We’ve been loving the additions to the shoujo fantasy genre in 2022, with some real standout series—but as with any popular genre, tropes and repetitive plotlines can start dampening our enthusiasm for new series.
7th Time Loop (our preferred shorthand for 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!) surprised us in every way, delivering a must-read shoujo fantasy that punched straight through shoujo-reincarnation tropes to deliver an excellent fantasy.
After having died six previous times, our heroine, Rishe Irmgard Weitzner, is once again about to be dumped by the Crown Prince—and for the seventh time, she faces the impending doom of her twentieth birthday, where death awaits no matter which action she takes. Each time she’s “looped,” she’s rebuilt her identity and gained new skills—from a traveling merchant, to a doctor, and even a swordsman!
Now on her seventh loop, Rishe decides she’s done with all that stressing and worrying—she’s set herself up as a hostage princess with the devilish Arnold Hein, heir apparent to the enemy nation. Of course, she’s a hostage in name only—she’s quite pleased to live a comfortable life lazing around…but six loops’ worth of information means she can’t help but interfere when help is needed, and her actions will soon draw unwanted attention…
7th Time Loop surprised us with an excellent narrative and pacing, and delivered a breath of fresh air to a shoujo fantasy genre saturated by otome games and villainess reincarnations. If you’re looking for something new and exciting, we highly recommend 7th Time Loop, or the light novels this manga adaptation is based upon!
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