggie's, who she is far more determined to save. It's not terrible, but there also isn't anything all that notable about it.
The setting is treated as vague window dressing. The game could be any number of tactics-style games and is fairly generic. There isn't much about the game's original story in this volume other than mentions of Kiara's fate and the inciting incident/prologue of the game, and while tidbits are thrown here and there (an aside about the Thorn Princess, information about the handful of monsters that appeared), there isn't all that much of video-gaminess in here. Kiara played the game but didn't seem to be a hardcore fan who knew everything and anything, so she doesn't provide much insight beyond those needed for the story beats. In other words, I wish Satsuki had leaned in a little heavier with the setting and world-building to make it distinct and not another generic fantasy-RPG world that could just as easily be swapped with another with no differences. It's not the worst offender out there, but I wish there had been more to the setting.
I also wish that Satsuki had done more with the characters. 200+ pages of story, and I can't tell you all that much about any of them. We live in Kiara's head for most of the book (there are a few brief PoV shifts), but I don't feel like I have a good handle of her character. She's not quite substitute-for-so-and-so level of generic, but I'm not sure I'd be able to pick her out from a lineup either. The same goes for the other characters. Reggie and Alan also felt a little flat. Not to the point of swapable genericness either, but I can't say I got a good feel for them either. Much like setting, I feel like characters got summarizations in place of character growth and interactions. I had to have a lot of blind faith reading this that Kiara and Reggie were developing feelings because they basically went from "you snuck on our carriage, who are you?" to "just about to kiss" within two chapters without much on screen interaction. I wish I could have seen them interact more (all of the characters!) and had the relationships build gradually. Also, Reggie gives off a few red flags for me, so... not sure I want to ship that.
That's not to say there weren't some clever parts I rather enjoyed. Kiara is resourceful, which I liked, and she does some things in the story that I enjoyed. When faced with the Thorn Princess, she lies like a rug to protect Reggie from her. She spots a bunch of monsters that shoot electricity by a pond and splashes them with water to defeat them via short circuiting. I also liked when Satsuki got into some of the details about the game world, like the fan community's reaction and the gave maker's reaction to the reaction when it comes to the Thorn Princess.
I think there's a lot of potential here if Satsuki had fleshed things out a little more. It still feels a little rough-draft-outline to me. There are themes and developments I wish were expanded upon, and while the characters aren't paper-thin, they aren't particularly well-developed yet either. It's not bad, but it's not a standout either.
The setting is treated as vague window dressing. The game could be any number of tactics-style games and is fairly generic. There isn't much about the game's original story in this volume other than mentions of Kiara's fate and the inciting incident/prologue of the game, and while tidbits are thrown here and there (an aside about the Thorn Princess, information about the handful of monsters that appeared), there isn't all that much of video-gaminess in here. Kiara played the game but didn't seem to be a hardcore fan who knew everything and anything, so she doesn't provide much insight beyond those needed for the story beats. In other words, I wish Satsuki had leaned in a little heavier with the setting and world-building to make it distinct and not another generic fantasy-RPG world that could just as easily be swapped with another with no differences. It's not the worst offender out there, but I wish there had been more to the setting.
I also wish that Satsuki had done more with the characters. 200+ pages of story, and I can't tell you all that much about any of them. We live in Kiara's head for most of the book (there are a few brief PoV shifts), but I don't feel like I have a good handle of her character. She's not quite substitute-for-so-and-so level of generic, but I'm not sure I'd be able to pick her out from a lineup either. The same goes for the other characters. Reggie and Alan also felt a little flat. Not to the point of swapable genericness either, but I can't say I got a good feel for them either. Much like setting, I feel like characters got summarizations in place of character growth and interactions. I had to have a lot of blind faith reading this that Kiara and Reggie were developing feelings because they basically went from "you snuck on our carriage, who are you?" to "just about to kiss" within two chapters without much on screen interaction. I wish I could have seen them interact more (all of the characters!) and had the relationships build gradually. Also, Reggie gives off a few red flags for me, so... not sure I want to ship that.
That's not to say there weren't some clever parts I rather enjoyed. Kiara is resourceful, which I liked, and she does some things in the story that I enjoyed. When faced with the Thorn Princess, she lies like a rug to protect Reggie from her. She spots a bunch of monsters that shoot electricity by a pond and splashes them with water to defeat them via short circuiting. I also liked when Satsuki got into some of the details about the game world, like the fan community's reaction and the gave maker's reaction to the reaction when it comes to the Thorn Princess.
I think there's a lot of potential here if Satsuki had fleshed things out a little more. It still feels a little rough-draft-outline to me. There are themes and developments I wish were expanded upon, and while the characters aren't paper-thin, they aren't particularly well-developed yet either. It's not bad, but it's not a standout either.
March 4, 2020
Summary:
An isekai novel following the path of a young lady who wakes up and realizes that she's been reincarnated as a character of an RPG strategy game. There's a war between two kingdoms and her in-game self side with the villains. When she realizes the direction her path is taking her down, she makes a quick escape from an arranged marriage which would ultimately lead to her being skewered by the hero of the story - Alan. In doing so, she sneaks away on the night her adoptive father sends her a letter informing her of the marriage to be. She accidentally winds up in Alan's carriage. Upon being found, Alan and co. take pity on her and she befriends them. After realizing one of her newfound friends - Reggie - actually dies in the opening scene of the game (2 years after she meets him), she devotes herself to trying to change the fate for both of them.
Pros:
It's a female isekai where the lead doesn't immediately have ungodly powers, rivaled by none, an ego that can touch the sun and an instant harem. Though there is plenty of flirtation from her male companions one of them actually does it to help break her out of bad moods. And despite having a horrible childhood in this magical world, she seems well adjusted but really it's more that she now sees herself as negligible. She tries extremely hard to prove her worth. She also doesn't want to see Reggie die.
Cons:
Despite this being 2 years before the start of the war the pace is a bit quicker than I would have liked. The second half of the book literally rushed into the war. I personally would have liked to have seen some of her time in between. They mention her spending time with Reggie a lot, but it just says they spend time together studying. Show the readers, don't tell us. Because ultimately, in these sorts of novels people like to see those character interactions. Kiara also takes some very risky chances in her attempts to learn magic to save herself and Reggie.
An isekai novel following the path of a young lady who wakes up and realizes that she's been reincarnated as a character of an RPG strategy game. There's a war between two kingdoms and her in-game self side with the villains. When she realizes the direction her path is taking her down, she makes a quick escape from an arranged marriage which would ultimately lead to her being skewered by the hero of the story - Alan. In doing so, she sneaks away on the night her adoptive father sends her a letter informing her of the marriage to be. She accidentally winds up in Alan's carriage. Upon being found, Alan and co. take pity on her and she befriends them. After realizing one of her newfound friends - Reggie - actually dies in the opening scene of the game (2 years after she meets him), she devotes herself to trying to change the fate for both of them.
Pros:
It's a female isekai where the lead doesn't immediately have ungodly powers, rivaled by none, an ego that can touch the sun and an instant harem. Though there is plenty of flirtation from her male companions one of them actually does it to help break her out of bad moods. And despite having a horrible childhood in this magical world, she seems well adjusted but really it's more that she now sees herself as negligible. She tries extremely hard to prove her worth. She also doesn't want to see Reggie die.
Cons:
Despite this being 2 years before the start of the war the pace is a bit quicker than I would have liked. The second half of the book literally rushed into the war. I personally would have liked to have seen some of her time in between. They mention her spending time with Reggie a lot, but it just says they spend time together studying. Show the readers, don't tell us. Because ultimately, in these sorts of novels people like to see those character interactions. Kiara also takes some very risky chances in her attempts to learn magic to save herself and Reggie.
January 30, 2022
TL; DR: (3.5 stars) A just-fine light novel for my low expectations. Good for people who like isekai and RPG’s with a shoujo flair. I’ll probably pick up the next volumes just to see how things pan out.
