Honestly? I think you could cut out most of the smut, they kinda go at it like rabbits for no reason. But this was like- huge in the BL scene when it came out EVERYONE knew sign and knew it was good. I’m pretty sure I found out about it through ads, I can’t quite remember but it was one of the first Manhwa I ever read, because I generally stuck to manga.
Holy shit dude the world building??? Mermen??? This is in my top favs, it’s not necessarily the deepest thing ever but it switches up the typical omegaverse in a unique way and we love to see it.
This is what got me into gore. It’s such a compelling story and explores so much in an interesting way…GUH I LOVE IT
I think this is my favorite depiction of Omegaverse EVER it does exactly what I want it to and that’s actually exploring the nature of omegaverse but also how the world would be and HOW THE WORLD AND CULTURE WOULD ADVANCE OVER TIME. GUH ITS SO GOOD. I really like this author though so there will be other works on this list from them.
So this is a prequel to what I’m adding next and will give you context to one of the characters who you don’t get a full backstory for. This one is fucked up and uncomfortable. This also sticks in my head because the main story was one of the things I read in middle school, but in my mass reads I never cared too much about authors so I read this prequel WAY later. But it made me remember the og story and I was so shocked that prequels and sequels even existed in BL
Read this in middle school, and while not the first yaoi I read with BDSM themes it was the first that I recognized to explore how BDSM can be tied to trauma and Idk it was never a fav but retrospectively I appreciate it way more and consider it essential to know.
I made the mistake of reading the sequel story first but THIS AUTHOR OMG, one of my all time favs. Absolutely essential as this was my…3rd? 4th? Ever yaoi I read on this site? Kinda crazy.
The sequel that I read first. Very nostalgic for me.
Same author but I place it on this essentials list because the audacity to have one of the male leads be BALD. Had me on the floor in middle school dude and it’s one of those I have never forgotten about existing. A FUCKING BALD MAN DUDE
Little fucked up, this was a more recently discovered one, but anything that explores trauma through sex get me. I considered it a tad bit clumsy in how it went about things but I appreciate what it was doing.
Sign