Noir BL

[edit: waiting for more before ranking]

[edit: genuinely cannot decide, will reread]

2: it has a Noir sort of setting with the crime vibe but overall it’s quite tame compared to some in this list

5 : this one is intense.

3 or 3.5: it has the hopeless, seedy, broke mc atmosphere down in the first part before he gets out (happy ending) but the only dark part that truly compares to the BLs getting a 4 or 5 rating on this list was just used as the turning point in the story — aka not truly part of the plot but rather looked back on in flashbacks to show how much shit he went through. This one is good to read if u don’t wanna torture/trigger urself w the more intense psychological ones

[edit: I read this fucking ages ago and have forgotten almost everything abt it lol. When I reread I’ll add the Noir rating]

3 : I can’t lie I’m not a massive fan of this one (it’s kind of confusing, altho the art is so good) but tldr it’s: Shanghai, opium trade, Opium King gangster bottom X lieutenant top. It has the soulless vibe + crime setting down but the innocence/genuinely sweet soul of the bottom is really preventing a higher Noir rating. Feels like a typical yaoi enemies to lovers-vibe romance posing as a Noir tbh, though maybe it won’t have a happy ending ?

4.5 Does have slightly lighthearted moments but overall qualifies as Noir. This BL depicts a mc at rock bottom after years of hell in a corporation neck-deep in crime/surrounded by evil scum & living with the knowledge that true happiness will always be out of reach. I can’t see this ending well but maybe it’ll surprise me. Tbh I kinda want it to be a sad ending (the only way for him to truly be free is in death) since it’ll suit the atmosphere of the work