What do you think?
Rate this book
I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-loving Villainess (Light Novel) #2
I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-loving Villainess Vol.2
Juggling Cats and Romance
Amy Northland has been making the most of her time at school as a fourteen-year-old noblewoman. But as her school year plays out, she suddenly finds that her relationships with her friends—and with Edward—are changing little by little.
As she juggles living with her cat Tigger and helping local veterinarians heal sick and wounded animals, Amy becomes even more determined to be true to herself, no matter the cost. But all bets are off when all the otome game characters finally come together at the triennial tournament!
Amy Northland has been making the most of her time at school as a fourteen-year-old noblewoman. But as her school year plays out, she suddenly finds that her relationships with her friends—and with Edward—are changing little by little.
As she juggles living with her cat Tigger and helping local veterinarians heal sick and wounded animals, Amy becomes even more determined to be true to herself, no matter the cost. But all bets are off when all the otome game characters finally come together at the triennial tournament!
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2022
34 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 20, 2025
The triennial athletic tournament in the royal capital brings Amy into the background as a healer for the contestants, and also into the spotlight. First, the queen acknowledges her with the gift of a ring that grants her privileges to the royal library and greenhouse. Then Prince Edward declares his love!
This second, and final, volume of I'd Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! felt rather slow in places. There's cozy, and then there's "not a lot going on, either in the characters' lives or emotionally." While cute, the several "intermission" chapters were never essential to the story.
I very much liked the last 50 or 60 pages of the book, though. There were a couple of especially heartwarming scenes, one where our main couple comes together, and another where Amy meets "Yasmine," the heroine of the otome game Amy had only just installed on her phone when her life on Earth ended.
It's possible that one's experiences on Earth determine their role in their new world of sorcery and magical beasts. For example, Amy's brother Harold played a multiplayer fantasy game on Earth, and ended up as an adventurer in [whatever country they're living in now]. In the end, Amy decides that that doesn't matter to her. Fearing her fate as a villainess whose path is set by "the hand of the game" isn't the way to live her life. She consciously decides to make the most of her second chance with her friends, her animal companions, and the boy she loves.
As often happens with light novels, the setting is a very generic "castles and magic." (At this point, I imagine every fantasy or isekai light novel country as one of thousands of city-states on the same planet.) The secondary characters are nice kids, but only their illustrations gave them much individuality. We aren't subjected to "one quirk apiece" anime-like characterization, but I could have used a little something more.
But as with Kosuzu Kobato's standalone Ayakashi and the Fairy Tales We Tell Ourselves, there were a few scenes that had a strong emotional impact and elevated my opinion of it quite a lot. I'm also a sucker for stories with animals where they are loved and well cared-for and nothing bad ever happens to them (the last intermission features an injured, sick kitten, but they end up happy and healthy). This isn't polished to a shine, but that adds some charm to it, and there's enough above and beyond to make me excited to read more of Kobato's books, starting with the three-volume Making Jam in the Woods. That sounds super cozy, doesn't it?
This second, and final, volume of I'd Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! felt rather slow in places. There's cozy, and then there's "not a lot going on, either in the characters' lives or emotionally." While cute, the several "intermission" chapters were never essential to the story.
I very much liked the last 50 or 60 pages of the book, though. There were a couple of especially heartwarming scenes, one where our main couple comes together, and another where Amy meets "Yasmine," the heroine of the otome game Amy had only just installed on her phone when her life on Earth ended.
It's possible that one's experiences on Earth determine their role in their new world of sorcery and magical beasts. For example, Amy's brother Harold played a multiplayer fantasy game on Earth, and ended up as an adventurer in [whatever country they're living in now]. In the end, Amy decides that that doesn't matter to her. Fearing her fate as a villainess whose path is set by "the hand of the game" isn't the way to live her life. She consciously decides to make the most of her second chance with her friends, her animal companions, and the boy she loves.