L; DR:
I’m still a pretty new light novel reader, but I thought I might enjoy this since the guy with white hair on the cover was good looking and I’m a sucker for a nice shoujo isekai.
I guess I liked it. The story is simple, we’ve all seen it before—girl reincarnates into a game she played, oh no, she’s a character that’s going to die! Then you throw in some nice looking guys and boom! Content.
It does stand out from previous stories I’ve read. The writing and translation is decent, and Kiara, the protagonist, is pretty likable. Although I guess I don’t care much for the RPG scene, the combat was fine.
As far as the romance goes, I don’t know, Reggie and Kiara’s relationship didn’t make sense. I liked Kiara and I liked Reggie separately, but together, I just couldn’t quite get it. They have, like, one conversation total before he’s interested in her and there wasn’t many of those romantic moments that I come to these light novels for. It’s a more plot-centered story.
Also: the art. Didn’t like it that much. I was glad there weren’t too many illustrations spread out in between. The guys look handsome but Kiara… poor Kiara. She looks wonky.
L; DR:
I’m still a pretty new light novel reader, but I thought I might enjoy this since the guy with white hair on the cover was good looking and I’m a sucker for a nice shoujo isekai.
I guess I liked it. The story is simple, we’ve all seen it before—girl reincarnates into a game she played, oh no, she’s a character that’s going to die! Then you throw in some nice looking guys and boom! Content.
It does stand out from previous stories I’ve read. The writing and translation is decent, and Kiara, the protagonist, is pretty likable. Although I guess I don’t care much for the RPG scene, the combat was fine.
As far as the romance goes, I don’t know, Reggie and Kiara’s relationship didn’t make sense. I liked Kiara and I liked Reggie separately, but together, I just couldn’t quite get it. They have, like, one conversation total before he’s interested in her and there wasn’t many of those romantic moments that I come to these light novels for. It’s a more plot-centered story.
Also: the art. Didn’t like it that much. I was glad there weren’t too many illustrations spread out in between. The guys look handsome but Kiara… poor Kiara. She looks wonky.
February 23, 2022
I'd rate this book a 3.5 if I could, but since I can't, I'm rounding up to a 4. I might've lowered it to a three if I were only considering the book itself, but when I take into account my enjoyment while reading, I think it deserves the four.
This book was by no means the best-written I've read. The characters didn't impact me as much as they could've, and I felt the plot was a bit undirected, but the story itself was unique, especially considering the light novel genre. Reincarnation is a pretty standard trope in LNs, although not usually reincarnation into a strategy battle RPG. We generally follow a character experiencing their second life in a romance game or novel, so following a heroine in a more militaristic world was fun! I do wish Kiara had more of a mind for combat, but I'm sure that's something that will develop as the series continues.
I've already downloaded the second installment on my library app, and I'm excited to see Kiara's development through this next stretch!
This book was by no means the best-written I've read. The characters didn't impact me as much as they could've, and I felt the plot was a bit undirected, but the story itself was unique, especially considering the light novel genre. Reincarnation is a pretty standard trope in LNs, although not usually reincarnation into a strategy battle RPG. We generally follow a character experiencing their second life in a romance game or novel, so following a heroine in a more militaristic world was fun! I do wish Kiara had more of a mind for combat, but I'm sure that's something that will develop as the series continues.
I've already downloaded the second installment on my library app, and I'm excited to see Kiara's development through this next stretch!
April 16, 2020
Adorable and deadly.
This was a cute shoujo story on one hand and a detailed Strategy RPG on the other. I feel Kanata Satsuki blended them well.
I’m not sure I’ll be able to get my daughter to read this, but I’m glad that I did. What I liked about the novel was the heroine. Although she was girly from time to time (allowing for romance), she was also plucky and took charge of her own fate. I love a main character who grabs the steering wheel of their own life. Kiara was entertaining to watch growing.
