VN - Ren'Py - Jezebel [Ep. 2 v2.03 BugFix] [Mr. Pengo]

Review as of Ep. 2 v2.02
Although this game is still in early stages of development at the time of writing this review, having only had it's original release and then one update, it already shows an incredible amount of promise. And both the original release plus the update are substantial in content. In total, despite how recent this game is, you can expect at least 10 hours of game play give or take already. The art is good and the characters are likable (or like to hate in some cases). The story is compelling, very reminiscent of the type of political intrigue Game of Thrones had in the earlier seasons, which bring the characters and world to life and only serve to enhance the spicy scenes. The creator seems to have a good grasp on the English language which cannot be said across the board when it comes to adult games, which is a very good plus.

The biggest praise I can give for the game though is how much choices seem to already change the narrative and the spicy scenes as well. If you are like me, you may initially be turned off by the idea of the game where it describes you playing a dominant female protagonist. When I first saw this, I was originally going to pass on the game as when playing as a female MC, I prefer playing as someone who is submissive or becomes submissive over the course of the game. However, seeing that the creator intended to have a sub/dom scale that your choices would change, I decided to give the game a go. And I am glad I did.

Although the MC, Duvessa, is a very dominant and ambition character, with the limited content we currently have, it is already clear that not only does the creator know how to write a submissive protag, but knows how to write it being believable that a normally headstrong, dominant woman would suddenly exhibit submissive tendency given the right circumstances. And we already are seeing how these submissive moments can lead to further submissiveness down the road and bleeding out into other aspects of her personality. Writing submissive scenes for a character that is always shown to be submissive is easy. Writing submissive scenes for a dominant character is art.

And of course, if it is your preference, you can choose to play her as the dominant person Duvessa is first presented to us as and from what little I've seen exploring paths out of curiosity it is still just as good as my preferred play style even if it's not my personal cup of tea.

The only real complaint I could justify for this game at this point in time is that sex scenes can sometimes feel like they are too spread out from one another, and when they do happen can be a bit shorter than would be preferable. But the creator has already expressed the intent to both have longer scenes and more frequent scenes as the story continues and the story/world/characters are more flushed out and established. So having faith in the creator, along with how active they are in the forums, those complaints don't even warrant taking away from the overall rating at this point in time, in my opinion.

TLDR: A must try for any lover of female protagonist games regardless if you enjoy having a submissive or dominant female protag. Especially so if you enjoy compelling characters and story and aren't just looking for a quick fap fest.

Peak political VN with dom/sub flexibility and a variety of interesting characters to play around with. Writing even out of the porn scenarios is intriguing and I found myself quite invested with the current scenarios. The art and the porn itself is also top tier tho!

Can't wait to see where the game goes from here.

I enjoy the story, although I also greatly enjoy reading Villainess manhwas where the female lead isn't afraid of behaving in a way that puts everyone else beneath her and considers them all disposable (I mean sure that's what a "Villainess" is supposed to entail but plenty of stories try to make the lead have a 'Coming to Jesus' moment and have them try to reconcile past behavior all story long). Duvessa is unapologetic the whole way through, and I find that makes the story very enjoyable.

Also the porn is good and has a CG/Scene gallery

This is an excellent VN where you might come for the porn, stay for the story especially if you do enjoy the scheming/bastard protagonist in a pseudo medieval/enlightment setting with a lot of political intrigue.

Character arts and scenes are good (perhaps my objections would be that the height of the characters on screen isn't really clear, but the Ren'Py format makes it hard for the artist to work with and maybe some minor weirdness in regards to some female armour design to be nitpicky). The background are a work in progress and in some scene it shows but it's not, IMO, a dealbreaker.

Story is excellent, already quite large, not afraid to touch some complex subject (how the hell did I find a scene that could pass for a 17th/18th century debate about religious tolerance and well written at that?). The characters are attaching and deep, with their motivation and agency. They're also not all playersexual which is a breath of fresh air to see acknowledged.

