7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! (Light Novel) Vol. 1

ループ7回目の悪役令嬢は、元敵国で自由気ままな花嫁（人質）生活を満喫する (Novel) #1

by Touko Amekawa, Wan☆Hachipisu (Illustrator)

Seventh Time's the Charm!

Being reborn once may sound impressive, but Rishe is already on her seventh time around! She has had all kinds of excitement in her previous lives, from peddling goods as a merchant to locking blades as a knight, so now she's determined to kick back and enjoy. But to savor the high life, she first has to marry the handsome prince...the same one who happens to be her murderer! It will take six-plus lifetimes of experience and skills for Rishe to break the time loop and make her extravagant dreams come true!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Romance, Manga, Young Adult, Time Travel, Fiction

387 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2020

About the author

雨川透子

Reviews

[Riri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to read this book for quite a while, especially since I really liked the web novel version. It doesn't disappoint. It has everything I like, including a smart main character and a shady male lead who knows her worth. Despite what the title says, however, this isn't a villainess story. Rishe is the daughter of a duke and the story does start with her getting dumped by her fiancé, who happens to be the crown prince, but she's never done anything that would brand her as a villainess. She is shrewd, though.

As the title suggests, this is Rishe's seventh loop. It began with her getting her engagement broken at the age of 15. From there, she would walk on various branches of her life and gain various skills before she inevitably died at the age of 20. Then she'd get thrown back to where it started, at the party when her fiancé dumped her for another woman. She's been doing this for six times, and now her seventh attempt at life leads her to meet Arnold, the crown prince of a military nation and the very person who always caused her death in her previous six lives. Since Arnold seems to be interested enough in her to propose, Rishe decides to make the most out of it by marrying him so she can enjoy a laid-back palace life without having to do any work.

If only it was that easy LOL.

Rishe is a smart main character. Maybe it's due to all the experience from her previous lives, but she's quick-witted and catches onto things really fast. Despite her initial objective to have an easy (and hopefully long) life, she quickly figures out that stopping Arnold from waging war might be the key to her survival. This leads to all sorts of royal family politics, which we only get a glimpse of in this first volume. Arnold hasn't revealed his hand yet, but he has a lot of faith in Rishe's capabilities. The romance progresses naturally, with both parties still keeping secrets from one another.

I liked this one a lot. The writing and characterization are great, the story is compelling, and the female side characters are handled well. Even the one who stole Rishe's ex-fiancé from her. It's far more common to see female side characters getting punished and then tossed aside for being bitchy, but that is not the case here. Instead, they are given depth and I find that commendable.

Now to wait for the next volume in November.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dropped today, read today. I wouldn’t call the MC h a villainess, but she does get stuff done!

The age difference of her being 15 and him 19 is slightly mitigated by the fact that she has lived to 20 for her last six lives, so technically mentally and emotionally she is one year older than him, though physically, not so much. Only one kiss and not too heavy on romance, so there is hope, despite her going to marry him in six months time.

I really liked how she maintained her past lives experiences and knowledge, which she was not above using to her advantage.

Only negative, this book was SHORT. Maybe I flew through it because I’ve been reading less than perfect translations recently and this one is very well done. I’m thinking it might have been easier to read so I flew through it faster than the other ones.

Or it really isn’t as long as I would like, cuz greedy reader, lol!

4, definitely worth the read and I can’t wait for the next, stars!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those other loop-living heroines (and villainesses) have nothing on Rishe, who is on her seventh go-round after repeatedly dying at age twenty. She's figured out that a war started by Emperor Arnold is the root cause each time, so when then-crown prince Arnold proposes to her at the start of her seventh loop, she thinks this may be the key to avoiding his rampage. Rishe's no one's fool and is armed with the six lives she lived before to help her reach her happy ending this time...if she can figure out what keeps sending Arnold down his murderous path. It's a fun riff on the usual theme and I'm looking forward to where it's going from here!

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between 4 and 5 stars, might as well give it 5 stars.
I tremendously enjoy reading, I'm glad I stumble upon it and decide to give it a try, I devoured it in one go. Also that bonus chapter, WHY SO CUTE???