As often happens with light novels, the setting is a very generic "castles and magic." (At this point, I imagine every fantasy or isekai light novel country as one of thousands of city-states on the same planet.) The secondary characters are nice kids, but only their illustrations gave them much individuality. We aren't subjected to "one quirk apiece" anime-like characterization, but I could have used a little something more.
But as with Kosuzu Kobato's standalone Ayakashi and the Fairy Tales We Tell Ourselves, there were a few scenes that had a strong emotional impact and elevated my opinion of it quite a lot. I'm also a sucker for stories with animals where they are loved and well cared-for and nothing bad ever happens to them (the last intermission features an injured, sick kitten, but they end up happy and healthy). This isn't polished to a shine, but that adds some charm to it, and there's enough above and beyond to make me excited to read more of Kobato's books, starting with the three-volume Making Jam in the Woods. That sounds super cozy, doesn't it?
June 9, 2023
This final volume cements the duology's place as one of my favorite light novel series. Not only is it full of cats, it also points out the glaring problem with most villainess series: that the characters all too often can't get over the fact that they're living in a "game" and how that hampers their relationships. Amy working through this is one of the most rewarding aspects of the volume, and it makes her growth feel real and earned. Being a so-called villainess isn't a plot point, it's a way for her to work through her anxieties and realize that she, herself, is enough. There's no hand of fate or game engine, there's only Amy and the choices she makes. That's something very few protagonists in this subgenre realize, and it grounds this little series and makes it into something much more than just another book in a trend.
January 8, 2023
This was more engaging than the first volume. One reason is because the author didn't add as many interlude chapters in between. They were sort if crammed in the beginning and end this time. The other reason, for me, is because there are more romance and mystery elements involved. This is stlll mostly a relaxing, slice-of-life but the added elements make you look forward to what's coming next.
January 27, 2025
There were only a couple of flashbacks in this volume, so I found it a lot easier to read. There are a couple of loose ends and the last few chapters are intermissions and a short story after the epilogue. The story seems unresolved to me. Even so, I did enjoy it more than I did the first volume. There was more character growth in this one and more explanation of how the politics of this world work.
I would have liked to have more of a resolution on Rosalind's story. It also would be interesting if there was another volume that included a visit to Bakr. Prince Jahal suggests a visit, but this volume ends well before a visit could have been possible. I'm curious as to Jahal's motivations for inviting Amy to visit. There were three possibilities mentioned, but none were established as the specific reason. I just couldn't really get a sense of Jahal's true character and I think learning why he wants Amy to visit Bakr would have helped define him.
While I am left with a lot of questions, it is overall an interesting story.
I would have liked to have more of a resolution on Rosalind's story. It also would be interesting if there was another volume that included a visit to Bakr. Prince Jahal suggests a visit, but this volume ends well before a visit could have been possible. I'm curious as to Jahal's motivations for inviting Amy to visit. There were three possibilities mentioned, but none were established as the specific reason. I just couldn't really get a sense of Jahal's true character and I think learning why he wants Amy to visit Bakr would have helped define him.
While I am left with a lot of questions, it is overall an interesting story.
November 11, 2023
I felt like this volume lost what plot their was from volume 1? It muddled through to a satisfying ending, but muddled is the key word.
Part of me thinks it could have used another volume to expand on the side stories that were introduced (like secondary romances), but also, I feel like the extra stuff that was introduced was because there wasn't enough of the main story left to justify a full second volume?
I still enjoyed it. Just wish the structure and pacing was a little stronger.
Part of me thinks it could have used another volume to expand on the side stories that were introduced (like secondary romances), but also, I feel like the extra stuff that was introduced was because there wasn't enough of the main story left to justify a full second volume?
I still enjoyed it. Just wish the structure and pacing was a little stronger.
February 7, 2023
A very fun read. The MC was a delight and the dad!! I love the dad! 😂 The only complaint I have is that the novel pointed over and over to the fact that Amy is chubby but all of the illustrations of Amy show a thin girl. What was the point of harping on the MC being chubby if you're still gonna draw her like a supermodel?!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews