Ethingan's manga / #Tragedy(7)

It was a while ago I read it as far as I remember it was pretty good. Good characters, beautiful art, interesting, kinda angsty and more bloody and serious than most other shoujo. Kinda tragic as well. There was a heart throbbing love triangle but unfortunately I thought it didn't really get resolved very well. I really rooted for the white haired guy! I think the main weakness is the ending which felt messy and rushed. I heard there is a sequel though so I'll probably check it out.

Good story with a surprisingly sad ending! Seems kinda generic at first with the heroine having an arranged marriage with a prince, but it actually pretty deep and deals with some serious issues like slavery and discrimination. The heroine is strong-minded and mature. Don't really remember the one she married tough even though he's also one of the main characters. But I do remember her friend/attendant Loki, very good character! There is also a small side story about a snake girl I think and even years after I read it it still haunts me. The ending is very sad. In a way I'm frustrated because it felt like it didn't have to end that way, but in another sense I applaud it for being able to make me cry.

Underrated psychological gem! Some people dislike this for being too messed up or for fetishising rape and mental illness. I agree that it is messed up but I think one of the reasons people think it's worse than all other yaoi out there with rape is that here they don't sugar coat it. It is portrayed just as horrible as it really is. I think this is a way more respectful way of addressing serious topics than to have someone rape, abuse, humiliate etc. someone else, without ever properly apologising or regret, and the other one just forgives it like it's nothing and it's all portrayed as being romantic. These stories have very subtle storytelling while still portraying what is happening in a very frank manner. It feels like it has some deeper meaning and it really makes you reflect. Very psychological and emotional. Especially the last story. 1:st story: kinda meh, guy develops a choking fetish 2:nd story: Scary and messed up. A guy with DID who doesn't remember parts of his life: His other identity is violent and abusive and he can suddenly wake up, seemingly in the middle of abusing his partner. I actually liked this one. Some people say it fetishises mental illness, which I can agree with to some extent but I actually like this psychological and serious narrative. In some other stories with DID, everything is sunshine and roses, the DID is romanticised and misrepresented. I think that is way worse. However, here it really portrays how scary it can be to have DID and not knowing what the other identity does or when you will disappear. Seke mc. 3:rd story: probably the least messed up one. It was okay. 4:th story: Beautiful subtle storytelling. The meaning behind it is horrible. I had to reread it in order to fully grasp what happened and as I understood more and more I got more and more horrified. This story still haunts me. I feel so incredibly sad for the mc. A boy escapes from trauma by twisting his mind. A psychological masterpiece.

(2 fant), 5

Frighteningly realistic portrayal of rape and the trauma that follows. Very emotional and tragic. Quite old as well which can be seen in the art style. I kinda like it but it may take a while to get used to. Not sure I liked the insanity theme going on with the (supernatural) dreams and visions where they both share the same dream etc. but I guess it did add a layer to the ptsd. I also thought their conversations felt a bit unnatural sometimes, where they often bring up old myths, poetry, classical literature etc. as I don't think that's how young people talk (at least not me and my friends but maybe I'm just uncultured lol). But even so I have to admit it all does give the manga a special feel, as if the whole manga is some poetry lulling you into a seemingly sweet lullaby, even though it's an insane nightmare instead. Or something like that, can't really describe it lol. The characters were complicated and hard to understand at times, but I mean we all are, so I like it better than simplistic, boring, one-dimensional characters. Overall it's a one-of-a-kind, thought provoking manga that really affects you. Some mangas you have forgotten the next day, but this manga I read years ago and it still sticks with me.

Beautiful art! Nice exciting plot! Shows both perspectives. Really like both characters. Social, kind, competent uke with fierce eyes. Kind, devoted seme. Look forward to seme finding out about the past. 5.5, (6 rev fant), 7 // 3, (6 fant)