Villainess in Love is one of those stories that pulls you in with its premise but keeps you hooked with its main characters. While the plot itself has some inconsistencies and a rushed ending the romance between Yunifer and Ishid is so good that it makes up for a lot of the flaws. I went into this expecting a classic villainess story but what I got was an incredibly refreshing romance with a mature female lead and a male lead who is adorably devoted. Honestly if the story had just focused on the two of them without diving into the drama it would have been perfect. The drama isnt bad necessarily but it picks up late in the story and then just rushes to a finish making it feel a little unnecessary. Still the romance? Absolute toptier. slight spoilers but doesnt really ruin the story experience : What Works: The Romance Characters 220https://theksblogs.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/screenshot20250301200453.png Yunifer and Ishid are the reason to read this. Their relationship is mature straightforward and free of the usual frustrating misunderstandings. Yunifer isnt a clueless heroine who takes ages to figure things outshe knows what she wants and she communicates. That alone makes her one of the best Female leads in the genre. Ishid on the other hand is an absolute puppydevoted caring and emotionally vulnerable in a way that makes him incredibly endearing. Their chemistry is so natural and welldeveloped that I found myself wishing for another 100 chapters just to see more of their interactions. The intimacy between them is beautifully portrayedsteamy but not overly graphic affectionate without being cheesy. Its just good. The side characters also add a lot to the story. Raya Ishids pet bird in particular is an absolute gem. And while the story doesnt develop them as much as Id have liked they still play a pretty solid supporting role. What Falls Flat: The Plot Ending Now heres where things get a bit frustrating. The story starts off strong but then it suddenly shifts gears halfway through. The main plot kicks in late and doesnt really get the time to develop properly. Then just when things feel like theyre picking up boomthe ending comes out of nowhere. Its not a bad ending but it definitely feels rushed. 220https://theksblogs.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/screenshot20250302183145.png There are so many loose ends that never get tied up: Yunifers relationship with her father? Barely explored. Who is she actually how did she get transported into the world? No answers. Raelles hinted romance? What happened to Michael? Just left hanging. And the crown prince poor guy made some terrible choices but he deserved a better conclusion too. If the story had taken more time to flesh out these elements it would have been a much stronger narrative overall. To the rescue: The special chapters While the main story had a rushed ending and left a lot of subplots unresolved the 17 special chapters actually did a decent job of filling in some of the gaps. They provided extra moments between Yunifer and Ishid giving us more of their adorable dynamic and showing how their relationship continues to develop poststory. Some loose ends like Yunifers thoughts on her father and her mothers past were explored more concretely giving a better conclusion to their relationship. But thats where the role of the side characters end we dont have a look into Raelles Cassians or even Michaels future making their storylines still felt somewhat incomplete. 220https://theksblogs.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/6078550114b799cdbf4a80c9121679096733.jpeg What really made the special chapters stand out was how much they focused on what made the story shine in the first placeYunifer and Ishids relationship. We got to see more of their marriage how they adjusted to their new life together andmost importantlyhow Ishid came to terms with becoming a father despite his troubled past. This was such a sweet and heartfelt aspect of the story and watching him grow into the role was incredibly satisfying. The special chapters are definitely worth checking out Art: A Mixed Bag The art is generally really pretty especially in the romantic and comedic scenes. The character designs are expressive and the chibi moments add a nice layer of humor. The artist does a fantastic job in capturing emotional depth particularly in Yunifer and Ishids tender momentsthe romantic and steamy scenes feel incredibly intimate and welldrawn while not making it completely explicit. 220https://theksblogs.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/60d28f591c6b464ad3a3de5d1191131192251.jpeg The comedic expressions exaggerated reactions and playful use of chibi art also add charm to the story. Whether its Yunifer teasing Ishid or their companions being chaotic these moments genuinely make the reading experience more enjoyable. 220https://theksblogs.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/screenshot20250302123649.png However the same level of care doesnt extend to the action scenes. When it comes to battles the art falls flat. The monsters which are described as terrifying threats to humanity look more like plush toys rather than formidable enemies. This completely kills the tension in those scenes making it hard to take them seriously. The lack of detailed choreography in fight sequences also makes them feel rushed and unimpactful. 220https://theksblogs.wordpress.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/03/screenshot20250302214522.png If the story had focused entirely on romance and comedy this wouldnt have been an issue. But since it does attempt actionheavy moments the contrast in quality between the romance and battle sequences becomes all the more noticeable. Final Thoughts Villainess in Love is far from perfect but its one of the most refreshing and enjoyable romances Ive read in the genre. The story might have been inconsistent but Yunifer and Ishids relationship made up for everything. Ill admit I was slightly disappointed on my first read mostly because of the rushed plot. But after rereading it plus the extra 17 special chapters Ive come to appreciate it a lot more. If youre looking for an isekai romance that skips the frustrating tropes and delivers a genuinely great love story this one is definitely worth your time.