I will preface this by saying that I like characters with great emotional depth. I like characters that turn a piece of media into not just another romance manga (which you may be able to see if you've read my review of Okyu no Trinity)
If you like fluff and everything tied up in a bow, I don't think this is a story for you, but maybe you would like to take a chance on this. If you're someone who hates bittersweet endings and psychological media is not your thing, I suggest you don't waste your time with this manhwa. You'll only be disappointed.
I won't say that I'm not disappointed with this manhwa's conclusion, but the author said that she was asked to lengthen the manhwa but didn't know how and that she was very conflicted and struggled through writing the manhwa. In the end, I'm very glad that she wrote this manhwa. I think the ending is very fitting, but I wish Dowun could have gone through a characterisation arc, something to show any character development. It's very Dowun to keep these things hidden, but as a reader, you can't help but want to uncover even more. It's not a perfect story, but it's one that I'll love forever.
I will also say that I will be a Dowun apologist until the day I die. I won't deny that he may be a hard character to like because he doesn't fit into the usual male lead standards of... outwardly liking the female lead (and not to generalise, but I think this is the reason why many fans dislike Dowun).
I will say that I haven't been able to read the full manhwa, but from what I've seen on Twitter and other sites, Dowun is someone who thinks love will make him weak and not in a fluffy tsundere character way.
Dowun is quite easy to dislike if you were expecting this manhwa to be about romance, but honestly, I found him to be the most compelling character overall. He is a person who sees people as tools and very means to an end, I believe it has to do with his upbringing, where he knows from a young age that his clan helped to develop their country and basically fell after the royal family swallowed up the clans. From a young age, he knows how to use people, is intelligent, and knows politics inside and out.
Essentially, Dowun's existence is essential to my enjoyment of this manhwa because what would it be without Dowun? Hong Lyon gets together with Baek Han, end of the story? Like he saves her at the start, if Dowun didn't exist, you'd know from the start that she'd be with Baek Han. Dowun keeps you reading, and he keeps the suspense. He is what keeps this story from being another forbidden love, master x servant, saved my life once story.
On that note: I don't actually dislike Baek Han, but something about him is so... dull compared to Dowun. I don't know what makes him unique from every other male lead in another romance manhwa? I don't mean that he isn't a good man, but if he were just a little. less. cookie cutter, I might have liked him a little more. He doesn't progress or go through any character development across the manhwa other than falling in love with Hong Lyon. He starts off kind, and he ends kind. I would like him dearly as a person, I would love him so dearly if he were real, but in a story, he just falls short.
[ This is a joke. ] Honestly, my biggest criticism is why she couldn't have just married both Dowun and Baek Han. Like girl, you have the biggest dick in the country, you can have both. Why limit yourself to the bodyguard and your fiancé? All in, go for broke.
I will preface this by saying that I like characters with great emotional depth. I like characters that turn a piece of media into not just another romance manga (which you may be able to see if you've read my review of Okyu no Trinity)
If you like fluff and everything tied up in a bow, I don't think this is a story for you, but maybe you would like to take a chance on this. If you're someone who hates bittersweet endings and psychological media is not your thing, I suggest you don't waste your time with this manhwa. You'll only be disappointed.
I won't say that I'm not disappointed with this manhwa's conclusion, but the author said that she was asked to lengthen the manhwa but didn't know how and that she was very conflicted and struggled through writing the manhwa. In the end, I'm very glad that she wrote this manhwa. I think the ending is very fitting, but I wish Dowun could have gone through a characterisation arc, something to show any character development. It's very Dowun to keep these things hidden, but as a reader, you can't help but want to uncover even more. It's not a perfect story, but it's one that I'll love forever.
I will also say that I will be a Dowun apologist until the day I die. I won't deny that he may be a hard character to like because he doesn't fit into the usual male lead standards of... outwardly liking the female lead (and not to generalise, but I think this is the reason why many fans dislike Dowun).
I will say that I haven't been able to read the full manhwa, but from what I've seen on Twitter and other sites, Dowun is someone who thinks love will make him weak and not in a fluffy tsundere character way.
Dowun is quite easy to dislike if you were expecting this manhwa to be about romance, but honestly, I found him to be the most compelling character overall. He is a person who sees people as tools and very means to an end, I believe it has to do with his upbringing, where he knows from a young age that his clan helped to develop their country and basically fell after the royal family swallowed up the clans. From a young age, he knows how to use people, is intelligent, and knows politics inside and out.
Essentially, Dowun's existence is essential to my enjoyment of this manhwa because what would it be without Dowun? Hong Lyon gets together with Baek Han, end of the story? Like he saves her at the start, if Dowun didn't exist, you'd know from the start that she'd be with Baek Han. Dowun keeps you reading, and he keeps the suspense. He is what keeps this story from being another forbidden love, master x servant, saved my life once story.
On that note: I don't actually dislike Baek Han, but something about him is so... dull compared to Dowun. I don't know what makes him unique from every other male lead in another romance manhwa? I don't mean that he isn't a good man, but if he were just a little. less. cookie cutter, I might have liked him a little more. He doesn't progress or go through any character development across the manhwa other than falling in love with Hong Lyon. He starts off kind, and he ends kind. I would like him dearly as a person, I would love him so dearly if he were real, but in a story, he just falls short.
[ This is a joke. ] Honestly, my biggest criticism is why she couldn't have just married both Dowun and Baek Han. Like girl, you have the biggest dick in the country, you can have both. Why limit yourself to the bodyguard and your fiancé? All in, go for broke.