4.5/5 Stars: ‘Bastard’ by Youngchan Hwang.
→ Age Range: Adult.
→ Genre: Manhwa, Dark Horror.
→ Trigger Warnings: Murder, Violence, Bullying.

In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★★★
→ Character Development: ★★★★★
→ Setting: ★★★★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★★★
→ Writing: ★★★★★

General Comments: Gruesome, cruel, and raw; filled with surprisingly genuine moments of tenderness and romance (without being overtly tropey or ham-fisted). It excels at creating tension; while it is overly convenient at times, it has stakes that reflect reality. The near monochrome palette, used for the artwork, nails home the theme of despair. Short and snappy; it does not overstay its welcome. Interesting to say.

Favourite Quote: ‘When you’ve fallen in a pit, the thing that you need most in order to escape is not a ladder. What you need is an intense longing for the world outside the pit.’

Time Read: One Day.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -