A BL Professor's Ramblings

Is this strange? I don’t see alot of BL featuring character with facial hair, so I wanted to just make a lil’ post for appreciation of the ones who do~

The Royal Bridegroom

My Sadistic Master

Dead or Alive

I may have either lost y'all or immediately seated others but let me speak.

Hetalia was how I got into BL--With Wattpad fanfics and roleplay books and what not. Lemons and citrus scale, that is my origin story ya know? So of course...Like a moth to a flame I shall always have a place in my heart for Hetalia.

This is a post with some of my favorite Hetalia doujinshi (and my thoughts) that I've read over the years, so enjoy~!

Summer with Zero Heat Resistance (Netherlands x Spain)

My hetalians in pasta, when do you ever see this ship? I never see it but its so fire--Tis grumpy with sunshine! How great! And this is comedic in nature so its a goodie to me~

Queen of the Battlefield (US x UK)

Actually not a big US x UK shipper, but this one is the *right* kind of fucked up for me if that makes sense. This person has made alot of US x UK Doujinshi so give em a read if you want that kinda angst dotted with comedic things.

Persona non Grata (Russia x US)

This one is more grungy and angsty but I mean Russia x US usually is no? I just really like it when we get more realistic art styles for the characters--its great~! I just like the idea of this cold war ship where...in the media they hate each other but behind closed doors since nobody else can relate to them its just...hate fucking and torment--How dark...hehe...

Tanjoubi Omedetou Gozaimasu (Spain x Romano)

This one is the right mix of funny and cool dynamic between them. I'm not even a big Romano Spain shipper but I found this one fun and entertaining. Lighthearted!

Schokoladenkrieg (Prussia x Austria)

A great combo! Like...annoying bad boy x prissy pampered young master--That's a good combo there. Short sweet, this one just is an appetizer for my imaginaton~

Legalitat (France x Germany)

Gods this one is fire...I enjoy France a lot as a character but also seeing him top big ol' Germany? Fire. This one is even a bit funny with a shred of drama but its one for all time for a Hetalia fan like me~

Author: Tsuta Suzuki

Artist: Tsuta Suzuki

Year of Publication: 2014

Length: 4 Volumes (Completed)

Genre: Historical/Drama/Romance

Vibes?❤️

Oh I adore...The vibes here. A political drama? A character who is overly serious and one who is anything but? One falls hard for the other but the other needs time to accept them in their life? The side couple supplement? The gorgeous artwork? This is shaping up to be a highly rated one in my opinion~!

Warning: Violence

Characters?🧡

Montague Joel Letreux design wise is simply lovely. His hair is drawn in a way I rarely see--With shine and waves--His hair has definition! And it's so pretty in every scene I see! And on a personality level. I rock with him! Its so lovely to see him slowly come into liking the other character, because it feels natural ya know? How lovely...

Viscount Adam Canning is a playboy, someone who dabbles with ladies and men alike, never seeming to settle down. Well this bird found his perch with Joel, and since he kinda is the first one to *not* fall for or indulge in his debauchery, it made him intrigued. He really is his bodyguard but he realizes that he's fallen head over heels for this shrewd man...

Their dynamic is amazing. I really enjoy seeing them bicker and interact because they both help the plot move forward! Adam's yearning for Joel (to me) never gets old. All of their scenes are stellar~!

Prince Louis Fredaux is...A fascinating tsundere of a man. He's suave but a bit hot headed, or really dramatic is the right word? But I enjoy him nonetheless.

Gil is Prince Louis's servant and yes, they are the side couple I spoke of. Because of the slow burn nature of the main two, these two often have scenes to feed us hungry smut goblins. I enjoy his...Complexity specifically because he clearly...has reasons to hate Louis but at the same time he has reasons to not hate him? And it just depends on how situations go if he's gonna stay loyal...Very cool guy.

Plot?💛

Political Drama~! YAYYYYYYY! So there are a lot of moving parts but you have to understand its conspiracy abound, it's trying to get laws passed by rewording things in a meeting, secret identities and evading pursuers--GODS its GREAT! Because there is so much happening I'm not really gonna give a synopsis, but if you enjoy watching a few intertwining storylines for some political drama...You'll enjoy this one~

Smut?💚

For what we got? I enjoyed it! Nothing I'm heading back for, but any kiss scene in this story held magic in it I swear...The longing and confession felt better than the smut honestly. Or seeing a blushing face behind long hair or a stunned expression when another character said something...That's the good stuff there...

Art Style?💙

Absolutely Gorgeous. I am...taken aback by how pretty it all is. All of the characters are drawn well. The scenes are stunning. The clothes the COVERS?!? My goodness, this was made with love and you can tell. Four volumes of pure artwork man what a time to be a yaoi enjoyer....

Reread ability?💜

Oh absolutely! When this one leaves my mind, I'll have no problems reading it over again because its so dense, I'll find another detail to enjoy in it later. Damn 2014 you cooked with this one...

Final Thoughts

To me? This is one for all time. Loved the story, the ending was great and climactic, wrapping up all the loose ends—side characters slayed, like I can’t really think of anything bad to say about it. Do I wanna say ‘oh I wish there was more smut?’ Not really?

Like as much as I enjoy my smut, if the story and the dynamic is great—I really don’t need that much. And this had a great balance of that sorta thing ya know? I wish…to read more works of art like this.

Author: Byeonduck

Artist: Byeonduck

Year of Publication: 2019

Length: 129 Chapters (Completed)

Genre: Drama/Romance/Historical

Vibes?❤️

Isn’t it funny that I’m only just doing a review of this one despite it coming out 2019? I read this when it was first coming out but lost touch before the ending so I’m back with a vengeance to finish what I started~!

Ya know? Not bad! I liked the initial concept and I knew what I was getting into. I got a lil' lost in the second to last leg but...Not a bad read! A lot (but also somehow not that much?) to get into so here we go~!

Warnings: Non-Con, Violence

Characters?🧡

Yoon Seungho is the son of an influential family, and is known as an infamous lecher and disgrace for his actions. He’s hot headed and partakes in sodomy, which causes rumors to spread like wildfire. But of course because of his insane strength, nobody’d really say it to his face. He stands on business.

I quite enjoy his design although his attitude in the first half of the story can get a bit grating. But the artist *loves* drawing this man in all the most delicious poses like YES WE SEE YOUR MUSCLES SIR 😂🥴

Baek Nakyum is a painter who draws sodomy and is very ashamed of this, but Seungho finds this and implores (forces) him to come to his estate to draw for him. He’s quite timid and self conscious, and I thought I was gonna get annoyed of him. However! The inverse happened for me—as the story went on I actually…appreciated how his character grew bolder. He started gaining confidence. Being more forward. Which is appreciated since it shows character development on *both* sides ya know?

Their dynamic is…interesting. The teasing banter is fun, and yes it does start off rough (very rough) but eventually it softens up. Was it worth it? Depends what type of person you are. I read through it all but I wasn’t really satisfied with it all…? Like ‘good for them I guess?’ Was my feeling.

Plot?💛

Okay so...Enemies to lovers with a Master x 'servant' flavor to it. We have Nakyum who is known for drawing sodomy (and is very ashamed of it) and Seungho who loves bros paintings and needs them to get freaky.

That is the basic premise but things get complicated with this love square we got going on where Nakyum holds affections for his instructor and one of Seungho's childhood friends is clearly in love with him and gets wildly jealous when he starts getting closer with the painter.

Despite all the tormenting Seungho puts Nakyum through sometime it becomes clear this is a very childish form of affection--he started thinking of Nakyum as special somewhere along the way, cue redemption arc. There is some other like...political drama going on in season 3 of the story but I mean...it just adds a few more bumps in the road for them being happy at the end of it all--Yes this somehow has a happy ending.

It was...A plot. Not Great but not bad--just good to me. Characters that fucked up royally got what they deserved, the redemption was aight (I dunno if *I* could forgive him but hey) and it did keep me hooked the whole time so cheers for that!

