I received this book from the publisher + Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Despite having read many many villainess stories (either humorous/serious/romantic/scheming) I always want more so I was excited when I spotted this one up on Netgalley. Of course I had to request it, of course I had to read it. Also because the cover was just stunning!

In this one we meet a princess named Kayena, she is currently at her third life. Yup. Whereas we have had many villainess stories featuring people getting a second chance or with people isekai-ed into the villainess body this one is a bit different. In the first life Kayena was a Kayena, in the second life she was a woman from Korea who read about Kayena’s life in a book, and in the third she is getting a new chance at being Kayena. It was so much fun because she has her memories from her first life, but also the memories of what she read in the second life, so she is quite knowledgeable on what to do next. Because this girl? She is done with being a puppet to everyone. In the first life she helped her brother became emperor and she did everything for him which ended horrifically. In the second life she was a puppet to a boss and also ended up dying horrifically. So naturally, she is done with all that and I was curious to see how she would become the puppeteer instead of the puppet. She is going to be holding the strings and people will dance to her tune.

And it was great fun to see her plot, scheme, and do all she could to change the events that are set to happen. For one she has changed herself. From the original Kayena who was spoiled, didn’t care much as long as everyone complimented and catered to her to be more calm, more intelligent, less dramatic, less spoiled princess. And of course (because she went a 180 degree to another personality) everyone has noticed (and we see through various people important to the story how they feel about this/see them reconsider what they are doing which I absolutely loved). She knows the story, she knows the pawns and the characters, she knows what is the end game and she wants to make sure that this time everyone, including her, get a happy ending. I loved seeing her scheme, plot, plan, and think of some brilliant plans. At times it did get a bit much or too explain-y, but in overall I had fun seeing Kayena take the reins and try her best to get her happy ending and help out others (if they so deserve, haha). I also loved how she flipped a switch around her brother. Instead of complaining and simping over him like she did in the first life she is kind, nurturing, holds him, tries to help him and motivate him to gain the throne in different ways like side with other nobles/houses which leads to confusion but also a changed opinion on his sister.

So yeah, I am definitely rooting for Kayena, she deserves a happy ending, she deserves her freedom. And I am curious to see how the next volume will go and what will happen there.

But the COOKIES. Seriously, you would have to be fucking blind. They are all acting as if it was hard to spot and that they didn’t examine it right. BOY, the almond was like ALL of the cookie. Plus, why the fuck would she eat that? There are no epipens. Was she hoping that she didn’t die from a little bite? I have a nut allergy and no way in hell even with epipens nearby will I eat nuts, even a little bit. Nope.

The art was just amazing and I love love the style. I was so jelly of Kayena’s on point make-up and her absolutely stunning dresses. The artist really put so much love in those.

Oh, and I loved the bonuses at the end of the novel with details on several characters.

All in all, I need NEED the next book in the series because I want more. I would recommend this one to all who love villainess stories (especially changed villainesses).