A collection of stories portraying the cruel and twisted nature of love, lust and desire -- and the misery it brings to all those involved.
This is volume 1 of Hanlu's Portfolio of Stories.
Volume 2: 瞳深水 (Eyeball Deep Swag)
1 Volume (Complete)






Yes, I like the dark ambiance, yes I like the art, yes I like the messed up characters and pasts... But I couldn't really enjoy the story to the fullest because it's all very confusing and told in a disorientated way. The art made me confuse characters sometimes and often I wasn't sure what was going on. I'd say it's got interesting concepts but lost some value in the telling.
This manga, while similar in some aspects, is definitely not a copy of BND. Counter arguments follow:
1. Art- There are many ukes and semes that look similar to each other. That is not basis to argue from. The semes are both not what they appear to be, but that is also not something one can say was "copied". In fact, such a development is common, and in fact a cliche in many stories.
2-Dark Theme- i can say is not only original, but from what i felt, the ambiance in Baroque is much heavier. The feeling of oppression is palpable in every page of the manga, while in BND, there are moments, especially at the very end, where one forgets it has a dark plot.
3-Story- Clearly, KaoLin did not read Baroque through, or thoroughly, because the seme in Baroque does not share his dark past. It is instead discovered by the uke. The uke is also running from his "father", who the seme works for. In BND, the uke shares his past, but does not make it seem "dark". He is not running from his father, but rather from his brother, and while this difference is slight, the plot makes it a much bigger difference. In Baroque, the two don't fall in love. In fact, the seme intentionally betrays the uke. In return, the uke's twin (no twin in BND, though there is a brother) murders the seme's family. In BND, the two fall in love and ultimately die because of each other, though neither wished to hurt the other.
4. Personality- The personality of the characters also are different. In BND, the seme is insane. In BC, the uke's twin is insane. In BND, the seme cannot be taken as the bad guy, and in fact, you end up siding with him in the story. In BC, the seme is irrevocably the bad guy, and even after his family is destroyed, you don't feel much pity or sympathy for him. The uke is BND is self-sacrificing. Not so in BC, where the uke will do anything to live.
5. The Ending- BND's ending can be ultimately concluded as happy, because even though there is tragedy, in the end they end up together. BC, however, takes on a much more twisted path. The uke and seme are each other's enemies, and both their lives are destroyed. Not only that, but the uke is discarded, as was the seme's original intent.
6. Brothers- In BC, the uke has an insane twin brother. This brother has a double personality and loves his brother, wanting to be with him always. In BND, the uke also has a brother, but not only is it an older brother, but also the likeliest candidate to be the antagonist. This brother has it out for not only the seme, but also the uke, and displays no love of any sort towards his brother except, if even, the money he can generate.
Anyways, in the end, i find myself preferring this story, because it has a much more lasting impression than did BND. This is simply my opinion, and i am not forcing anyone to accept my thoughts as their own.
yes i agree the style of drawing faces and expressions is similar to Kaori Yuki and the twisted atmosphere may REMIND boys next door to those who aren't yet used to dark ambiance in manga, but i totally disagree that Han Lu sensei "really copied" Kaori Yuki. Baroque Chrysalis is different from everything i've met yet and yeah, it's completely awesome. so laconic yet bright and deep it immerses you in the scene completely so you can almost hear the story told with your own ears. and there are different stories, actually, and the plot similarities are way not that obvious as koaLin has mentioned. well, stuff like that happens everyday here and there and IRL too and it doesn't yet mean it's copied from Kaori Yuki 😛
Baroque Chrysalis is definitely the manhwa to be read and read attentively, not only because it's beautiful and breathtakingly expressive in any sense possible, but also because it's many-sided enough to be really worth the reader's time. also all the true fans of dark ambiance will for sure appreciate the real value of this piece. it really smells like blackness from page to page.
It's really dissapointing. The mangaka really copied Yuki Kaori. EVERYTHING! Just search Yuki Kaori's Boys Next Door(BND). Well, sorry for my bad english.