As is, the product is excellent, the first act being already a quasi complete and satisfying experience. The pace of release seems decent for something that came out 5 months ago as of the time this review is being written; worries would be how the author(s?) will keep track of all the plotlines and characters since it's a very ambitious story with quite a large cast with a lot of story impacting choices and, as with every ambitious VN, the moment the author(s?) will hit that author block moment.

One of the better games I've played in a long while! There are a few minor flaws here and there but, overall, if you like an actual story in your AVN, alongside some good worldbuilding and choices that actually direct the game, this is the one for you!

Dommy Duvessa best girl

This is such a fantastic game!

Ep. 2 sounds like barely nothing, but it's already hours and hours of content including dozens of choices that at least feel meaningful (only played sub path so far so can't be sure ofc).

As others said, the writing (and art) is absolutely superb. The writer's grasp of language far exceeds the average English person, in both repertoire & vocabulary as well as expression. I read a lot of novels & novellas and the quality and pleasure is comparable. It's got just the right mix of seriousness and humour for me, with fantastic & interesting characters everywhere!

Finally, I had my trepidations about the MC being, well, a b*tch. Getting to play an actually capable & highly intelligent female MC is a rare and much needed pleasure in H-games, but I was afraid from the game's description that we'd be locked into either playing an evil a-hole psychopath, or indeed a fool (neither of which I much care for). While she does mostly seem to start off as all that, our choices can slowly begin to move her in a different direction. And the way they've written that is absolutely wonderful! Probably one of the most astoundingly well written (and realistic) character development / redemption arcs I've read.

I am a huge enjoyer of the all villainess anime, manhwa, manga, and web novels.

This feels like an absolutely beautiful take on those same novels, so many of them based on games, that creates a great story and integrates the porn in a beautiful way. To say I'll be watching this project is way too light to express my excitement.

I wrote a spoiler-free review on the thread as well as a spoiler full analysis.
I recommend reading those to really know what I think.

Quick Summary.

Jezebel is a wonderful story full of captivating characters in a grounded believable fictional world. Duvessa Devereux is the sexy, intelligent and unscrupulous protagonist whose lofty ambitions you help realize or sabotage. The choices you make are varied and allow you to deal with the many obstacles in Duvessa's way while making your story unique enough to the point it even seems to accommodate total failure, if that's what you're into.

I would liken Jezebel to an indie Game of Thrones. Politics, schemes, clashing ambitions and personalities, lots of names to remember (aided by an in-game encyclopaedia), and sex.

One of the best stories I've ever seen in an adult VN.

This is the story of Duvessa Devereux, a noble woman whose cunning intellect is matched only by her profound amorality. Duvessa is the daughter of Lord Dallan, a great noble and a member of the King's Council. But despite being older, smarter, and more willing than her brother, she's not considered heir material due to the strict patriarchy she lives in. Her future looks bleak as Lord Dallan wishes to marry her off for political gain, but Duvessa has other plans.

All Duvessa wants is her freedom - and as much power as she can get her hands on. For her, it's the journey that matters, not the destination:

Davor: What would all that power have gotten me...really? The things I'd do to keep it...would bring me no closer to the Gods...
Duvessa: It's not about what you get...it's about the chase.
Duvessa: Once I've won, I move on to the next thing. That's the only way I know how to live.
Davor: Hmph...I think that rather sad.
Duvessa: Perhaps it is. But I make do, nonetheless.

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To that end, there is no one she isn't willing to cross, nor any depths she isn't willing to descend to. Her mind is her greatest asset, but her body is a close second. Men drool after her, women are afraid of her. With that in mind, the game allows you lots of leeway to shape Duvessa's approach to conflict. Duvessa can allow her body to be used to manipulate others (the submissive approach), not-so-gently coerce others through sex (the dominant way), or rely on pure mental acumen (and brute force) to inflict severe cruelty to her targets.

The game's greatest strength is Duvessa's characterization. Externally, she is a tour de force - confident, decisive, witty and amoral. Internally, though, she is aware that something must be wrong with her. She is not loving or caring in the slightest. There’s something hollow in her victories. You get the sense that even when she wins, she’s already moved on - chasing the next thing, half-hoping it'll fill the void she won't admit is there.

