Manhwa Review: I Shall Master This Family Vol. 1

#webtoon #review October 08, 2026

by Andrea Tran

I Shall Master This Family by Mon, ANT Studio, and Roah Kim is a webtoon that brings a fresh twist to the historical genre. I got to review the beautiful print edition from Ink Pop. A fairy tale with a twist! After her noble family's downfall, a young woman is reborn as her child self and given a second chance. The first volume of the global hit webtoon is now in print in English for the first time!

Firentia has had a tough life. Spurned since birth for being an illegitimate child of the noble Lombardi family, she was helpless to do anything but watch as her once great clan fell to ruin and her father died. However, a carriage accident that seemingly spells her end is actually a second chance, as she wakes up in the past as her kid self! Now armed with knowledge about the future, Firentia resolves to save her family from ruin. But to do that, she’ll need to shed the shackles of her status and rise to master her family!

I came across I Shall Master This Family, and it immediately caught my attention thanks to the beautiful art and the premise. It's not often you see a historical story with such a strong female lead who is committed to changing her fate. The series follows Firentia, a young woman who has been abused and overlooked her entire life as an illegitimate child of the noble Lombardi family. After a carriage accident seemingly ends her life, she suddenly wakes up in the past as a child. Armed with knowledge of the future and a determination to save her family from ruin! I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did.

Story Impressions

I thought the first twelve chapters were incredibly engaging. You get to see Firentia's backstory and how her past life shaped her into the committed, more intelligent person she becomes in her second shot at life. Each of the characters is distinct in their own way, and I especially appreciate the relationship between Firentia and her father, Gallahan. In so many other situations where the mother dies in childbirth, the father blames the child and keeps them at a distance. But here, Gallahan truly cares about his daughter and shows her the love and support she deserves. It's refreshing to see such a healthy parent-child dynamic, especially in a historical setting like this one.

I found the story concept compelling because Firentia isn't just reincarnated or sent back in time without purpose. She has a clear goal: to change the future where her father and grandfather die and her family falls apart. In her past life, she was tamed and let others abuse her, but now she doesn't let that happen. She fights back and stands up for herself. The story does a great job showing her commitment to her beliefs and how she uses her knowledge of the future to set the right path forward. It makes you think about how you would handle a second chance and what you would do differently if you were in Firentia's shoes.

The Lombardi family have complex dynamics, with uncles and cousins who look down on Firentia because of her mother's status. Some cousins don't like her, but others clean up their act because of what's happening in the present. The story really demonstrates the perspective of growth and the love that Firentia tries to cultivate. Even though it's a historical setting where women don't have much power, Firentia proves that women can do more than men. All of the female characters in the family are portrayed as highly intelligent themselves, which is a great message to convey for young readers.

Release Details

I Shall Master This Family Volume 1 will be available to purchase on October 13th. Ink Pop is releasing it in paperback and hardback editions. Volume 2 will be released on March 9th, 2027. The manhwa started in 2021 and is still ongoing in Korean. You can read the original English translation of the manhwa on Tapas and Tappytoon.

Translation for this release is credited to Ciel. I thought the dialogue read very well and the character voices were varied and distinct throughout. For this Ink Pop release, Jordan Blanco newly edited the book. The editorial work here helps the story flow nicely for English readers. Jules Buckley is responsible for the design.

This series is based on a Korean web novel and has been serialised as a webcomic in South Korea under the title Ibeon Saengeun Gajuga Doegesseumnida starting back in 2021 and is still on-going.

In Closing

If you're like me and usually read romance but want something new, this story is gripping and surprisingly heartfelt. I still enjoy a good love story, but a historical tale with a strong female lead who is committed to changing her future is hard to resist. I Shall Master This Family is a fairy tale with a twist, and I hope fans get to see the physical print release for themselves because it's very special. The art is beautiful and really matches the webtoon's historical setting. I'm glad I gave it a try, and I can't wait to see where Firentia's journey takes her next.