Role Reversal

I like that they're genuine, fleshed-out characters in their own right instead of just relying on role reversal. Kang Haesol is the best female lead of all time. I adore her complex around love and how she treats it as transactional, something she earns through her actions, which ultimately creates the conflict in their relationship. It fits so well with her backstory and makes her incredibly compelling, rather than 'she's cold just because'.

½
I'm really into the FL's looks and I like all the different sides to her. I don't enjoy how the ML was acting at the start because insecurity over not being the 'man' in a RR story is always annoying, but he shapes up and genuinely wants to treat her well. There is an incredibly random side couple between the FL's friend and the ML's younger sister with a ... 10 year age gap... but so far it doesn't seem to have that

+
One of the best to ever do it. The premise hooked me so much that it was the only manga I've ever paid per chapter for. This is role reversal at its peak. Leticia is actually the dominant one beyond simply 'taking the lead', she has power both in terms of status and magical ability, and her love of (playfully) tormenting and spoiling Gilbert is what makes the story so amazing. If you read one RR manga let it be this one!!!!!!!!!!

Incredibly funny and good at what it does. The author clearly loves both genres they're subverting and the tropes they turn on its head rather than seeking to hate on them them via parody. The 2 different art styles lend itself to some great moments and I laughed audibly at the story more times than I could count. The author always manages to subvert your expectations in completely unpredictable and humorous ways. Only 4 stars though because I wish Yubi was visibly more muscular...

½
The translations in the first half of the story made it difficult to get through on my initial read but it's so perfect. Amadionte... Sir Mion... she's so chivalrous and lovely ..........

As for the ML, he's probably one of my favourites in this genre. Cyonel's very prickly and distrustful but kindhearted which is exactly in my strike zone. I like his droopy eyes and weak expressions ♡

Only 4½ because the art can get rough at times

½
Maybe the plot just wasn't for me, but I found it really difficult to get invested in the story at all and both times I've tried to read it through to the end I just couldn't. I skimmed the last few chapters and it also seemed that the ML stopped crossdressing. While I appreciated that the FL got to keep her hair short (for a woman) I thought her getting more feminine was boring and ultimately they regressed into heteronormative roles.

½
So ridiculously cute, both the leads are very charming and have good chemistry. Harumi being the working woman and getting to be taken care of after being parentified at home just feels right. I felt that the explanation for Kurogane's existence was also interesting and sets up interesting future conflicts. He's sweet and loves to take care of Harumi... they both evidently adore each other.

Honestly really good. I was impressed with how well traditional power dynamics were reversed on an almost societal level. The women manage to come off as convincingly perverse, violating rapists despite ... being female. I felt genuine revulsion at the creepiness of the gardener, and the story convinced me of how powerless and objectified the ML was in the female-dominant cast.