This.This.This. I personally really like this storyline because it has such complexities that cant be just described in a few shallow words like layla is a weakass fl or the ml is trash. It's so very complicated and complex.
Yes! Exactly! If people just going to read this for the sake of curiosity I won't blame anyone to think that Matthias and Layla that way. But honestly speaking, if you going to read this deeply and try to connect it with the situation especially around the real Victorian/Edwardian Era, you will get why Matthias and Layla character are like that.
Especially Layla, I remember those tiktok comment saying that Claudine should be better FL. Cause she's this and that but upon doing the analysis I realized she's nothing but a shallow character. A woman who trapped on her role— designed to attract a husband, not to survive alone.
I just came back after re-reading the novel, and I am here to say. I got matured and realized how Solchi written this— and I like it. Ngl, I lose A LOT of braincells to the blackmailing scene, to the point I start questioning myself why I re-read it. But after getting to the climax of the novel, it was all worth it.
There's some dialogue and analysis that made me realize why Matthias have this madness obsession with Layla and why it took him so long realizing how his 'Obssession/love' is very destructive to the point killed Uncle Bill. And Why Layla wasn't really Naive and stupid that some of us reader thought she was.
Anyway, there one part of the Analysis on this novel that really hit to my core it was a comment saying 'Solche didn’t write a fairytale. She wrote the ugliest part of love. Not the sparkly or redemptive side, but the kind born out of pain, loss, obsession, and trauma. The kind of love that scars you and still pulls you in.' so, that's all. Byeeee