So, here's a rec if you wanna see good, high stakes noir BL: Gold Class Fighter (danmei/Chinese novel). Full translation on chrysanthemum garden.
Wet Sand truly delivered on its art and aesthetics, but failed to complete the world it's built on. It had a promising beginning/introduction to the world, too. At the end of the day, it's romance first before noir, but when you read other noir BLs, you'd know there was really no excuse to be sloppy with the system when that's the major conflict between the "main" couple.
Kyoutarou Kasuya is an elite businessman who caused a scandal at his company. As a result, he gets s...
- Author: Harada
- Genres: Yaoi / Smut / Comedy
Very thoroughly engaging all throughout; One of my favorite works from the author. It's that kind of story where you just hop in and let it lead you wherever. You're bound to have a good time.
A thoughtless finger slip leads Joe to snap a picture of Yeongwoo (Ian) smoking on his balcony - and...
- Author: DOYAK
- Genres: Adult / Drama / Yaoi / Webtoons
It's a beautifully packaged candy that's just another junk food at the end of the day. Wetsand truly nailed the gangster aesthetics that appeals to most readers, decorated with metaphors and symbolisms that would keep the readers engaged and guessing, only to lack flavor as a story. Hop in for melodrama and a casual read that you will forget in a few months when the PR sizzles out. Don't expect a profound message, a provocative piece, or a good "NOIR" at all. The rules and system of this world are illogical, the politics to scoff at, and the antagonist is............ Moreover, the protagonist is as inspiring as a white wall. The romance is incredibly engaging if you never experienced Wattpad or only started engaging with fiction seriously recently. Overrated, overblown, predictable. Beautiful art tho.
As someone who consumed a lot of darker bls and rooted for Yahwi in YTC, this is the most pathetic cop-out. Sissy (novel) was more gratifying and enjoyable than this. JoIan's arc has been delicately handled until the end, and Ch 99 and 100 were a complete whiplash. I am baffled at how bad it is, but I get that rushed endings are unfortunately common due to a number for circumstances. Not only were TJIan wrapped up so fast with a confession so unfulfilling and a conclusion so lackluster and lazily built on what TJIan fans have been insisting are boring and uninspired (JoIan's camping, stargazing, "It's a secret"), TJ's entire character was handled so terribly. This man has been stuck in the gang bc leaving has terrible consequences! Surely, he could only keep moving forward to survive. Ian's struggles throughout the story shows exactly how this life wasn't easy to leave behind; It'll keep following him and haunting him, hurting those he comes to care about at present (Jo). Ch 99 completely obliterates the weight which made TJ's arc more complex than realizing that he only wanted one thing in life (Ian, who he never had to fight for anyway) bc despite leaving the gang and the supposed benefits/power that comes with it, his underlings are still tending to him! After he spent only 2 years in prison! And he received no retaliation whatsoever from the gang which he suddenly ditched. And TJIan are in the same state. It was THAT easy and everything amounted to nothing! Jo's role in the story was unfortunately so cheap and predictable, too.