Lauvil's manga / #Dropped(192)

There are way too many details and plot points in this story that makes me uncomfortable. Mainly things that reek of interlised mysogyny. One is the trope of a beautiful, but weak girl, who needs a man so rescue her all the time. Another is the clear implication that rape is not about violating a woman's right to bodily autonomy and integrity, but about her and her family's honour, which is why the bad guys try to rape Mei to hurt Kou. It's bullshit though. The idea that raping a woman could somehow hurt her family or lover, more than it would hurt her, is archaic and misguided. In general the story feels like it was written by a man. The way the MC's body was posed and exposed to please the male gaze in ch.1, and the thoughts she had about herself and her body, just felt so charicaturized and cringy.

It's an okay story. The drama seems a bit pointless, but it's easy to read, the characters are cute and the art is beautiful. It's just boring. 35 chapters in and I find myself procrastinating every time it updates, bc nothing is happening. The story so far: FL reincarnated into the body of Ancia, an extra in a novel and the child-bride of the (also child) crown prince. The novel is about how her sister breaks the curse that afflicts her husband, after Ancia commits suicide, and the two fall in love. However, this Ancia is a grown woman in a child's body (who still acts much like a child) and she knows the story, so she can correct the tragedies that happen before the happy ending. How to do that, you ask? Well, you start by drooling over your husband's father, the emperor and kisses up to him, while also appearing willful and strong. Then you cook classic Asian food and serve it in a western setting, much to everyone's surprise. But ofc everyone will love it, bc Asian food is the best. Push for your sister and husband to fall in love and be together, even though you don't actually want that. You've just convinced yourself it would be best for everyone. Then... Uhm... Read a lot on how to break the curse. And... Uhm... Talk a lot about breaking the curse. Oh, and think about it a lot! But remember to only make little to no progress on it, as it is the only center of tension in the story, and if you solve it too quickly, then you couldn't drag out the story with pointless drama or random cooking montages.

I don't think this story is romantic at all. The emperor is giving off ALL of the red flags; he kills without remorse, he's possessive and controlling, he has no consideration for others and only thinks about himself. I think chapter 12 was supposed to be romantic in revealing his thoughts, loneliness and deep infatuation with Charlie, but I thought it was out right terrifying. It was even explained in the first few chapters, that the emperor married Charlie by force AFTER having killed her entire family. She hated him and her life so much, that she eventually killed herself. Yet the emperor stubbornly held onto her until the end. If the new Charlie didn't like him back, then that would become her life as well; being tied down by a possessive husband, who has no consideration for her feelings. Who will force his feelings upon her, rape her, and not let her go, even if it kills her. The whole premise is SO toxic, and the author unfortunately missed the chance to redeem the ML-character.

Dropped for the following reasons: 1. The story is kind of boring 2. The misunderstand between the FL and ML is pointlessly drawn out, to the point of rediculousness. Cluelessness can be funny and cute, but the author has gone to far when you begin to question the character's intelligence. 3. The novel suffers a severe case of internalised misogyny, as exemplified by: - Most of the central characters being male - Female characters, aside from the MC, are either extras, that serve as plot-devices but little more, or the antagonist. - Male characters are allowed growth and redemption (as seen with the prince and the emperor), but female characters are not (like the princess). - The MC is allowed very little choice for herself. Instead the male characters have taken it upon themselves to shape her future - usually without discussing it with the MC herself. - The MC rarely gets the chance to prove or defend herself, bc a male character always appears to save her (usually the ML) - The MC is treated by the plot as a typical "not like other girls"-girl.

Reincarnated into a novel she read in Korea, Amelia gets drunk one night and happens to have a one-night-stand with the male lead. Or, she planned on it being just a one-night-stand... But the duke has other plans. For in the span of just one night, he became enamoured and obsessed with Amelia and now does everything in his power to bind her to him - whether she wants it or not. Because clearly, Amelia doesn't want to date the Duke. He's the male lead with a destined partner, and there is nooooo way that her actions could ever change the course of the story, right? Don't mind the fact that her actions has already changed a whole lot. It doesn't count. No, sir. I hope something more interesting will happen soon. This whole "push and pull" between the Amelia and Killin is already getting kind of old and the MC's conviction that he's going to fall for the female lead no matter what, is so cliché and annoying...