Kay is the vice captain of the guards at a poor village by the outskirts of the kingdom. He is a man who lets the wind take him wherever it goes—and also the unofficial heartthrob of the small town. One day, his life turns upside down when the emperor’s only brother and next in line to the throne, Grand Duke Zigryl Irier C. Rhyner, visits the modest village Kay lives in unannounced. Grand Duke Rhyner is an egomaniac who thinks the world revolves around him and, unbeknownst to him, has been given the name "the Fox" by the people. He sought the village in search of a magical flower named Alosha, known for its efficacy in endowing anyone who consumes it, regardless of age and sex, with the ability to bear a child. Zigryl decides to bed Kay for fun, just like he would on any other occasion. He finds it hard, however, to let go of Kay even after having his usual share of entertainment. Kay gets carried off by Zigryl's cunning suave and ends up accompanying the duke as his guide all the way to Edor, where he encounters things and beings beyond his wildest imagination.
if you've read korean manhwas and enjoy rape and coercion used to build a relationship instead of romance and chemistry, then you won't mind this at all.
don't let the cover fool you into thinking this is about two men who clash with each other and eventually succumb to their mutual attraction. it's not. it's about a guy with too much power to not get anything and everything he wants. and another who's whole personality (if you can call it that) is being clueless and lost.
worse than all of that, this book is utterly dull.
the only redeeming factor is that it's easy to read and that the world building is somewhat interesting (what little of it we are introduced, that is).
“The Flower of Alosha” took me by surprise—not in the way I initially expected. I went in anticipating an intense, dramatic read, but the novel turned out to be unexpectedly comedic and lighthearted. Ray’s inner monologues often had me chuckling, and Zigryl’s possessiveness added a playful tension that kept things entertaining. Schumann’s personality was another highlight—quirky, refreshing, and full of surprises that prevented the story from becoming overly serious.
As my first Korean BL novel, it was an enjoyable experience overall. However, the romantic aspect didn’t quite deliver in terms of genuine “love.” It often reminded me of Stockholm syndrome, as the main character wasn’t given much choice in his situation, making the relationship feel more coercive than consensual. The inclusion of mpreg was a surprising twist; I didn’t expect it to happen, but it fit naturally within the narrative, adding an unexpected layer to the story.
Overall, “The Flower of Alosha” was worth every penny. It’s a fun, engaging story that manages to surprise in its own unique ways, proving that not every book needs to be serious to be worthwhile—even if the romance isn’t quite what you’d expect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Plot- or character-driven? Plot Strong character development? It's complicated Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
there's a reason why i don't read the LNs and this is why 😭 though i'm going to stick it out since i am a bit curious on the plot with the flowers and the supernatural stuff going on
THE FLOWER OF ALOSHA VOL. 1 follows Kay, the responsible vice captain of the guard in a chilly northern province of the empire, and Grand Duke Zigryl Rhyner, the reluctant next in line for the throne and a deviant with a taste for hedonism and sadism.
This is a romance the way bodice rippers are and Zigryl is a giant walking red flag. He has a long history of rough sex with partners who either unwilling from to start to finish or unwilling by the end. Unfortunately for Kay, he immediately attracts Zigryl's attention and lust, becoming the next notch on his bedpost the night after they meet and the night before the set out to look for mystery magical flower known as Alosha. However, unlike any of his prior trysts, Zigryl begins to feel things for Kay like obsession that persists after their night together and jealousy towards Kay's past lovers.
If non-con is not your thing, you will not like this book. Full stop. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go find another book.
There are some interesting horror fantasy vibes going on here and a mystery I'm keen to see resolved in volume two, but Kay and Zigryl are the core of the story. There's no way to look past the non-con or that Kay detests Zigryl even when the fantasy horrors are forcing him to rely on Zigryl for the sake of his safety and sanity. This also isn't a no-no-yes type of non-con; maybe there will be some of that flavor in volume 2, but Kay explicity is not enjoying himself even when he comes. He's in pain, he doesn't want this, he's afraid for his life, he hates and sees nothing redeemable in Zigryl—but the power differential and Zigryl's murderous and tempestuous personality give him no other choice.
