.dr's Topics (18)

i wanna see grandpa shoji meeting them

Characters are well-written. I was often confused by the side characters but they didnt affect my experience much. I'm glad there is no itching plot hole by the time i finished the story. Whatever questions and motivations were presented in the beginning is answered and fulfilled in the end. Besides, it also had an ideological motivation in its ending, both to boost their ambitions and their romantic interest.

just a side scene i wanted to see is a family dinner HAHAHA.

Before I lay-out what I understood, here's the reason why I have to lay it out: The actual worldbuilding and sequencing is confusing and leaves too much burden on the reader to piece together the story. The overwhelming metaphors, vague flashbacks, or just the sudden information after things have happened undermine the need for straightforward storytelling.

This is a simple rundown of what I understood:

We have a god who "dreams" for his lands prosperity. but unlike a naturally born god, Yellow Dragon is a poisonous snake who betrayed the serpent, the intended god to be created. Hence, he received the sacrifice of Yooshin, the selfless emperor, and became the god. And in his own judgment, he killed Yooshin's twin and mother because they were going to be the fall of Yooguk. With the death of the emperor, Yoosung (the twin), Yellow Dragon summons emperors from another world. until he meets Dojin, a peculiar emperor who wished for Yellow Dragon's freedom instead of wishing for his own happiness. Both Yellow Dragon and Yooshin who resides within him, fell in love with Dojin and didn't want to let him go. so for 26 times, he turned back time. but because he becomes a black dragon, an evil entity, the animal spirits try to make him sleep which caused his eternal life force, a magic pearl, be destroyed. and he becomes weaker.

The thing is, just from the defails above, there are alot of missing information or vague details.
1. If Yellow Dragon has a life force, the pearl, why does he need emperors as life force?
2. Just the whole dynamics of summoning an emperor, trying to turn back time to love Dojin again... it's a headache
3. Red Lotus... is she the serpent who was supposed to become god but was tricked by Yellow Dragon? — i think this is clearer to me, but her relevance to the story is so detach that she looks like a nuisance instead of a vital character.
4. The animal spirits... are so weak that sometimes they're almost useless and simply try to sew things together after it has already been torn apart by their late action—they cant even protect the emperor.
5. the dream sequences to find the crack and awaken yellow dragon... was it intended to keep Dojin safe fron harm? but the first time was because Yellow Dragon was forced to sleep... then did Yellow Dragon not want to let Dojin go so he keeps him in his dreams instead?

The last bit was at least more organized. However, there is simply no cohesion to the plot and numerous characters were thrown off the bus just to focus on Dojin and Yellow Dragon. What happened to Red Lotus, the other guy who wanted to be emperor, Black Tortoise, and to Dojin's rapist—who was foreshadowed but came about SO LATE. totally forgot about him then he came o so suddenly.

★★★

1. Plot is clear, cohesive, and consistent. The author knows where to start, to go, and exactly when to end it.
2. The characters are multi-dimensional. None of them are disposable nor incomplete. Even from the side characters, Nine and Thirteen.
3. The world building is excellent! It starts with a comedic narration but soon, it naturally builds itself thru dialogue and choices made available to the characters themselves. Not only that, the characters engage and interact with their world. This is already set by the power play, meaning vampires ruling the world because darkness reigned for generations. And just like how the world seem to naturally heal itself, the power dynamics is disturbed.
4. The mood and theme it sets doesn't stray and natural transitions. It knows when to be erotic, mysterious, thrilling, and heartwrenching.
5. The plot twists are foreshadowed well. It doesn't go for shock, rather it unfolds in ways least expected. (Coz we know how some tries to shock readers even if it is inconsistent or forced into the story)
6. Fits well for a social commentary as well :)

I love the author's mindset in their note. With all their planning set and done, the impact will always rely on the execution and is personal to readers—because a text has a life of its own beyond the author. (But sometimes, I just wish readers are equipped with properly distinguishing fiction and preference. Along with the complexity of recognizing that morality is ambiguous and a grey area in fiction which aims to unravel "realistic" characters, especially for genres that are meant to subvert ideal moral codes. And just the same, your preference to moral abiding story is valid as well as when you're upset from the deviances exposed in the story. I just hope you are aware that a text is neutral. It can either be powerfully enlightening or dangerously influential to sensitive readers. Coz in the end, it's who you identify with or what you pick up from it.)

★★★★★

Seunghyun and Hojun on their own is quite enough with Seunghyun's lie about the class. They did make up quite quickly because of Hojun's considerate personality, and Seunghyun did take their classes seriously. However, I think that Seunghyun's theatre arc is lacking, as well as the execution about the whys of their break up and his resignation from theatre. It is a good addition to as to how he pulled of being a Sex teacher, but I think the author could give more substance to his ex because for me, he is just a nuisance, but not someone with a solid personality. Like, he is one-dimensional and a missed opportunity.

Maybe a little segment of heart to heart between them because Hojun is a curious person on his own and Seunghyun could explain more about why he quit theatre. Even Hojun knows how Seunghyun loves theatre. And, as someone with an acting background, Seunghyun couldve been a good teacher for Hojun, too. It adds to that extra where Seunghyun and Hojun tries cop-criminal play.

