Summary

• Historical romances in manhwa offer rich backgrounds, detailed world-building, and whimsical atmospheres, making them a must-read for fans of non-contemporary romances.
• These manhwa often feature extravagant costume designs and melodrama, adding to their appeal and creating captivating stories.
• Despite some minor shortcomings, the manhwa offer stunning art, compelling romances, and unique protagonists that make them worth reading.

In the vast realm of manhwa the genre has to offer are an absolute must-read for fans of non-contemporary love stories.

The appeal of historical romance manhwa stems primarily from the rich backgrounds, detailed world-building, and whimsical feel that these stories are well-known for.

Moreover, their fantastical settings often allow for extravagant costume designs as compared to modern romances, as well as more melodrama owing to the underlying politics of high society or the royal courts with which characters often find themselves entangled.

15 The Remarried Empress

Originally Created by Alphatart and Sumpul

Remarried Empress initially opens by introducing readers to Navier Ellie Trovi, the picture-perfect empress. Not only was she intelligent and kind, she was well-loved by her subjects – and completely satisfied with the life she led alongside her husband. But one day, her husband comes home with a mistress, demanding a divorce from Navier. Standing strong, Navier accepts her fate, and requests permission to remarry. She then marries another emperor to retain her title.

Filled with twiss and turned, Remarried Empress has everything someone that loves political drama and saucy romance would want. Plus, its female lead, Navier, is incredibly entertaining to follow throughout the story. She's strikingly elegant and lives up to her in-universe reputation, making it easy to root for her.

14 The Villainess is a Marionette (2021)

Based on the Web Novel by Han Yi-Rim and Illustrated by Manggle

After being murdered in her prime, the protagonist of The Villainess is a Marionette discovers she has been transmigrated into the fantasy world of a web novel, The Lady of the Black Rose, as Kayena Hill, the elder sister of the Emperor of Eldyme and the villainess of the story who is destined to a fate not so different from her own. Sympathizing with Kayena's character and circumstances, she decides she is tired of being a pawn and vows to live as she pleases, free from manipulation.

Thus, Kayena begins her journey toward breaking free from her strings, finding romance along the way. Despite its minor shortcomings in pacing and execution, The Villainess is a Marionette is a treat for the eyes with beyond-gorgeous art and stunning character designs that make it worth a read regardless.

13 Beware the Villainess! (2020)

Written by Soda Ice and Illustrated by Blue Canna

Beware the Villainess! takes off when an overworked college student gets into a car accident and wakes up as Melissa Fodderbrat, the villainess of a popular romance novel. Given a new chance at life, Melissa doesn't intend to become the evil villainess she once was. Instead, she vows to live to the fullest and maybe avoid what little misfortune befalls her.

Complete with adorable art and hilarious gags that hit the mark every time, Beware the Villainess! is a charming romantic comedy with a refreshingly free-spirited female lead. Though the romance aspect does take its time, and the chemistry between Melissa and the destined male lead leaves more to be desired, the series still manages to be a fun read that isn't afraid to deviate from the usual cookie-cutter tropes of the genre.

12 The Villainess Turns the Hourglass

Original series created by Antstudio & SANSOBEE

Hosted on TappyToon, The Villainess Turns the Hourglass follows Aria, who ascends in status after her mother marries a count, and lives a lavish lifestyle all while bullying her stepsister, Mielle. Years later, Aria is painted as a villainess, and is set to be executed after it's revealed that her sister set her up to build a poor reputation for herself. Wishing that things could have been different, Aria sees a magical hourglass capable of taking her back in the past. Using the power of the hourglass, Aria gets her second chance, and while she's initially determined to get revenge on her stepsister, things are going differently in this new life in ways she could never have imagined.

With a time-reversal gimmick driving the ain plot, The Villainess Turns the Hourglass is a charming and fantastical story of a woman pursuing a second chance at a life she previously squandered, and is incredibly entertaining. The female lead's road to redemption – and questionable revenge – is incredibly compelling to read, and the two male leads are perfect charmers that make it hard to know who to root for.

11 Flirting with the Villain's Dad (2020)

Based on the Web Novel by Dalseul and Illustrated by Via

The premise of Flirting with the Villain's Dad, much like many other popular manhwa in the genre, hinges on its protagonist being reincarnated in the world of a novel. However, instead of becoming the female lead or the villainess, she finds herself in the body of Princess Yerenika, a ing character destined to meet a tragic end.

