#king's maker

Stupid ass king who shouldn't be trusted with the crown and his right hand man/gay lover, who practically runs the whole kingdom

and vica versa of course

The similar elements

M/M romance + "struggle for the throne" plot

Plot has well written characters & is dense with intellectual warfare like CAPRI (yes really.)

Creep "Regent" in this story too yes.

Both are completed stories with a focus on story first, romance second

political intrigue, horsies!, CSA (implied not explicit), mature content, mental illness, includes fantasy elements (which are not in capri)

Both characters are NOT royalty, only one of them is (just a warning since that is a significant dissimilarity from CAPRI)

With respect to romance i think the similarities run deeper than the basic "sunshine x cold" troupe in the best way

Just like Damen, Wolfgang is initially naive to the workings of the court, all he knows is that he can put his trust in Soohyuk and that loyalty and fierce urge to protect the other comes as naturally as breathing.

Just like Laurent, Soohyuk is intensely complicated and at times self sacrificing (especially where Wolfgang is involved). His plans to annihilate the enemies of the throne make the story amazing.

I think Laurent's love for his kingdom and wanting peace for his people is what he shares with Soohyuk. They're larger than life characters, even more so then Damen/ Wolfgang (The designated himbos - forgive my umbrella term-ing them).

happy new year!! ✨ °˖✧🥂✧˖° ✨

I enjoyed so much BL this year ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ thank you to all of the authors, artists, & creators for your hard work and dedication. I promise every little detail you include we see and appreciate ♡♡

For all of the BL stories I’ve read this past year, I have a winner in 13 categories and 5 overall 2024 winners.

Enjoy!

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✰ FUNNIEST

And the nominees are…

Punch Drunk Love (2023 winner)

Killer Crush (2022 winner)

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi / The World's Greatest First Love: The Case of Ritsu Onodera

Lucky Paradise

Happy Crappy Life

And the winner is…

LUCKY PARADISE

I re-read this one this year and despite some emotional moments in the series, I laugh out loud every single chapter!! This one has ~layers~ to it, it hits so many different types of humor for me. Ho-in and Woojin are absolute clowns (bffs ♡) and Chunwoo is always so deadpan... I love them so much ٩( ᗒᗨᗕ )۶ Idc how many side chapters there are, I'll be reading them all ♡

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✰ MOST INTRIGUING

And the nominees are…

Night Fragments

Gig of the Day

Liveta

Dawn of the Dragon

Scent and Sensibility

And the winner is…

LIVETA

Ahhhhhh ♡ I love Liveta ♡ Despite this one being ongoing since 2021 and being on hiatus a lot of this year, when it comes back -and honestly every single chapter- I'm pulled into this unique world all over again.

I'll definitely be re-reading this series before it ends. I feel like it's one of those where we don't register certain information the first time or understand the meaning of things, like the side characters, characters' history or traumas, context as to what happened when. I've already re-read it twice? three times? and I feel like there's more I missed! I love the complex characters, the inner & outer conflicts, I love the overall tone and balance of soft and dark scenes. This author can do it all!

We're on chapter 76 and I want to see so much more of their world and their stories. I can't wait to keep reading and I hope we still have a long way to go ♡

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✰ BEST SEX SCENES

And the nominees are…

Coyote (2023 winner)

Honey Bear

4 Week Lovers

Pearl Boy

The Ghost's Nocturne

And the winner is…

HONEY BEAR

A very difficult choice... but this year specifically I was drooling over the spicy scenes in Honey Bear ʕ >ᴥ<ʔ

After that amazing author's note at the end of season 1, I knew. (If you haven't read the author's note, please do! These creators are hilarious, I love them so much ♡♡) They teased us a bit in the beginning and then fed us so well!! We got the BAKERY scene! And then they topped that ;) with the dom/sub scene - THE FREAKING BREATHE PLAY!!!! The hot springs scene... literally every single sex scene \(0_0)/

I love when the bottom is so horny, enthusiastic, and desperate for their (future) bf!! And what makes it even better is that they're so cute together and so sweet to each other ♡♡ I love them so much ♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE FLUFF

