Bonus question: what do you think makes a good/great female protagonist?
Nearly 15 years ago, this was my gateway drug into enemies-to-lovers BL, which today remains my favorite trope. This is still absolute PEAK! It’s hilarious how the ultimate conflict came to a head via Kasukabe just being so fcking weird lmao I’m super grateful to Echochi Scans for doing this work justice; the typesetting in particular is quite superb. This series is part of my golden trifecta of fav school life rivalry yaoi: Junketsu Drop, Ore no Kirai na Senpai, and Who’s Going to Win This Competition
I love the emotional tension and sexual chemistry that arises when attraction builds despite/amidst feelings of hate, rivalry, resistance, frustration, etc. Looking for yaoi manga recs (NO manhwa/manhua please), ideally published within the last 3ish years cuz anything older I’ve probably already read :’)
I haven’t read this yet, but I’m a few episodes into the anime. I’m seeing online that there’s some speculation that Kinosaki may actually be a girl. Are these claims just the delusions of homophobes and heteronormies, or is there an actual basis in the manga for this possibility? I was SO excited after watching the first ep, but I might just drop it all together if it’s a double trap queerbait :(
This was a slow starter for me. I almost dropped around chapter 30 due to pacing/vibes, but I'm SO glad I persevered... it is absolutely worth it!!! This isekai is definitely above average imo.
My favorite thing about this series is how it handles all the MLs:
We get a ML who isn't "high spec" or privileged in anyway. He's considered plain-looking, and he doesn't have wealth, status, fame, or power of any sort. Nonetheless, he easily has us swooning because his devotion and cuteness are just *chef's kiss*
It is nearly impossible to find a romance manhwa where the ML is "normal,” like as if creators worry a character won’t be attractive to readers unless they have extraordinary beauty, wealth, status, fame, and/or power. But sometimes I just want a love story with a normal dude!!!
For the main story, the ML often feels undeveloped as a character because he primarily serves as a foil to the toxic 2MLs. However, the side stories fleshed him out enough for me to be satisfied.
The privileged and powerful 2MLs are realistically problematic, and our MC is a champ for ruthlessly calling them out for bs that other romance heroines would've pandered to.
Although I think more world-building would've been nice, I was impressed with how this series explained the causality behind its supernatural phenomenon. Most isekai romances seem to gloss over these details.
I also loved the OP witches and all the exposition around them. Their badass sisterhood is gold, and I wish there was a spin-off centered on them.
This story is probably too angsty for me to reread, but I am REALLY glad that I read it. I rarely write review comments like this, but I really felt the need to reflect on this series, and to urge others to persevere with it, too. It's a refreshingly unique story that hits on a different level.
“I don’t believe in superstitions” GURL you’re literally consulting with a witch
I hate how so many FLs in femdom series are straight up bullies and abusers. Ik that’s some guys’ fantasy, but that’s not how a healthy D/s relationship works irl. I’m glad people are bringing it up in the comments. As an actual domme who’s undeniably the target audience for this type of manhwa, I find this such a huge turn off. We are so underfed though, especially with this quality of art, so I’m reading anyway…
What’s worse is that Rosa is sooo vapid as a character; there is literally nothing likable or compelling about her beyond looks and money. She’s just a spoiled, bored, and boring person.
For those looking to continue the novel after chapter 42 of this manhwa: https://springofromance.com/chapter/sog-ch-73/
Ch 61- I love seeing Haechang fanboy over Andante/Owen… what a 180 Ngl I’d ship them in an alternative universe
I hope they show us more flashbacks of their first time working together… their chemistry is off the charts; it’s hard to imagine that they didn’t have interesting interactions outside of bed last time, too
I hate this MC but this art is god-tier so I’m sticking with it (๑•ㅂ•)و✧