Reviewed by Kana
Who it's for, and whether it holds up.
There's a version of "transmigrate into the villain" that uses moral ambiguity to do something interesting. This isn't that version.
The MC is ruthless, moves fast, and accumulates power without much friction. For readers who specifically want villain-protagonist fiction where the protagonist is genuinely villainous and the story celebrates that, there's a power fantasy here that functions on its own terms. The shamelessness is played for dark comedy in places, and the pace is brisk enough that there's no room for the story to interrogate what it's doing.
The problem is the content itself. The MC's actions toward his wife, the framing around adopted daughters, and the routine treatment of female characters aren't edgy fringe elements. They're central to what the story is. Calling it "morally gray" would be generous. A 2.8 reflects a story that has an audience, but a narrow and specific one.
If you want a villain protagonist who actually functions as a villain, some readers find that here. But "villain" in this context means something the story treats as entertainment rather than something it complicates or challenges. Go in knowing that, and adjust accordingly.