And the nominees are…

Our Sunny Days

Boyfriends

To the Stars and Back

Sasaki and Miyano

Hirano and Kagiura

And the winner is…

SASASKI AND MIYANO

THE SLOW BURN IS KILLING ME!! I really just melt reading about these two ♡ they're so soft and sweet to each other ♡ I'm obsessed ♡

I want to see them continue to grow on their own and together, I want to see them bond over more BL (specifially I want Sasaki fudanshi moments haha), I want to see more of them happy and in love, and seeing each other's family & friends. I want them to go on a double date with Hirano and Kagiura hahaha ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

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✰ FAVORITE BOTTOM

And the nominees are…

Park Seon-Woo | Punch Drunk Love (2023 winner)

Victor Luna | Liveta (2021 winner)

Shin | Shutline

Yeomin | Gig of the Day

Dohu | Between the Lines

And the winner is…

YEOMIN | GIG OF THE DAY

Yeomin!! Oh my god, he's so cute!!

The thing I love about Yeomin is that his character is set up as a stereotypical bottom we see often where he's poor, in debt, has no family/the family he does have is awful and takes advantage of him, and he must work hard just to survive. But unlike other characters, Yeomin is outgoing, cheerful, and surprisingly positive. Even after scary moments, he bounces back pretty fast. We see him smiling a lot with friends, and of course, with Tae-seo.

One of my favorite parts in the beginning of the story that made me fall for this little cutie was when Tae-seo took him out to eat for the first time and Yeomin talked his ear off about school, and other random things in his life (,,>﹏<,,) he's so precious we must protect him (งᓀ‸ᓂ)ง Tae-seo, you better step up and be nice. (I trust this author to do him right ♡)

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✰ FAVORITE TOP

And the nominees are…

Juwon | High Clear

Minwoo | Topsy Turvy

Dooshik | Pearl Boy

Kahyeok | Killer Crush

Jae-hee | 4 Week Lovers

And the winner is…

DOOSHIK | PEARL BOY

I love Dooshik so much ♡ always have, always will. This year he's been suffering... as have I while reading Pearl Boy... but I hope he gets his happy ending ♡

I want to see him carefree dancing in the club again ♡ I want to see him being silly and dorky and singing in the car with Jooha ♡ I want to see him being submissive (haha, just me? I liked seeing him cry tho)

The way this man hasn't wavered one bit and tried to be so strong for Jooha ♡o(╥﹏╥)o♡ he deserves all of the happiness.

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✰ FAVORITE COUPLE

And the nominees are…

Dooshik & Jooha | Pearl Boy (2021, 2022, & 2023 winner)

Skylar & Cirrus | Lost in the Cloud

Sasaki & Miyano | Sasaki and Miyano

Taeman & Kahyeok | Killer Crush

Suyong & Jaehyun | Topsy Turvy

And the winner is…

DOOSHIK & JOOHA | PEARL BOY

4th year in a row ♡♡ I JUST LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR!!!

。゜゜(´Ｏ`) ゜゜。I love them both so much - as individual characters and especially together ♡♡ The way they've both had their own and intertwined character development that continues even now, the way they're so ride-or-die serious about each other but also silly stupid in love. They really saw each other at their lowest rock-bottom moment in life and said... 'yup, he's mine'

I don't know how much longer we have left of their story but I hope we get to see them going about their new life together ♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE SIDE COUPLE

And the nominees are…

Sys & Randolph | King's Maker: Triple Crown

Ichikawa & Kikuchihara | Twilight Out of Focus

Minwoo & Norman | Topsy Turvy

Seolho & Hyunshik/boss | Killer Crush

Mi-Rye & Kyungbin | Merry Marbling

And the winner is…

MI-RYE & KYUNBIN | MERRY MARBLING

I don't even know where to start with these two... this author really fleshes out their characters and these two are no exception. It's so interesting to see them from their first interactions together up until now. They're so high school shy silly cute!! The time when Mi-Rye secretly followed Kyungbin to his away practice camp thing (˃ ▿ ˂) Mi-Rye is a fool for him HAHA

One thing I'm dying to know even though we may never find out... is who's top and who's the bottom!! I can't figure these two out. If it was up to me, I would definitely make them vers, pretty equally. That's how I see them right now anyway.

