User rating of this review - 4.75 out of 5
Story/Plot - 5 out of 5
Characters - 5 out of 5
Drawing Style - 5 out of 5
Enjoyment - 5 out of 5
Overall - 5 out of 5
Plot/Story
"I'm pretty sure that the downfall of humans can be completely attributed to their curiosity", such is Ewon Jung's philosophy. Because of his curiosity and his "affectionate nature", Ewon somehow finds himself, after cheating one time too many on his ex Jiho, threatened into working as a caretaker for Jiho's new boyfriend, Mookyul... who happens to be a Mafia Boss. And it is just the beginning of Ewon's troubles.
Behind the seemingly crack story, hides a greatly paced storyline which goes far beyond the stereotypes of the genre to offer a captivating manhwa. I dare anyone not to get hooked on it by the 1st chapter.
The light, comedic and hilarious start gets gradually tainted by darker elements as the story progressively reveals itself to be a deep, angsty and adventure- laden one.
And it's part of what makes this manhwa so unique, besides the "romance" arc which brilliantly focuses on real-life complex characters, with their qualities, shortcomings, fears and scars; you also get an "adventure" arc concerning the internal struggles within the Mafia as well as external threats.
Characters
Characters are not only complex, they are wonderfully written.
You can't help but love them as their personality and past unfolds and you see behind the façade, the scars they each bear. The realistic way they are depicted with and their depth are quite breath-taking, especially when it starts so early in the manhwa.
Drawing Style
Simple yet alluring and effective, the art perfectly matches the variations of tone in the manhwa. The characters each have singular faces and styles and their expressions, from Chibi to dramatic, go from hilarious to vividly painful.
Perfect use is made of the shades of grey as well as the black and white contrasts which set a peculiar atmosphere and convey the emotions of the scenes. It definitively has a style of its own.
Enjoyment
What is not to enjoy in this manhwa, I wonder. From the hilarious trials to the heart wrenching moments, you can't help but get totally captivated by these gorgeous characters and munch at your fingers waiting for the new developments.
Overall
Certainly one of the best title I've had the chance to read, all genres considered. I recommend it to every reader looking for original, deep and fascinating manga. A unique piece.
I can't seem to edit my review but I wanted to add that this was written while TC was still a wip, you can tell by my enthusiasm that I was on an anxiously-waiting-between-chapters high.
Given how the story ended (in the last chapters) I'd slightly lessen my rating, because the story didn't hold, imho, some of its promises regarding characters' growth and evolution, and regrettably dipped its toes into the clichés of the genre.
I'd still highly recommend reading it because it's the one of the best yaoi, and best manga I've ever read, and I still treasure the volumes I bought! But I just thought I'd point this out, for fairness's sake :3
... Last updated 14 years ago
