somnia's manga / #time go brr(25)

MC is a mysterious woman with the ability to tell lies and thruths apart. Additionally good luck seems to pile onto her like crazy before something bad is going to happen soon, which is an interesting mechanic. Anyway, MC is a professional gambler who traveled around and made a name for herself sweeping casinos. One day, she rescues a boy from trouble and takes him home. They become close, bond and go gambling together. But after her ring, which she recieved from a dummy mage, flares up, she ends up 10 years in the future without the kid.. or even her house. So, the thing with the whole gambling pov is that you get a thrill because of the uncertainty of whether the MC will win or not - the higher the stakes the higher the enjoyment for those reading - but this MC wins almost every time, and when she doesn't? It's on purpose or just doesn't affect her much. If she doesn't care, why would you? The story itself is kinda cliche. Stuff is constantly happening (mainly gambling, people cheating while gambling, just bad ppl getting in the way or fluff scenes with male main leads), but the thing that keeps you reading takes its sweet sweet time. The thing I am refering to is MC's dumba** realizing that the kid she took in before her time skip is mortal, able to age, and looks literally the same as the duke dude who's getting close to her now. The story lost its focus somwhere within the whole cruise ship "arc". It's clear that finding him is important to MC and she thinks about this lost chance more than a few times, but the fact that the author themselves avoids it so much to get more chapters out of it, just makes the plot TIRING and EMPTY in the end. I skipped right from FL's first visit to the Duke's (btw her outfit in that chapter is horrid, just to add extra salt) to like chapter 50-something. That's like 30+ chapters and she still has no clue. I'm dropping this.

Inés has relived her life more than once by the time she chooses to become the fiance of the most handsome future playboy. She now knows to avoid the slimey, filth-ridden rag, that is the Crown Prince... and hops on the Carcel (the playboy) train, when she is reborn far enough into the past to change her fiance. That's one hell of a rough summary. The story so far is so nice. The whole time reverse thing isn't anything new, but the story makes it up with the characters and pace. It isn't anything world end heavy plot-wise, but the journey still feels important thanks to Inés' perspective. Honestly, her experiences made me cry multiple times, and this isn't even supposed to be a tragedy. Herself and her relationship with Carcel are the main driving point of the story imo. And yea, there is no actual smut in here. You barely get to witness them breaking the bed, it's vaguely shown and more so talked about by the characters. In a worse story I might've complained about lacking commitment, but here these scenes feel less like smut for the sake of smut, and more so to show the couple's development. Looking forward to future chapters for now.

79/ MC is the last siren. In her first life she was used and abused by her father and the Emperor, forced to sing and perform miracles while trapped in a cage. She died at peace after recieving salvation by the demonic Duke, he who went on a rampage and freed her. Time rewinds and MC finds herself in her 10 year old body, before her power was discovered, with memories in tact. This time she's set on avoiding tragedy, and wants to save the Duke from his. Honestly, I didn't expect to love this so much. MC is adorable and I cried for her so hard. And it's not like she's just a tragic character template either, she has this good bit of straightforwardness and mischief in her too, which is really charming. Normally I'm not into the whole babying MC thing where everyone spams them with bedazzled hearts, but her situation justifies it well here imo. I also love the messages in the story. MC focuses on making things better, instead of blindly commiting to revenge and power-hogging. A lot of these time go brr shoujos commit to the ugly feelings (not that it's bad), so I feel this is a refreshing take. Also: the bit with the Duke's mom. Her straight on telling her to value herself, not forgive abuse, and process her grief for as long as and however she needs to - speaks to the readers as well, a real power move, what a queen. The world building is interesting too, it's obvious someone put thought into the lore and magic, and I have yet to see a boring character too... well maybe besides the shady ugly uncles, but they don't count. But like many other manhwa it looses the plot after a few dozen chapters and gets lost in the sauce.

78// So, this one is set in a medieval setting, with a bit of a religious magic mix. We're shown how MC is married off at the age of 8, to a full-grown man. She becomes a woman with a bunch of gossip surrounding her, she's the vulgar wife who only cares about luxuries. But that's not the end of it, war is a thing and life takes her further downhill by ending her family's life. She ends up dead broke at a monastery, begging for a second chance. And weehee, she finds herself back in her 17-year-old body, just fresh out of bed. This is where we begin. Anyway, simply because child marriage is portrayed doesn't mean the whole story is bad. Things like war, death, and cheating are there too. Idk why people are so allergic to it, even though it's conveyed as something wrong, or at least questionable, within the story. Most characters don't feel entirely good or evil. Neither FL nor her hubby feel perfect. Especially in the beginning. But our good guys learn to communicate and trust one another. FL's spoiled, dumb attitude is there, cut her some slack - she was an abandoned child who wouldn't get affection unless she spent money - but she matures with time and learns. And her hubby ignores her because, despite being the adult, he has no clue how to approach or care for her right.. though ngl, it's creepy how it's never explained why he agreed to marry a kid, let's hope that's brought up soon. It's also brought up how the first timeline might've been a simple dream/vision of a possible future, which is cool imo, it makes god's influence feel more mysterious and illusive. The bishop said himself that there is only speculation, but no proof beyond the identity of a saint. What I also love about this shoujo is the setting. It's nice to see a more realistic medieval background that doesn't reuse the same 3D fantasy castle asset, as dozens of other similar shoujo of this niche do. With that said the art is very good too. Honestly, the thing that bothers me most is the second prince's feelings for FL. Not because they are there, but bc they felt shoved in out of nowhere. First, he had a political motive, then he was arrogant, never even got to see her smile at him - barely interacted with her in fact - but BAM! "I think I fell for her", out of the blue. I feel that could've been developed to be way more smooth. Anyway, I won't spoil it here, but that one scene where he "confirms" his feelings for her, is bone-chilling. If you know, you know.

First Timeline: FL and ML(prince) do love each other, but due to the schemes of the saintess she's pushed out of the fiance position. Basically everyone but her and her bf think he's gonna marry the saintess when he gets back from tHe war, and FL has no rep or rank to counteract that misconception/manipulation. FL is framed for a crime she didn't commit, no doubt in a bit to get rid of her before the prince returns, so she chills in prison. ML comes back from his war, with no arm, and basically everything's gone to shit for them... and then the homie stabs his gf? Turns out there's reasons for that. 2nd timeline: She's back to being a child, in fact so are two other characters but I won't spoil here. ML is being weird this time around and so is this other Gideon guy who used to lick the saintess' boots in the og timeline. He's getting real cozy with FL now, I WONDER WHY. Anyway, I like the story on a surface level but there's a lack of communication on FL and ML's part. They should openly talk about wth to do and what is going on in their head but there's none of that. In a way it feels more like the plot is moving their actions and emotions like chess pieces to whatever drama we're heading towards. MC feels like a doormat at times, and specifically their trouble with jealous girlies feels so useless in the face of more concerning 'troublemakers'.