Aporia

WARNING ⚠️! 

The work being discussed contains homosexual themes. If LGBTQIA+ makes you uncomfortable, I encourage you to skip this post.

Now...let's get started!

I have read this one 3 times. Yes, I said 3. The first time, I didn't quite know what I was reading except that it was going to be a BL romance. For those who don’t know, BL stands for "boys love" (i.e., no women). 

I was immediately drawn into this manhwa (korean manga, typically in full color, read from left to right) by the artwork, even though it's not a style I would normally find attractive. However, the artist's use of dark colors and mixing of sharp and soft lines, really kept me captive. My heart was racing the minute the two main characters met and I pretty much flew through the story because I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. I stayed up late, devouring the story in a day, and honestly, I missed a lot.

When i went back to read it again, I was able to slow down, mainly because the story was no longer a mystery to me. But I was also able to fully appreciate the time and skill that went into crafting each panel. I really was awed by how much effort it takes to not only write a good story, but draw one. 

Admittedly, I was a bit jealous. As an author, I have always thought my work would be more popular if God had given me the skills to draw as well because people respond to beautiful imagery. That being said, if any artists out there are looking to collaborate, feel free to let me know. ^_^

Okay...so let's get back on topic. 

Aporia is about Gyum and Ja-wook, two strangers who meet and enter a Dom/Sub relationship. Outside of the basic premise of the famous 50 Shades series, I don't know anything about BDSM. However, if you want an example of what a healthy D/S relationship looks like, I think this story is a good starting line. Gyum makes sure to stress the need for safe words and communication during play. He also makes sure to do aftercare on Ja-wook when the session is finished.

Ja-wook is new to a D/S type of relationship. He's completely captivated by Gyum's good looks so he agrees to go along with something completely outside of his understanding. I think he hadn't been in a relationship in a long time, so he often doesn't speak up when he's uncertain or confused.

During my first reading, I found him to be very frustrating because he wouldn't speak up. On the second and third pass, it was more tolerable becaue I had a full understanding of his character. I also think there was a level of loneliness or a fear of rejection driving Ja-wook's actions. 

Of course, I don't want to over analyze because everyone reacts to stories differently based on their own experiences.

I will say that the smut scenes were 🔥, but far too short for my liking. If you give this story a chance, I doubt you will be disappointed. Happy Reading!

Creator: Seontae 

Where to find: lezhinus.com

*Note: while there are other ways to read, please support creators on official platforms if you can afford it. It helps them be able to afford to create more.

https://patreon.com/user?u=40408878&utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

So...Let's talk about smut.

I have been on the fence for a while on whether I could pull back the curtain on this topic. 

There are many euphemisms for describing work with sexual content. Erotic literature is commonly referred to as smut, dirty, or filth. I think branding an entire genre with words that carry a negative connotation is unfair to both the writer as well as the reader. When asked about what you do for a living, most of these authors talk around the truth. They might say they write romance novels or that they’re just a fiction writer. This is to avoid the judgmental gazes of basically all of society. And if you're a fan and someone asks what you're into, you'll either lie, or in the case of my coworker and myself, get real close and whisper in each other’s ear like you've committed a crime.

I won't try to be too polite with my terms here. Frankly, I like the word 'smut'. It's fun to say and the books are fun to read. I've spent the past year or so devouring 100s of books and I've narrowed my list down to the ones I think rise to my strict criteria for recommendation.

All I can say for now is look forward to the next post. ^_^

Happy Reading!