Smut?💚

It was glorious. Very freaky at times, very enticing though. Not a bad time at all--However I will say...Nothing so grand that I would go back to read specifically for a scene...

and an aside--how DARE they not show the smut scene between the childhood friend and the masked man with the beard--FOR SHAME. It is mentioned they do it and we see nothing?!? Bro I can't believe y'all would do this to me...

Art Style?💙

It has some funny panels that still get used as meme images to this day, but on the most part its pretty good. Very striking and pretty, and certain panels really stuck with me. Definitely a striking and memorable work here!

Reread ability?💜

Despite everything, I don't think I have a reason to reread this one after the one time. Which is a shame ya know? But I don't want to reread through everything?

Final Thoughts

It is one of those BL I feel like everyone had to read when it was first coming out. And it was a good read, but just that for me. Not peak, but good. Not great, just good. In my heart of hearts I know I'd rank others higher than it so I am gonna have to just leave it at this.

CLASS IS IN SESSION everyone settle down.

Now, What do I mean by the 'Opium Smoking Bastard'? It is something I coined amongst my fujoshi friends...Let me take it back to the first instance I witnessed this type of character--And It doesn't even come from a BL.

BEHOLD! My Dear Cold Blooded King! The story itself doesn't really matter, but the character does. This is Kozuke. The markings on his face, the long pipe (or incense or just smoke) , the way his clothes are sort of falling off him like he just doesn't care about how he looks? Oh yeah. This type of character.

Usually a 'villain' or morally grey character--They are the 'bad boy' in a historical context. Because what else screams 'I'm so bad for you' like smoking, tattoos (They don't always have them...) and looking FINE AS HELL?!

I've always LOVED this type of character--Always a fav of mine~! Doesn't appear too often but when they do I am seated. Front row AMC pull up the recliner. SO! This is just an appreciation post of those characters and their respective BL they are from. Enjoy~

Crown Prince Baeglang from Sura's Lover

Ahn Geumhu from Taming the Tiger

Shuraka from Blossoms of the White Knight

Seungho Yoon from Painter of the Night

Author: Manmandoo

Artist: Kkulppang

Year of Publication: 2021

Length: 52 Chapters (Completed)

Genre: Drama

Vibes?❤️

I remember reading this long ago--but I just remember the story had me fucked up. I say this with no shame that I was intrigued due to this cover because it looked like a Father and Son fighting over one person and...That is what this is. Sooooo let's get into it shall we?

Warnings: Non-Con, Violence

Characters?🧡

Yeon Ho here is a servant to this mansion. Given as like...a bartering chip for his nameless Father's debt or something. He's a 'I do as I'm told' sorta guy because this mansion is really all he knows? Sometimes he does and says things that make me wanna shake him by the shoulders but I have to give him a slight pass because...he doesn't know what it's like to prioritize himself or his emotions, which leads to miscommunication down the line...

Kwon-Jae often referred to as 'Master'...He's the worst. A cheater, abuser, probably a groomer, doesn't care about his wife or kid...He's comically evil yet for some reason......I like how much he owns it?????Like he's horrendous but man...I do like a tired looking guy in a suit who smokes...What a damn nightmare that he's the only design I actually liked in this title--Someone save me...

Kyung-Hee or 'Young Master' as he's usually called is the son of the other guy--and it is imperative to understand that *yes* Yeonho had a hand in *raising this guy*. Yipes. They were both young. (I would like to believe Yeonho was like a teenager at the time? [Oh gods that made me realize the Father started on his bullshit when--YUCK BRO AHHHHHH])

But anyway he's had a crush on Yeonho since youth and has come back hoping that he'll accept his feelings...and he'll do anything to make Yeonho his and get him out the clutches of his Father.

This is a crazy ah dynamic because Kyung-Hee and his Father have a very strained relationship after the death of their Mother/Wife...well even prior the Father never really seemed to care about him but anyway...

It's like the possession of Yeonho between them is this display of power? Like they both wish to have him and although one is way more nefarious that the other, it sorta makes me think of the saying 'Like Father, Like son' because Kyung-Hee is really trying to *not* be like his Father.