Looking forward to reading more of their story ♡♡

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✰ COUPLE I MOST WANT TO BE IN A THROUPLE WITH

And the nominees are…

Karlyle & Ash | Define the Relationship (2023 winner)

Ye-gyum & Jooin | Lovesick Dog

Taeman & Kahyeok | Killer Crush

Deisel & Ein | Wolf in the House: Nightfall

Joowon & Aiden | Bend over Backwards

And the winner is…

YE-GYUM & JOOIN | LOVESICK DOG

Them ゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜♡

First, they're so cute and domestic ♡♡ can't beat being lazy at home together. Another couple who are so sweet to each other and care about each other so much ♡♡

Second, the switch vibes are immaculate. They don't actually switch :/ sadly, because I know this author has done that in their past work, but there are side chapters coming out! So maybe there's hope?

Regardless, I've loved these two from the beginning and I would be so happy in this relationship ♡

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✰ FAVORITE MAIN CHARACTER

And the nominees are…

Taeman | Killers Crush (2023 winner)

Park Seon-Woo | Punch Drunk Love

Shin | Shutline

Juwon | High Clear

Yeomin | Gig of the Day

And the winner is…

SHIN | SHUTLINE

I love all of these characters so much (>ω<) but Shin... he just cracks me up. Tough-guy mechanic, smarter than he looks, vers king, self-proclaimed lowlife, and in too deep... I mean, he recognized Jake from his -footsteps- alone. He's so funny without even trying. And these overalls (●//▽//●) finally we get to see him in sexy overalls!!

I love Shin's smile ♡ I hope we get to see more of him smiling ♡

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✰ FAVORITE SIDE CHARACTER

And the nominees are…

Sys | King's Maker: Triple Crown (2023 winner)

Seolho | Killer Crush

Woojin | Lucky Paradise

"the kid" | Our Sunny Days

Kyungbin | Merry Marbling

And the winner is…

SYS | KING'S MAKER: TRIPLE CROWN

I didn't even read any of Kings Maker this year (/ω＼) (I'm waiting for the mature version to be complete and then I plan to re-read the entire series) but Sys is such an icon ♡ I haven't read any of season 3 yet but I'm so freaking excited!!!! I want to see him and Randolph, I want to see more of him and his two guards ♡♡ and just Sys being his badass fashionable self ♡♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE BOY

And the nominees are…

Juwon | High Clear (2023 winner)

Sasaki | Sasaki and Miyano

Cirrus | Lost in the Cloud

Yeomin | Gig of the Day

Minwoo | Topsy Turvy

And the winner is…

CIRRUS | LOST IN THE CLOUD

Oh my god Cirrus... I don't know what to say. Honestly, I love how messy this boy is. I love his regular high schooler side, his flirty side, when he was begging for Skylar's attention and was pouty when he didn't get it. I love his silly and innocent side. I love his dark side and his anger. I love everything about him ♡♡

This poor boy has gone through so much. He really went through hell as a child and -then- had to deal with psychological warfare in his own home for years :( I want to see him living on his own with Candy (his dog) again. I want to see him happy and silly with Skylar ♡♡

Despite everything lol I think they're so good for each other.

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✰ FAVORITE TOXIC BL

And the nominees are…

Twittering Birds Never Fly (2023 winner)

Lost in the Cloud

Boss Bitch Baby

Gig of the Day

Jinx

And the winner is…

GIG OF THE DAY

Yay!! Even though Gig of the Day doesn't have a very unique plot, I loved this one from the very first chapter!! It felt refreshing, I think because of Yeomin's character but also because of the overall tone.

When I first started it, I thought that it was going in a slightly different direction... I thought Tae-seo would basically be one of those 'I'm an asshole to everyone but you' characters and Yeomin wouldn't know about his other side as a director (or as an asshole lol) until much later. I thought Tae-seo would fall for him and get swept up in his feelings - even if he didn't realize them yet - and not be able to treat him poorly. Like, he would want to because that's typically what he does, but he would just give in to whatever Yeomin wanted. I got that vibe (just like Yeomin lol) when he stayed the night, took him out for food, etc. in the beginning. But despite doing those things that could be seen as caring, he didn't treat Yeomin the best... haha (although he was honest & upfront about what he wanted so it wasn't completely awful).

