beta
Look, I'm someone who enjoys the toxic genre. I've read stories far more twisted than this one, so the content itself isn't what bothers me. In fact, stories that explore abuse or unhealthy relationships can be a guilty pleasure for many, myself included, precisely because they reflect a darker side of reality.
Not everything in life is sweet or wholesome, and sometimes reading about it can offer insight. I've read manga that, despite being disturbing, made me think about real-world situations. These stories can challenge your beliefs, broaden your perspective, and show how manipulation or danger can present themselves.
But for any of that to work, the writing needs to be solid. You need an actual plot. You need well-written characters. You need character development, especially for the victim. Without that, all you have is shock value and empty scenes.
This webtoon started good — historical setting, good art, a supposedly strong female lead, and a male lead clearly an abuser from the get go. I also didn’t mind the initial rape, because given the context, it wasn’t unrealistic. I even thought this could be a powerful turning point — something that could push the FL toward recognizing how she sacrificed everything only to be used by her comrades, which would help her escape them.
However, the moment the ML discovered her true identity, the plot evaporated. Now it's just porn. There’s no story anymore, no meaningful dialogue, no real development. For several chapters now, it’s been stuck in the same repetitive space, doing nothing but romanticizing and sexualizing abuse.
And rape will never be sexy. Ever.
If you're going to explore something like Stockholm Syndrome, then own it. Write it with complexity. Show the victim's psychological state. Show the abuse as the trauma it truly is. If she’s going to fall for her captor, there needs to be a reason. Not just endless, soulless sex.
I stuck with this hoping it would improve but it hasn’t. It's just porn.
I’m dropping it.