I don't even know if Yeonho really actually likes Kyung-Hee but more so sees him as a way to escape the debt hole he's in...and somewhere along the way 'falls in love with him' because...this guy is his savior? It feels Stockholm syndrome-esque because Yeonho is never allowed to leave the mansion so...This is all he knows? I dunno the dynamics are wicked man....

Plot?💛

Here we go y'all so--After the death of Kyung-hee's mom, bro comes back home for the funeral, reuniting with Seonho after years apart. There are some mysteries abound though as he discovers the relationship between his Father and Seonho (yes bro did this WHILE the Mother was alive) [ALSO Seonho is coerced into this to 'pay back his debt faster'], and the truth behind his mother's death.

For some reason the Father and son have made a deal the only reason for him to return home would be if he's married so after getting low key kicked out he comes back with a whole fake ah marriage partner so he can have the mansion as per the agreement--which also includes Seonho since bro is tethered by debt...

There is more that goes on plot wise but let me just say I....didn't care for the miscommunications between Seonho and Kyung-Hee. It happened constantly and led to some just...weirdness between them?

Somehow this has a happy ending but it doesn't feel like one to me...?

What a mess...

Smut?💚

Non-Con out the ass. So much. Even from the Son like everything felt coerced on both sides so I just kept it moving. Wasn't even that good smh.

Art Style?💙

Hey I mean...Some of the shading over their faces hit nice but...It's good. Nothing bad, but I'm not giving it the highest praises either.

Reread ability?💜

This second time reading this? And Ya know after this one I don't think ima be back fr fr. Once you know the twists and what you're in for do you need to reread it? I don't have any smut scenes I wanna reread so...Yeah one and done for this one.

Final Thoughts

It had potential, and I quite enjoyed at the end how things had a bit of a mystery vibe to it...If they leaned more into the Mystery aspect with Kyung-Hee figuring out what is going on, this could've been a bit better!

And maybe this is just me, I totally thought this was going to be a repeating cycle of Kyung-Hee being like his Father but nope...and honestly? I would've preferred to see the mind break of Yeonho realizing this is a cycle and he's been falling in love with someone just like Kwan-Jae because that's all he knows....

Missed potential, but it is what it is...

Now like any good academic obsessed with their niche passion I needed to organize it into a format I could digest. With no knowledge of how to use Google Sheets I made this spreadsheet over the course of a few weeks—watching YouTube videos and scouring reddit posts searching for how to use certain functions.

It is an eternal work in progress, but I wanted to flex my dashboard at the top of it all 🥴

Now this looks like a lot but let me break it down for ya’ll—it’s lovely ain’t it?

Okay so on the left we got the random BL picker. Chooses one from the spreadsheet and shows me all the relevant info on it. What tier I’ve placed it in (more on that later), it’s ranking (also more on that later), country of origin, year of publication, author, artist, status (ongoing, hiatus or completed), the genres, tags (also also also more on this later) and my own personal comments.

We got our total BL catalogued at the top (not how many I’ve read but just how many I have listed, because my section on ones I need to reread is…daunting.)

A pie graph showing the spread of genres!

A bar graph with year of publication!

A pie graph for country of origin!

And finally a section at the top with the top five most frequent tags, and bottom five least frequent tags. (Don't flame me too hard for my tags atm I swear I can explain😭) And there are some filters I can mess around with up there too teehee~!

Now onto an explanation of the Table itself!

Tiers

When I read something I throw it into a few different tiers in terms of my own subjective feelings and how likely I am to recommend it to someone else.

Amazing Piece of Art

This is the peak of literature. The Creme de la Creme. I can recommend these to fellow BL peeps without a shred pf guilt in my heart because its CINEMA.

Some examples of what resides here are:

Define the Relationship

Barbarities

Hwang Young's Misery

Novae

The Royal Bridegroom

Just Shy of Greatness

There just needs to be one or two tweaks for my personal taste that would make it even better in my eyes. Still great, still love it, but MAN do I wish "x y and z" happened to make it timeless...

Some examples of what resides here are:

Dead or Alive

Love so Pure

Mr. A's Farm

Under the Greenlight

Your Wings and Mine

Let it Cook...

Sometimes you just gotta give things a chance ya know! You gotta let it cook in your mental theatre--Hence this tier. Got some kinks to work out but, if you give it a chance it may tickle your fancy.

Some examples of what resides here are:

Killer Whale Protocol

Midnight Rain

Red String Quests

Sk8 the Infinity

A First of Summers

Guilty Pleasure

Here we got the biggest tier--the guilty pleasures. Ones where I LIKE THEM but even someone as brazen as me can't always get up on my soapbox to say 'YEAH I LIKE THIS AND WHAT?!?' or maybe *objectively* it isn't that good and I only like it for a tag, a character, or some other sentimental reason and can't bare to put it in 'It's Aight'.

Some examples of what resides here are:

Crimson Ocean

Dr. V and the Three Lovers

Mr. Kang's Son in Law

Low Tide in Twilight

Bane of my Existence

Shot Itself in the Foot

An unfortunate fate. Works at one point I enjoyed but something occurred that turned my expectations to crepe. Not bad enough to sink deeper on the list, but enough to mourn the 'what could've been'.

Some examples of what resides here are:

Ang Ang

Dog and Bird

Roses and Champagne

Steel Under Silk

Salty Lust

It's Aight

Sometimes ya just read one...and someone asks 'hey how was this thing?' and you go..."It was AIGHT" and that is this tier. One where its nothing to write home about but not bad ya know?

Some examples of what resides here are:

Blood Link

How to Snag an Alpha

Sign

Yatamomo

The Shape of Us

Nothing Burger

I consume, I feel nothing. No inkling of like, but right before I actively dislike it. It takes a lot for me to put ENERGY into not liking something. These don't provide me nutrients.

Some examples of what resides here are:

Boyfriends

Jinx

No Better than Strangers

Dark Fall

Placebo: Let's Play

Detestable Vitriol

The bottom of the barrel. I actually actively do not like these ones and will stand on business explaining *why* that is to anyone who is willing to listen to me rant about history, anthropology, communication etc. Or maybe I'm just petty. Or too dedicated--and trust me I've read some REAL bad stuff out there but it's so hard to get me to really...HATE something. And if you like one of the ones here--more power to ya, its my opinion and that's all. Maybe some of these scratch an itch for ya, I ain't here to judge

Some examples of what resides here are:

BJ Alex

Liebling

Unfinished Business

Indomitable Champion

Concealing Sacred Simplicity

Need to reread

This is where I put all of the rest of my BL I have yet to read or need to reread because there are too many and I get new recommendations DAILY. Also if y'all ever have any, please please please share them with me, I always want more data to add to my spreadsheet hehehe~

Rank

A ranking out of ten that I make from SIX criteria: Vibes, Characters, Plot, Smut, Art Style, and Reread ability. Of course for works without smut, I'm not counting that against them. Go check out #Cupcake’s BL Reviews for my reviews using this system~! Don’t worry I have fun with it 😂

Year of Publication

Country of Origin

To the best of my ability to find this information...

Author/Artist

With links to their social media of course~

Status

Ongoing, Hiatus and Completed~

Genre

I also have Doujinshi as a genre because I want it to be known when something is a self published work ya know! Because I enjoy reading amateur made works about ships from fandom I enjoy hehehe...

Tags

I have a crepe ton of tags--and I add to the list if I feel there is something worth pointing out for a piece of BL? My definitions on some of the tags may be different so just keep that in mind!

Other things I have as a tag are fandom because I enjoy some fandom works and one shot because sometimes you don't need a whole anthology ya know? Also animation for ones that got an animation made or maybe started as an original anime (Yuri on Ice and Sk8 the Infinity).

Comments

Where all of my unhinged commentary on a work stays. If I had some stuff to get off my chest it'll be there--unfiltered and passionate (usually because I just finished reading it and I needed to get my thoughts in writing)

Author: Nishida Higashi

Artist: Nishida Higashi

Year of Publication: 2008

Length: 2 Volumes (Completed!)