I love the heroine, Rishe, I love how capable and wise she can be but still have the innocent and playful vibe, she's the backbone of the story, not just because of her being the main character but because if it's food she's the flavor that make the food. Then we have our mysterious main lead, Arnold, he give intense and serious vibe that matched with his reputation but with Rishe she's just a boy fascinate by a specific girl. He has this playful and lightness when he's with her like whatever she does it always either amused, surprised or give him new perspective. Arnold is caring person, he has a good heart that he prefer to hide (somewhat a tsundere) that has a great sense of responsibility for that makes him astute. There's still a lot of layer about him that I can't wait to discover. Speaking of layer I'm curious about Oliver too, Arnold's attendant that seems to know more about Arnold's plan or even not just that, more than he let on. Meanwhile the crown prince that annulled his engagement with Rishe is seriously a big clown like you can't for 1 sec take him seriously.

The plot is great too, I don't think I've read something similar to this before. Sure I've read many isekai story but I don't think this book belong to isekai genre as she is herself in her past and present life, it just she's go back to the same specific event after she live for some years and die, like check point in games. That combine with refreshing supporting character it only makes the story more interesting and makes me wonder what the author have for the rest of the books.

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm totally in my light novel era.

So I decided to read this light novel after completely devouring volumes 1 and 2 of the manga. People were saying the LN is leaps and bounds better and I honestly agree.

Not only is there so much more detail in the LN, but the pacing isn't as drawn out! We get to be in Arnold's POV for bits here and there too!

Getting through the first half of this was a little rough because it was literally stuff I'd JUST read, but it was still remarkably enjoyable.

Content: intro about Rishe and ends with her kidnapping/escape. I LOVE how much faith Arnold has in her. He knows and expects her to shake things up hehe.

[ChlosterReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

TFW you're so obsessed with an anime the manga isn't enough, you pick up the light novel

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute novel about a girl just attempting to live past the age of 20 and ends up with the man who killed her in her past life 10/10!

[sally ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is the kind of cute, cheesy, trope-filled romance that is just well-written and plotted enough to be fun. I'm having a great time and the anime was just as cute.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this in a bookstore today, and it looks like just the kind of fluffy reincarnation brain-rot that I love. I also love that hair colour, I want it-

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a book in such a short amount of time in, well, a long time! As soon as I started reading I was hooked and ended up finishing it in less than 24 hours. The story is really well-paced and the heroine is the perfect balance of competent/skilled but also still having to carefully navigate her new life. I already like all the characters that have been introduced, and I'm definitely hoping to read the second book soon, since I'm still no closer to figuring out what Crown Prince Arnold's goals are! My only slight critique is that Rishe seems so sure that Arnold will try to kill her again in this life, and views him as a main enemy when in her previous life, even though he killed her, they didn't seem to have any history beyond that one meeting on the battlefield. However, I'm wondering if perhaps this just hasn't been fully explained yet and will come up later in the series; and, at least for me, this doesn't detract all that much from my enjoyment of the story so far!

[Pieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

At its core it is a villainess story although with a time loop as opposed to the reborn into a game/story element. The setting is fairly standard for the genre, a semi-medieval Europe without magic (as far as I can see). The characters are interesting though: a smart MC with a diverse skill set who might be a tad too skilled for some (although at least the author acknowledges a 15-year old might remember how to wield a sword as if she had 5 years of training, but lacks the muscle for it), but for the genre it is not the worse example. It is refreshing to get a smart MC and a troubled love interest whose personality and motives remain a mystery which keeps the question on what triggered that war in previous loops intriguing enough (and not automatic as in most time loop/isekai stories). The romance is a slow burn, but the volume has its cute moments, not much of a surprise there. Still, the volume got me hooked on the series, and it was a pretty good read.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. My first light novel and it was cute and enjoyable. There is a lot of information dumping, but I like it (and enjoy it). It seems as if it is just a different style of being straightforward with it instead of having it be discovered. It kind of reads like a video game play through where information is just handed out as something new happens. There was reveals that are interesting but with no hints or foreshadowing (or very little immediately before). I am thinking this is just how these stories are and do appreciate the novelty in comparison to western novels/stories.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno. Es igual que la serie, pero en este caso, me ha gustado mucho conocer más profundamente los pensamientos de Rishe. Y las ilustraciones son increíbles 😍.

Eso sí, lo único que me ha fallado, al igual que en la serie, es que algunas explicaciones de estrategias, políticas y demás se me han hecho exageradamente aburridas y pesadas. Me han sobrado. Igualmente, Rishe es una genia, la adoro, y me encanta la buena pareja que forma con Arnold.

Deseando leer el siguiente volumen, aunque ya sé lo que pasa porque me vi el anime primero.

