Reviewed at 39 chapters, rated 5.

IMO, Tensei Oujo can be summed up in a sentence: reverse harem with awesome plot and world build.

It actually rather bothered me that the protagonist was surrounded by males only, and no other females her age there. Don’t princesses usually have noble girl companions? Maids? But... no, her childhood playmates was boys, and her closest companions was knights. It was so obviously reverse harem...

However, the protagonist was not the cliche spoiled princess nor a reincarnated person that only thinks ways to avoid her flags.... more>> She is a proper princess who understands what is noblesse oblige and works more on behalf of her country and for the good of the people around her. Half of it might be for her own sake, but she tried to do her best although she was just a ten years old child. It was so emotionally touching and thought provoking to see the things she did, and I found it hard to hate that. If anything, I wish she’ll continue to grow up to be a splendid princess in the future, conquer the hearts of the people, defeat evils, and so the heroine need not be summoned.

All in all, so far Tensei Oujo is a wonderful one. Although the author’s narrative and pacing was a bit lacking, it was not particularly bad. If anything, some people prefer less-detailed storytelling. Very recommended ^^ <<less

Review as of Ch.41.

Ok, I went in expecting the usual tropes of an “I’m in an otome game and I’m the villain!” story. Sure, the description had a nice hook: all the ‘capturable’ male targets have ridiculous traits, leading me to believe the comedy will derive from the MC in handling their idiosyncrasies. Yes, some of it remains, but the story goes much further than that.

In fact, the story development has veered considerably from the initial premise. The earlier chapters were fluffy, light and comedic as the MC starts encountering... more>> the game characters in this world. Characters were introduced, their background in the game made known and the MC immediately sets out to ‘correct’ their flaws, nip potential troubles in the bud and avoid triggering the death flags that would befall on her as the game’s rival to the yet to be revealed heroine character.

The characters started off retaining their identities as per the game, but with the MC's nudging and influencing events from before the game's starting point, the characters have changed considerably. "What made this guy twisted? Ok, let's prevent that from happening. Look, now he's a totally different person... wait, is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

We can see the author’s writing improve in the later chapters. Indeed, the chapters get longer and longer as plots, character development and events far beyond the scope of an otome game are narrated in detail. The characters slowly outgrow the initial stereotypes the MC had played with, giving her much to think about as she tries to come to terms with her status as a princess of a medieval kingdom, surrounded by threats of war and destruction. And a demon lord reincarnation.

It is humorous to read about the MC’s rants about the game’s failings, and her crush on an older person who was just a support character in the original game is cute. The MC’s own characterization grew deeply as the story took on a darker turn as she realizes her position, her ability to influence future events and yet powerless to take action directly.

A very good read, hope it maintains its pace and standard. <<less

The MC is so good, she is almost like a messiah saving everything and everyone in sight. Which is fine, except that the MC apologises for almost every. Single. Thing.

It's so annoying! You are literally saving people's lives and still have thing huge insecurity and inferiority complex. Why can't the MC just be confident? Like that scurvy scene, she finds the cure for the disease and prevents a lot of deaths but is still like "Oh no~ I did that but I also caused this minor inconvenience. How can I... more>> ever stop feeling guilty? Please forgive me!" Just stop it already. Realistically, I don't think there is a single person who can do so much good and still act so guilty for existing. <<less

I like Tensei Oujo for a plethora of reasons: First, someone mentioned it already, the MC actually acts like a princess. She makes an effort to be one, she isn't impulsive in her actions, and she's smart. I know she's older than her "age", but damn I'm almost 20 and I've never been that mature or responsible. Secondly, I like how she isn't overpowered with cheats. No buffed magical powers, no genius level intelligence, no drop-dead gorgeous looks that'd make anyone fall immediately in love with her. Yes, she has the information from her past identity, but

Thirdly, the characters. I like their backstory and their personality. We see their cookie-cutter outlines from her memories, and then we get their perspective and learn more about them so now they're actually a person to both us and the MC. I'm still kinda meh on the dude she's set her mind on, since we only get a biased POV from the MC on how kind, gallant, and able he is. But we're still only 40 chapters in, so I'm hoping to get into his head in the future too. Finally, the prologue is like this major spoiler that motivates me to keep reading so I can find out what happens! Of course, the novel itself is enough to keep me interested even without the preview, but I can't help but look forward to when we get to that part. You can skip the prologue since, as I mentioned, it is a spoiler of a future event and it won't effect reading the actual story. (4.5/5)

This is pretty good. I think it's interesting and the characters are likable. It's a fast-paced plot. All the characters seem to change, which provides for suspense. Despite knowing the otome game well, it seems that the FL reaches a point where she has no idea what will happen.

