Really enjoyable especially because the "Dream" plot made me feel less guilty for enjoying the kidnapping S&M This relationship could never work because that not how BDSM works, but it's forgivable because the plot isn't TRYING to be very realistic, it's a fantasy within a fantasy. I also had no problem understanding what they were saying and what was going on. I'm surprised there are even complaints about it because I thought the dialog, translation, and plot layout were far better than most Manhwa. I wasn't rereading things to understand it and I was able to follow the flow consistently and quickly.
Highly recommend if you're someone who is able to read a romanticized version of confinement kinks. There was consent, the top just didn't know it and thought he was forcing bottom. However, Top DID NOT push when the Bottom actually didn't want it. It IS a completely unrealistic portrayal of real BDSM/S&M relationships. If it was real the bottom would not have been as happy with everything. But it's a fantasy that many people with confinement kinks have, not having a safety net makes it hotter, it's a fantasy.
SPOILER: For those who are confused about the plot
First, It's safe to assume that the universe is trying to get them together. The "dream" (what the reader sees) was essentially a premonition about the future given to them both. But, because them meeting would just lead to the kidnapping and both misunderstanding eachothers feelings, the universe gave Bottom the memories of the "Book". The "Book" memories were basically showing him a possibility of what might happen if things go wrong, like a guideline. Because of Bottom's memories being wiped and thinking he was in a Book, he was able to relax enough and act which let to the Top realizing his feelings were love.
Essentially, they were meant to be, but they would never get there without the dream/book intervention.
This was soooo good I loved every second and I really can't see the MC with any other character than Hyeonjin. While I can see the idea of it being appealing, MC's whole character would have to be completely different in order for the chemistry to be there.
It's two EXTREMELY sweet character's being sweet together, instead of the usual yaoi trope of torturing the sweet characters we see so much. SO much fluff! I loved it!
Yanu had me blushing at MULTIPLE points! They did a really good job of adapting the right amount of otome game tropes while still letting it be a "real" world. Plus Yanu is truly a chaotic neutral character, almost chaotic evil, and yet still VERY likeable as a main "good guy". It was really good and definitely hard to pull off considering how many fine lines they had to walk in order for everything to fit AND be enjoyable. Really impressive writing!
All the complaints I've seen are from people who've read the book and said the second season is basically two seasons rushed into one. That's fair, but to be expected as the visual adaptation of well-loved books RARELY meet the standards fans hold.
As someone who didn't read the book, I didn't feel like it was rushed at all. I definitely want more, but that's just because I enjoy it. So I'm glad i read the comic first since now I'm excited to read the book, I get to enjoy both!
I gotta agree that Yanu, while morally ambiguous still felt like the good guy in the end. It was really well done. Though I think what really helped was the fact that Eyra really isn't as normal as he tries to present himself as (I do think he doesn't realise it himself though lol).
And I felt the same about the pacing as you do, before reading the novel. I really liked it as a stand alone, though after reading the novel, I gotta agree with others, that the ending felt rushed in comparison. However, I wouldn't have really noticed if I didn't read it. And the novel did a better job at explaining the nuance of some of the things that happened. They kinda reduced the complexity in the comic - I presume they didn't wanna deag it out.
I hope you have fun reading the novel!!!
MC was especially refreshing! I loved that he was a badass, but I also loved that he's frail. It was also really funny and I felt like it was well written.
I LIKED the slightly more realistic version of the fairytale "guilty abuser" trope. ML changed not because he realized he was wrong but, because he realized he wouldn't get to keep MC if he didn't change. I still felt that he had guilt, but his guilt wasn't why he stopped being horrible. This made it feel more real as it's rare for someone to do something so horrible and then suddenly think "oh, wow, I was the worst! My bad!"
AS FOR THE MC, people often call characters that still love their abusers weak, flat, or poorly written. In reality though, it almost always happens that way. Abuse starts looooong before it escalates to the extremes people think of, and there is a reason SO many people stay long enough for it to get that bad. Even confident people who think they'd NEVER put up with abuse often get trapped. MCs reaction is truly a perfect representation of someone who's strong and mentally healthy.
THE PACING was really good for its length. Their relationship built a foundation, there was an escalation of ML's warped thoughts/actions, the chase was long and impressive, there was substantial groveling, and they left enough chapters at the end for "happily ever after" (I also teared up from the catch)
THE PROBLEM is the number of chapters, it definitely needed more. They did really well when you consider how much they had to fit in, but a story like this would have been better with 10-20 more chapters to really execute the plot shifts. Most of the complaints I've seen can be attributed to its short run. I don't blame the writer for that considering how well they did despite this massive obstacle.
TW there is substantial abuse and later forgiving that abuse. There is at least one rape scene I can remember. MC is drugged with an aphrodisiac, he fought being drugged but not the actual sex later, so it was less graphic than most rape scenes. It IS plot driven. It was necessary for the story to progress, it wasn't rationalized as sexy or good, it was considered a BAD thing. I do believe all other times were consensual from my memory. They could have shown more trauma effects and consequences, but MC definitely has a better idea of what it right vs wrong sexually than in most manga I've read.
THE GIANT BABY was ducking hilarious. I loved every poorly drawn picture of that child. The art was still decent, especially their expressions, but the artist still has some growing to do. I will miss the adult head on a toddler body contorting into inhuman forms.
I agree, people who have never suffered abuse have this weird fantasized "why do they stay? If they stay despite how bad it is they deserve it, I would never let someone treat me like that" but I was severely mentally abused by my own mother for 20 years, she had 6 children and all of us have self harmed and a couple have tried to self smurder. Out of all my siblings I was the one who stayed the longest and I am also the youngest, I was only able to put into words after I moved out how even texting her made me feel and it was like I was a prey animal chained by my ankles and backed into a corner with a hungry predator leering at me from the shadows.
Every person in an abusive relationship stays longer than what others think they should. Whether it's days, months, years, or the rest of their life. My father was a horrible drunk, and us kids resented my mom a lot for not leaving him far before she did. After growing up, I was the only one of my siblings who got into an abusive relationship and to this day my sibling still hold a bit of resentment. But after I experienced only a fraction of what my mom had to go through, I now know that she's the strongest woman I've ever met, just for surviving it let alone how much she's grown since. Abuse is not something that can be understood through hearing about it. Unfortunately, victim blaming is our society's default, but luckily people like you speaking out are changing that! Thank you for sharing!
How long does it take for the esper to stop hating the guide? I'm thinking about reading it but I don't think I'll enjoy 45+ chapters of the ML hating on the MC.
It started out really promising, but the plot was not so great. Lots of plot holes, and I don't know if it's just me, but I barely understood what was going on. I did really like the connection between the MCs, but I wish that was shown and explored more rather than basically the whole "bad guy" arch. The memory loss plotline really hindered a lot of the development too. I also wish they had given a reason why they couldn't kill the doctor.
Worth the read since it was guideverse, but it barely made the cut for me.
It's a good story and it's well executed. It's a bit strange but I enjoyed in nonetheless. I can see why a lot of people recommend it.
This comic was to hilarious. From the conversation in the park all the pay to that baby at the end. I was ACTUALLY laughing out loud. So good!
EDIT: came back to say this is peak. As in, of the last 10 yaoi I've read and the next 3, this was the height of my enjoyment. I kept thinking of different points of this and laughing out loud even if I was reading something serious. For some reason, after letting it sit in my brain awhile I'm even more fond of it. I highly recommend!
TW: The BOTTOM gets drunk and pushes himself on the top at one point. The top is eventually seduced so the actual sex IS consensual. I would consider it more Sexual Assult than Rape. and the bottom is definitely guily, everyone considers it wrong.
Also, everyone kinda treats the bottom like a spoiled idiot, but it's pretty fair when considering his worst actions. I wish they had shown him being an airhead more in the present than just the past. Still really good though!
It was interesting. Not my favorite ever but it was worth reading. Definitely focused on the drama a lot more than the romance but it was still interesting. If you're looking for a sweet fluffy story though I would wait to read this, it's more realistic than that.