The Great Wish
Completed story Opinion: Thoroughly loved the relationship between a powerful couple with great communication. Rushed ending was a let down though. Main couple: 10/10 FL: 10/10 - Sienna Argent. Beautiful and powerful. Went from being a hothouse flower to a woman of heart and insight. ML: 10/10 - Kuhn Raad. A formidable man of many faces who was putty in the hands of the woman he loved. Story/Concept: Royal heir/Divine being x Kingmaker/warrior/rogue. The shining heart of this story was the dynamic between the MCs. There was respect for each other and the burdens of their roles and a truly wonderful ability to communicate well. Their problems were all external, each was able to manage independently but together they were something special. They never had a breakdown in their ability to talk things through, and each was sweetly vulnerable to the other yet also strengthened by them. Tropes: Stolen moments. Political intrigue. First time. Protective lover. Ending: VERY rushed, yet sweet and happy. Art: Pretty and full colour. Lost points towards the end was less effort. Smut: Implied only. Romantic overtones. Read novel for real smut. TW's: None.
The Tyrant Husband Has Changed
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.
Virtues of the Villainess
Completed story Opinion: I adored this beautiful story with all its genuine characters and good humour. Main couple: 10/10 FL: 10/10 - Ginger Torte. 17yo romance lover who was truly adorkable. She acted her age, full of immature moments that delivered secondhand cringe but also laughter. Very likeable and quirky. ML: 10/10 - King Izana. Young king who had been locked up in the tower most of his life due to his curse was serious but blossomed under the influence of Ginger, finding joy and laughter in life. Story/Concept: Ditsy yet kind hearted romance lover x Cursed prince who doesn’t trust. There was so much sweetness in this story and it was really wonderful to see characters who acted their age. Ginger is young and a romantic, and fell for Izana at first sight. Her mind was full of idealistic love and perverted thoughts. She was the same inside and out and seeing the smiles she brought to others kept me turning the pages for more of her unique brand of charm Tropes: Stock shoujo heroine. Maid outfit. Luminescent blush. Bishie sparkles. Berserk button. I want my lover to be happy. Ending: Loved it. Art: Pretty and full colour. Smut: Implied. TW's: Suicide references.
I Raised the Beast Well
Completed Story Opinion: I loved it so much I bought my own copy. Main couple: 10/10 FL: 10/10 - Blondina. An atrocious name, thankfully she was mostly called Bridey in the story. Half blood princess x commoner, raised in poverty and abuse. Vulnerable yet poised. Gentle but with an inner strength. Very likeable. ML: 10/10 -Divine Beast Amon Akir. Black leopard. Very protective and possessive. Makes for an adorable kitten. Bridey’s first in his heart and soul. Story/Concept: Forgotten princess x Divine beast. I loved how we followed Bridey and Amon from being children spending time together to adults in love with each other. Their bond was strong almost to the point of being exclusive of others, but as the story progressed new friendships and strengthened family bonds came into their lives. Conflict was external, they communicated well and worked through any potential misunderstandings well. There is a clear feeling of being fated mates and little doubt that each was good for the other. Tropes: Reincarnation romance. Shoujo. Beastmen. Deities. Possessive lover. Sibling rivalry. Ending: Happy. Plenty of lovely side stories. Art: Lovely, colourful. Smut: Implied. TW's: Child abuse. Animal cruelty.
Kill the Lights
CW: Drugs, murder, promiscuity, suicide references, dub con This story goes straight to my favourites pile. Both Noah and Mason/Haley were wonderfully complex characters, each with a backstory that had elements of heartbreak and which had much to do with who they were in the present day. I loved the sadistic behemoth Noah. He was such a mix of frightening power and fragile vulnerability all wrapped up in a beautiful physical shell. His PTSD and long term mental health struggles were a believable backdrop for his dangerous personality. And for all he was seriously obsessed and possessive he tried very hard to ensure that he didn’t give in to his darkest urges. As for Mason/Haley, I loved his expressions, and the art of his character with blue eyes and black hair. His protective side, his fierce independence, and his reactions to the money offered in his acting roles lol. Together, they were a favourite pairing and I loved their story! Available on Tapas Based on a novel
Wendy the Florist
Completed story Opinion: A sweet, easy to read romance. Main couple: 8/10 FL: 8/10 - Wendy Waltz/Olivia Hazlett. Illegitimate daughter of Lord Hazlett raised in a cold household. Gained a magical ability to grow any seed. Independent , emotionally guarded, in hiding as a commoner. ML: 8/10 -Rad Schroeder, Captain of the First Imperial Knight Army. Strong and protective. Respectful of FL independence and autonomy. Vengeful to any who harm Wendy. Story/Concept: Noble in hiding/magical florist x Captain of Royal Guards. A sweet story with steady pacing and set amidst some political intrigue between commoners and the nobility. Magical components with a fairy gifted power and a FL who wanted to live quietly as a florist. The steady romantic pursuit of the ML was lovely and I liked his darker side that came out when FL was threatened or harmed. But towards FL, he was a shoulder to lean on and a warm heart in her corner. Tropes: Fairies. Shoujo. Social class conflict. Protective lover. Sibling rivalry. Ending: Happy. Art: Pretty and colourful. Characters improved but often had very similar features. Smut: None. TW's: Kidnapping. Mild violence.
Heaven's Trap
Stalker x Happy go lucky Promiscuous guy Naruse enjoyed the perks of uni life. Man or woman, he sought pleasure in the moment. When his moment was intruded upon by 3rd year engineering student Yoshino, Naruse became intrigued by the calm personality before him. But Yoshino was more intense than Naruse anticipated, and Naruse needed was faced with a dilemma of falling for someone who may he as broken as he was. I liked the story and for all it was a tale of obsession and stalking, it wasn’t really toxic or disturbing. The characters made sense and they were a dichotomy of sexily endearing and toxically wholesome.
The Fake Princess' OP Bunny
Completed Opinion: Cute, sweet, and fluffy (pun intended) Main couple: 8/10 FL: 8/10 - Lady Zernoa de Rhanterra/Larissa. Raised poor, was sold to the Duke de Rhanterra to replace his daughter and capture the crown prince. Protective of her family, she starts to find joy when she rescues a cute rabbit. ML: 8/10 -Grand Duke Hadelrune de Strelitz/Rune. “Cursed” by a fairy to be a rabbit and find love. A renowned soldier and avoider of women and rabbits he can’t dodge his fate to be a cute cottontail with a thumping heck of a protective kick. Genuinely supportive and kind to Larissa. Story/Concept: A sweet idea that enabled the pair to cross social boundaries in an unique manner. Rabbit rune was endearing and by the time the FL met his human version they had already become very close. Tropes: Shoujo. Historical. Curse. Beast form. Royalty. Nobility. Identity charade. Ending: Happy. A few loose ends, a little rushed. Art: Pretty and colourful. Adult male characters had very large eyes and youthful features, they all looked like kids playing dress up though they did improve a little as story progressed. Smut: None. TW's: Suicide. Child abuse. Drugs.
Cheerful Countess Sisters
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.
Kiss the Abyss