devotedheart's Topics (6)

Though their dynamic is not exactly revolutionary, I think this relationship has an unmistakable charm that makes them stand out. Neither of the leads remain stagnant and they share on-screen chemistry that feels palpable. The story doesn't just suggest that Taeui is a loveable person but shows it through his actions, his flaws, and a background history that shapes him every step of the way. Taeui finds Ilay in a period of his life where he doesn't even realize how desperate for connection he is and they're mutually drawn to each other even before sex is on the table.

Taeui's dismissal from the military coupled with Jaeui 's attempt to push him away set Taeui up to be curious about Ilay and humanize him in ways no one else has managed to before. But Passion doesn't stop at that. Ilay doesn't radically become better overnight or even feel remorse for the kind of life he leads. Instead Passion tackles the question of how they make the relationship in spite of Ilay's nature rather than fixing it. They both make concessions in order to co-exist and live together.

This is a slow burn story that devotes ample time to development as Taeui accepts all of Ilay and Ilay gains humanity because of the overwhelming desire to keep Taeui in his life, realizing that he has to adjust or he could lose Taeui for good by endangering him. In the main story, Ilay learns that he can't kill Taeui. The next novel, DS, challenges this belief and Ilay learns he actually can kill Taeui on accident if he's not careful. And everything after that is an active and conscious effort to never hurt Taeui. Ilay realizes he could hurt Taeui, but he won't because he wants to be with him for the rest of their lives. He comes to understand there's nothing more personally fulfilling than Taeui being remaining by his side and happily so.

The psychological horror aspect of the reveal that his memories had a gaping hole in them completely blindsided me despite all the hints leading up to it. In a way, it is a cop out to diffuse responsibility and shift blame to a version of ML that can't be held accountable, but the plot twist was an interesting one even if the conflict gets glossed over quickly in service of story progression.

What stands out to me is the conversation it opens about personal agency, dehumanization, and molding a partner to fit expectations. Would he still be with him if his memories were in tact? Is a choice you were manipulated into making really your choice? Are they still together only because of sunken cost fallacy?

The writing takes full advantage of branching timelines and flips the story on its head by pulling the rug out from under MC who thinks he possesses more power than he actually does. I found the betrayal so deeply and deliberately haunting that I keep turning over the scenario. Consent that is given without being privy to all the facts of reality can hardly be considered consent.

I highly recommend rereading this with an open mind because I think from the beginning, the story is rife with subtext and symbolism that will fly over one's head and takes on new meaning after knowing the endgame. I say this as a person more invested in narrative than the pairing itself, it's quite significant and established early on that Jo is going through a bit of a phase where he's deciding on the direction of his life. He recently quit his job on impulse to change careers and I believe his relationship with Ian should also be viewed through the lens of him thinking about what it is he wants out of life. The lengths he's willing to go for Ian and flirt with danger ultimately help him realize he's not cut out for the world that Ian was brought up in and trying to escape from, so their entanglement is extremely meaningful despite not bridging the gap and exploring a future together.

This is not a story about who's objectively better and healthier for Ian because that's not how love works. People have choices and all the main characters make them. I love Ian's reflection on the fact that he is not the only one making choices. Some chances will slip by. That's life. In a different timeline, Jo and Ian could have had a future. The text acknowledges that the chemistry was there for it to happen, but it didn't. In a universe as vast and unpredictable as ours, there can't only be one soulmate for everyone. Love is a series of choices through which some memories get to stay forever and there's no rhyme or reason to it other than two souls forming a connection neither wants to let go of.

the MLs last name is hunter. the writing was on the wall the whole time

Anyone else keep coming back to this just for the art? Kaede's pretty darn cute with all his posturing. I'm always drawn to ukes that have asshole-ish tendencies, but aren't necessarily bad guys. His playful confidence is attractive too.

I feel like the length of time that passed after Jaeha's divorce is undervalued by most people. Eunho was understandably excited to finally win over Jaeha, but the pace their relationship was moving at was too fast. Not to mention the guilt Jaeha must have felt at the prospect of settling down with someone else when his ex-wife asked him if he ever actually loved her. That would almost be like a betrayal to all they shared. And Jaeha knew he was getting swept away by everything, knew he would be unable to turn down Eunho if given the opportunity to propose.

Jaeha is intent on repenting for all the accumulated hurt he's caused Eunho over the years and Eunho is taking advantage of the fact it's obvious that they're both still in love with each other. I love the emotional complexity to the struggles Jaeha and Eunho face as a couple: the interalized homophobia and emotional baggage Jaeha carries and Eunho's persistence on not letting him carry it alone. Eunho being willing to try to understand Jaeha despite everything and adamant that Jaeha is still worthy of love at the end of it all.