
“Spoiler” in the end he sacrifices their mutual love for her success which completely destroys both of them in the end…
Hope the ending of this manga doesn’t end up as depressing as this novel :)
2021-07-12 03:03 marked

the pedophilia was disgusting but it's scarily accurate to what queer folks especially gay men have to face through really early on, we who are still figuring ourselves out are easy victims to pedos and after you grow up it just hits u that "oh that wasn't okay" ect ect. if im being honest the girl really pissed me off early on, and others too in this manga. people like homosexuality if it caters to their fantasy, we're put on display for heterosexuals to have a good time. Ofc appreciation and fetishizing is completely different things but smtms fujoshis are in the middle of that faint line that it's hard to like or dislike them. this manga was a reality check to me tbh, but it doesn't seem like it's written from a queer perspective but from someone who think they know queers that well... but that's just my opinion.
2021-06-30 11:50 marked

2021-06-30 10:03 marked

The main character, is an intern not sure which field in the medical departments to pursue, his experiences with the patients, politics, media, and the law will either make an everlasting on impression on you or they wont.
Every chapter/volume gives you multiple point of views, and realistic characters. Every page you grow closer with the characters & the patients, it's a nearly impossible feat to not feel every moment with the main character.
The story (Oh BOY WAS IT GOOD) , came for an mature plotline and I sure as hell recieved one. Truly grateful to the author/translator /etc. Who have given me a chance to get familiar with this manga.
It's my sincere wish, that anyone who has read my review, will have an idea of what a treat they are in for, after stumbling on this gem.(▰˘◡˘▰)
2021-06-22 05:32 marked

I very much agree that J is a trans woman. It is clear, obvious and was stated and hinted at several times. The dysphoria and gender identity crisis faced by J was very obviously not that of a gay man ( cuz yes, there can be dysphoria there too because of compulsory heterosexuality. Many queer people raised in very heteronormative settings and cultures might understand this. In your mind, to be able to love the same gender you have to be of the opposite one, which sparks a heck ton of dysphoria. Trust me, I WOULD KNOW.]
HOWEVER, this story was marketed as a BL, written as a BL, intended to be a BL, heck the male lead is said to be gay and does his coming out to his aunt which is your biggest clue and several other instances where it just SHOWS that the author very much presented this as BL.
Is it okay and fine ? No, absolutely not, but the tags just shows how the art was marketed. Say I write a story and tell you right from the start that those two characters have feelings for each other and you as a reader think there is very little of it so it shouldn't be taggued as such. But, I wrote it with romance between those two characters in mind, I sold it with romance between those two characters in mind and I marketed it with romance between those two characters in mind. It should be even more so relevent when there is a cultural disparacy between me; the artist, and you; the reader.
The whole issue goes back to the fact that Japanese are not on the same page on gender identity issues as the Western World. Again, having lived for a long time there, I can tell you that to most people, trans people are just gay people who went through with the whole procedure. In the early 20th century Western world, "masculine" presenting queer women were said to be men trapped in women's bodies, which is cringe, but you know, early 20th century. Japan is kind of still in that wave but while still being more progressive. This is why a Japanese word such as an "Okama" (which J is described as) exists and is, by Western standards, LITERALLY more than four identities at once; it's a feminine gay man, a trans woman, a straight dude in touch with feminity, a drag queen and some more, basically, any AMAB with feminine characteristics.
Is it okay to mix in several identities ? No, of course not, don't do that you rude paperclip. I am just trying to explain WHY there is a BL tag ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
2021-06-05 00:30 marked

And the Manwha doesn't even try to pretend that their equals. It always give an air of 'you should be lucky to serve me' which is gross. It's the whole blind devotion that creeps me out, it gives major cult vibes. And it's worse when the FL used to be awful and abuse the maid character, but suddenly because they've gotten the bare minimum of kindness or apology, they worship the FL like she's a goddess.
2021-06-05 00:17 marked

