I am so ashamed of myself for dropping this story so early back then because I thought it would’ve been just another run-of-the-mill historical romance, and I apologize for my narrow-mindedness, my stubbornness, my laziness.
Okay, all jokes side, what an amazing piece of literature. I was already shedding tears from the first few chapters. It’s always difficult to write a story about social status, social hierarchy, the different economical positions, because just one miswriting could turn ur story into a tone-deaf critique, and I’m proud to say this story has broached the topic in one of the best ways I’ve seen to date. It’s not THE perfect critique, but arguably one I think was so tasteful in its depiction.
What I enjoyed most was the FL. She has got to be one of the most realistic and strongest FMCs I’ve ever known. Her character growth is one of the best written arcs I’ve read to date. How she went from being a rich, blissfully ignorant heiress to acknowledging her own ignorance and trying to understand how to make up for past mistake of turning a blind eye to suffering. She doesn’t automatically cure the pain of people, nor has magical healing powers. Here, she has no means to mask the pain she’s caused but to face the irrevocable damage her past ignorance has left upon so many people. She recognized the privilege she lived with, doesn’t downplay or dismiss it, but accepts her role and tries to make amends the best she can and I cannot love her enough for it.
The story doesn’t romanticize war; it shows its ugliness, the brutality, the disgusting honesty of war crimes and the after effects of it upon all the participants—the enemies, the allies, young, old, rich, poor. Additionally, the romance was reasonably paced and nicely executed. The ML is a heavily scarred, heavily traumatized person and I’m SO glad to see how his past trauma wasn’t downplayed for the sake of romance to make the FMC shine. I find his actions controversially aligned with his character. Even tho most people hate him, I can’t find myself to hate him entirely because he’s suffered so much for his entire life I at least wanted him to have one good thing for himself. Yes, he’s a terrible, black flag garbage, but he genuinely loved the FMC, regardless of how twisted he was (and he also knew that).
Everything, as well as character development, mental illnesses, the psychological effects of war, were tastefully explored in an entertaining way as well. This is just to say, the manhwa tells you that regardless of your environment, your upbringing, they don’t define you and it is your responsibility for how you will turn out. You are MUCH bigger than the circumstances that shaped you. That to strive for change means to find a reason to live. A big fat recommend for EVERYONE. chef’s kiss.
I am so ashamed of myself for dropping this story so early back then because I thought it would’ve been just another run-of-the-mill historical romance, and I apologize for my narrow-mindedness, my stubbornness, my laziness.
Okay, all jokes side, what an amazing piece of literature. I was already shedding tears from the first few chapters. It’s always difficult to write a story about social status, social hierarchy, the different economical positions, because just one miswriting could turn ur story into a tone-deaf critique, and I’m proud to say this story has broached the topic in one of the best ways I’ve seen to date. It’s not THE perfect critique, but arguably one I think was so tasteful in its depiction.
What I enjoyed most was the FL. She has got to be one of the most realistic and strongest FMCs I’ve ever known. Her character growth is one of the best written arcs I’ve read to date. How she went from being a rich, blissfully ignorant heiress to acknowledging her own ignorance and trying to understand how to make up for past mistake of turning a blind eye to suffering. She doesn’t automatically cure the pain of people, nor has magical healing powers. Here, she has no means to mask the pain she’s caused but to face the irrevocable damage her past ignorance has left upon so many people. She recognized the privilege she lived with, doesn’t downplay or dismiss it, but accepts her role and tries to make amends the best she can and I cannot love her enough for it.
The story doesn’t romanticize war; it shows its ugliness, the brutality, the disgusting honesty of war crimes and the after effects of it upon all the participants—the enemies, the allies, young, old, rich, poor. Additionally, the romance was reasonably paced and nicely executed. The ML is a heavily scarred, heavily traumatized person and I’m SO glad to see how his past trauma wasn’t downplayed for the sake of romance to make the FMC shine. I find his actions controversially aligned with his character. Even tho most people hate him, I can’t find myself to hate him entirely because he’s suffered so much for his entire life I at least wanted him to have one good thing for himself. Yes, he’s a terrible, black flag garbage, but he genuinely loved the FMC, regardless of how twisted he was (and he also knew that).
Everything, as well as character development, mental illnesses, the psychological effects of war, were tastefully explored in an entertaining way as well. This is just to say, the manhwa tells you that regardless of your environment, your upbringing, they don’t define you and it is your responsibility for how you will turn out. You are MUCH bigger than the circumstances that shaped you. That to strive for change means to find a reason to live. A big fat recommend for EVERYONE. chef’s kiss.