Ambrosia's manga / #Plot(46)

40+

list - seme pov, wip 30+ Slow burn and well written with appropriate apprehension about the age gap. But upon re-reading it the subplot felt very...boring? The almost worship of Yoiuchi's fathers by those around him, the careful and doting way they treated Yoiuchi. Sure it was very tragic but they put sooo much focus into him it's no wonder he grew up kind of stunted. It was really heavy and a bit of a drag, but I think it was more meant to just explore that and the feelings it caused Yoiuchi and what he had to grow up with. It's understandable and realistic in one way, but also excessive and boring in another. It does provide a good story for growth, though I think Sakurai's growth was more interesting. The bickering to lovers slow burn was also fun, though you could say the initial attraction was always there but just not realized by either party. The realization of their feelings is quite sudden and out of the blue though. The progression of their relationship after that is fairly natural, with a decent level of caution from Sakurai as the much older party. The second man in the love triangle was never really even an option so that part wasn't annoying or dragged out. Overall a good, well written story since this author is a good writer in general, but personally a bit dry as I couldn't gather much interest in the main subplot about his father and the house.

List - 9.5+ Intriguing but not charming. Plot was certainly different. We meet them in the present then learn of their past then follow them into their future. Writing style was curious and refined. Characters were complex and flawed, bad yes but also not bad with a different set of morals. Both had been through immense trauma and quite different living situations, trampled on by a cruel world. But still somehow I couldn't warm up to them, especially Shavonne. Maybe it's because I couldn't understand their line of thinking as the narrative wasn't very intuitive. Maybe there just wasn't anything to like or nothing endearing, but also his character was hard to fathom really, hot and cold with actions and thoughts that didn't make much sense. His monologues felt empty as if rattling around in an empty shell. Llewellyn's felt more alive and warmer, though his was also easier to interpret as it all revolved around his love for Shavonne. Shavonne however was more unfathomable. It may be the style of writing or the characters but I felt the story did drag in places. Certain elements went on for much too long and could have been established much more quickly. The same story could have been told in half the chapters without some of the droning narrative elements. The extension was more to establish atmosphere and tone rather than story elements. And it was a very depressing tone so I grew quite weary of it. I can see why people are fond of it, the angst and suffering with the devoted obsessive love can be an enticing combination when paired with a happy ending. But I myself found it quite tiring to read, and slightly annoying until we got to the backstory. Even then it was a bit of a drag.

list - 9.5+

list - masterlist, enemies to lovers, office, 9.5+ 70+

list - webtoon, 60+