If you like angst that could easily be cleared up with communication, then by all means read 1st season (41 chapters). Oh and also if you like reading about crazy psychopaths the few chapters sprinkled in from the ML’s, Aseph’s, POV might be interesting to you too.
Season 1: 4/10
Plot = 2/10 (nothing much happens besides ML’s background)
Characters = 5/10 (literally only the ML carries this season, but he is craaazzzy toxic)
Pacing is super slow and neither character gets any development. It is not clearly explained why the FL loves the ML and the time they spend together always gets interrupted for angst’s sake.
While it’s true the ML has reasons for being a crazy psycho, he doesn’t change much throughout season 1. A lot of the dark torture in the ML’s background feels like it’s only shown to us to make the plot more angsty.
The FL spends the entire 41 chapters pretty much either throwing crying tantrums or doing nothing. I know some people like her because she is different from stereotypical spunky heroines. She is very weak, emotional, and slow on the uptake. Her background and her knowledge of the ML’s life from the book are essentially useless until the 2nd season. Nothing important happens until the ML and FL finally actually communicate properly in chapters 40-41.
This is why (unless you like the things I mentioned above) you should start with the recap chapter 41.5. The recap shows what the plot of the 1st season should’ve been if it had been written clearly and a lot of the angst fluff was trimmed down.
Season 2: 8/10
Plot: 7/10 (a lot more happens with the intro of side characters and political intrigue)
Characters: 9/10 (we get to see more of Almoore, the true ML. I kid, I kid. Lol)
Season 2 finally explains why the FL is so in love with the ML because of how her background ties into his. Literally overnight, the ML and FL have both become entirely different characters from season 1.
The FL is much more level-headed and decisive. She’s no longer crying all the time, but she is still rather dense. Some would say she became blander, but she is a lot more tolerable than the her in the 1st season. A lot of the mysteries from season 1 are solved thanks to the FL’s dreams.
The ML still has some manipulativeness and jealousy issues, but he has instantly stopped a lot of the murdery things he used to do in season 1. He’s mellowed out significantly, showing only slight annoyance to the antics of the FL’s sister and the side characters. He’s also magically got a power boost that gets explained at the end.
Finally the ML and FL get to enjoy each others’ company and develop their relationship. The side characters all have a lot more personality and are focused on more compared to in the 1st season. Some villains emerge but are quickly dispatched by the MCs. Stakes aren’t very high, but the plot moves quickly and it’s entertaining. There are ups and downs and the romance is much more satisfying and heartwarming.