Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #Another World(34)

Completed story Opinion: Disappointing. Decided to drop after 12 chapters, but still a spark of interest so I skipped to ch75 and read to end. Main couple: 6/10 FL: 3/10 - Idris. Bland. No backbone, spent her time cowering or blushing. Illegitimate daughter of a noble and maid she had no skills to be wife of a powerful leader. ML: 7/10 - Khalid, Archduke of Caltes. Red eyes, half demon, demon skills. Protective. Pushover for his wife. Not always believable as a strong man. Story/Concept: Concept of being assassinated and sent back in time after her husband finished her off was interesting. But then it was let down by inconsistencies, eg the “strong” FL who wanted to live returns and is as much a doormat, cowering, blushing misfit as before. The only reason she had a better life was because Khalid set out to make it so. I didn’t feel chemistry between MCs and failed to find the FL a sympathetic character to cheer on. Tropes: Damsel in distress. Time regression. Demons. Magic. Protective lover. Blushing. Past trauma. Ending: Ok. Art: Disappointing especially her fashion. Smut: Implied only. TW's: Blood, murder.

Completed Story Opinion: A nice story, let down in a couple of areas but the sisterly bond was great. Main couple: 7/10 FL: 7/10 - Countess Charlotte De Perol. Childhood full of physical abuse and neglect. Becomes a powerful woman and has a sweet sister relationship. ML: 8/10 - Arthur, Duke of Cardiff. One of the last magi, capable of wielding the infernal flame. General of the Kings armies. Actually a very sweet guy who didn’t get enough story time with more pages dedicated to the king (who held him in a form of obligated servitude). Unable to live his life for himself. Story/Concept: One of the most refreshing aspects of this story was the sister bond between FL and her mercenary sister Kara. The story suited the title “Cheerful Countess Sisters” more than “Countess and the Blade” because little of the story had time between FL & ML and he was a magi more than a knight. There were let downs for me but the main one would be the amount of story dedicated to the king. He was responsible for a lifetime of misery for the ML because his need for power was his priority over their close brotherly bond and he never faced any consequences for that. In fact, with the exception of having the FL love him, his life was pretty perfect and given his cruelty (which the author attempted to balance with his love of the FL) and petty selfishness. He was also in the story a LOT more than the ML. Tropes: Shoujo. Historical. Royalty. Nobility. Sisterhood. Ending: Happy. Side stories were ok. Art: Pretty and colourful. TW's: Child abuse.

Ongoing; Volume 1 completed. It’s sexy scenes and beautiful art in this story. Charles is a senior high school student who has a self-imposed one-way competition and a dash of sexual tension with his classmate, Kai, the president of the student council. One boring day, Charles unexpectedly picked up a magical grimoire that opened a portal to another world. Charles and Kai set forth on an adventure like no other in an unknown land and have to work together to find a way back home.

Completed Story Opinion: There was a lot of drama about this being a story of grooming but it really wasn’t. It’s got a 9yr age gap between Estelle and her knight but when they get to the time of realising their feelings she is an adult and even then there is a lot that happens and a lot of character development before they become a couple. The healthiest relationship was actually between the Castielo family members with a doting dad and protective brother. The irony that they were so strong and loving given their demon heritage often intruded on my thoughts. Main couple: 8/10 FL: 8/10 - Estelle Castielo, Pink Eyes. Abused for her first 11 years, the FL had a lot of insecurities and trauma to deal with, but she was sweet, strong, and likeable. I loved her coming into her adult strength too. ML: 8/10 - Knight Emile. Around 9 years older than FL? Protective of Estelle, has a darker history than you would think given his personality in the first half and a more dangerously unpredictability to him. Story/Concept: The story was told in two distinct stages. Childhood and adulthood. In Estelle’s young years, there were a few highly traumatic arcs but overall it was a time of strong family bonds and the everyday innocence and sweetness of childhood. In her adult years the story changed pace intensely, introducing angst, drama, self sacrifice, and a significant time of separation for the FL and ML. There were times you just want things to settle down, but there was a lot to resolve and overcome. Overall I enjoyed the roller coaster ride and it’s subsequent character growth. Tropes: Historical. Shoujo. Family love. Elementals. Demons. Dragons. Magic. Tough childhood. PTSD. Smut: None. Ending: Happy. Art: Consistently pretty. TW's: Child abuse. Kidnapping. Child trafficking. Torture. SA (not from ML).