Genre: Action/Drama/Slice of Life

I was feeling nostalgic for this one in particular so I decided to read it again—and MAN I need to get this review off my chest 😭

Vibes?❤️

2008 publication so older art style that I’m…nostalgic for. Not in a yaoi hands sorta way (maybe there is but I’m blind to it at this point) but the sharper eyes and the way the hair is drawn, and some of the panels when they’re joking around. It was gangs, Stockholm syndrome and ransoms—so it felt comfortable for my type of media. It’s probably what landed me with my interests in the first place hehe…

And then the second volume happened…

Warnings: Stockholm Syndrome, Violence, Non-Con

Characters?🧡

This is Takahiro, he’s the adopted son of a Japanese politician and he’s…pretty cool! Knows a few languages, has a sense of humor..oh he’s 36 and yeah! Also he’s our kidnapped character in this situation which…he honestly seems quite chill about.

Oh Jack you dumbass…This is Jack, he’s a lackey in an American gang that has captured Takahiro for ransom, and is charged with watching him until an agreement is made. He’s reserved, simple and just does as he’s told. Also he’s 26 so there is a ten year age gap between the two!

Now these two together are…so sweet. There is something about Jack’s simplicity that makes his interactions with Takahiro really interesting to me. Very ‘oh you poor thing (even though I’m the one kidnapped and in a worse position right now) let me culture you a bit, the world is so much larger than you think it is.’

Their conversations are hilarious and I wish this BL were longer so I could see more of their cohabitation ya know? What an entertaining duo they are!

Plot?💛

The plot stretches across 2 volumes where I enjoyed the first one and damn near hated the second.

Takahiro is in the United States (for some reason) and gets kidnapped at gunpoint by this gang. Jack is tasked with watching him until the man’s Father pays up. He’s relatively chill about being held for ransom and spends his time trying to talk with Jack over the course of a few weeks to a month I believe..?

But as time goes on, they sorta start…coming onto each other? Like in a curiosity sorta way? It’s funny because both of them are like ‘Oh I’m not gay however’ and it’s really entertaining to see them…Interested in each other in that way.

Volume 2 takes place in Japan (Jack has come with Takahiro after running away) and honestly? Couldn’t give less of a crepe about this arc outside of the first two chapters when they’re HAPPY.

Smut?💚

Not much? I mean…I appreciated the lil’ make out but there isn’t anything to write home about, but I don’t think the smut is the point for these two? It’s the story and their dynamic, so I’m not really taking points off for this.

Art Style?💙

Ah…it’s very era. I like it honestly though, especially when Jack does the =_= face. Soooo yeah!

Reread ability?💜

Well—to me that first volume is timeless, I really like coming back to it. But that second one? Unnecessary to me. I’m fin with reading the first two chapters of it but then past that I just…NAH. I don’t wanna…

Final Thoughts

The first volume scratches my Stockholm syndrome itch, and the second one made me want to slam my head in the wall like ‘why must it always be doomed Yaoi?!!’

But…with that in mind, I feel like it’s about average? If you wanna give it a read go for it, this Author/Artist has put out tons more stuff besides this one so surely something they got will be to your liking.

This one remains one of the first BL I ever read, but I shall rank it like the rest—ごめんね Life, Love.

So prior to Yaoi being a term we had Shonen ai which is like…Yaoi minus the explicit smut?

‘Yama nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi’

Translation: “No climax, no point, no meaning.”

And to whoever came up with this—

Here is just a spur of the moment list of five BL that I’ve enjoyed and wish to bring attention to without telling y’all *too* much to force you to read them mwahahah~

A Sense for Love

Author: Poppypari

Artist: Poppypari

Year of Publication: 2024

Length: 19 Chapters (Ongoing)

Genre(s): Romance/Fantasy

MY GLORIOUS LEADER POPPYPARI 🥴This is absolutely one of my favorite works of theirs, their art has always been STUNNING. The character designs are beyond peak. Human animal hybrid x Demon Lord? Sign me up~!