On the rare occasion she's being honest with someone, instead of making her happy, this merely confuses her:

Duvessa said:

Once again, I don't believe that I'm lying to her.
Unless being sincere is just as foreign to me as being judgemental is to her, and I'm simply unfamiliar.

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For Duvessa, people are a means to an end. She might object to being married off for political gain - but only because it's not her gain. That's her in a nutshell. It's not the cruelty she minds, it's the lack of control. Similarly, a future child doesn't interest her except as an heir, but she's self-aware enough not to inflict herself on a child:

Duvessa said:

An eventual marriage for political gain is inevitable.
However, I'm perfectly happy to bide my time until I find the best union I possibly can.
Perhaps I'll manage to talk some Great House into accepting a marriage which grants my offspring the Devereux name.
Children, however...that's another story.
I would surely make an awful mother, and raising the whelp myself doesn't interest me.
Perhaps I'll have just one...to keep people from talking.
I could ship it off to be raised in Fortbelle, ever so far away from my corrosive influence.

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The patriarchal society and the way men treat Duvessa, are a source of both constant frustration and endless amusement to her. When talking about the boys who used to court her in their youth, she says:

Duvessa said:

They were ever so interested in me because of my beauty and my name, but hardly any of them knew a thing about me. They were all such dullards, to boot. So obsessed with reaching this picture perfect ideal of chivalry that they read about in some old romance. Not an original thought in their heads.

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But even her privilege has its limits:

Duvessa said:

It pisses me off to think that I was treated with more gravitas by all these powerful men when I was eighteen than I am now.
Jarik, Davor Quinza, Ondrea Calder, Jasen, hell, even my own father. The list of insolent imbeciles who have patronized me since my return is far too long.

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Given her character, there are no LIs and certainly no romance in the game. But there are some sexual partners you can choose to be kind to. I'll talk about my favourite - Erika. She is a naive, bubbly peasant girl. Polite and unfailingly kind, Erika has no filter and no sense of decorum. She nicknames Duvessa "V" shortly after they meet - a major faux pas, given their stations - but Duvessa can't bring herself to lash out because Erika is so transparently earnest.

This eventually leads to Duvessa deciding to be honest and direct with Erika, something terrifyingly out of character for her:

Duvessa: Erika...
Duvessa: You know that I'm a bad person, right?
Duvessa: If you let yourself get close to me, I'll probably end up using you for my own ends. It could very well be ruinous for you.
Erika: Fully aware!
Duvessa: I'm only telling you this because I like you, but-wait, what?
Duvessa: ...so...you know that I'm trouble.
Erika: Yup!
Duvessa: And you're okay with that?
Erika: Affirmative.
Duvessa: Even if it ends up hurting you?
Erika: Yes'm.
Duvessa: ...why?

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Going further into this dialogue would be a spoiler, so hopefully this was enough to give you a taste.

The story’s mostly about Duvessa’s scheming - sharp, twisty palace intrigue - but there’s also this creeping discomfort with her own cruelty, and a weird, escalating bout of insomnia that she can’t quite explain.

Even though it's only episode 1, the game has well over 300K words, and can easily take 20+ hours to read. Choices in this game are significant and lead to major plot differences. I recommend deciding on who you want Duvessa to be, and making choices accordingly. Trying to meta-game it by looking up points or reading the script will only frustrate you. You might hit an early end or two, but even those are smartly written.

Anyway, strongly recommended!

With only one chapter, it leaves me wanting more already. The first chapter is well-written and very satisfying. The fact that the sex scenes so far are short doesn't detract from them in the slightest, and they feel all the better for the fact that Duvessa and many of the other characters feel like characters, rather than just vehicles through which sex scenes are delivered.

My only complaint so far is with the Jasen situation - and it is a complaint that only comes into relief because all other situations are well enough written that I do not feel constrained in them. When the rest of the game is so well written and gives me exactly the choices I want, and this particular point *doesn't,* it jumps out much more harshly than it would otherwise. This is why I still give it full marks; the one complaint really just highlights how good the rest of the writing is.

I recommend trying this game to everyone who is interested in a well written story with a fantastic MC and intriguing characters.