The thing that I that I am most uncomfortable with are the heavy undertones of lolicon... I think that with most of the events, the FL could be older. It's age progression but the characters that she spends the most time with... more>> are all like way older than her (and the characters that she seems to like the most), and though it's respectable that they treat her with respect rather than patronize her... for some reason it's actually weirder that they all take her SO seriously? I think there should be a lolicon tag. In fact it got to the point that I couldn't continue just because I can't get over the lolicon undertones. ALSO what someone else mentioned - she doesn't have any female friends?

These two flaws are too big for me. But otherwise the story's pretty interesting and it reels you in. <<less

I don't understand how it has such a high rating. The premise is the same reincarnated person into the body of a future villainess ojou-sama. But frankly, the flow of the story is just too disappointing. First, what disturbed me the most is the MC's TOO YOUNG age, seriously, the author is terribly stingy for the MC's age. It's just plain creepy. The characters are also tad too much dramatic. I gave up reading it after chapter 50 or so... Just... plain disturbing.

Overall a pleasing read; not a masterpiece, but easily recommend if you're into the genre/need something to pass time.

TLDR: story is decent, writing is good, characters are good.

• Story is not very special, but it's not a bland cookie cutter isekai. World building is not bad.
• Writing is good, there aren't glaring plot holes/nonsense, the chapters flow nicely (props to the translator as well), it's not very descriptive but it's not flat (which is much better than being too descriptive and dragging the pacing down; especially for a webnovel)
• Characters aren't too cliche have some depth and character development, which is pretty rare in this kind of novel.
• Protagonist is kind of a Mary Sue, not of the aggravating kind, but you definitely can tell that the plot is gonna proceed in her favour and how she's such an angel of a person. Nonetheless she has a bit of an inferiority complex which the author might have meant to distract the reader from her Mary Sue-ness; for me it kinda worked as I like the protagonist overall, but I'm sure some will find her extra annoying because of it. Be warned.
• For romance, the protagonist has a reverse harem she's too dense to notice, and a love interest she's devoted to; it's just your average feel good/cute interactions. Good enough for me, I don't have complaints
• The king is the highlight of the novel to me; he's an as*hole horrible parent (there's a couple of instances where he shows some affection, but definitely not enough to make him anywhere near an acceptable parent), but also a great pragmatic ruler. I like him similarly to how one would like Zolf J. Kimbly from FMA.

I recommend if you like cute and sweet novels like this one here, although it's not all very sweet type. There are scenarios that produce sugar that causes diabetes.

I didn't like harem stories so much but this is one great reverse harem with pairing (?) story with a cute MC. The story was typical at first but it starts to be way more interesting after a few chapters. The main plot line of the novel was nicely done. Some characters' personality had been portrayed well.

Although she is breaking flags, she... more>> is raising love flags super fast too. But this is not all a "fuwa fuwa" story, with some serious plots going on and good amount of sweetness in it. Overall, a good read. <<less

[planned on giving this a 3.5 but I couldn't change the rating anymore so]

So, I actually enjoyed the first few chapters. The MC seemed level-headed and rational. She knew what she could and couldn't do and wasn't prone to extremely reckless "heroic" acts. She genuinely cared for the people around her and viewed them as human beings rather than game characters for the most part.

I would've given this a 5 if not for a few things that kept bothering me (and I did try to ignore them but by Chapter... more>> 34, I just really couldn't)

• The Narrative? See, this is written in 1st person and it's enjoyable. What bothers me though is how our MC sometimes seems omniscient? There are times where she just flat out tells what the other character is feeling. It feels like a 3rd person narrative disguising as a 1st person. It makes it seem like she's way TOO observant and could discern EXACTLY what the other person is feeling.

