Villains Are Destined to Die, Vol. 2
“Nothing good can come from a relationship built on secrets.”
Penelope’s fate is looking grim, but she’s got a plan: sneak out, rescue Eckles, and secure herself a one-way ticket out of death. The problem with making the seemingly docile boy her “all-in” love interest? He’s a lot more dangerous than she expected! A single bad hand means she’ll go bust, and Penelope quickly realizes she needs a backup plan—that is, a backup man! Winter appears to be the obvious choice, but there’s more to the enigmatic sorcerer than meets the eye…With the odds stacked against her, will Penelope be able to play her cards right?
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Gwon Gyeoeul
In the world of Korean light novels, few voices have sparked as much quiet curiosity as Gwon Gyeoeul. Best known internationally for The Villainess Is a Marionette, Gyeoeul doesn’t chase the spotlight—but their work doesn’t need it. With stories that thread emotional complexity through elegant, fantastical worlds, they’ve carved out a space that feels both lush and intimate, where character transformation often holds more weight than spectacle.
Though not yet a household name in the global literary scene, Gyeoeul has built a loyal following across South Korea and beyond, especially among readers who crave stories that blur the line between power and vulnerability. Their writing leans into the psychology of ambition, identity, and consequence—especially through female protagonists navigating high-stakes political games behind glittering palace walls.
Villains Are Destined to Die
In a world where beauty, power, and cruelty often go hand in hand, Villains Are Destined to Die dares to flip the script—by placing readers inside the mind of the very character they’re taught to hate.
When a modern-day woman wakes up trapped in the body of Penelope Eckhart—the cold-hearted villainess of a brutal romance game—she’s not offered the luxury of playing by the rules. Survival becomes the only goal. But the game isn’t just rigged against her; it’s actively punishing. In a society where love is currency and a single wrong move can mean death, every decision becomes a calculated risk, every interaction a potential trigger for betrayal.
Villains Are Destined to Die consists of eight books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