There are a lot of reincarnation isekai novels out there, but this one had a novel twist: the main character suddenly realized she was a mid-level boss in a video game she played in a previous life. Unlike other video game based isekai novels, the characters didn’t walk around accessing their stat menus. They were real characters dealing with the troubles life gave them. Kiara was one of them, but no matter what she did, her death as a mid-level boss seemed destined to happen. Reading about her efforts to thwart fate made the book enjoyable.
I look forward to the second volume. Now if only I can get my daughter to read the first volume.
This was a cute shoujo story on one hand and a detailed Strategy RPG on the other. I feel Kanata Satsuki blended them well.
I’m not sure I’ll be able to get my daughter to read this, but I’m glad that I did. What I liked about the novel was the heroine. Although she was girly from time to time (allowing for romance), she was also plucky and took charge of her own fate. I love a main character who grabs the steering wheel of their own life. Kiara was entertaining to watch growing.
There are a lot of reincarnation isekai novels out there, but this one had a novel twist: the main character suddenly realized she was a mid-level boss in a video game she played in a previous life. Unlike other video game based isekai novels, the characters didn’t walk around accessing their stat menus. They were real characters dealing with the troubles life gave them. Kiara was one of them, but no matter what she did, her death as a mid-level boss seemed destined to happen. Reading about her efforts to thwart fate made the book enjoyable.
I look forward to the second volume. Now if only I can get my daughter to read the first volume.
February 3, 2023
perfect very realistic
If you’re looking for a realistic iskei novel this is it. The MC isn’t super smart or strong and the obvious love interest isn’t suddenly in love and they don’t see eye to eye on everything. Yea I know powers and monsters aren’t real but think about what would happen if zombies become a thing. None of us would suddenly be strong or smart enough. Over time we’d grow accustomed to fighting often and further generations would be smarter and stronger to face the zombies but that’s over time. And most stories like thing have the MC be smart/strong straight out the gate. Plus the usual insta love trope. Don’t get me wrong I love a good insta love story sometimes but I can’t get consumed by the story usually. This was so consuming that I spent an hour at work just reading it. That’s how good it is. I absolutely love it and am about to read book2.
If you’re looking for a realistic iskei novel this is it. The MC isn’t super smart or strong and the obvious love interest isn’t suddenly in love and they don’t see eye to eye on everything. Yea I know powers and monsters aren’t real but think about what would happen if zombies become a thing. None of us would suddenly be strong or smart enough. Over time we’d grow accustomed to fighting often and further generations would be smarter and stronger to face the zombies but that’s over time. And most stories like thing have the MC be smart/strong straight out the gate. Plus the usual insta love trope. Don’t get me wrong I love a good insta love story sometimes but I can’t get consumed by the story usually. This was so consuming that I spent an hour at work just reading it. That’s how good it is. I absolutely love it and am about to read book2.
September 16, 2020
Kiara has always dreamed of a different life---a better life, in a strange world where she has a caring family. Then one day she recognizes her current situation has far too many similarities to a game she used to play in her dreams. In that game, she was a villain! Determined not to get stuck in that same scenario, she runs away, and ends up in the household of the game's main character . . .
I like this book, but I don't think the first volume is a fair representation of the series as a whole. The beginning plays out like many other otome reincarnation stories, where Kiara not only remembers her life on Earth but has some prior knowledge of upcoming events thanks to that. The big, big difference with this series, which you can see by the end of this book, is the GENRE of the game she waltzed into.
Kiara is effectively in a strategy RPG, not a dating sim.
This means, despite the handful of handsome guys surrounding her, and her own latent powers as a mage, that the overall scenario has way more in common with something like Fire Emblem, with lots of tragedy, political maneuvering, and large-scale battles instead of the magical academy setup where the story began.
This is probably most clearly demonstrated in the process of becoming a mage. Naturally, as a gamer, Kiara was insulated from many of the smaller details of the world's lore. When she finds out using magic is literally gambling with her life, it's not so easy to reach out for the power she knows she has.
Overall I think if the end of the book appeals to you, this is a good series to keep reading, but if you disliked how the story started to twist, then the later arcs probably won't change your mind. I rate this book Recommended.
