Tags: Fantasy, Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Villainess

Sub-Tags: Reincarnation, Politics

The Destiny to Change Fates!

A Shake of the Kaleidoscope

Killed in the flames of revolution, Alicia is given a second chance at life to change the future and ensure the continued prosperity of Heilland. Given this second chance, Alicia will need to be careful in the decisions she takes to change the future as, much like shaking a kaleidoscope, you never know what outcome you’re gonna get.

Alicia’s first major decision upon reincarnation is hiring the man who killed her in a previous life, Clovis Cromwell, as her advisor. Having her former killer as an advisor makes for an interesting dynamic as it raises the stakes and tension with Alicia, never quite knowing where she stands with him.

Fortunately, making Clovis her advisor is a good one. He’s a capable and intelligent man able to see things in a way Alicia never could. In line with this, it’s Clovis’ analytical thinking that discovers a potential plan that could strengthen the kingdom against their neighbour’s eventual attack.

One of the main points of history that led to the revolution is Heilland’s loss to the empire. The proposal forwarded by the Marquis of Rozen will allow the nation a chance to avoid defeat through the development of merchant free movement.

Whilst the marquis can be difficult to deal with, Alicia and Clovis’ newfound partnership is more than enough to convince him to join their scheme.

The Princess and the Mastermind

Taking a closer look at the characters, this is where the main interest of the series lies. Unlike most second-chance series, Revolutionary Reprise puts great emphasis on Alicia’s first death and the trauma she experiences as a result. These traumas drive her decision-making to improve the nation, albeit for selfish motives.

By extension, Clovis is also driven by his experiences in trauma. For all of his life, the reputation of his family and the actions of his grandfather has followed him, causing nothing but pain and suffering. That ended the moment Alicia commanded him to become her advisor.

The two work well together as they help each other overcome their respective traumas, and whilst I’m not sure about the romantic angle the author’s going for, they nevertheless make for a good partnership.

Overall, Revolutionary Reprise is a strong entry into the villainess genre. Taking a mature focus on trauma and an in-depth venture into politics and noble society, the series staves off the genre’s more wish-fulfilment aspects for a grounded look at a second-chance story.