- #1
Read a couple of chapters, felt uncomfortable, decided to drop it, and then I read unfvckthewor's review which convinced me to keep pushing forward! And I'm glad I did!It's a tough read, especially in the beginning. It wasn't until around chp16 where I finally felt immersed enough and comfortable enough with the characters and premise that I began to enjoy the novel for all it offers.We see the world from Jae-jin's perspective and it's f*cked up. He knows it's f*cked up, and even Eui-woo recognizes its f*cked up (or at least that he's not 'normal') But they're both characters trying to make the best of the shitty world they've either been dropped into or the shitty world they were raised in. And also figuring out what kind of relationship and feelings they have for each other now that they know they can't be separated. (Is it a survival need? Lust? Hate? Resignation? Infatuation stemming from fascination? Love? What kind of love? Etc) It's kind of a psychological mindf*ck that left me gripping for more as they explore the complexity of all sorts of feelings. And its so well done at making you empathize with Eui-woo, but never condoning his actions. Ever. But then again, how do you go about punishing or guiding someone who was never taught ethics to begin with?It's hard to describe this novel because the discussion can go on and on. It's really a battle between each other and themselves, over and over again until they come to physical, mental, and emotional compromises. And by the end of the novel, I felt both exhausted and so accomplished at how far they've both come and this was probably one of the best novels I've read this year. I really rooted for the both of them and their future.Just prepare for a bit of heart wrenching angst.