The Villainess Is a Marionette

Description

I woke up as Kayena Hill, the novel’s villainess, praised as the greatest beauty in the empire. Who knew that her story would catch my attention because I was her in my past life? Destined for terrible ends, I’ve died twice—but I refuse to die a third time as a pawn in someone else’s scheme. I’m no longer the vain and naïve princess. Now that I know how the story will unfold, I’ll turn the tables around and have everyone dancing to my tune. This time, I’ll be the one pulling the strings.

Original Webtoon:
Daum, KakaoPage

Official Translations:
English, S.Chinese, T.Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai

Type

Manhwa

Associated Names

A vilã é uma marionete

Aku Bukan Boneka

Angnyeoneun Marionette

Boneka Marionette

Kötü Kadın Bir Kukla

Kẻ Phản Diện Là Một Con Rối

La Méchante est une marionnette

La villana es una marioneta

Penjahat Wanita Adalah Boneka

Ác Nữ Là Con Rối

Лиходійка Маріонетка

Хорон санаат утсан хүүхэлдэй

شرور عروسک خیمهشب بازی است

นางร้ายหุ่นเชิด

恶女不做提线木偶

悪女はマリオネット

惡女是懸絲木偶

악녀는 마리오네트

Groups Scanlating

Latest Release(s)

c.111 by Gourmet Scans 1 month ago

c.110 by Gourmet Scans 2 months ago

c.109 by Gourmet Scans 2 months ago

Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin

111 Chapters + Prologue + Review (Complete)

S1: 45 Chapters (1-45)
S2: 35 Chapters (46-80)
S3: 31 Chapters (81-111)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

N/A

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

0 topics, 0 posts

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User Rating

Average: 7.3 / 10.0 (265 votes)

Bayesian Average: 7.2 / 10.0

17%

18%

23%

14%

Last Updated

May 24th, 2025 11:38pm PDT - 2 weeks ago

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Genre

Drama Fantasy Romance Shoujo
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Odebu Akujo ni Tensei Shitara, Naze ka Last Boss Ouji-sama ni Shuuchaku sareteimasu

Father, I Don't Want This Marriage

The Villainess Lives Again

The Brocaded Tale of the Girl Si

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Novel)

Recommendations

N/A

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Serialized In (magazine)

KakaoPage (Kakao)

Kakao Webtoon (Daum)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

IZE Press (2 Volumes: Ongoing - Print)

Radish (Expired)

Tapas

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #438

(-81)

Monthly Pos #588

(+65)

3 Month Pos #444

(+21)

6 Month Pos #450

(-62)

Year Pos #509

(-29)

List Stats

On 1487 reading lists

On 368 wish lists

On 87 completed lists

On 91 unfinished lists

On 458 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Hard to keep reading

by Delicheese
3 years ago

Rating: 5.0 / 10.0

The art is AMAZING but I don't feel a connection to any of the characters. All the characters feelings (admiration, love, etc) for the FL come so fast that it doesn't feel real or human? Like this person was supposed to have been a complete fool that everyone used to their advantage before and she only needs to do one impressive thing, or just look at someone a certain way to completely change their opinion about her? Also there is SO MUCH NARRATION. It feels like more than half this story is told through narration that explains background info and potential consequences. There's not much story told by the characters, it's like the writer can't trust the readers to put any context clues together and think for ourselves, so shoves all the information down our throats. I have picked up and put down this webtoon at least 5 times. This time I made it to chapter 38 (while skimming the narration cause it's very predictable) and I don't know if I want to continue.

Tldr. If the art wasn't beautiful I wouldn't have read this webtoon at all, so props to the artist.

... Last updated 3 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

It depends...

by Manhuaislife
3 years ago

Rating: 6.0 / 10.0

Only read season 1.

The art is amazing and very intricate. You would not be disappointed if you are looking for an easy on eyes read, but the plot is not as great in compared to what you look at. It is a typical manhwa where the mc goes back in time, have knowledge of future, tries to protect herself and has the ultimate goal for freedom but eventually falls and gets knee deep in the schemes(and surprise...it looks like everyone is obsessed with her). The ml who first ignored her has now fallen in a puppy love. It is tolerable in the aspect that the romance is not toxic and the mc kinda thinks things through.