See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
I like this book, but I don't think the first volume is a fair representation of the series as a whole. The beginning plays out like many other otome reincarnation stories, where Kiara not only remembers her life on Earth but has some prior knowledge of upcoming events thanks to that. The big, big difference with this series, which you can see by the end of this book, is the GENRE of the game she waltzed into.
Kiara is effectively in a strategy RPG, not a dating sim.
This means, despite the handful of handsome guys surrounding her, and her own latent powers as a mage, that the overall scenario has way more in common with something like Fire Emblem, with lots of tragedy, political maneuvering, and large-scale battles instead of the magical academy setup where the story began.
This is probably most clearly demonstrated in the process of becoming a mage. Naturally, as a gamer, Kiara was insulated from many of the smaller details of the world's lore. When she finds out using magic is literally gambling with her life, it's not so easy to reach out for the power she knows she has.
Overall I think if the end of the book appeals to you, this is a good series to keep reading, but if you disliked how the story started to twist, then the later arcs probably won't change your mind. I rate this book Recommended.
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December 25, 2022
This is your typical isekai where the female lead remembers her past life only to realise that she has reincarnated as the villainess of a RPG she used to play in her previous life and is destined to die. But what if she simply refuses to be the enemy and runs away? Thus begins Kiara's grand plan to run off to a faraway village and start life anew, but things happen and now she comes face to face with the person she desperately wanted to avoid, Alan Evrard, the main character of the game.
Pretty generic, I have to admit with the naive but hard working protagonist, the stereotypical love interests and fairly simple world building. Surprising though, the action parts of it are very well written and I see this first volume setting up the atmosphere for all that is to come.
Pretty generic, I have to admit with the naive but hard working protagonist, the stereotypical love interests and fairly simple world building. Surprising though, the action parts of it are very well written and I see this first volume setting up the atmosphere for all that is to come.
March 20, 2020
Stavo per arrendermi con questo ennesimo libro, ma le ultime 50 pagine (di 200) hanno salvato la trama e ridestato il mio interesse. La protagonista, ennesima ragazza morta dal Giappone moderno e trasmigrata nel mondo del videogioco strategico a cui giocava come una delle cattive, è una ragazza frignona, ma con la famiglia che si ritrova sarebbe salvabile, se non continuasse a lamentarsi per tutta la prima parte del libro. I coprotagonista o sono pesanti e forzato o non sono approfonditi abbastanza. Ma vedendo i fatti accaduti alla fine forse può migliorare.
June 27, 2021
The last few months I have been reading manga and light novels on purpose, they are fun and easy to read. Some stories are more interesting than others, but I think you cannot really expect it to be ground breaking. Anyway, these books have been really fun for me to read, the story and the characters have been changing and evolving. Some turns on the story have been kind of surprising, but there are still some (small) events than I don't understand, the author does not explain, and I don't really know if actually is going to pay a big part in the future. I really want to see how this develops.
February 12, 2023
Kiara gets memories about her past life and based on these memories she realizes that she is a mini-boss of the game that she played. Similar to other stories, she doesn't want to die at the hand of the hero so she sets out to change her fate by running away.
Of course, this backfires on her and she ends up meeting the hero and his party. This sets her on a new path where the people that she meets becomes important to her and she is determined to protect them.
This was an enjoyable first volume and a nice quick read between reading longer novels.
Of course, this backfires on her and she ends up meeting the hero and his party. This sets her on a new path where the people that she meets becomes important to her and she is determined to protect them.
This was an enjoyable first volume and a nice quick read between reading longer novels.
May 21, 2024
bit of a stretch
Character dialogue and behavior does not fit the era. The female lead is predominantly from the era with hints of her alt modern world existence so her behavior should mostly fit the fantasy environment, but easily forgets behavior she cultivated for 14 years. Meanwhile, the other characters that spawn from that world are definitely acting weirdly and even using modern terminology at times which destroyed the setting credibility. Gonna pass on the sequels because there were to many, “Yeah right” moments.
