- #1
[Note: I won't be adding spoiler warnings bc 1) there's not much to spoil, i.e. No mysteries or twists or turns 2) I'm talking about themes that become evident within the first 10 chapters at most. Thank you.]To get it out of the way - if you are queer in any way, I don't recommend this story. STR8S DNI.Mmkay so I liked this story a lot, as in a lot a lot. It's extremely feminist and I love that to death. It's basically the inverse of most ABO stories' ethos. However, it's also extremely apparent that the author doesn't have any clue what queer relationships are like & has no interest in such.My main critique is that the main lead (ML) should have been the tough omega described in the story summary. It would have added a LOT more tension to the story, queered the main story line as an additional bonus, and it would have made the central couple's interactions so, SO much more touching.To wit:The main character (MC) interacts in truly heartfelt ways with the ML because he assumes the ML is an inspiring omega, but that character is in truth an average alpha. There are brief nods to the idea that, in another life, the ML was an omega, BUT~ the ML doesn't express any pro-omega opinions of his own in *this life*. He just passively acquiesces to the MC's ideas at most.To be clear, the ML is a member of the working class and I absolutely adore that this story is class conscious. It's truly admirable. I LOVE that.However, the MC throws his support behind the ML *based on a misunderstanding that the ML is an omega leading omega liberation, when in fact he is an unenlightened alpha who constantly thinks & says demeaning & s*xual things about omegas, particularly the MC*. This tension is absolutely the forefront of their relationship & is clearly supposed to provide a sick dramatic irony to laugh at. If only it were funny! 😃Other people may find this cute, but it's so, so depressing to me as a queer person. Imagine falling in love with someone >>for being a queer icon<< only to find they're not queer at all. Sticking with someone after that isn't love, it's habit.The love story is totally empty and disappointing and heteronormative, and its construction undermines all the positive messages the author may have wished to convey. It was so close to being proudly revolutionary, but it chickened out.I wish the best to the author, and this remains my favorite ABO thus far, but I'm desperately hoping to see a true omega × omega story one day.As a side note: evidently someone thought this story was trans rep.1) The exorbitantly cruel fate of the omega-living-as-an-alpha version of the ML (Xie Ruehan) is quintessential kill-your-gays nonsense. It's not even slightly admirable as "representation" of any queer person.2) The main version of the ML (Xie Ruehan) is born alpha, expresses himself to be an alpha, and has no attraction except the most heteronormative kind to the "opposite s*x" of this setting, i.e. Omegas. There is zero queer rep to be found at all whatsoever. I'm not happy!
