CW for this series and this post: Trauma, chronic illness, emotional and physical abuse.

A few months ago, on the recommendation of my dear friend, excellent reviewer and Sr. YNN Correspondent, Sean Gaffney, I picked up Volume 1 of Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court light novel series written by Satsuki Nakamura, with illustrations Kana Yuki, published by Seven Seas Airship as something to read on the plane to visit my mother.

Later, I found myself sitting in the bathroom on a plane, sobbing uncontrollably.

Since that moment, I have wanted to write about this series, but have not had the time. I expected to wait until Volume 9 landed in English (since the series tends towards two-volume long arcs, I was holding off reading Volume 8 until 9 came out), but I find myself today with an unexpected bit of leisure and want to get my thoughts down. Even now, so many months removed from that initial reaction, I find myself overflowing with hopefully not-entirely-inexpressable things I want to say about this series. These notes are not specific to any volume but are based upon my reading of Volumes 1-7 of the light novels.

In a fantasy Chinese-ish rear palace, i,e. harem prison, the consorts of the Emperor and their protégés vie for the Emperor’s and Crown Prince’s favor, blah blah blah. Kou Reirin is the unquestionable favorite to become the next Empress, but Reirin is chronically ill and weak to the point of being unable to do the activities that are required of her. As a result of being forced throughout her life to rely on others for so much, Reirin pushes herself constantly in everything. When she is well enough, she practices dance and martial arts, when she is not she sews and does calligraphy. Every moment she is able to sit up she hones skills and is always as kind as possible. Reirin is universally beloved for her dance, her embroidery, her writing and her generous nature.. 

Across the Inner Court is Shu Keigetsu, despised by everyone for her lowly upbringing, her lack of grace and talent, and her unpleasant personality. In a rage, Shu Keigestu uses magic to swap bodies with Reirin. Keigestsu quickly learns that, yes,  while being respected and loved is a privilege, so is having a healthy body. Reirin, having spent her lifetime captive in a body that was capable of little, suddenly finds herself unfettered. Exiled to a corner of the court as Keigetsu, Reirin find herself in a body that is strong and healthy. She sets out to make herself a life of almost complete freedom through hard work, study and a little luck. 

This swap sets in motion events that will radically change the Inner Palace in ways that no one could possibly expect. 

Sean suggested I would enjoy these books as they are centered on the relationship between two women who are not just intimately – emotionally and physically – intertwined, but who find that they need one another. And I did indeed find that. But I also found a story that touched some deeply felt emotions in my own life. 

I know I’ve talked about it from time to time here, but let me be plain – I am chronically ill and have been my entire life. Like Reirin, every day is a goddamn struggle, and I’m very lucky to have the level of ability I have, which often means I pass an able person. I’m not. I never will be fully able. Like Reirin, I practice martial arts, and I exercise to the best of my ability every day. I practice those things I can do in order to keep my mind as sharp and proficient as I can. (Some of you may remember my struggle with Long Covid which robbed me of cognition and memory. I have worked incredibly hard to be here today, although my memory will never be the same. Like Reirin, I am often forced to and often privileged to be able to, rely on others. I thank people profusely and try to pay it forward for those reasons. 

So, when Reirin was delighting in a body that, for the first time in her life, was able…it hit hard. I felt every single thing she felt deep in my gut. I knew exactly how I might feel if suddenly given a body that just…worked.

Conversely, as screechy as Keigetsu is, I understood her shock and consternation at suddenly being in a body that simply can’t. I know the feeling well. I’m often shocked at how much this body simply cannot.

Even after this emotional volcano, I kept reading the series, which is very well written. While I very much enjoy the current blockbuster novels of  Apothecary Diaries, Inept Villainess is superior in writing skill.

Fantasy Chinese-ish court dramas are  all the rage now, but for any woman watching, the setting is unsettling at best and could be triggering. Abuse and trauma are commonalities of both series, which make some of the arcs hard to read, but so far worth it in both cases. The complexities and politics of the Inner Palaces in Inept Villainess are interestingly complicated and often rather real-world horrible. I could not for a second imagine this series being interesting to a young person, even beyond the fact that before I let a teen read it, we would have to have a long conversation about women being treated as chattel.  

But I did say that there are two kinds of privilege in this series. One, obviously, is physical ability which is easy to understand. The other is so much harder to capture in a single concept. “Systemic bias” might be as close as I can come. Mental wellness is another way to look at it.

Keigetsu is treated as lesser because of social status, yes, but she is also groomed through emotional abuse to become a hateful figure, a person meant to cause pain and hardship in order to eventually serve as a scapegoat.  Her mentor is setting her up for failure from the beginning and Keigestu, although not an innocent, does not have the tools to understand what she is experiencing.  I felt that this was a clear reminder for us that behind every apparently screeching Karen is very likely a lonely and angry person who life is spiraling out of control for reasons they might not even be aware of.  Yes, Keigetsu is abrasive, but she was trained to be. Yes, she is demanding and capricious, selfish and angry…but she was not expected or assisted to not be these things, as they suited someone else’s narrative. And she was abused into becoming the person she is, through emotional manipulation and physical abuse.  So what she sees as Reirin’s “privilege” of being openly and nearly universally respected, is something Keigetsu was not allowed to imagine for herself. The result is a childish understanding of what Reirin’s life must be.

Who among us has not fallen victim to envy at the apparent golden child of school, or work or community? That person who seems to be consistently given permission to do or say anything, who is always forgiven, who always get favors. It’s hard to not be angry at that or want that for one’s self. Keigetsu’s desire to live that apparently easy life, unloved and unliked as she is, is wholly understandable. What might not be as understandable is Reirin’s refusal to be envious of healthy people and her unbridled rage when she can no longer hold that in. Even as I type, I rage with her. Wishing for health is an oubliette into which I cannot look.

While this is in no way a Yuri story, not even if you squint really hard, the bond between Reirin and Keigetsu is undeniable. By Volume 7 it is something that cannot really be described as “friendship” or love or really by any one word. They have literally inhabited each other’s bodies and lives. Reirin has gained brief respite of ability and health, and the ability to move ignored by the rest of the court. Keigetsu has gained access and the power to command. Thus far, Reirin has come out on top, but Keigetsu is beginning to learn to control her powers and her confidence is growing slowly but surely and healing is in her future.

One hopes that they will ascend to the throne together, hand in hand.

Ratings: 

Art – 7 I mean, it’s fine. The anime teaser art looks nicer, frankly. Light novel illustrations really are just so pointless. 
Story – 9 Very good and it’s getting better and better as it goes on 
Characters – 9 Same
Service – A bit here and there, and the boys are stripped down a bit, too
Intimacy – 10

Overall  – 9

Because of my own deep emotional connection to the series, I probably am going to skip the upcoming anime. I really don’t think I can sit through it. But if you do, let us know what you think on the Okazu Discord. I do however highly recommend the novels, with the caveat that if you, too, are chronically ill or disabled, maybe read the first novel somewhere where you can scream loudly or punch something or cry. Not a plane. ^_^;