Fans of Flirting with the Villain's Dad might also like Crazy Like a Fox, an ongoing historical romance manhwa also written by Dalseul available to read on Tapas.

Fortunately, Yerenika enters the narrative twenty years prior to the events of the main story and is determined to prevent the unfortunate chain of events from unfolding, beginning with preventing the villain from being born. For that, she must seduce his father, King Euredian, and make him marry her instead of Lady Elodia, the villain's mother. While it may not be particularly groundbreaking, Flirting with the Villain's Dad is an excellent read for those new to the manhwa genre with enticing art and character designs and a straightforward, wholesome romance that makes for a comforting read.

10 Empress of Another World (2016)

Based on the Web Novel by Lim Seo-rim and Illustrated by Lee Young Yuu

Empress of Another World follows Sabina, a regular college aspirant who finds herself physically transported to another world after getting into a collision with a truck. Unfortunately, Sabina becomes embroiled in the politics of the vicious royal court of this new world after she is sent to be one of the Emperor's concubines.

The plot takes off as the Emperor is assassinated that very night and Sabina ends up entering a contract with the murderer, the gorgeous Crown Prince Lucretius, in a desperate attempt to stay alive and return to her own world if possible. Despite seeming like an unlikely match at first, a romance eventually blossoms between Sabina and Lucretius which is sure to keep readers hooked till the very end. Overall, Empress of Another World is a well-rounded series with a beautifully executed romance, plenty of drama, and an amazing ending.

9 Light and Shadow

Original series created by Ryu Hyang & Hee Won

Filled with revenge, political intrigue, and a touch of romance, Shadow and Light follows Princess Edna – raised as 'Prince Eden' – who grew up concealing her identity with plans of revealing herself once she was of age. Tragically, her kingdom falls before she gets the chance to ascend her father, which results in Edna becoming a mistreated housemaid for a viscount. She's later sent by the viscount to become the wife of a Duke named Eli, which is where the main plot begins.

Shadow and Light is a vastyly interesting manhwa, as it explores a multitude of intriguing ideas about the concept of nobility and defines what it truly means to be "noble". Additionally, Edna's constant conflict and ongoing character arc make her a compelling protagonist to follow.

8 Villains Are Destined to Die (2020)

Based on the Web Novel by Gwon Gyeoeul and Illustrated by Suol

Villains Are Destined to Die centers around a popular simulation game called Daughter of the Duke Love Project, into which the protagonist of the series eventually finds herself transported. Upon first discovering the game, she sees much of herself in the villainess of the story, Penelope Eckhart, who struggles to gain affection no matter the effort she puts in. Death awaits the villainess at every turn, just one wrong decision away.

Penelope goes on a dangerous journey to not only stay alive but also find love and her happy ending if one exists at all. Other than its compelling premise made all the more captivating by its game-like setup, Villains Are Destined to Die boasts stunning art, a compelling cast, and above all, a unique, well-rounded protagonist.

7 Please Marry Me Again! (2022)

Original Series Created by Rana & Paragu

Please Marry Me Again! follows a young half-noblewoman named Shurya Littenheim who is shunned by all of high society except for her doting husband, the Grand Duke Kardi Esperand. The series does have a hint of fantasy, and due to a mysterious type of magic, Shurya's husband slowly begins to lose his strength. Shurya sacrifices herself to save him, and wakes up as her younger self, determined to not only marry her beloved again, but to change their tragic fate the second time around.

This series is absolutely gorgeous, taking inspiration from a number of different historical sources to fashion its characters, as well as relying on loosely accurate sociopolitcal systems. The real sell of Please Marry Me Again! though, is the romance between Shurya and Kardi, proving that two people can and will find each other in every lifetime.

6 Your Throne

Original series created by SAM

Your Throne takes place in the Vasilios Empire, which is ruled by the Temple and the Imperial Family. Tensions have begun brewing just beneath the surface, raising political unrest throughout the Empire. The main character, Lady Medea Solon, should be the fiancé of the Crown Prince Eros – but something has happened, her soul has been switched with another, and in her new body, is resolved to get her rightful place back as princess.

Initially opening itself as a series aimed at getting Eros to fall for her again, Your Throne has so much more up its sleeve. While it does have elements of romance, the series has so many more compelling mysteries following the politics within the Vasilios Empire and how exactly the two female leads had their souls swapped.