Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #Abuse(15)

Bleh...boys falling in "love" with their abusers and rapists.

Outstandingly amazing, this webtoon was addictive reading. I loved almost everything, though my heart still breaks for poor Siwon...he was the true innocent and what he went through still brings me to tears. But, as for the MCs, their relationship seemed to be shaped by destiny. I love that both were strong, tough and protective of each other. I loved that their vulnerabilities were only seen by each other, and I loved that the uke was no pushover damsel in distress. This was one of those stories that stays in your head. I know I will be re-reading it many times.

Great stories, the first one was my favourite but I enjoyed all of them.

I unknowingly read the spin off to this story first (the one about the abusive ex). It is probably just as well I did because in that one he was dealing with the memories of hitting his ex which is bad enough. But in this, the extent of the abuse was pretty extreme. From pulling hair to choking to burning with a cigarette to hitting... it was awful to read what Yumi put up with. The only redeeming feature of the ex was that his actions were abhorrent even to himself so he ended the relationship for both their sakes. Once the MCs got together in this story it was so nice to see Yumi with a protective and gentle guy.

This was a well written story about an abused boy and the neighbour he feels the first genuine loving feelings for. The feelings are reciprocated but it’s not an easy situation as the boy is very much a victim and has been so for most of his life. Spoiler The story ends after they spend 6 years apart with a mature and composed young man back in his old neighbourhood and a cliffhanger before they cross paths again. It’s obviously up to the reader to decide if they reunite and fall in love or if they resolve to be friends. It’s a good ending given the history of the boy, it’s just a little disappointing and not my preferred style to decide for myself. I would want to know what those lost 6 years were full of and tbh I can’t help but think their time has passed by.

Falling in love in an abusive relationship is a big no for me. Fair enough if you love pain, but that needs to be consensual and with a partner in control. Fair enough to have an obsessed partner dominate you in bed. But hitting because of a sleep uttered name is a nasty, flashing warning and not hot. Nothing sexy or erotic about domestic violence.

Tragedy and psychological A sad, twisted and dark story that will break your heart. There is no happy ending, but there is some peace and a tiny sliver of hope you can find.

Contrary to many recent commenters, I enjoyed this story very much and did not see the FL as being weak or the MC as not having genuine feelings. Ellzay Thyase starts out as the reincarnated form of a young Korean girl who was drawn to the tragic destiny of the boy who yearned for love but surrendered to darkness, Azef Randall, from the novel ‘The Crest of God’. ‘Zay’ and ‘Asef’ are more closely tied together than you would think at first. For Zay, there is a desperation to spare the much abused Asef the loneliness and abuse of his existence that always corrupts his very soul and makes him the doomed villain. She seems so delicate because she has a gentle heart and cries for the villains fate. But given the severity and amount of abuse and neglect suffered by Asef over his life, and the joy that many seemed to take in being cruel to him, I think a strong (in the way of leaping in and taking charge) FL could not appeal. Consider how much of the violence done unto him was perpetrated by a woman who was meant to care for him. He needed a seemingly vulnerable and delicate woman who saw the good in him to stir any remnants of protective feelings he may have had. Someone who loved him for all he could and should have been, who saw through his lies and understood him anyway. The more you read the story and understand how deep their ties to each other are, the more you realise how strong the FL is. Always willing to sacrifice herself to ensure his happiness. The sad part though, is that you realise without Zay being in his life, Asef was unable to find happiness. He stays bound by the demons of his childhood. I won’t add any more spoilers to show why these two are so special together, or why you can trust Asef to treasure Zay before himself, but if you see him through her eyes as the story unfolds and understand that she will always do anything to try save him from loneliness, you will begin to understand the strength of her sacrifice and the depth of their love for each other.

What a mixed bag this group of short stories was! The first between the pale skinned boy and the man in the desert was the sweetest but even that had moments of pain and loss. The second story of the young master and the swimmer was the most realistic with two guys vulnerable from the troubles of their home lives falling for each other. I liked this story the most. Then.. phew.. the last two twisted mindfucks of depraved and torturous incestuous relationships were very disturbing. No happiness or healthy love there. Read at your own risk.

A princess trapped by royal duty is the target of a deranged stalker. Surviving an attempt on her life she becomes stranded on an island with a protective Greek bodyguard who hides his past. I enjoyed this story, both the MCs had some dark history and they were good to each other. I liked the ending too, nice and tidy HEA.