Character dialogue and behavior does not fit the era. The female lead is predominantly from the era with hints of her alt modern world existence so her behavior should mostly fit the fantasy environment, but easily forgets behavior she cultivated for 14 years. Meanwhile, the other characters that spawn from that world are definitely acting weirdly and even using modern terminology at times which destroyed the setting credibility. Gonna pass on the sequels because there were to many, “Yeah right” moments.
July 15, 2021
A cute, but slightly dark short read. The main character is a pretty typical YA protagonist though, but there is definitely room for her to grow. I would like to see the character designs for the other characters more though since I switched the looks of Alan and Cain with one another. Looking forward to seeing how this story goes as there was a lot more action than I anticipated, which was a good thing since it kept the plot exciting.
November 27, 2021
An intriguing twist to Isekai/reincarnation stories, no free lunch neither with knowledge, power or happy family. Just a girl with a loveless youth, realizing she might be the villain from a game in her previous life and wanting to do something about it. For a light novel it is rather dark and a serious approach to worldbuilding and storytelling. I enjoyed reading it and I am looking forward to the next part. I just hope we do not get too much of a love triangle...
July 16, 2020
Interestingly different twist on video game isekai - the protag is sent to a Fire Emblem-esque war game RPG, rather than an MMO or an otome. She's not OP, she just has a moderate amount of insight into potential future outcomes from having played the game. Appealing core cast, and a nice understated romantic subplot with a couple of potential partners.
August 10, 2020
this kept on going on the same low wavelength the whole time its just feels flat even when their is something important to the story is going on and the characters all blended togther and it had awful dialoge aswell which felt forced , idk if that was bec of the translator or not but it was overall a bad read
September 27, 2021
The main character, Kiara, has a lot of personality, and she's not the only one. I would say pretty much all of the characters are interesting and fun to read about.
Kiara is not a damsel in distress, in fact she saves the day multiple times. The way she interacts with Cain and Reggie is also just really cute and I'm looking forward to seeing them interact even more in volume 2.
Kiara is not a damsel in distress, in fact she saves the day multiple times. The way she interacts with Cain and Reggie is also just really cute and I'm looking forward to seeing them interact even more in volume 2.
June 14, 2022
I really enjoy Japanese light novels, but the more of them you read, the more you see repetition of the same plot lines. I've read a couple now where the heroine wakes in a game she used to play, and she is generally the villain. So, this book felt a bit repetitive. Despite that, it was still a fun read but not that original
April 2, 2021
Good story I loved it
I loved the storyline and characters! It made you want to see what happened next. A lot of the storyline I was thinking would happen didn't and that made it so much better. I hope you read this and decide to read for your self!
I loved the storyline and characters! It made you want to see what happened next. A lot of the storyline I was thinking would happen didn't and that made it so much better. I hope you read this and decide to read for your self!
July 23, 2021
Not bad, not horrible, not great.
A) Didn't care for the female lead, pretty damn useless and waited for her to learn how to ride a dang horse.
B) Plot hole with Zapgrass.
C) Instalove annoyance.
D) Well, cliches.
Worth the read.
3.90
A) Didn't care for the female lead, pretty damn useless and waited for her to learn how to ride a dang horse.
B) Plot hole with Zapgrass.
C) Instalove annoyance.
D) Well, cliches.
Worth the read.
3.90
July 28, 2021
I started reading it this morning before going to bed…. I couldn’t put it down and it was approaching 2 A.M., so I went to bed and finished reading it when I woke up. Honestly, it is such a fun and lighthearted book!
May 17, 2025
Die Geschichte hat mir wirklich gut gefallen und zeigt auch durchaus die Schwierigkeiten des wirklichen Auflevelns in der "Realität". Ich bin sehr gespannt, wie es mit unserer "Heldin" und Prinz Reggie weitergeht. Die zwei scheinen eine etwas ungewöhnlich Bindung zueinander aufzubauen.
May 23, 2020
That was really clever. I liked it a lot; I'll have to give volume 2 a chance one of these days.
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