The story is a mix of royal politics and family rivalry. The player takes the role of a young woman from one of noble families, who governs over parts of the capital city of this country. You will make crucial decisions throughout the novel that shape both the fate of her subjects and relatives as well as her character.

Duvessa, the female main character, is a beautiful, ruthless and dangerously intelligent woman. She uses her charm and smarts to achieve every goal she sets herself. She is already one of the most refined FMC on this site I am very excited to continue our journey together.

The LIs vary greatly and are deeply influenced by player decisions.
Since everything is based on player choices, you can form Duvessa's relationships exactly to your liking. This creates a ver unique experience for every playthrough.

The art is great when it comes to characters. The style is consistent and follows a set pattern.
The backgrounds vary from ai generated to hand crafted, but I had never the feeling of unfitting environment.

Gameplay is a simple VN without unnecessary sandbox or free roam events. I found myself deeply immersed and cared a lot about the fate of almost every character I encountered.

For a very early release this game already offers tons of content. The dev is very active on the site and answers to many feedback and suggestions in polite and open minded manners.

At the moment I don't see any reason to not give it a try. From dominant femme fatale to sexy vixen: this MC and the world she lives in offers something to everyone. Don't miss out.

This is quite a deep story! It has many twists and turns and kept me hooked. The characters are interesting. The choices make sense and the player can truly drive the story. For me personally, I liked the fact that the player can chose the love interests of the MC and therefore chose a hetero, bi or lesbian path. I appreciate this aspect in erotic VN with female protagonists. Very well done!

This was a great game with solid story telling and actual consequences for choices. makes me want to replay the entire game with wholly different choices. I can not wait for the second episode and now I am going to the author's patreon to support them and for more content. I have to rate this game a score of ten out of ten.

A really good female mc game. General art is really nice, as is the theme of a medieval setting. Perspective of a noble trying to survive through politics or reclaim their region is really neat. The different paths and option we can take with the female mc is great, whether it be more ruthless or timid. Animations and scenes are good. Cast is diverse, with well-designed characters. Definitely a great game to look forward to.

I have never written a review before despite lurking and playing games here for years. In fact, it took me quite a few minutes to figure out how to actually post a review on this website. However, Jezebel as of Episode 1 v1.01 is quite frankly the best Ren Py game I have ever played, and I believe it deserves the review.

The H-scenes are not numerous nor particularly special thus far, but they are still well made. They are not what has made me rate this game so highly however.

The story, the art, and the sound design all blend together to create an extremely enjoyable experience. The decisions feel actually meaningful and the dom/sub alignment system manages to influence decision making and the story without fundamentally changing or caricaturizing the character.

I will not go into spoilers, but the character herself is very well executed, rather unique, and generally compelling. I am yet to see any artificiality with how characters behave in general. All in all, I have nothing but glowing praise for this game, and for a first release, it contains a huge amount of content.

Ep.1

Love it! A political intrigue with some porn sprinkled in. The story is interesting and the MC is devilishly sexy and ruthless.

You can play game as more of a dom or more of a sub and both work. Although MC is a stated bisexual, you can choose only men or only women as sexual partners.

Adult parts are relatively rare, but are of good quality. Very much worth playing if you like good stories with some porn sprinkled in.

If you're hunting for a game that just gets it, you gotta check this one out. Seriously, it's an absolute gem.

The world they've crafted here? It's something else. They don't dump a ton of lore on you, but you somehow just know how everything fits together. It feels super authentic, like a place you could actually stumble into.

And the protagonist? Wow. This character is pure fire. Whether you're loving their ruthless ambition or just marveling at their complex personality, stepping into their shoes is a blast. The roleplaying possibilities are just endless, making every playthrough unique.

What really blew me away is how deep the story runs. It's not just some shallow ride; it pulls you in and keeps you hooked from start to finish. You're always on the edge of your seat, wondering what wild thing will happen next.

Oh, and the art? Top-notch. The characters are so expressive, practically jumping off the screen. Everything just looks good.

They really nailed the choices too. Your decisions actually feel heavy, shaping the whole narrative and leading to real consequences. No filler here, just meaningful interactions.

