Is Becoming the Monarch (The Story of a Low-Rank Soldier Becoming a Monarch) Worth Reading? Review & Where to Read
Quick Answer
Yes, especially if you want a regression story built on tactics and comradeship rather than a straight power climb. It's complete at 146 chapters and consistently well-reviewed for its take on war and rank-climbing.
Quick Verdict
“This is what the 'regression soldier' premise looks like when it's actually about war and command instead of just an excuse for power scaling.”
Best for: Readers who want a grounded, tactics-driven military fantasy where foreknowledge and loyalty matter more than raw power spikes.
Not for: Readers who want flashy, high-fantasy magic battles over grounded warfare and troop command.
- Type
- Webtoon
- Genres
- Fantasy, Action
- Status
- Completed
- This review
- Minor Spoilers
- Author
- SOULPUNG
- Artist
- 2631
- Publisher
- WEBTOON
- Platform
- WEBTOON
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Format | Webtoon (shōnen), 146 chapters |
| Run | 2020–2024 · completed |
| Community score | AniList 7.6 · MangaUpdates 7.7 |
| Where to read | WEBTOON — official |
Overview
Chris survives to the end of a brutal war missing an arm, most of his friends, and any romantic notions about what fighting for a kingdom actually costs. Then a strange artifact sends him back to age fifteen, both arms intact, standing at the very bottom of the ranks again. He's not interested in repeating history. This time, he knows exactly which battles are coming, which commanders will betray who, and which of his friends don't have to die.
What it does well
The series earns its reputation by treating Chris's foreknowledge as a tool for actual strategy rather than a cheat code. He's not just avoiding known dangers; he's making troop decisions, reading command structures, and positioning himself and the people he cares about with real tactical thinking behind it. That gives the war sequences weight most "reincarnated soldier" premises don't bother building.
The emotional core matters just as much. Chris isn't climbing the ranks for power's own sake, he's doing it to keep specific people alive who didn't make it the first time, and the story keeps that motivation front and center instead of letting the military-fantasy trappings crowd it out. The pacing backs this up: both his rank and his skill grow at a believable rate, so the climb feels earned rather than rushed, and being a complete 146-chapter story means the war and the character arcs both get to actually finish, not trail off.
Where it falls short
This isn't a series chasing spectacle. Readers who want flashy magic duels or over-the-top power systems will find the tone considerably more grounded, closer to tactical war fiction than high fantasy. Because Chris already knows so much about how events unfold, some victories lean more on that hindsight than on him improvising something clever in the moment, which occasionally makes his wins feel a little too assured. And while the main cast gets real development, a few supporting characters mostly exist to give Chris something to protect rather than getting fully independent arcs of their own.
Verdict
As a complete, tactically minded take on the regression-soldier premise, this delivers on its reputation. If you want war and rank-climbing handled with real strategic and emotional weight instead of pure power fantasy, it's an easy recommendation.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Chris's foreknowledge is used for real tactics and troop decisions, not just 'I know what happens next,' which gives the war sequences actual strategic weight.
- The bond between Chris and the comrades he lost the first time around gives his choices genuine emotional stakes beyond climbing the ranks.
- The pacing lets both his strength and his rank grow gradually and believably instead of skipping straight to power-fantasy payoffs.
- It's a complete, 146-chapter story with a real ending, so the war and the character arcs actually resolve.
Weaknesses
- Readers looking for flashy magic or over-the-top power systems will find the tone more grounded and tactical than spectacular.
- Some stretches lean more on Chris's hindsight than on inventive in-the-moment strategy, which can make certain wins feel a little too assured.
- A handful of side characters serve mainly as stakes for Chris's motivation rather than getting fully independent arcs.
Similar Titles
another second-chance lead building real institutional power, in a higher-fantasy setting.
for a bleaker, higher-body-count take on foreknowledge used in war.
The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate
for more noble-house political maneuvering paired with a second-life lead.
Where to Read Officially
| Platform | Format | Pricing | Region notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEBTOON | Digital episodes (vertical scroll) | Free | Region availability varies | Open |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Becoming the Monarch finished?
Yes. The main story completed at 146 chapters, with a handful of side-story spin-off episodes released afterward.
Where can I read it in English?
It's an official WEBTOON Original at webtoons.com, free to read under the title Becoming the Monarch.
Is this a magic-heavy fantasy or more grounded?
More grounded. It leans on tactics, troop command, and Chris's hard-won knowledge of the war rather than flashy magic systems.