Her plot does have some base to it, it is understandable and does not seem like it sprung out of nowhere. But then the problem arise that the readers themselves don't know whether It is gonna work or not, this concept is actually great It gives a unique aura to the story and makes us anticipate the plot, but it has not been executed well and thus It becomes a headache, a nuisances.

But then again I would tell you the art is more than enough reason to read it, give it a try, who knows maybe you will like it, after all there are many more like this out there, with lesser arts and they are being enjoyed.

... Last updated 2 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

Read the novel!

by glowtoads
4 years ago

Rating: N/A

Totally agree with RAGApeace. Having read the novel, I don't think the manhwa compares favourably. It's very beautiful, but it's slower and less substantial which really damages Kayena's position and character. We just don't see as much depth to her in the manhwa, which is a real shame, because she is an incredible character to follow and support. Compare this to the adaptation of The Villainess Lives Twice, for example, which is much stronger because Tia and the characters around her are fleshed out deliberately using the manhwa format, and because the artists take full advantage of panels and other visual cues to add to a sense of pace, and even to foreshadow. It's very unfortunate that the manhwa for Marionette doesn't match what made the novel so excellent.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Future of Korean stories is bleak.

by HyperCaster
4 years ago

Rating: 1.0 / 10.0

Don't judge book by it's cover.
No matter how good the art is of this comic it can't be anything but trash.
With seemingly no character depth, growth or any sensible plot it is total sh*t stain in the name of Manhwa.
Even in fantasy when you get rewinded you just absurdly don't become supersmart and it's like trashiest rewind comic ever . After I got migraines at why people like this?!

... Last updated 3 years ago

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Top tier art, but...

by AM_Woody
4 years ago

Rating: 5.0 / 10.0

Dropped ch.38
The art is beautiful, but pretty much nothing of note has happened in nearly 40 chapters.. It's ended up style over substance. Following week by week certainly doesn't help the pacing. Characters are also way to simpy to the FL compared to what they should be given the first timeline.

... Last updated 4 years ago

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Overpowered FL doesn't make it bad

by Utsukushii Yume
4 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

This story falls victim to FL knows the future because she read the book, but the author never gives her any actual skills or personality outside of knowing the future even after 23 chapters. She is technically an overpowered protagonist and as long as you understand that or don't mind that, the story is enjoyable.

You get to watch her exploit her knowledge of the future and turn everyone into puppets. Sort of a if I knew what I knew now back then, then I would have done this instead sort of scenario. The pacing is nice, the art is pretty and overall I plan to see where this story goes.

... Last updated 4 years ago

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So addicting

by nausicaa70
4 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

The art is GOD TIER, and the story is just as enticing.
The female lead is amazing, she’s everything I love : intelligent, manipulative, level headed, always one step ahead... She’s not Medea from I want to be you, just for a day mind you (nobody is on her level haha) but still Cayena is very charismatic. Their goals are completely different though, while Medea wants the throne, Cayena only wants peace and freedom. Cayena is sweet and gentle deep inside, she’s a villainess because of her circonstances, and I love how she’s doing everything she can to escape her fate. I also love how Cayena supports other women in this, I long for great female friendships/partnerships. Speaking of which, the other characters are very interesting as well, even the male leads. The plot seems very intricate, I can’t wait to read more 🙏🏻🙏🏻

... Last updated 4 years ago

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Art and substance coexists in this one.

by noobzilla
4 years ago

Rating: N/A

This webtoon has equal amounts of eyecandy (beautiful dresses, people and background) AND Court intrigue. The best this is the pacing and how the author delivers the court intrigue. It's suspenseful instead of 12-year-old girl's idea of what court intrigue should be.

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good

by Miachann
4 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

this is amazing

Was this comment useful? Yes

the ART

by that_mixed_child
4 years ago

Rating: N/A

The art is BEAUTIFUL

Was this comment useful? Yes

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