Even though it didn't go like how I was imagining, I trust this author with the redemption arc and turning him into a simp (ㅅ´ ˘ `) we're seeing glimpses of that already haha I love it. Plus, I LOVE how Tae-seo is always there at the right moment for Yeomin and is his protector. Idc about practicality, I love all of those scenes.

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✰ SUING FOR EMOTIONAL DAMAGE

And the winner is…

PEARL BOY

... again. I'll stop choosing Pearl Boy when it stops giving me anxiety!! Even though I didn't sob like last year, I'm always on edge reading this one because when they're happy I think something bad is coming and we're already on the side chapters so I don't know how much longer we have until the end! One chapter? Thirty?? They're still crying it can't end yet!! (つ﹏⊂)

Some lucky bastards will discover this a year or two from now and have a whole completed work to enjoy while we suffered and stressed since 2021!!

Worth it tho ♡♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE NEW BL

And the winner is…

A FIRST OF SUMMERS

Oh my god, y'all, I just started this like last month and it's so freaking cute (●//▽//●)

The art is amazing & original, these two are adorable!! An age gap where they both question the age gap?? Unheard of. Younger top x older bottom, younger guitar teacher x older guitar student ♡♡♡ fluffy & smutty (˵ᵕ̴᷄ ˶̫ ˶ᵕ̴᷅˵) my heart is so full ♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE ONGOING BL

And the winner is…

TOPSY-TURVY

AHHHHHHHHH!!!! Okay, if you're not reading Topsy-Turvy or you tried it and you didn't like it in the first few chapters, I'd give it another try if I were you!!!

Starting this, I didn't take it too seriously and thought it was just going to be another little goofy college story. BUT NO. It's a glorious mess of love triangles that I can't get enough of!!! I've already read it twice!!

First, the main couple is FREAKING ADORABLE!!! They're hilarious frenemies? in the beginning and then super sweet ♡♡ switch energy but don't switch (yet. I swear the author is teasing us) I love their dynamic so much ♡♡

One love triangle turns into another ~ it's driving me crazy!!! I ship Minwoo & Norman but I don't know if they're endgame (☍﹏⁰)｡ Norman's friend/fwb gives off creepy vibes to me (not in a good way) and now this new guy from the past just showed up in season 3!?! :/

I'm open to the author changing my mind. Whatever they give us I'm thankful for ♡♡ We're getting at least 50 more chapters from here (the korean is at ch. 152 and ongoing, we're currently at ch. 103). I'm happy we still have a long way to go (≧◡≦)

I've had so much fun reading this one so far!! ♡♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE BL THAT ENDED THIS YEAR

And the winner is…

UNDER THE GREEN LIGHT

I'm sad to see this one end, but it was time for them to get their happy ending ♡ Under the Green Light has been consistently amazing since the very beginning and I've had such a great time reading it over the years.

The ending was amazing in my opinion ♡ I would have liked to see a bit more of them happy & living together & obsessed with each other... but that's how I always feel lol

The REVEAL at the end... got me so emotional and when I inevitably re-read it again, it'll make the story even better ♡♡

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✰ FAVORITE BL OF 2024

And the winner is…

CHERRY MAGIC! THIRTY YEARS OF VIRGINITY CAN MAKE YOU A WIZARD?!

I can't stop looking at this volume 11 cover art (⊃//˶̫ //⊂)

Okay, I've loved Cherry Magic for a few years now but this year we got three volumes of them being newlyweds & living their happy life together ♡♡♡

We got the anime series!!! (loved it!!)

And we got the thai live action series (I'm currently watching and will be posting my thoughts later)

♡:.。ღ˘◡˘ற.。.:♡

Watching their story in all of these adaptations just makes me love them more ♡♡ and honestly makes me want to re-read the manga again. We get so many more small insights and moments in the original that I want to see again... one of my favorites is Kurosawa remembering that he wrote 30 songs about Adachi before they got together when he was crushing on him HAHAHA (✿>ꇴ<) omg I will never get over that.

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Here U Are : slice of life, college, height difference, introvert x extravert, the definition of big calm dog x tiny feisty cat. There is also 2 other couples (three if you count the het one) and one of them is with an dilf

Blood Bank : human x vampire, BDSM, dark and bloody...but the romance is good GOOD...and also "small" top x BIG bottom (for like 2 pages, but still)