But regardless, the author did a great job with the details of Seunghyun's and Hojun's personality. Their body language and motivations are clear (just a tad deficient in Seunghyun's past) and with the author's drawing style, it makes the whole thing pop and be memorable.

★★★★

Majority of the plot is well done, a true masterpiece with coherent and cohesive sequencing and consistency. Yohan's character is solid, he shows both strengths and weaknesses. He is introduced as someone bold, yet once unraveled, his cowardice is exposed. I'm a little troubled by Yoonsuk's character because he is quite a typical goody two shoes. Not much anger is present in him, only an imploding sense of guilt. I can say he lacks ego because of how he was reared to be a "cure" for his brother. Even that was well-written as a major conflict.

Speaking of major conflict, this version of the Jade Emperor is the most disappointing. There's no "wisdom" or anything worthy to call him a Jade Emperor. He is rash and quick to jump conclusions. He failed his subjects: his three-legged crow, his brother slash "lover" (quite suddenly intimate if I might add), Chunho, Samok, and most especially Yohan. None of them were "saved" by him because he caused all those misfortune since day one. Jeez. He's just a "god" with a libido and a shameful yakuza-looking emperor.

Also, if Yohan is so special, I think that this trait of his was pitifully undermined. All this time he had a "strange" and "peculiar" power to see spiritual beings but was not cared for nor taken into considerstion. For me, it was a little lazy to reveal who he was only for him to eventually give up, not only that, but his EVERYTHING. The very core of his character, a shaman, is cut off from him. That's a huge chunk of who he is and somehow it's made as if it's alright to trade it off for ONE human. And more so that amazingly, Yohan is written to have moved on as a con artist Shaman... like, as much as he made a living out of it, wouldn't it be such great sorrow to go back to something that you' ve only done to serve your spirit, in this case Dongha? For his sentimental character, it is very unnatural.

That's why for me, the last chapters fell through and leaves a bitter taste to my mouth. Not only did it cut off the majority of the relationships Yohan has had, it was also rushed. But my BIGGEST PET PEEVE is WHY did Yohan suffer the consequences of the Emperor's carelessness and WHY does the emperor treat it as if he has done nothing wrong against Yohan. He thinks his only "rash" decision was erasing Chunho's memory. Yohan would've been a great asset to heaven because he was a powerful shaman, but he just shrugs it off.

(What happened to Yoonsuk being Christian anyway? Why was there no segment of meet and greet with the parents especially that theyve married? What happened with Yohan and his mom?)

★★★★

The why and how between Siyeon choosing a penthouse and Taekyung inviting a housemate is beyond me. Sure, Taekyung is bored, but how carefree is he to invite a stranger to his house? Sure, Siyeon found a great deal finding an amazing place, but why risk having his parcels be delivered in a place where some else could likely receive it? Especially since the two shows a great deal of value for their "privacy". Maybe less about Taekyun but more about Siyeon.

Besides that, their relationship is more fluid midway. Taekyung's personality is indeed unexpected. He was drawn as a playboy but he becomes a serious lover over night. (Saluting Siyeon's charms). Siyeon is more patient and tolerating than he claims himself to be. Like, a tsundere he speaks harshly but has never gone as far to show Taekyung how serious he is. It's always a death glare, harsh scolding, or walking out. He didn't leave nor speak accurately as to what Taekhyung did, he had this expectation that Taekyung would understand but gives up. The words he needed to say is left in his thought bubbles. Hence, Taekyung's insensitivity or mindset doesn't change, it simply tones down according to what might piss Siyeon off.

Lim and his CIA boyfriend is an entertaining subcouple even if we only get a glimpse of Lim and hear of their pitiful LDR because of Taekyung. Breaking the 4th wall every now and then is humorous, too.

What I love about this is the lack of TMI, or the ability to say only the necessary details about Siyeon's and Taekyung's ability. It had a rough start for me, but I guess the two are compatible.

★★★★

1. The author mightve changed their mind alot along the way. There was quite a lot going on and the premise doesn't cover the new information.

a. During the climax, the sun stone's relevance just keeps changing its function or how it is used. it doesnt give the reader much to contemplate on how it should or would be used.

b. Who and what is Misha exactly? After that sudden appearance to apprehend or drag Paolo about birth and stuff, he disappeared.

c. The white and black wolf's connection isnt that impactful. especially Gabriel who is apparently the only weilder of the sun stone because of his ancestry. Even his ancestry is muddled because the death of his parents weren't cleared. Why did his mom knkw that theyd be attacked? how was it that they were killed so easily?

d. father domingo was indeed dropped and it's painfully obvious.

Overall, even if the general arc is about the revenge of the black wolf against the vampire, it missed central info about the story and there are alot of unnecessary details.

If the author and the illustrator had more time and had less production issues, as theyve said in the end, then maybe the story wouldve been fleshed out more fluidly and naturally.

★★★