Totally Captivated got me TOTALLY captivated!
Really, it's awesome and for sure on top of my yaoi list.
I'm indeed a big yaoi fan, so that means I've read a lot, and I still find this one VERY good.
It's a perfect mix between love and action, with some bittersweet parts that got tears to my eyes and cute chapters that made me scream like the fangirl I am.
Although not much explicit sex even if it's considerated yaoi (and more like shonen-ai), I think it's enough just by the love they have for each other.
I like the mafia background and the way they talk too.
Ewon is cute (not whiny at all, as strong as any seme - well, he was supposed to be one, although I see him as a total uke - and have a very deep mind himself), but...gosh, what is Mookyul?! He's pushy, possessive, sexy as hell, sensitive in his own way, dominant, sadistic, head over heels in love...is there a seme in the world that can be compared to him?! He's the definition of the word PERFECT!
Oh, and the side characters are just as good and interesting too, considering Dohoon is dreamy and Jiho gets quite nice near the end too. I think EVERY ONE OF THEM is likable!
They are all so tridimensional, you'll start thinking they are real people.
What I adore most is the characters emotions' depth and how they're so connected to each other that the love is totally REAL. You really believe they love each other, and I'll have to make myself clear here, since people seem so blind about it: they are complete strangers (or at least they think so) and don't get along well when they meet each other. Ewon drools over Mookyul because he's that hot, but that's it. Mookyul starts to fall in love with Ewon even BEFORE you get to know about their past, as it's easily seen when Ewon rejects Mookyul and he gets all pissy about it. Then Mookyul really falls in love. Like, really. And though at first you'd think it's just possession or desire, you can slowly see his passion getting deeper. And then comes the best part: Ewon's feelings. He doesn't wanna surrender to someone he knows he'll get crazy about, and uses all kind of excuses. But due to Mookyul's tender, sweet and even agressive ways of showing his love, Ewon doesn't stand a chance. When they are finally happy together, Ewon realizes he won't be able to be by himself without Mookyul EVER AGAIN, and tries to get away from even if - and he doesn't realize that himself - it is already too late. THAT'S how their relationship develops, not how a lot of people said, that it was "sudden".
And what about the art? AMAZING. I think Mookyul is the most handsome character I've seen in my life, and Ewon and even Dohoon are just as sexy!
Reeeeeeeeeeeeally, READ IT! NOW!!! -
EDIT: I've read this manga more than a million times since my first. What can I say? After so many years and no matter how many times I re-read it, it's my favorite ever. Seriosuly, after reading so many other yaoi mangas, I can easily say this is the best one in the world.
And, about all the cheating, I think it's just the opposite of what people are saying: it makes the story more beautiful, not worse. They hurt each other, yes. But how can you complain about Mookyul sleeping with the old man even though he exploded when Ewon was the one who cheated? I mean, Ewon HIMSELF said that to Mookyul! It's only normal that we think they are being jerks sometimes, both of them. Nobody liked when Ewon was whoring around, of course. But what brings magic to this manhwa is how they overcome these obstacles, and how their love is so intense as to survive even all those problems. It makes it stronger. If Mookyul didn't have the old man, would you like the story to have ended when they confessed their love to each other, just like that? It would be like any other yaoi manga. What makes it different is precisely those "flaws". So yes, Mookyul did lie about being with Lee when Ewon asked him to stop, but it's not like he purposely wanted to hurt Ewon. He didn't even think he'd fall in love with someone, so he had that kinda agreement with the old man before he knew he'd have to end it at some point. As you can see throughout the story, Mookyul thought that he'd be abandoned if he stopped sleeping with that guy. Even so, he gives it all up, his money AND friends, to be with Ewon. How can someone thinks that's disgusting?
Totally Captivated had the plot with the best potential ever, and it didn't fail to achieve it. It has all kind of twists and only makes you wanna read it more.
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