And when it comes to the intimate scenes, they're not just tacked on. They actually fit the narrative perfectly, making them feel genuinely impactful and, well, pretty hot! It's refreshing to see them integrated so seamlessly instead of just being eye candy.

You also get to pick your own path, whether you prefer a certain orientation or a specific role for your character. It's awesome how much freedom you have.

Honestly, this game is a masterclass in storytelling. No pointless busywork or endless stats to track, just pure, unadulterated narrative goodness. This one's definitely staying on my favorites list for a long, long time. Don't sleep on it!

This is no joke one of the best games of this kind. Great setting that is believable to exist, lots of fleshed-out characters to interact with however one seems fit and the kind of protagonist that you either love to hate or hate to love, but is certainly fantastic to roleplay - all dressed in a very good looking art. Kudos.

Review for [Ep.1 v1.0]

Amazing game! Loved every second of it. My playthrough was dominant lesbian villainess which is exactly what I want from games and there's nothing like that available. So, consider me biased.

STORY - Wonderful, the game sets you up basically as evil right away, however you can spin that to your liking during the story and be more moderate. Story itself is written very well, it kept me hooked the whole time. The worldbuilding is beautiful too. During the span of the first episode you are told about different political factions, organisations and countries without a single "lore dump" moment - it's all natural and I've found myself having a grasp on the world while just following the plot development. Not to spoil the fun, I'll just say that episode one is a whole story arc and you won't feel like you've been cut off mid way.

GAMEPLAY - no gameplay, but quite a lot of choices. They are very thorough and shape the situations going forward and bring real consequences.

H-SCENES - not so great, but fully animated if it helps. I've only done lesbian path and had two scenes with two more of teasing I guess. Some naked cgs here and there. That said, I enjoyed the setting and how well they fit into the narrative. That is kinda hot, isn't it?

EXTRA - music and effects are not consistent and could get some work. You might as well not notice that, it just adds flavour if done well.

Mr. Pengo sir, amazing work. Can't wait for the episode two c:

One of the best recent releases here in awhile. You play as a psycho/sociopathic/ASPD/whatever the hell you call it, nymphomaniacal noblewoman obsessed with obtaining power, whatever the cost. This is a visual novel focused on storytelling and moderate choice-making: no grinding, no resource management, no great list of stats to keep track of. Duvessa as a villainous protagnonist makes sense; she's arrogant, deceitful, and utterly reptilian at times. However, she occassionally indicates that she might have or have had a conscience, which makes humanizing her easy. The sex scenes are stimulating and (mostly) well-placed, although there aren't as many as you might expect. You can also choose whether she is bisexual or straight.

The story so far is engaging and easy to follow: to secure your position as heiress to your father's titles, you've framed your brother for murder which leads to his disinheritance. Upon becoming heiress, you must address numerous issues that threaten your house's power, as well as deal with the blowback of your initial plot to disinherit your brother. Don't let the release date fool you; this first chapter took me a couple of hours to complete, and I didn't explore all of the different choices.

This game is only 4 stars for a few reasons:

-Duvessa is extremely horny, especially if she's bi, yet there were multiple occasions where she would express how sex-starved she was without doing anything about it. Considering her personality, why wouldn't she just pull a guard or maid into her bedchamber? V. hasn't a single serving girl she keeps around solely for wordless sexual gratification, despite professing to having seduced countless chaste women? This might sound strange as a criticism, but when you set up your protagonist as a nymphomaniac and then she doesn't really behave like one, it's not really unfair to think there ought to have been more sex than there was.

- The tone of the text is inconsistent, particularly close to the end of the chapter. Modern dialogue doesn't really fit into this game's setting, and the author sometimes opts for this form rather than a more formal, setting-appropriate one. It's very jarring and makes me want to skip the dialogue.


-Jasen, both as a character and dealing with him, is extremely annoying. There are very obvious solutions to the problems he causes that the game doesn't allow you to pursue because of as-of-yet unforeseen plot elements. I get that it's Chapter 1, and the author's gotta cook, but being forced to solve even one of his problems doesn't really seem to fit Duvessa's character.


Despite these few criticisms, I'd still absolutely recommend this game so far. Can't wait to see what Mr. Pengo does next.