What?? Why THIS manhwa? Of all the others, why THIS one? What is wrong with you people?
Plus it doesn't even read credible, like whoever is writing it now didn't even read it. The MC is not particularly bothered with ML being mad about whether his feelings are serious. ML didn't confess, it could be a translation error in the recent chapter. But the meaning is very different still. Anyway. MC knows ML isn't still hung up on that, he got mad and then got over it. The last we know is the scene where MC runs away after ML asks him if he likes him, lol. So if the writer wants to lead with the still hung up thread, IF THEY ARE, then that would be just be bad writing. That is not ML's character trait. He is much more accepting than most people and he comes off as amused with the MC more than annoyed.
Wow author. So the ML wants to keep the MC as captive? How nouvel! Is he threatening to break his ankles? No other ML has ever done it in any bl ever, yay! You are so smart and imaginative. What a creative and sensical solution to a conflict, never seen before in the genre! Thanks for bringing something new to the table, I will make sure to smash it with a stone. :)))
Dropped.
Like the MC was isekai'd into Trastasa. He remembers the name of the drink, he undergoes regular memory cleansing rituals, like Amon doesn't want him to regain his memories. And Gwen, with his most probably dyed hair, came after the MC looking for him that's why he got there much later. He even brought his modern day toys and beverages, and probably other articles so that he can trigger the memories. MC was probably isekai'd there while he was playing a magical game or something, then Gwen his boyfriend from their real life found out and set out to find him but by that time Amon had conditioned the MC to forget everything, and now he was made into a God. So Gwen had to assume the role of a leshah to get in close proximity of the MC. Maybe in order to be at par with Amon's powers, Gwen had to undergo training and learnt some tricks himself, that's why he is so confident that officials can't really hurt him. Maybe he got those pink animals knowing MC has a soft spot for animals.
This plot looks interesting, especially when MC will potentially be torn between choosing between Amon (the only lover he knows as of now) and Gwen, in case MC's memories come back due to Gwen's efforts. Gwen definitely acts like he has known MC from before, his yearning for MC also feels older than the current timeline.
There's mystery, romance, sexual tension, decently developed characters. The uke is refreshing. I always look forward to ukes that don't present as an extension to the seme, have a will of their own, a belief system they adhere to, not dying under the weight of their own (mostly) imagined misery and insecurities, who have agency and intelligence to act on it, who aren't misogynistic projection pieces of the authors who cater to audiences equally misogynistic no matter how they act otherwise.
Yes, I said it and I stand by it, a big chunk of BL readers is misogynistic as they enjoy projecting on ukes written in the image of submissive, agencyless women written in misogynistic f/m. Any uke with a backbone, agency, strong boundaries and a will of their own/a personality of their own really triggers these users' prejudices as they are unable to project on them, finding them unrelatable. Since they cannot read BLs without projecting on the ukes if their lives depended on it, truly strong ukes (not to be confused with the ones that operate on false bravado, reactiveness, immaturity, pettiness, vengefulness and unnecessary loudness) mirror everything these users find lacking in themselves, and so it triggers them into resentment and unjustified criticism. Knowing this, the authors also capitalise on the trope, it's really rampant in this genre, also rampantly consumed by these said users, logic or credibility be damned.
Which is why, I am enjoying reading this uke. For once, it's not the seme 'saving' or 'rescuing' the uke, the power balance not entirely favoring the seme. The story reads interesting and seems to stand on its own without resorting behind weakly written smokescreen for gratuitous smut, the character traits read convincing as per the backgrounds given to them, the worldbuilding reads more or less okay, some gaps aside, but i will wait for the story to unfold before giving a full judgment as a lot of crucial information is withheld by the author at this point in the story. I am down 17 chapters, so let's see how it goes. Hope it goes well and the author doesn't disappoint me, fingers crossed.
The art is nice too, the paneling, the composition of frames, editing, the colour pallete matches the eerie vibes of the themes, the character design is not very conventionally attractive but that's fine, the expressions are nuanced, well drawn and body proportions are convincing and not over the top fan servicey slop. Like the dialogues as well, the contrast between the uke's casual/modern speech rich with pop cultural references as opposed to the shamanic clan's old world lingo. The seme seems to be an in between, stuck between two eras, two belief systems, two ways of living, the way he likes uke and is impressed by him while still trying to protect the perception of his family from uke's critical lenses. He is miserable, not knowing where to go, who to trust, how to resolve his suffering. On the other hand, the uke reads confident in his skin, his misfortunes only make him stronger because his identity comes from how he thinks of himself and whom he prioritises in his life rather than what people think of him. That's the kind of strength I am talking about, not dependent on some external validation or criticism. Their dynamic seems believable, natural without being overly sexual, overly emotionally affected, it's developing slowly and steadily without relying on the dated (and often misused and narratively unjustified) tropes of fate and love at first sight. It doesn't read superficial, the uke means what he says and says what he means.
