Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #Manhua/Manhwa(113)

Story is completed This was a wonderfully told story with secrets, plots, intrigue, and the darkness some will sink to in order to grasp power. It’s also tells of a beautiful romance between a prince who has to live in the shadows and the woman who becomes his light. It was Prince Yunjo and Seolyun’s abiding and trusting love that kept me turning the pages hoping that they could find a place of happiness together amidst everything that was determined to keep them apart. A recommended read.

Story is completed I loved this story so much. It’s one of my favourite tropes to have the ML be considered powerful and dangerous to everyone except the one he loves where he is a protective, gentle, and loving pushover. Crown Prince Muyeong is truly a frightening beast. He is a cold and ruthless killer in war, capable of what can only be considered atrocities. His reputation becomes such that his mere appearance on a battlefield would have the enemy fleeing. Hwayeon Ryu is the beloved daughter of Chancellor Ryu and awakening from a coma she is now also also the reincarnated Yeonu Lee with all the traumatic memories of her short life in a distant future. With all the memories of both, Hwayeon is a gentle and sweet soul who is drawn to Muyeong and only sees the best in him. Their story is packed full of comedy (especially from their respective families) and a beautifully intense connection with each other. I really recommend and will read this again. Hwayeon Ryu, without knowing the cause, falls into a coma at the age of six. Then after 12 long years of her father, Chung Ryu's persistent attempts, she finally opens her eyes. As she wakens from her prolonged sleep, she realizes she not only has her memories but has the memories of someone else's life, Yeonu Lee. Though startled at first, as time passes, she manages to adjust to her new life. Then one day, in hope to have lunch with her father, she pays a visit to the palace. But she ends up taking the wrong turn and finds herself in front of the notorious beast, crown prince Muyeong... The story unfolds then, when the soft and delicate flower Hwayeon meets the arrogant and fearless beast, Muyeong.

Completed story This was a very well crafted story and I loved seeing the development of strength and will of the Princess as Athanasia grew up in the shadow of such a cold and deadly father. Because no matter her determination, she was also vulnerable and sweet and it’s a real skill to write a FL who has that kind of feminine strength that we see here. The story was interesting with a good balance between darker, disturbing themes and the softer and humorous moments. Definitely worth its high rating.

Story Completed A rare gem in the villainess stories, in this one the FL, Aria, lives up to the title. After meeting her violent and tragic death, having been tortured and losing everything, Aria is ready to let go. That was until her step sister Mielle revealed that every bit of suffering that she had endured since her prostitute mother married Mielle’s father had been at her whim. The horrifying revelations and the clarity led Aria to resist her death with all her will. But some things can’t be stopped. Yet, when an hourglass appeared before her, Aria found herself returning to the past with all her knowledge and hatred intact. And she set forth to be the villainess in truth. And maybe this is where this story differs from so many where someone without having experienced the factors that shape a villainess in a transmigration type novel become the villainess but become kind. Aria had undergone such horrible trauma that as the reader you cheered her on in her plots. So if you are looking for a real villainess story where you still like them and wish them well, this is the one to read.

CW: Rape (not involving either MC). This is a smut story but there’s some plot too. The sexually confident FL is tired of dating men who are selfish lovers and wishes for more. So boom, she is in a historical world and adopted by a powerful man in order to be entered into the Emperor’s harem as a concubine. Now that barely there plot setting is over, we get to the real story which is Kayeon captivating the Emperors’ body, mind, and ultimately heart. Her sexuality isn’t the sum of her (thankfully) because she shows intelligence and grit to survive jealousy from the harem and political machinations against the Emperor. And the affection between the MCs balances the smut just a little, but ultimately you gotta admire a woman who is confident in her femininity.

This was a lovely story. Carnelia (FL) was isekai’d into the role of the villainess who would be executed at the hands of her husband. However, she was nothing like the character from the story and set about to survive by becoming friends with the prince she was forced to wed when they were both 12. And that friendship was what set this story up for a wonderful foundation for a plot of political machinations for the emperors throne and ofc love. I loved the MCs, their strong bonds of friendship turned love are amongst my favourite tropes. The supporting characters were such eye candy and the art overall was impeccable. There were sweetly funny moments like the Prince perpetually having his nose buried in a “How To” book and Carnelia having to fix that. Definitely a story to reread.

Opinion: Loved this so much, I read on Bilibili app to support the author Main couple: 10/10 MC: 10/10 - Prince. Well conceptualised character. Loved his growth, wit, and intelligence. ML: 10/10 - Abyss. I always love a dark hero and he was easy to empathise with and relatable. His ultimate persona was great, Story/Concept: Unique and a great mix of dark themes and light moments. Game designer x Ultimate killer game character. Both characters had to develop before any romance but they prioritised each other and had that “sacrifice self to save you” attachment from very early. Tropes: Isekai. Real world x game world. Possessive lover. Protective lover. Past trauma. Shared room. First times. Daddy role -> lover. Older uke. Younger seme. Ending: Loved it. Art: Pretty and full colour. Smut: Implied only. No lightsabers, good use of face expressions and words to build sexual chemistry and tension. TW's: Suicide, rape (not main characters), horror, murder, violence, depression, PTSD. ? Incest (not really, more a short term parent kind of role in one characters pov).

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.

Some stories manage to go beyond what you hope for and deliver something truly special and memorable. I simply adored this manhua (available on WebComics). There were so many feelings evoked and such beautiful artwork, it had me unable to put it down. Dark moments, heartache, angst, joy, friendship, character chemistry, and ofc love that defies the odds. For me, this is definitely highly recommended. Su Yuan was from a poor family. To release the heavy burden for his family, he accidentally got permitted into the Ogus Academy. However, he found out that the school was established to protect demons. As a weak human who wanted to survive, he must find a demon to be his pal. Because of Su Yuan’s unique scent, he attracted many wooers who wanted to be his pal as well as all sorts of attacks. Until one day, he saved a fox covered in blood, and revealed a big secret...