[Stoker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ultimate enemies to lovers (except one of them doesn't know they were enemies). Perhaps not the peak of literature, but definitely a fun read for fans of romance, royal/political intrigue, and strong female characters. Can't wait to start volume 2, and love that this goes more in depth than the anime

[Bella KT · Rating 5 out of 5]

literally such a strong female mc without it being overbearing or cringe. it’s really girls support girls & i thought it was going to be a typical enemies to lovers but surprise surprise i thought wrong! so far, it’s so wholesome & powering to read. learned a thing or two fr! the next volume is on the way to me now :D

[✨Tatiana✨ { She Who Reads Ya Books } · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

OMG I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!! So original. I loved the take and I love our heroine! Also her interactions with the prince omggg yessss.

She’s such a queen SLAYYYY

[carthi ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5/5) such a beautiful plot and love how she lived all her lives adventurously.

[. ׂ☪. ݁˖ᥣᧉ᩠࣭֗֗ꪀׁׅαׂׅׅ. · Rating 3 out of 5]

El otro día me vi los primeros caps del anime que está en emisión y bueno, me pudo la curiosidad. Hay algo en el cliché de "prota fuerte, inteligente e independiente enamora al príncipe frío e insensible" que me puede. Qué decir, I'm just a girl.

Estuvo entretenida, seguro lea el resto.

[Lenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still don't understand the villainess part of the title since the main character fits more in the heroine archetype. Rather than that, a nice and entertaining read (and I love Arnold ♡)

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun lighthearted read. I found the premise inherently enjoyable, the characters quite charming, and there's enough of a mystery under the surface to keep me interested in what's next.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love them so much, I enjoy the light novel to see more of them and their thoughts

[Nataha · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 read let’s gooo (to wcale nie jest tak, że pamiętam treść na pamięć)(dajcie mi kolejne tomy Plzzzz 😭😭😭)(mam dosyć czekania.)

[Princess Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rishe is so cool!

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot - 5 ☄
Character - 5 ☄
Writing Style - 5 ☄
World Building - 5 ☄
Art - 5 ☄
Cover - 5 ☄

Overall - 5 🌟

[Hawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The anime was bomb, the first book follows the first 6 ep💜

[Paula (lovebookscl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia ligera, sencilla y entretenida.

Hay muchas cosas que pasan convenientemente para el plot, pero al mismo tiempo se presenta de una forma entretenida y graciosa. Es una lectura para no tomar muy en serio y simplemente disfrutar como se va desarrollando la relación entre Rishe y Arnold, y si Rishe logrará pasar los 20 años.

Me gustó la trama, así que seguiré con la historia.

[Lidik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm impressed, perfect for-fun read. Literally perfection. There's a balance of intrigue, romance, world-building, and character development that's well thought out.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the first few chapters. I know this is going to sound snobby, but I was surprised by how good the writing is. "Light novel" is a pretty wide genre, so of course the writing will vary (it's not really like the YA/adult split in the US), but this lost a lot of the "light" for me and slid right into novel territory. Just a little bit on the shorter side since it's split into several volumes.

It's interesting to read it after the anime and the manga, in that order. While the anime is faithful to the content of both, it feels significantly more aligned with the manga. It's hard to explain, but it's the tone.

Some of the things that I adored about Rishe - her vibrant personality and carefree demeanor - come across much more strongly in animated and illustrated formats. In the novel, she still has the same immense resilience, creativity, and strength of character, but she's...older. The way she thinks, talks, and calculates all of her actions...it sinks in more that she's lived an additional 30 years across her 6 lives, which means that going into her 7th life, she's mentally 45.

Which, y'know, makes me relate to her even more...and also makes her optimism and joy for life even more inspiring. She's spent 30 years learning a lot of different things (Amekawa refers to it in gaming terms, maxing out her various stats before she restarts), and also experiencing the best and worst parts of the world and the people in it. And yet she still wants so badly to keep learning and to keep living.

I just really love Rishe a lot.

She's so kind, too, which is something you'd think might've gotten driven out of her by this point, but I think it's the effect of experiencing so much of the world. She's gained more empathy and a better understanding of what it is that people need. Rich, poverty-stricken, seemingly "evil" - she looks past their circumstances and actions to better understand their motivations. Are they really evil people, or were they just desperate? Or hurt badly by something in their past, causing them to lash out? Or doing their best to help their family, no matter what it takes?

