It is perfectly balanced and perfectly executed. for sure slow burn but dear lord is it satisfying. no loose threads anywhere. I've genuinely consumed so, so many stories in so many mediums and genres and this one is definitely still amongst the very best of them.
the only complaint I have? a scene in which the archduke was fighting somebody with a staff and the SFX for it said "scrape." like. what is wrong with you. that's, to me, the only blemish in this otherwise perfect comic.
this is not for you if you don't like:
• slow burns
• imperfect, human characters with human emotions and human behaviours
• reading a story with seemingly winding plotlines (only because of the length) that ultimately comes together most satisfactorily and beautifully i.e. you don't have the patience to see the story develop
• a male lead that genuinely cares for the female lead
this is genuinely such a tragic story and explores so many dynamics of trauma and grief. I could easily write pages and pages analysing so many characters in it. I'd genuinely adore learning more about the characters and I'm fully considering reading the original novel just for it.
I've read the entire thing, and I fully believe that it was the perfect pace for the story it wished to tell, and that it was a beautiful story and it'll always have a special place in my heart.
reading some of the negative comments has been a bit bizarre. reminds me of when I read the color purple and was shaken by what an incredible story it was meanwhile my peers couldn't see beyond the intentionally bad grammar and crass words etc.
everyone is entitled to having their own tastes and opinions, and nobody should force themselves to consume something they're not into; it's a disservice to themselves as well as whatever it is they're consuming. that said, not even attempting to understand the story is arguably worse.
we're so used to short-form content that so many of us lack even the patience to read enough of a work, and think enough of the work to truly understand it, before forming thoughts around it. it's truly a tragedy.