The connection between the two main characters is electric—when I’m talking about chemistry THIS is what I mean! It’s a very familiar feeling fantasy setting (think like video game like, demon’s tower with him at the top) but the plot is a twist on that which is a welcome sight~!

(An aside—it sort of reminds me of the Webtoon Mage & Demon Queen if anyone knows that—we went from GL to BL 😂)

The Affairs of the Other World Depend on the Bean Counter

Author: Yatsuki Wakatsu

Artist(s): Kikka Ohashi (Light Novel) and Kazuki Irodori (Manga)

Year of Publication: 2020

Length: 7 Volumes (Ongoing) (Anime coming out now!)

Genre(s): Drama/Romance/Fantasy/Shonen Ai

Man oh man…My best friend really really loved reading through this one. So far the anime has been faithful too so we’re content!

Isekai with some introspection on the implications of being summoned to another world and declared the savior of an entire nation just because. Love that! The character designs are a pull for me, and although it took me a second to warm up to the characters they are a delight to watch.

Our chronically exhausted office worker man is so relatable and entertaining, along with the captain of the Royal guard taking care of him like a troublesome kid—It’s really magical. For me this is quite the different pick because Shonen Ai usually ain’t my thing but this one stands above…worth the read and probably the watch! (Also I really like the Prime Minister don’t flame me)

The Royal Bridegroom

Author: Goyangi Baekjak (Count Cat)

Artist: Goyangi Baekjak (Count Cat)

Year of Publication: 2023

Length: 58 Chapters (Ongoing)

Genre(s): Historical/Romance/Drama

HOOOOOLLLY!!! The artwork is stunning, immaculate, BREATHTAKING!! You’ve never read another BL with this beautiful an art style I can guarantee that. And although the main couple is great, what elevated this to stardom within my heart is this SIDE COUPLE?!?

A character with facial hair, body hair—He’s a Himbo low key and ends up with a degradation kink? Bro What a combination for a wonderfully stupid character, he’s a trip and I am seated every time I see him.

If y’all want good story, good smut, beautiful artwork—Come give this one a read.

Warnings: Non-Con/Dub-Con

Dead or Alive

Author: IAGO

Artist: IAGO

Year of Publication: 2022

Length: 28 Chapters (Completed)

Genre(s): Historical/Romance

A BL WESTERN?!? Cowboys and Criminals—Oh my DAYS!!!

Are we seeing a pattern in character designs that I like? This man with chest hair and a beard is just…delicious. Short, wish there was more, but glad for what I got. Maybe I’m just spoiled with the BL I typically read because I finished this one like—

‘Dang if only there was some more smut and more chapters this would’ve been perfect!’

But hey, for what I was fed it was good. Concise, and it’s a…rugged dynamic between the two. But yeah! For what it was, I enjoyed it since you don’t see many…Western BLs to begin with so it’s automatically gonna stand out to me.

Warnings: Non-Con/Dub-Con, Violence

Define the Relationship

Author: Flona

Artist: Chada

Year of Publication: 2021

Length: 109 Chapters (Completed)

Genre(s): Drama/Romance

ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME—If you enjoy Omegaverse, do I have a better recommendation in terms of story? Holy crepe this one is spectacular—never had a BL made me root for the couple to make up and get together more than this one. Stunning artwork, great characters and chemistry, and if I still felt hungry after the main story the side story swooped in to satiate me.

It’s Alpha x Alpha sooo give this one a read too! Hopefully it’ll captivate you the way it did for me. The entire time I was locked in, entranced with the whole thing…is this the power of a manhwa based on a novel? Maybe. But yeah this one is for all time…

Author: ZIG Artist: Ttung Gae Year of Publication: 2021 Length: 82 (Including side stories) Genre: Romance/Drama (a lil' funny too) Greetings! I've never tumbled before but here I am with my first post (So forgive me for my lack of tumblr etiquette and understanding or formatting posts) and I've decided to write about the BL Manhwa rendition of Roses of Champagne. I have opinions and a methodology of my ranking, so just hear me out and let me cook. Spoilers ahead! Vibes?❤️ First impressions and feelings uuuhhhhh Well. I'm a sucker for mafia stories. So I was hooked for that, but also--the art appeared very appealing. I've reread this story multiple times because I have mixed feelings on *how* I'm suppose to feel about this story. Regardless, I return yet again to give my opinions on this story so there must be something here right? Let's get into it... Characters?🧡 We have two main characters and a few supporting, but I'll be focusing on the two main characters and one specific side character.

