Solas
Listen. I'm not opposed to some trashy romance. I go crazy over media that's way, WAY darker and more ~~problematic~~ than this, so trust me when I say that the lack of wholesome fluff or the yucky power dynamics was not why I didn't enjoy this. I love the likes of My Happy Marriage and the author's previous work, Kakuriyo. However!This was just laughably over-the-top to the point that I couldn't take it seriously. The series uses every trick in the book to make Nanao come off as the most pathetic kicked puppy possible, verging on parody. The catalyst for her “taint” is a clear allusion to rape, and there's some interesting potential commentary on how victims are treated as worthless or responsible for their own “damaged goods,” but so far we haven't seen much on that front. There's very little complexity to be found here; the Byakurenji family is straightforward in its cruelty from Nanao's scheming rival to her shallow former fiance. While this is just the first volume, more time could have been taken to flesh out Nanao's place in the clan before Yako swoops in and saves her, and that feels like a missed opportunity to make the premise truly shine.
Ultimately, it wasn't all bad since I do see some potential in Reito's twisted savior complex and Yako's struggle to balance his needs with wanting Nanao to feel safe and comfortable in her new home. I just wish that it wasn't so overt in playing into stereotypical tropes of the fragile abused bird and her fairy tale prince with a bad boy streak. Some subtlety and holding back on throwing everything at the reader would have gone a long way for my enjoyment. I might pick up the second volume out of morbid curiosity, but you can do much better, especially my fellow trash enthusiasts.
Breathtaking and delicate, like walking through a dream that left me spellbound. The art is instantly striking and made the emotions of the characters so vivid with each page. Because this tells a complete story in a single volume, there's only so much that can be done in terms of plot and character, so this is not one for folks who like their narratives tight, dense, and complex. (To be blunt: this is for the vibes and feelings girlies, not those who need some meat to really sink their teeth into in order to feel satisfied.) While I normally count myself among them, I just can't get too hung up on the simplicity of the story progression when the vibes are so immaculate. Pick this one up for the atmosphere first and foremost and let the story lead you by the hand to its tender conclusion.
What's the opposite of “I bet this shit hits so hard if you're stupid”? Glorious. Gorgeous. Fucking labyrinthine to the point where I bounced off years back because I was too scared of feeling like an idiot to tolerate discomfort for a couple hundred pages. This came at just the right time so I can't kick myself too much for waiting. I love you, Blue.
Listen... I could sit here complaining about the shallow romance or the too-neat resolution or the missed opportunity for better feminist commentary, but like. It's just nice. It's just nice! Sometimes what I really need is a story that's nice and cozy and sweet and uncomplicated. Not everything needs to show the deep complexities of the human condition. My critical brain recognizes that it's far from perfect, but my lizard brain is giggling and kicking my feet and kissing my kitties in glee. Love is real!
Felt like sinking into a long conversation with an old friend. John's voice (both authorial and aural) is consistently approachable and filled with pathos. He breaks down the multifaceted hurdles of addressing tuberculosis in a way that's easy to digest while never allowing the reader to forget, at all times, that these challenges are not just survivable but a crime they've been allowed to go on for so long. The anecdotes he shares are harrowing; at multiple points I had to stop and take a break because I was tearing up, but he manages to weave in enough hope that it doesn't become overwhelming.
The work left to be done feels endless, but it will have an end. It's work worth doing.
Absolute peak. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. This is weapons-grade trashy fun with a heart of gold that knows exactly what it wants to be at all times. Amid the goofs and tits is an unwavering commitment to showcasing love between several different people; the raunchy exterior belies a honey-sweet center that hits all the right buttons for me. This sincerity makes the rare emotional chapters hit all the harder. It has my Poly Disaster Seal of Approval.
Stellar localization holds steady! Nano's fan-tastic introduction was unfortunately kneecapped by Kusuri's... everything, which is a shame. Her adult design is 100000000% my type, but the diaper jokes and broken speech quirks make it hard to enjoy her chapters. But it's not all doom and gloom, the volume is worth it for that ending page alone; what a gut punch!
Charming in just how much it wears its absurdity on its sleeve. In particular, the localization choices here are GENIUS and such a refreshing palate cleanser from stiff, overly-literal, straightforward translation. The dialogue reads buttery smooth and naturally makes the jokes land with laser-precision, which I can't praise enough. Shizuka best girl.
The Husky & His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel), Vol. 1
Instantly gripping and enjoyable. The prose feels stronger than previous danmei titles from Seven Seas, and while I know comparison should not be the name of the game, it's hard to ignore coming straight off the heels of MXTX's Scum Villain series. This more serious take is much more my speed, though I do have my quibbles.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel), Vol. 1
Man. The localization is really unfortunate, huh. Shen Yuan is a fun protagonist and it was a quick enough read that I blitzed through it, but it took a while for it to really get its hooks into me. Not bad by any means, but I see a world where the writing could've been so much better so I'm kind of mad at it for that.
I really tried with this one, but it lacked anything for me to hook onto as a reader. I found the protagonist deeply unlikable and while I understand that's the Point™ (I support women's wrongs, etc. etc. etc.), it wasn't in a compelling or interesting way for me. I found no joy or catharsis in watching Rin get the shit kicked out of her, and there were no other characters for her to build a rapport because the premise demands she be an isolated underdog. Pretty much the only parts I felt invested in were her interactions with Jiang and the philosophical discussions they had, but those were too far and few between to feel worth it. The setting and worldbuilding felt haphazardly stitched together and that made the dialogue feel like such a slog, vacillating between jarringly modern speech that felt straight out of a high school YA novel and brick-subtle exposition dumps.
I worry about what's going to happen when Shit Gets Real given that this is supposed to take a lot of inspiration from real-world historical atrocities. I simply don't trust in Kuang's ability to handle these subjects with the sensitivity they deserve, at least in this stage of her career. I do plan on checking out her more recent work, but this was a miss for me and I feel ready to put this one to bed as Not My Cuppa Tea.
Had to stop because degenerative diseases hit hard for me and I'm not in the headspace where I can handle that right now. The localization was serviceable, though I had a difficult time keeping the characters and their relationships to each other straight. I hope to come back to this at some point, but I'm trying to be okay with not finishing books if they're not grabbing me.