Yes author, give me more. Thank you.
Just strange that ML couldn't figure out what his own uncle was doing to his dear childhood friend oliver, when he was showing all the signs. It took MC only a few days to figure out and yet ml couldn't, despite being so close to oliver and being a victim himself. Seems like a writing oversight rather than an intentional character flaw, a big oversight though. Conversely, it reads like a plot hole that Oliver never thought of telling the ML about his abuser even though he knew what ML did to his 'father' for what he did after he was named as heir. ML holds the power now, not the uncle. So Oliver had no reason to suffer for so long.
The writer resolved this sibling dynamic nicely, realistically. Emotional engagement with an estranged family member often doesn't go as planned as one hopes to, it's always overwhelming no matter how settled one otherwise is. This scene read well portrayed as the reader could feel the violently suppressed undercurrents of the dialogues. And the season ended on a good note. It gave a well written push forward to MC and ML's relationship, which read natural after MC witnessed his brother's wedding and imagined him and ML getting married someday. This scene gave MC's unworded feelings words and made him realize something he was trying to repress, and then that realisation was reiterated by ML appearing at the wedding to pick his wife up and sensing the wife didn't eat. ML doesn't know all the details of MC's emotional undercurrents but he delivered anyway because his feelings are genuine too and MC can't minimize it anymore.
Well done author. This is why I like this author, and liked Lucky Paradise too, even though dull readers deride it so much as a result of their own lack of understanding.
Sure the ML could have worded his thoughts better. However he comes from old money so he is more straightforward than commoners, that's understandable. He was raised to be in the position of authority so he never had to learn to mix words about what he thinks, so his thoughtlessness is also understandable.
But MC's conflict is so shallow and his writing isn't convincing at all. People who have been through what he has been through know for a fact that ego and pride can only take you so far. He was literally in the dumps before ML came along and even if he doesn't want to hear it, if it hadn't been for the ML he would have been a goner for sure. He would have either collapsed from the overwork, or been maimed or killed by the loan sharks. He has no one backing him, he has absolutely no one to fall back on. He should know that he is a good student no matter what others think about him, he works hard and strives harder. But in real-life, people who have suffered non stop hardships would only be thankful for the leg up, for a helping hand. It doesn't mean that they think they are less than, it only means that they are finally getting the support that everyone else takes for granted. They would be grateful for the help, and most people in his position, especially in a money obsessed and status obsessed culture like korea, would be immensely thankful to what the ML did for him. It's absolutely true MC is better off without his father. His father wouldnt think twice to sacrifice his own son for his benefit, and the MC knows this very well. ML played the role for him that ideally his father should have, as his protector and financial and emotional support system. ML is absolutely right in thinking that's what MC wanted too, but MC is too blinded by his pride to be able to see that. He is doing better at his studies, he has been able to have a social life, all because of ML. He was able to experience a fuller, more satisfying life, all because of ML. And that in proportion is much greater than MC's shallow pride.
You can deride the value and importance of money and romanticize pride however much you want but it takes financial security to even romanticize pride. You gotta have the leisure to be able to do that, and that leisure can only be accessed with money.
I know most readers prefer to dickride the uke's character because #self insert, but objectively MC's writing doesn't make much sense, neither does it make him such a subject of sympathy. If anything, it makes him read hypocritical, ungrateful and immature. He knows that even if ML's words are harsh, his intentions come from a place of kindness and affection. Is is such a crime to not want to see your beloved suffer? At the root of ML's actions, is affection and care, not arrogance. Arrogance is what he uses to self preserve, at least in the case of his relationship with MC. But any sensible reader can see that ML loves MC and cares for him, even if he hasn't consciously worded it to himself.
Also it's such a oversight on MC's behalf to not put two and two together as to what ML's occupation was. He is a big businessman, he never looked him up online? Would it really have been that difficult to find out? If anything, MC doesn't know because he didn't want to find out. Either that or it's just a writing flaw. The latter most probably. But he is blaming that on ML as well. ML didn't tell him initially because he wasn't obligated to, he never made any secret about it being a transactional relationship. MC went along with the knowledge of how ML wanted it. So why blame the ML now?
I mean the story is pretty typical and cliched, so I was not expecting such nuance from it. But I also wanted to write about an objective perspective vs a biased self insertey one.