Let's start with the one I like: Caesar Alexandrovich Sergeyev. Current head of a mafia group in Moscow, Russia. He is that charming, devilish type of morally corrupt that draws people with a velvet tongue. Alluring, wielding power like a birthright, because being groomed to take over after his Father, it essentially was. He's smitten with Lee Won on first contact, but falls further into a more possessive sort of attraction as more of their personality is exposed to him. Overall, I like em! He's the right mix of manipulative and sexy that I like, my morals to the wind.

Second is Jung Lee Won. Half Korean, Half Russian and a lawyer! He has a fiery personality and isn't taking shit from anyone, even the mafia. At first, I quite enjoyed this guy! He played a much more active role than most characters I've seen and their power struggle chemistry felt addicting to read. Seeing how they'd quip back and forth at each other but have that palpable tension...It was good stuff. My gripes with Lee Won stem from some of the calls he makes in regards to Caesar. The misreads on his part seemed unbefitting for someone like a LAWYER to be making, especially since he knew what kinds of people run the Mafia in Moscow. Maybe he got snookered in by Caesar's charm and kindness toward him before getting caught off guard like 'Ah this guy really is Mafia' and that's a discussion on his own internal battle of his feelings, but it just felt strange to me that he made so many miscalculations toward the latter end of the story...

I normally don't show images for the side characters to keep things more concise, however Dimitri's design is relevant to what I have to say. Dimitri is Caesar's cousin. One of his main issues with Lee Won is that he is not a full blooded Russian like him and the Tsar (Caesar). I just don't understand why that had to be his issue--its really a cover because he just doesn't like the fact Lee Won is stealing Caesar's attention. That would've been fine! I could've accepted a strange para-social cousin with underlying obsessive/romantic subtext--that's FINE. But the whole 'pureblood' thing came off as strange to me. Why'd they have to give this reasoning to the one character with melanin just...perplexes me. It wasn't a big deal in the story, it's only mentioned in one scene from my recollection but it just stuck with me in a strange way tryin to figure out why this was so important Dimitri's character *needed* this. Was it to make us not like him as a reader? Was it something with the adaptation? I don't know but I just felt the need to ramble about it a bit... Still like his design though. Personality a little on the clingy annoying side but...Yeah. Plot?💛 Lee Won has come to Moscow, Russia on the dying wish of his Mother to help a family friend win a case about getting his factory back. There are some shady figures trying to take the land from them, and along the way he encounters Caesar. 'The Enemy of my Enemy is my friend' sort of rivalry between these two, since Lee Won begrudgingly teams up with him to achieve his goals. Further along more hijinks and romantic ideations ensue and is quite the decent pace for the first half of the story. Second half is where I feel dicey. More things are getting revealed and it's all going very fast--I wish I had more time to marinate on the barrage of info and mafia/political drama that occurred the second half. The ending came about quite suddenly as well, and Lee Won forgave Caesar for literally shooting him and doing horrendous things to him a bit too quickly for me liking but yeah...A mixed bag here for me. I wish some of the things that occurred in the side stories happened in the main plot (Specifically some of the dialogue that would've soothed my soul) but what can you do? Smut?💚 Hey don't flame me too hard but the art work is great~ I will say their actual first time going...all the way killed a part of me because of how it went down--I just imagined it differently in my head but also...was I expecting anything else from someone like Caesar who's morals are in the gutter and is willing to pull guns on kids? Regardless of people's feelings on the dubious and/or non consent in some of the scenes...I still read, consumed, and praise the artwork.