pluckaduck's manga / #strong female lead(150)

bro, based on spoilers, this shit is WILD. the ml is the FATHER. well, technically, she seduces and sleeps with her stepbrothers and father, but she only loves her father. the father is shitty, but to be fair, the mc is just as bad. the plot is convoluted, i have to admit, with things like jumping into the past and future, fake suicides, etc. edit: haha i read the novel and honestly, it is pretty damn interesting. the developments unfold naturally and don't meander or drag; it's pretty exciting stuff; despite the generic setting, this unfolds uniquely. cuz the mc is really smart and competent, she really knows oriental medicine and maneuvers schemes like a pro and her revenge is cathartic but i gotta admit her opponents so far aren't really that threatening. She absolutely hates her family (except lucy) and when she divorces sylvien (ch 122- i know, it's long, but the shit happening in between is good too) it's pretty satisfying since he's actually regretting it haha. the plot itself is pretty complex, with many interesting twists, like think of "i became the hero's mom" complex, but without all the wholesomeness cuz here this is mostly mc being a badass lol. anyway, people shit on this bc the father is the ML but mc hates him as much as she did in the beginning (currently on ch 139) so im gonna give author the benefit of the doubt and believe the reason she would come to like him would be good and not annoying. ch 254 novel: well. there is a lot of crazy shit. undoubtedly, the first half of the novel was better. i really disliked the stepbrothers, i really did. but orsini who regularly spat abusive language at her and even choked her on a couple of occasions, went to save her twice, and even died for her. calen, who kidnapped her to an island, chose to end his life than harm her. it's honestly touching. however, in terms of chara growth, i think isabelle takes the cake. even tho she didnt appear as often, she grew as a person... whereas the two bros didn't actually. (they just became more in love with the mc, simultaneously, becoming more indifferent to other people like their other siblings). isabelle was bratty but after mc's death, she really change... like less bull-ish. when kanna came back, she wanted to get along with her. like, finally, a evil stepsister who actually feels remorse and seeks a better relationship with her sisters. BUT THEN she died, killed when she tried to save lucy. WTF. WTFFFF. i was so about to drop the novel right there. what's worse is that orsini who saw her corpse just. walk. past. her. bc he saw mc there as well. WTFFFFFF. calen also literally didn't care either about his twin's corpse (but i have to cut him some slack cuz he was being manipulated, but still). also i really didnt care much for mc now. ngl when she was the underdog, her brothers treated her pretty crappy, it was satisfying to see her win, ig cuz the stakes was high for her. but now, she super mary-sue (more than before) it's not as much

reminds me of magus of the library, another phenomenal manga with similar vibes.

the author mustve been high when they wrote this. it's so unpredictable, and off the rails with the amount of batshit crazy charas. i truly laughed a few times bc of how out-of-pocket some stuff were. the art carried for sure, but the writing shines thru.

relatively straightforward plot. very good execution. there def could've been more if the worldbuilding was explored a bit more, but it wasn't necessary.

so, we got an abused and innocent kid who hates the world, an arrogant adult with main-chara complex, a gay drug addict prisoner, a high schooler with a severe sex addiction, a adult relatively normal but in love with a reflection, and an adult with crippling dependency issues. overall good story. they were all more or less fucked in the head, but good story. the art was pretty mid, but the story was excellent, especially in the beginning. it did begin to drag and the ending might not classify as a happy ending but the themes were consistent. it was never a story about the positive effects of human growth and connections. azuma is a very interesting character. she fundamentally never changed, as someone who is still childlike and ignorant and generally apathetic to people and morals. i feel bad for seki, who wanted her to become happy, and thus more "humane" after experiencing a lot and forming bonds with others, but well she's already a bit too fucked in the head after all that abuse to spare any emotions for strangers.

sooo good. the horror elements are actually so creepy and terrifying. do not read at night. the romance is super slow-burn, but that confession scene genuinely made me emotional. need more romance. mc need to realize her feelings sooner, bc how are u so attracted to and obsessed with one girl, but not realize it's love?? anyway, i heard this was written by a man so i read this, but the story and plot is great and engaging and the characters are not sexualized and written with layers of nuance.

surprisingly good for a historial drama manhua. it focuses more on the political machinations and drama, than the romance aspect. the targets are pretty good as well; no forced romantic developments or cringy aspects. the main problem of the story is the shitty pacing and storytelling. the plot points and their developments are well-thought-out, but how we get from point A to point B is poorly written. the worldbuilding could also be better, but the lack thereof doesnt distract too much. overall, above average entertaining read.

above average OI. people who are disappointed bc mc isn't whom they want to project themselves to be... recalibrate your expectations. i like how ash felt so alienated and distrustful. she acknowledges something all OI authors subconsciously wanted but never admitted in their characters: the desire to experience a perfect love to the extent they can forget their homesickness. her relationships with each ml isn't ideal, most of them being deeply in love with another person before mc, but it's realistic in that sense, and a reasonable explanation why she doesnt bring herself to fall in love until she gets her epiphany.

tension was palpable. great enemies to lovers with unrequited pining. last 50 chapters or so was messy cuz of pacing issues