After the empress’ death, the MC goes back to her original body (she actually knew she had to leave the empress’ body that day but so she asked the emperor to stay with her which became a huge trauma to the ML) and after two years she goes back to the palace disguised as a male escort/bodyguard due to political shenanigans. The MC was actually summoned for a reason, and it involves this radical group founded by the Ryeokuk’s royals who wants to assassinate the emperor.
MC felt somewhat attached to the group though she enters the imperial palace and wants to protect the emperor seeing how the ML blames himself hard for everything and turned into someone completely different. The ML also left the empress’ place exactly as it was before, and gave out harsh punishments for everything involving the ‘late’ empress. The story kind of turns into a ‘BL’ romance as naturally the ML is reminded of his one true love-the empress from the MC’s expressions/habits when she starts working as the emperor’s escort and falls in love. ML admits his feeling for the new MC pretty early on, even though he is a ‘male escort/bodyguard because he really regretted losing the empress without admitting his feelings. The ML even gets jealous saying you should be my man even in front of beautiful women lol and that causes Gong Lin to panic again and she tries the frame the MC, and even going as far as recreating the bloody ML’s trauma by harming herself and then copying the last words of the empress to hold onto the ML (which is pretty messed up IMO).
MC felt angry about that incident and tried to tell him the truth, asking what if the empress is not dead but just hiding due to circumstances...but the ML reacted pretty violently and storms out to go see his concubine. MC was disappointed because it reminded her of her last day - even when it is extremely important, he always chooses Gong Lin. So MC starts acting cold to the ML, refusing the snacks he orders for her, not meeting his eyes, and trying to avoid eating together, etc. ML was scared that he hurt the MC, and he didn’t want to lose ‘him’ too so he asked why he was mad and he will try to fix whatever it is which surprised MC since he would have never done this before with the empress. ML even confesses that he is in unrequited love with him in front of everyone, and tries his best.
That’s why when it was revealed MC is part of the infamous group that abducted the empress, it hurt him pretty bad as he thought she approached him on purpose and how he really fell in love with the person who killed the one he loved the most. While in prison, she tries to say she was trying to protect the emperor all along, but the ML was very conflicted with his guilt for the empress. Then when MC is alone with Hoon, she confesses her real identity considering her group obviously abandoned her and left her to die and to prove it she recounts how they met the first time, with the intruder and the stone... The prison guard listening to their conversation was a member of the group, so the guard murders the MC while Hoon and the emperor were on their way to the prison. ML sees another bloody gory dead MC, a repeat of his worst nightmare, is shook to the core for the second time.
Fortunately, MC goes back to the empress’ body and a lot of political stuff about this prophecy about her and how she will rid of this group from Ryeokuk. She is given three choices including one where she goes back to her original world and forgets everything. But MC chooses to stay with the emperor and goes to the palace and meets the ML. He couldn’t believe his eyes and kept asking Hoon if he was seeing a ghost and is over the moon when the MC comes back in the empress’ body. Then she teases him saying I heard you were having an affair while I was gone and then kind of explains all the prophecy/politics to him. She couldn’t come back officially due to the threats from the group and the ML wanted to kill all the people involved in the group right away, but MC persuades him to wait to avoid shedding innocent blood and work to eliminate all the discrimination against Ryeokuk people which was the root of all this. The stubborn emperor couldn’t even believe himself that he actually listened to her and put out an edict while she is sleeping. The book ends with the emperor kissing the sleeping MC saying I can endure everything for you (or something similar) with tears
2021-05-31 05:12 marked

2021-05-29 03:22 marked

sorry for taking this too seriously, disclaimer: i know it's a manga so it's all fiction but i was expecting this to be really good and fluffy cause some comments said this was cute (altho some people say it has weird vibes) and the rating is so high. it's fluffy in the end but not very satisfying for me
2021-05-24 02:25 marked

So much baited breath when reading that scene. My heart is still pumping!!
2021-05-06 07:56 marked

2021-05-02 20:54 marked

I’m also mixed about the Knockers. Are they evil? Or are they like humans, neither good nor bad but living by their own morals? I really dont know...
2021-04-30 04:06 marked

2021-04-30 04:05 marked

gang leaders are often portrayed as these jealous territorial borderline abusive assholes who need to be fixed by their innocent partner, but recent works like this one and 'dangerous convenient store' star gang leaders who are 3 dimensional and make an effort to treat their partners right from the start. that's very good to see.
2021-04-23 08:54 marked

Long story short, come for the bento shenanigan, stay for the deep journey through the world of deafness and identity.
2021-03-17 08:54 marked

2021-03-07 02:11 marked

2021-03-07 02:11 marked

2021-03-05 19:43 marked

Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk
2021-03-05 01:59 marked
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