I wonder if there will be any actual solid villain-types in this story. Rishe's ex-fiance is, I suppose; she doesn't show any interest in trying to reform him. The thing you don't learn from the anime or manga is that a couple years after he broke off their engagement, he tried to kill his father and was stripped of his title and thrown into prison. So Rishe tries to gently warn Mary, the girl who'd wormed her way into the prince's affections in order to save her family. Rishe sees the good in Mary's actions, and the possibility of her choosing a better life that can make her happy, too. The prince...not so much.

What's interesting is that the prince ends up following a similar path to Arnold, whose actions are much more successful: he overthrows his emperor father and sends the world into a huge war that Rishe repeatedly dies from. And that's the future she's trying to change in this 7th lifetime.

We haven't met the emperor yet, and I don't know when we will. (The anime didn't get that far.) Arnold is intentionally trying to keep Rishe separate from his family, although his little brother throws a wrench in that by antagonizing and then kidnapping Rishe. Theodore tells Rishe some things: that his brother is evil, that he killed their mother, that he did it in response to her trying to kill Arnold first.

It's hard to know how much of this is true, and what Arnold's motivation will be in killing his father and taking over the kingdom, then plunging it into war. That's where the plot gets thorny and a bit more difficult to follow, which is why I knocked off a half star for the last couple of chapters. I may have just been tired, since I was finishing off the book before bed, but the trade deal negotiations and then the whole Theodore kidnapping plot and subsequent discussion between Rishe and the brothers got a bit dense.

There's a lot of political and economic stuff going on, and I'm not the best with either of those. It is interesting...but I honestly kind of hope later (post-anime) volumes don't get way too deep into that kind of governmental negotiation, because it's honestly going to lose my interest a little bit.

But! It is important. Again, this is Rishe showing her age and experience - continually shocking the men around her who aren't used to a young noblewoman knowing anything other than social graces, household running, and childbearing. She sets up a trade negotiation that is less about making short term money than about building a workforce that will turn into long term tax-paying consumers. She's thinking like an empress, which is actually really interesting, and something that makes her a really good partner to Arnold.

Arnold does choose war five years in the future, for reasons yet unknown, but in the present, he's focusing most of his efforts on finding ways to make the people of his nation safe, healthy, employed, and prosperous. I'm guessing these are things his father doesn't care that much about, although his little brother, Theodore, has been enacting his own reform and support projects in the slums.

All the back and forth about Theodore's and Arnold's true brotherly feelings for each other lost me a little bit...I think maybe I already got enough of that emotional impact from the anime, so reading it in longer book form was a bit on the tiring/confusing side. They say so very much while not truly expressing much at all. It seemed more muddled to me, whereas the motivations in the anime were kind of stripped down to the basics. Arnold's plan has been to abdicate the throne and leave it to his brother, and Theodore suspects this plan and has been putting things in motion on his own to prevent that from happening. Which leads, ultimately, to him trying to take his own life - an action that Arnold stops, with Rishe's help.

The big question - again, kind of muddy in the novel at this point - is what happened to Theodore during Rishe's 6 other lives. Had he succeeded in jumping off a roof and "freeing" his older brother? Had he been imprisoned or executed? Did Theodore's fate directly lead to Arnold taking vengeance on their father?

Rishe's work isn't done yet, though, so that can't have been the only hinge changing Arnold's villain-emperor-path.

The one novel-specific thing I found super interesting was Arnold's valet/counselor/etc, Oliver, expressing concern over the force Rishe was gathering around herself. Within a few short weeks as crown princess-to-be, she's already won the loyalty of the staff, the knights she interacts with, a hugely important trading company, and, through her new bond with Theodore, the loyalty of the masses in the slums.

Rishe is, in Oliver's eyes, the actual danger here, and the one who could potentially work to overthrow the emperor(s) if she wanted. Arnold sees that, too, but...really doesn't care. Either he trusts her, or he cares very little about actually being the leader of his own country.

I honestly can't figure out exactly where the story is going to go or what Arnold's motivations are, but that's why it's an ongoing thing...I'm not sure the answers are in any of the volumes published thus far, or how long the journey will be. But I do hope it will stay interesting the whole way through...and that it doesn't drag on endlessly. It does seem like it has specific goals it's working towards, so we'll see.

[Aki Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you have a heroine who has lived every life she wanted to live after getting thrown out, the world is full of infinite possibilities indeed. She knows what she wants, and she knows just what to do.