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A review by inmydreams
논 제로섬 총9권 by 손이불
5.0
This review is only about volume 1, even as someone who knows some bits of the rest of the content from the manhwa. I'll give my opinion about the first one and hopefully I'll be able to read it fully one day.
If it isn't done already, I'd classify this as a psychological horror. It is chilling as fuck from beginning to end. There are many scenes that made me question if the MC would be able to keep his sanity. Just when you think it cannot get worst, it does.
The story follows Haewon, a student with financial issues that has many part time jobs to be able to keep living. His best friend is Haeyoung, a rich guy from the same school, who has another friend called Taegyeom. This guy discovers Haewon has had a crush on Haeyoung for years, so he blackmails Haewon into sleeping with him to keep his secret. Haewon makes it clear he doesn't want to, but cannot do anything to stop him. This will get more awful when Hyunwoo, another friend, gets involved with these three. This is how Haewon's torment starts.
Many scenes from this first volume gutted me, and that's saying a lot when I know damn well the villa arc is 10x sicker. The desperation Haewon feels because he wants to go back in time where things were better is devastating. I think his character is well constructed because his reactions go according to his past experiences. Unfortunately, he is surrounded by depraved people that take advantage of how he is used to receiving beatings, his fear of abandonement, his struggles with money and lack of support.
It all comes down with the worst revelation from this volume, which is about.
I usually enjoy challenging plots like this. As someone who usually reads books that explore such themes, I think what makes it one of the most insane stories out there (not necessarily in a bad way) is that it starts with MC trusting the people he is close with but that falls apart the minute they have him vulnerable, and it finishes with his world being shattered. Looking forward to the manhwa adapting the rest, this is the type of work that stays in my mind for a long time.
Tags: (can miss some, heads up that I don't tag everything, these tags are for the entire story until what I've seen from the manhwa)
-POV: third person
-Content warnings:
-Elements:
-Kinks:
-Sexual act(s):
-Dynamic:
If it isn't done already, I'd classify this as a psychological horror. It is chilling as fuck from beginning to end. There are many scenes that made me question if the MC would be able to keep his sanity. Just when you think it cannot get worst, it does.
The story follows Haewon, a student with financial issues that has many part time jobs to be able to keep living. His best friend is Haeyoung, a rich guy from the same school, who has another friend called Taegyeom. This guy discovers Haewon has had a crush on Haeyoung for years, so he blackmails Haewon into sleeping with him to keep his secret. Haewon makes it clear he doesn't want to, but cannot do anything to stop him. This will get more awful when Hyunwoo, another friend, gets involved with these three. This is how Haewon's torment starts.
Many scenes from this first volume gutted me, and that's saying a lot when I know damn well the villa arc is 10x sicker. The desperation Haewon feels because he wants to go back in time where things were better is devastating. I think his character is well constructed because his reactions go according to his past experiences. Unfortunately, he is surrounded by depraved people that take advantage of how he is used to receiving beatings, his fear of abandonement, his struggles with money and lack of support.
It all comes down with the worst revelation from this volume, which is about
Spoiler
Haeyoung already knowing his friend was raping Haewon (and his feelings), but not doing anything to stop it AND even encouraging it. It is sick, it is depraved, it is the worst thing for Haewon because of how betrayed he feels. His vision of Haeyoung collapses, as he isn't the guy he idolizedI usually enjoy challenging plots like this. As someone who usually reads books that explore such themes, I think what makes it one of the most insane stories out there (not necessarily in a bad way) is that it starts with MC trusting the people he is close with but that falls apart the minute they have him vulnerable, and it finishes with his world being shattered. Looking forward to the manhwa adapting the rest, this is the type of work that stays in my mind for a long time.
Tags: (can miss some, heads up that I don't tag everything, these tags are for the entire story until what I've seen from the manhwa)
-POV: third person
-Content warnings:
Spoiler
blackmail/coercion, noncon, mindbreak, homophobia, house arrest/captivity, physical abuse, resource control (all of these between MCs), suicidal ideation-Elements:
Spoiler
hurt no comfort/whump, size difference, manipulate/abusive MLs, betrayal-Kinks:
Spoiler
humilliation/dragadation, overstimulation, multiple orgasms, belly bulge, sharing partner-Sexual act(s):
Spoiler
barebacking, creampie, blowjobs, fainting mid or after sex, group sex, facial, fingering, riding, marathon sex-Dynamic: