The plot resembles many stories with abused sibling, other family member, or servant being forced to marry the main child's unwanted fiance/fiancee. If you're familiar with those sorts of stories then this trope doesn't add anything to the established universe.
Sae and Shouhaku are good together. They communicate well and even when they withhold some thoughts or find themselves jumping to conclusions within a few chapters they are open to each other's views and their communication is back on track.
The villains are one-dimensional and are just there to cause conflict. I may change my mind on the human uncle of Sae's. I really don't see any depth in Chiyo being a villainess. I'm not looking for a sob backstory, but at least I wanted the author to give her some true complexity. Because as it it stands, Chiyo is the villain because that's how the author wrote her.
Currently hoping that Sae is pregnant -- with a litter.
It's not bad, but....the story started off very interesting with possible unrequited feelings towards the ML and eventually we learn that the ML is also suffering from unexpressed feelings towards the MC. Since HS they've suffered from miscommunication and leaping toward conclusions concerning each other, although more so on the MC's side than ML. The drama heading towards togetherness. Completely understood.
But then the ML went from rich and aloof acquaintance to rich and psycho-jealous-stalker boyfriend. And there were clues that ML's head may not be functioning as properly as those around him perceived, but MC shrugged it off as cute quirks. (Nah!!)
-- Forcing a movie theatre date because MC was hanging out with his friends.
-- Deciding to have MC move in newlywed-style without discussing it with MC.
-- Keeping a WHOLE frickin' album of candid shots of MC.
-- Using/Forcing sexual activity on MC when ML gets annoyed, jealous, or angry with MC.
This story becomes less cute the more you realize the ML is mentally unstable due to his upbringing with his unhinged Mother and absentee Father. Instead of getting the therapy ML desperately needed -- he decided to stalk his classmate who refused to take advantage of his wealth. (⊙…⊙ )
No fr people can call us haters if they want but come on, ANY SINGLE TIME that the MC hangs out with friends, ML just appears and gets all jealous and is mean to everyone?? Like ok whatever BL logic, I'll give it a pass but imagine if this happened irl. You try to hang out with your friends but then your man shows up and starts picking fights with you and all your friends. I would be SO embarrassed if my bf did that to my friends for simply existing oh my GOD.
Like I understand being jealous, I sometimes get jealous if my bf's friends know stuff about him that I don't know but like that doesn't mean I'm gonna be mean to his friends and force my bf to leave the hang out wtffff
YES, finally someone who thinks the same way as I do. The more you mature the more you realize how this type of behavior is not something to be accepted
LOL!! My secret -- I AM a mature (in age only!! ^_^) reader. I cringe really hard when I see other readers who say they want a possessive/stalker type SO in their life. In my country, the courts and the graves are full of people who were once involved in those kind of relationships. I know it's fiction, and I do give in to some fictional dreams too, but there are certain areas I refuse to wish upon my life.
Which of the Emperor's attendants thought it was a good idea to dress him up as a KPOP idol to go boating?? (⊙…⊙ )
That old female cop -- I wanted to see her tortured more. I needed to see her full of tears begging to be killed. Then I would have ripped out her heart.
Thanks for saving Mohana -- I really hope her family or friends didn't set her up to be sold. Betrayal of that nature sucks!! But now I need Peace to cut her hair, dye it, and put some fake tattoos on her to better help hide her identity. (I also hope the Israeli nurse was saved.)
The story is good but short. Maybe 2.5 to 3 stars -- will decide on a re-read.
My biggest issue with this story is the relationship. If they had remained friends, I wouldn't be so torn between with my rating, but the fact that their relationship became sexual causes me so much doubt and just plain distasteful.
Explanation before the hate: Jihoon is an teen/young adult (17~20ish) with a child's mentality. His consenting to sexual relationship with Gitae is dubious, his other actions may seem adult, but his main thoughts, wants, writing, and interactions are at a child's basic level. While Gitae recognizes Jihoon's childish mental capacity, I don't think he fully understands it, so I don't blame him for inadvertently starting the sexual relationship. But I do blame the author -- the parents (Jihoon's) went into so much prep work for this safe haven but did not store any anatomy teaching/learning/growing materials/books?? Jihoon is stuck with a child's mind in an adult body. Which makes the sexual part of their relationship icky and very hard for me to look past.
I fully agree with you. I really enjoyed it and felt it used the few chapters it had well, but I'm really put off by the sexual part of their relationship. I think the other aspects are enough to carry it, which is why I didn't rate it very low, but it would definitely be better without the sex. Or even if they hadn't gone so hard specifically writing him as childlike. I wouldn't mind him being immature or naive, but he's very clearly meant to behave like a fairly young child. It's weird and takes a away from an otherwise pretty solid story.
I would say, his parents were in a cult and isolated themselves as a family if three.
1. Whatever doctrine they practiced may have censored any sex aspect, like usual.
2. They NEVER would've brought in another person, that place was just for them. It was an instruction for ML no never bring anyone in.
3. They never expected for the father to die, nor the mom to commit suicide. They took for granted they would be there to educate (indoctrinate) their child till the end. They are cult followers, they don't trust outside education
Jihoon is 20, although that’s only learned in the last bonus. I did feel weird when reading bc I didn’t know how old Jihoon was and he looked really young in the flashback, so I was kind of just hoping he was an adult bc I was attracted to him, and the sexual relationship with Gitae.
As for the childish aspect, I did find it weird too. But idk I don’t necessarily think it’s wrong or icky bc Jihoon does understand things and knows what he wants, he just has very little experience bc of his upbringing. And the only way he’d actually be a mental child is if his brain is damaged/underdeveloped, which I don’t think it is
Heewon, I sympathize with you, but this broken ankle was on you this time. You know, you KNOW, Kangwoo's rules about calling and this was definitely the time to make that call. Paying money back to Kangwoo probably wouldn't have cost you your freedom.
Although, I sincerely hope Kangwoo does force Heewoon's brother to work for him to pay back that debt. I never once believed he was coming back with the money. If he was making money overseas, he would have been sending money back home. Loser.
And...a small devilish part of me was hoping to see the family escape and coincidentally run into Kangwoo months or a couple of years later. Just to see him stop posing as a green flag and just let his true red flag self reign supreme.
MC your daughter was a true fighter. She didn't go down alone!! Kill them all!! Leave no survivors!! I've been waiting for MC to go after the female cop. (I see my vengeful self has risen again with the reading of this story. Can't help it. I truly felt his pain.) Hopefully, the new orphans MC gathered won't tie him down or cause his plan to go wayward. Also, I hope the author doesn't drag this vengeance story out too much; true revenge should be quick and heartless. No side quests unless needed for the carnage to be wrought!! Total annihilation is needed, no, required!!
This near perfect story does not have crappy side-stories attached to it. NOPE!! Shinjae became a world class dancer and Hanbin is known all over the world for his photographs!! (No district prosecutor, no reporter, and we didn't even get to see Purem in this flash-forward nonsense!!) Also author don't think I didn't catch you trying to change Shinjae's background from an affair baby to just a replacement baby. Shinjae's family issues weren't cleared up at all in these so-called side stories. And it doesn't look like any of them attempted to pursue their dreams. Therefore these extras they don't exist in my world!! (︶︿︶)
fr what are these nonsensical side stories they still cute tho <3
Should i just read them without the sides? Haven't read this yet, just wanna know if it's better that way
read them, it's after 10 years of the main story
The sides aren't too bad. I'm just used to sides adding an extra bit of happiness sprinkles to the main story, but I didn't feel it with these. I wasn't a fan.
My previous personal review said that I want the mother to get karma and I really ranted haha. I guess that didn't even happen??
I was planning to re read when I saw the sides were complete but based on your comment I feel like it's best to just leave it all behind
My Review for this story:
So many problems left unsolved. Hopefully they at least solve it in the side stories. I also want to see some Karma! Like bitch! What kind of mother are you?!? I'm waiting for her dirty deeds to be aired out! Who locks up their child to watch 2 people having sex?!??? She's psycho!!!! I want her to suffer so much!!!! Please grant us that! I hate how this bitch is living the life after trampling on many people's lives. Arghhh!!!
LOL!! You get your karmic revenge in the side stories. It doesn't go in deep about all the the charges the Mother had against her, but she does get her own lockdown, and it was Shinjae who lead the investigation against her.
My real issue with the sides stories are they lack any real substance and feel like betrayal to the main storyline of the characters.
As long as she had her karma!! I probably won't re read the whole thing because I don't wanna get disappointed
So the tired old BL trope of a seme who's a rapist and manipulator rises again in this story with the added bonus of Stockholm syndrome. Yay. I kick myself as I stayed to the end, instead of dropping this trash sooner, especially when I saw the direction the story was headed. There really isn't many redeeming moments within this story. Taejoo rapes, manipulates, and threatens the Euihyun repeatedly and somehow his actions were for love?! F*ck off with that nonsense!! As for Euihyun, yes, he was a different sort of uke, almost rare -- a strong fighter who usually isn't overpowered. You'd think that was a good quality, but unfortunately I can't praise it, since he is stupid as f*ck for falling for the very individual who dragged him deeper into Hell. Although, I applaud him for not using Haesung's feelings for him to seek a safe place, but I can't believe he thought running to the rapist thug was the better choice in his life. Another gripe, Euiyoung's mom (dad) comes back into their life -- why not negotiate to have both of you live with him as you work off the debt?? Nope!! That's too good of a solution let's do the exact opposite for more drama. -__- Lastly, you're an Omega and you were late taking the full dosage for the morning after pill AND you were knotted -- but you don't think to check for pregnancy?? Yesh!! The HEA is a lie brought about by Stockholm syndrome. There's no way I'm going to accept or believe either of them are in love, because every time I thought something redeemable was going to happen in the story it took a left turn back towards manipulation, stupidity, and lack of communication. Trash!!
Clearly you don't know the definition of Stockholm syndrome bookie- The author literally said it was about the EXPANSION of their love, pea brain. It starts off toxic but slowly turns more emotional and complicated, if you view their relationship with a closed mindset then obviously you won't see them as 'being in love'. Love isn't black and white which is exactly what this story portrayed, Euihyun didn't have Stockholm syndrome, he realized that Taeju was the only person who cared for him, even when he hurt him. Taeju was a selfish bastard who learns to comes to terms with his emotions and reflects on his actions; he literally tried to die and DISAPPEAR for the sake of making Euihyun's life better, if you choose to willingly ignore his character growth then do that but it's unfair to act like he didn't change by the end of the story. Euihyun and Taeju both aren't good people and constantly hurt themselves and others around them, the whole point of them falling in love was them learning how to care for someone other than themselves. Taeju learned to love Euihyun, Euihyun learned to love Taeju; it's honestly that simple. I agree with your frustration of Euihyun forgetting to take his pills but his brain was clearly scattered due to Taeju's cousin planting that seed of doubt in his mind, being honest Taeju had actual good development unlike 90% of toxic tops, the story could've turned into Jinx or something much worse so you're honestly just projecting hate. Also the reason Euihyun didn't try and work things out with his father is because he literally NEVER payed his husband's debt! If he didn't leave and go ghost for years and had been an actual father he would've payed off that scumbags debt but he didn't and instead took Euihyung instead as if he was "helping". the story isn't perfect because they aren't perfect, go read a fairytail if you're not mature enough to understand the complexity of the brain and it's emotions.
blud did NOT pay attention to the story
Me or the other person??
The other person lol
Here is the AI definition: Stockholm syndrome is a theory that explains why some victims of abuse or captivity develop a psychological bond with their abusers or captors.
Here is the dictionary definition: feelings of trust or affection felt in many cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor.
While Taejoo didn't physically confine Euihyun, in the beginning, he still wasn't able to escape Taejoo's constant presence in his life. Taejoo even arranged the home and work for Euihyun. It's confinement without chains or a locked door. (It's similar to the hidden dog fence idea.)
Wow. Thanks for the insults -- it really helps your argument. While I accept the words of the author as this is their work it does not mean I have to accept what they tried to showcase in telling their story. I just don't see the author's intentions. I did not see the gradual development of affection between Taejoo and Euihyun. I saw a manipulative man finally get what he wanted and a poor distraught young adult consign himself to him as a result of the constant manipulation.
You saw two broken souls find each other in such a tainted world. I saw something else; I saw a crude gangster use his position of power to force a relationship with a debtor and the debtor finally surrendering to that gangster under the belief he was "in-love" but also afraid of abandonment. I saw no character growth on either one -- I did see regret and I saw fear. I didn't choose to ignore something I did not see.
My issue with Euiyoung's father -- While Euiyoung's father wanted him back, so he could he have a better and safer life, I didn't like that the neither of them sat down and discussed both boys coming to live with him. Euiyoung's dad only wanted his son and not his adult brother. He saw the situation both of them were living and it never once crossed his mind to offer a home to BOTH. And it never crossed Euihyun's mind to ask to go with his brother. He could have still gotten a job to work on the debt and been in a safer environment with his brother. But, alas, drama prevails. (Or perhaps I'm too logical for that situation.)
One story. Two opinions. Two very different views on the flow of the story. You may have intended your parting shot as another insult but I don't: I love fairy tales especially international fairy tales.
Euihyun + Stockholm syndrome-- I admit the insults were immature of me, there's nothing wrong with having a different opinion but if you chose to be willfully ignorant then there's a problem. Euihyun still doesn't have Stockholm syndrome btw, his feelings for Taeju were much more complex then that. A perfect example of Stockholm syndrome is Yoonbum from killing stalking (great psychological manhwa), Yoon is physically trapped by Sangwoo and despite knowing that Sangwoo is a monster and doesn't love him he develops feelings or him and becomes delusional. When Euihyun caught feelings he saw the GOOD in Taeju and then went along from there, I'd understand your point if Taeju was a bastard through and through but he wasn't, he changed and became gentler and more genuine towards Euihyun therefore Euihyun slowly started to fall for him. What they have isn't your typical love story, I agree the author could've done a better job portraying it but it's not difficult to understand.
Euihyun and Taeju-- I might not have explained myself good enough in my first comment but I by no means find their love story pure, it's grim, violent, dark, but that only adds to it's charm. I see why you would consider it crude, I did as well when I first read this, but a story is not complete without it's ending, what's the point of reading a story if you only stop halfway? The development should've been better but you can clearly see a shift between their dynamics, Taeju changed who he was for Euihyun, Euihyun learned to forgive and make peace, in my personal opinion that's a good ending and explains a lot about Taeju's character development. I respect your opinion but you can't truthfully say that Taeju is the same man that he was to Euihyun in the beginning and end of the stoty, no matter how you view their relationship.
Euihyun + Euihyung's father-- If you agree that Euihyuns and Euihyung's father was not helpful then why disagree? We both agree that he only cared for the younger and not the older which I understand but as their parent he should've been more compassionate. He remarried and was living carefree until he suddenly got involved out of the blue after leaving Euihyun when HE was still young. You keep saying that they should've had a conversation but it wouldn't change anything, Euihyun would want to keep Euihyung in his custody, his father would want to take Euihyung and leave Euihyun to fend for himself. Also, Euihyung is basically living with a stranger; their father left when he was a baby so he has literally no memory of him. It would be too much for Euihyung mentally which is why he felt so depressed the short time he was living with their father. Euihyun clearly doesn't like feeling indebted which is why he most likely didn't ask to live with them, he could also tell he wasn't wanted which is another reason he put up little fight, he wanted what was best for Euihyung physically but failed to see he was the better option emotionally just as you did. A conversation would've been pointless and would just worsen things, their relationship was already broken beyond prepare so why break it further?
My last comment was sorta an insult but not exactly, I only said you should read fairytails since you don't enjoy negatives turning into positives in a realistic perspective. Fairytails are clearly less complex and don't actually get into the dirt and grime of a bad person, someone who's bad isn't bad forever unless they choose to be. That's what fairytails teach yet you have a hard time seeing that with Taeju but to each their own. My intentions aren't to change your opinion but to offer you a differing one so you could have a less narrow-minded perspective. I hope you have a good night, evening, afternoon, or morning. (Sorry for any grammar mistakes in either of my comments, I'm dyslexic and have a hard time proof reading.)
While their relationship with might not be true Stockholm Syndrome it is to a lesser degree Trauma Bonding, which falls under the diagnosis of Stockholm Syndrome. This isn’t me being willfully ignorant, it is me viewing a subject matter, in this instance, this story with different set of eyes and experiences. I do not see them bonding or coming to care for each other any other way.
No, I don’t expect their love to be full of radiance, true love, or love in general, is not a straightforward path. There may be grim and dirty areas before you reach that final agreement of love. I’m not so young that I believe in an all-flowery path, but I’m not so old and jaded that I believe all love should have a gritty undertaking to reach it.
We will have to agree to disagree on the finale and “love “between Taejoo and Euihyun. However, since you took the time to write such beautiful prose of what you experienced, I’ll will try to explain my insights better.
The exact moment this story took a nosedive for me and garnered my 1-Star reaction and vote was the kidnapping incident. I will say that I almost started to see them differently when they were living together. Taejoo and Euihyun’s relationship started to seem more normal and less manipulative and took on a more playful tone. But the kidnapping ruined it for me. It wasn’t the kidnapping itself – he could have been kidnapped any time he left the house. (And as voracious reader of myriads of comics on this site I knew this was coming – they were too happy.) It was the catalyst that led to the kidnapping – the debt. The debt that brought them together, and kept them connected, the very debt Taejoo refused to let go and write off. Taejoo lied by omission; he led Euihyun to believe his debt had been cleared and he owed him nothing; his walls were coming down to finally let another into his life other than his brother. Betrayal. Pure betrayal. If Taejoo really cared for Euihyun that debt couldn’t have been used as a mechanism that led to his kidnapping. I can’t remember the exact words that Euihyun used, but to paraphrase, you don’t let someone you love owe you money. The debt not being cleared – it was pure emotional manipulation not love. Taejoo couldn’t get rid of the debt due to his fear of having no connection to Euihyun, so instead he lulled Euihyun into a false sense of security and trust. That’s not love.
After all that transpired between them: Taejoo left Euihyun. Euihyun’s now living in the apartment with his brother. No debt to weigh him down. He’s free to focus on himself and learn about himself. Give his mind time to heal. Give himself time to figure out what he really wants in life. What does he do? Drugs and rapes Taejoo. Forcing a rut to engage in sexual coitous – it’s still rape. All because Taejoo confessed but is now avoiding him. That’s not love either. It’s two miserable broken people deciding their pieces fit. Furthermore, not in a good way, as we fit and complete each other, no, more like traumatic bonding over messed-up experiences. Still not love. Taejoo is trash and Euihyun is broken. They are not in love.
As for the Euiyuoung dad issue: We seem to be two boats traveling on the same path, but we slightly diverge on how we get to the endpoint. I can understand your POV where it would be unnecessary to have the talk with the person who abandoned their child to a teenager and another abusive male in that home. I may not have explained myself well either on this point. I think if both Euiyoung and Euihyun had moved into the house together it wouldn’t have been long before Euiyoung would have gradually warmed up this his father IF the relationship between Euihyun and his dad was good. Euiyoung is very attuned to his brother, so if his brother was happy in that situation he would be happy too. But this is moot point. As this situation never occurred or was talked about between them. (I probably fangled this point again. Apologies.)
True fairy tales are grim, gritty, bloody, and not always the outcome you’d expect. Fairy tales often were used as fables to discourage or warn about certain actions. True fairy tales are not Disney-fied versions of love overcoming all. Sometimes it happens, but the path to get there is more often dark and disturbing.
neither character was perfect. euihyun tried to kill his little brother for fucks sake, taeju was obviously a manipulative bastard that only wanted his smell and hole
but honestly, how could you not recognize the redemption arc? the author did it so well that i feel bad you weren’t able to appreciate it
An author will always lose me when they start writing a redemption arc for a rapist, it just doesn’t work in my opinion.
The only way a redemption arc works is if the rapist’s victim gets away from them and they grow apart. Which clearly isn’t the case here.
I understand why people might like this story though but it’s not for me
The whole point of euihyn not going with his little brother is because he was constantly involved with loan sharks and it was a danger to his little brother. That was quite literally the whole point
I'm definitely not a furry, I'm more furr-curious, so that's why I read this story. As cute as the kids are, I was a little disappointed that they weren't truly mixed/biracial children with attributes from both parents. Fine, I'll be honest, I was hoping for a wolf-boy/girl mix with ears and tails or tails and claws or tails, ears, and claws.