• The Romance and Age Gap

The supposed ML is around 26 years old and our MC is 10/11. I don't mind huge age gaps but the fact that the whole teasing and flirting are happening when the MC is 10 just leaves a bad taste. I don't think it's how the characters themselves act but the way their interactions are written makes me uneasy. Like, you have this romantic-ish scene and smile but you suddenly remember that she's a CHILD and he's an adult NEARING HIS THIRTIES

• Age. To describe a 13 year old as someone with s*x appeal is worrisome. It's not just their descriptions but how they act and how they're portrayed. I sometimes forget that these are children and not in their late teens yet. On a happier note, the translation's amazing and the translator's side comments on the novel are fun to read! <<less

• Captured targets are all so cute! Love their interactions with MC <3
• For someone who has an adult mind, MC acts so childishly it's annoying. Also even without love experience, cant she really tell how infatuated teenage boys act? It leads to funny interactions though.. But still!! It's a bit frustrating!
• I hope she dont end up with Leonhard.. He's like a father to her. Not only in age but on how he acts. Well he should in the current chapter im in or he would be labeled a pe*ophile

Reading this is a torture, my poor little heart cannot take it (⌯˃̶᷄ ﹏ ˂̶᷄⌯) ﾟ

The Princess is too pure, strong, and kind, she shines so bright that my eyes are blinded, as someone from the dark side reading this made me loathe myself even more, but I cannot stop

Sigh, at first I thought I was going to read another light-hearted, s*upid, and ridiculous but fun novel, well, at first it was indeed just that but it goes kinda dark and realistic later on, the MC is too pragmatic and... more>> cruel to herself that it pains everyone around her, including me, the reader

I wish that someday she could finally live in a happiness without burdens <<less

Typical plot otome genre, slow paced, BUT some characters may really draw you in.

For me it was Rosemarie and her Father. No, Rosemarie and the King.

Rosemarie and His Majesty' scenes are where I get the urge to put some dark and mysterious dark fantasy ost. Could Dobby ost fit? Maybe Library of Secret? I wonder. If it was an anime, it must be animated by shaft. Revolving random object, Rosemarie's glare, books, King's hand turning book pages, in silent. No words exchanged for some duration. It feels magical as if... more>> Rosemarie's anger or anxious or fear or whatever emotion it is, are screaming to you.

Pro:
1. Plot are developed nicely even if it is slow paced

2. The novel is true incarnation of women. Almost all of the earlier chapter are all rants. Yes, rants. Like your wife, or your ex, or noisy neighbour, or angry costumer, ranting at you to express their rage, or mocking others, no holding back. It's either you come to really hate it or love it. Oddly I feel entertained, even if I am a man, as if I was Rosemarie's ally, embracing her, plus the fact that the targets of mocking are truly detestable.

3. Rosemarie's character is cute but elegant. Easy to blush but strong. Anxious but determined. Her slightly angry pouting LN illustration is super cute.

Con:
It's the weird feeling of some characters age gap. It looks like lolicon but actually it's not even the slightest bit.

I believe the older male characters are actually embracing and supporting our Princess in sincere way, such as her Guardian. She was still 10 years old on the outside, yet her behavior is so mature unfit for her age. As the Princess depending on herself and noone and else, others began to worry about her. Of course it was proven in later chapter (it was proven from my point of view). Such gentlemen. <<less

This a cute, generic, reborn-into-an-otome-game-as-the-mc's-rival story. This is perfect for anyone looking for the same type of storyline. I love the characters and the writing is well done. The MC isn't dense to a point of annoyance, and her sort-of calm character is refreshing. All in all, a solid shoujo novel that should be well liked by most who read it. It's nice that we can see chapters from the other characters' povs as well.

from all of otome game reincarnation novel I've read, this one has the best plot and proper reverse harem usually found in novel. The author didn't (or haven't because the novel wasn't completed yet) force the character to became a couple.

The romance is super slow, a true slow burn.

MC: a 10 year old princess with memories of a previous life, almost has an inferiority complex, insecure, a lil dumb, and wants to save everyone

ML: a late-20's year old commander in charge of the army (not a capture target in original otome game)

Summary: In order to avoid the bad endings, the MC saves all the capture targets from their potential tragedies whilst falling in love with the ML.

... more>>

Spoiler

All is good and dandy until the Father (King) shows up and essentially tells the MC to "prove her worth" as a Princess. If the MC fails to "prove her worth", then the Father (King) threatened to marry the MC off in a political marriage. Because of this, the MC strives to make a good reputation amongst the people in order to be able to be with the ML in the future. But if you think about it, it seems like the MC will lose either way. If the MC fails to prove her worth, she gets married off. If the MC successfully proves her worth, more trouble will come her way because of all the attention she's getting. Furthermore, the MC may just be used as a better chess piece once she becomes renown, so the Father (King) can still marry the MC off. I get the nagging feeling that the Father (King) is scheming behind the MC and plans to use the MC regardless of whether or not she can prove her worth.

