january 7, 2025
9.5/10
To Deny the Route has to be one of the most entertaining and smartly written BL I have ever read. I'll start with how the art is undeniably immaculate: with those fine details, perfectly drawn body proportions, colorful tones and touch ups, and expressive characters. I am in awe at how detailed they can be at making this and how it's palpable how every single panel was skillfully and meticulously drawn. Just how many days did it take to complete a single chapter of this masterpiece? I am in loss of sufficient words to justify this feeling I have towards this amazing work.
How effortless it seems to make comedic scenes is beyond me. Every chapter is not a bore or a forced read at all. I have been captivated the instant I read the first chapter, and it went on and on, and I never did lower my expection towards the next. I was with the characters and in the moment with them. I felt happy, amused, sad, confused, disappointed, etc., proving how gravitated I was until the very end. I absolutely love how it ended despite how seemingly short or rushed it was. For me, it was a satisfying ending where Jerry and Ilya became each other's endgame. Although there have been underlying questions as to what happened to certain characters like Karyan, Siren, and Henry's whereabouts, I only deem it as a minor negative facet of this manhwa alongside the disturbing fact of how children are portrayed in inappropriate ways which until today gives an itchy feeling to me. Apparently, Jerry is waayy older than the rest of the characters in the story aside from a few ones. Him being concerned about the authenticity of the targets' feelings rather than of their age gap just bugs me. Moreover, as his character gets older, isn't he technically also get older? But then, I don't have any proof nor basis coz it's all in his mentality now. To make matters worst, the implied incest?? Was it necessary at some point? Ugh that just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. Why must forbidden romance with his 3 brothers be included in the route choices? Ugh.
Anyhow, I only paid those downsides little-to-no-mind since the manhwa is truly enjoyable. I think I got addicted considering I refused to do other things aside from finishing this lol. Soo in conclusion, this was an absolutely fun and enjoyable reading experience for me. I wish I could find such well-written and well-drawn stories like this one. I am surprised that I was content even if there would be no romance involved in it. I was even ready for it lol. So imagine how surprised I was when the love route started! Lmao I absolutely did NOT see it coming. I have been reading 19+ yaois that reading To Deny the Route made me realize how refreshing it was to distant my eyes and mind from toxicity, and just to delight in wholesome stories.
#JerryRoute×IlyaDeferius
#EveryoneWasLikableAndTheStoryItselfButOfcBesidesTheImpliedPossibilityOfIncestAndGrooming/PedophiliaEw
I'd also like to highlight how adorable the kids were drawn they made me like UGHHHH SO CUTE!!!!!!! *cute aggression activated*
To deny the route