At c135, the MC is around 13-14 year-old, so the romance between the MC and ML is stuck at the sibling stage. At best, the ML views the MC as a cute little sister.

[collapse]

Overall:

I'm tired of waiting for romantic developments. The MC is still super young and there is a lot of drama/conspiracies brewing that I feel like the romance will continue to be flat/nonexistent. <<less

At the very base and the shortest thing I could say is that it's a good story that would pass time but it's nothing earth shattering.

The main character is reasonably likable and at times she's incredible, however at the end of this I never truly fell in love with her like some of the other characters I've read. Does she stand up against the other otome protagonists? Not particularly, for better or for worse she feels a bit standard, although her love target is abnormal. The side characters are well... more>> written, with my personal favorites being Theo and lutz. However the romance between georg, Kraust and johan are shallow, and barely have anyspotlight before suddenly, the guys are in love with the MC.

Plot wise, the story is similar to many (don't die/get a death flag) but turn up the political intrigue and turn down the obliviousness and give her an actual love target, you now have Rosemarie. It's not like Rosemarie isn't a solid character on her own, however I think how much you like her stands on how many stories/protagonists have you seen/read before getting to this one. There is less humor and more plot in Tensei Oujo, which does help move things along, but hinders some of the character development.

Overall, it's a decent story with good characterization and plot. It's nothing that's so sophisticated or never been done before but if you're new to light novels, it might be really good in your opinion. At the very least, it's something ok that could burn an afternoon or two away. <<less

A strong start but,

the 2 arcs starting at 50-150 (kidnap&epidemic) are a grind to read. The writing jams tons of info like a dem quest NPC. As well as just throwing a basket full of people at us. Even in real life we rarely are expected to remember that many people who are not family. Too many details on irrelevant side characters to "flesh out & make realistic" the arc event with a nearly game style infodump dialogue.

It clashes with the more lighthearted premise and start of the series,... more>> I peeked ahead with raws seems to refocus on Rose again.

As otome rebirth novels go it started as great and slides to passable. Still worth a read if you like this genre <<less

Basically one of those:
- Modern MC isekai'ed into an otome game
- Capture targets all have dark pasts that cause problems later on
- MC squashes these flags and turns these characters into upstanding people
- Typical romance type where MC thinks she's nothing special but everyone else has a crush on her

vs. Other similar stories, my main complaints are:
1. Pacing is quite slow. MC spends a lot more time monologuing about what she should do than actually doing stuff.
2. As others have mentioned, MC has an... more>> inferiority complex, is overly apologetic, and often just freezes up around the other characters. The arcs are always, MC: "I'm so powerless but I can't get others involved". Others: "it's obvious what she's doing, we'll secretly help". <<less

Not bad at all! Although in the beginning it's a bit rushed, the overall pacing and flow are quite adequate. I also really like the characters, and their development is not bad at all.

Of course, it's very true to its genre and age target. It's very much a reverse harem, but at least it's not "fell in love at the drop of a hat". The author mostly shows a reasonable process the characters go through to get to that point. It helps that the MC is really quite loveable, even... more>> for readers.

To be honest my main complaint is why the heck does she like the Commander the most???? Especially now that she's got so many good options, GAAHH!! Since she's still young in the story, it makes it much weirder. I do appreciate that the Commander has a realistic perspective and they eventually address her feelings in a way suitable given their circumstances. But but... Klaus.. Lutz.. Theo.. Georg.. Especially Klaus, I feel so bad for him lol but I really do love him.

On a side note, what's up with the art??? All the childish feminine characters look really great, but I really hate the art of the Commander???? He's the least attractive male!! <<less

The MC is really likeable. Even though she said once or twice that she uses her knowledge of the game only to avoid bad things happening to her, she's actually really kind and try her hardest to help the characters of the game and even everyone in the kingdom.

It's a reverse harem. Though as of now, no character has confessed his love to the MC, it's clearly made to be a reverse harem, as there's absolutely no women in major characters, and even unimportant characters rarely are females. Can be... more>> a minus or plus depending on what you like

The pace can be way too slow, or was too fast. For exemple, there's a conversation that could have happened in a mere five lines - in my opinion - that actually took multiple chapters. Overall, it's rather nice, the only major down being the weird pace. <<less