The translation feels average. There's some awkward phrasing that I've come to expect in translated BL, but there's also a seemingly high number of typos for this being a professional, for-profit translation. Also, considering volumes 1 and 2 are both under two-hundred pages, I'm not convinced they needed to be split up and sold individually for any other reason than to make more money.
Ultimately, I'd consider this book a meh recommendation to someone who really likes BL non-con. There's almost certainly better out there, or at least fan translations of similar quality for similar titles, but it's not like I regret supporting an official translation. I'll be reading volume 2 because I purchased it bundled with volume 1 and also because I heard there's some baby trapping which 👀
¿Magia, zombis y embarazo masculino en medio de una guerra por el trono? Solo en The Flower of Aloshya, un manhwa que empezó con tensión política y acabó como telenovela paranormal con pócimas afrodisíacas. 🧪🌺
La premisa prometía MUCHO: Zigril, el Gran Duque, carismático y brillante (pero con serios problemas de límites personales), viaja a Ravelen buscando la flor mágica de Aloshya para asegurar su posición imperial. En el camino se encuentra con Kayle, el ansioso pero adorable vicecomandante del pueblo que solo quiere entrenar soldados y vivir en paz. ¿El resultado? Un enemies-to-lovers lleno de manipulación, hechizos sospechosos y dinámicas afectivas turbias. 💅
¿Zigril? Tan encantador como peligroso. Es el típico personaje que te seduce con palabras dulces mientras mueve los hilos de todos a su alrededor como si fueran peones. ¿Consentimiento? ¿Dónde? Cuando ofrece esa "sopita especial" a Kayle, era más que obvio que la flor de Aloshya estaba en juego, y no precisamente por fines medicinales... 🤨 Spoiler: sí, Kayle termina embarazado. Y no, eso no mejora mucho su relación.
¿Kayle? El pobre parece atrapado en un loop de ansiedad crónica. Intenta poner límites a Zigril, pero siempre termina cediendo —más por presión narrativa que por decisión propia. Incluso con un bebé en camino, la dinámica entre ambos no evoluciona: Zigril sigue obsesionado, y Kayle sigue esquivándolo o usando al bebé como barrera emocional. 🍼🚩
¿Y el final? Zigril medio fuerza otra vez la situación para estar con Kayle y ahí se cierra la historia, como si fuera una victoria romántica en vez de una enorme bandera roja. 😶🌫️
Pero no todo está perdido: la side couple ✨ fue lo mejor del manhwa. Shuman (el mago de Zigril) y Noel (el medio hermano del príncipe) tienen una química deliciosa: reencuentro, tensión, historia compartida y una dinámica donde uno da el corazón y el otro solo ve dinero. Es messy, es tóxico, es interesante. Me habría encantado una historia aparte solo para ellos. 💥🔥
¿Vale la pena? Si te gustan las historias BL con estética dark fantasy, alto drama, y personajes intensos que no conocen los límites… entonces sí, este manhwa es puro entretenimiento. Pero si esperas un desarrollo emocional real o relaciones sanas, prepárate para frustrarte con cada capítulo. 😮💨
En resumen: The Flower of Aloshya es como esa flor prohibida: bonita por fuera, pero con efectos secundarios rarísimos. 🌺💀
"Do you hate me that much? You seem a bit too disgusted. I'm no insect, am I?" Kay told himself that insects would be preferable to this man's company.
May this kind of love never find me🙏🏻 Honestly I expected much more after reading the reviews; if you're into rape and forced romantic relationships then sure, this is perfect for you; but if you want more then read something else. I'll write everything here so be careful because there probably will be spoilers for the second part too. Anyway this book is pure torture, besides the writing style there's nothing likeable about it. The characters are worse than each other: Kay is dumb af and easily gullible; Zigrys has literally no personality beside being a handsome monster and his servant (sorry i don't remember his name) is soooo unpleasant. The story could have been constructed better because in some points I found it very slow and in others I found it too rushed and confusing, like the end. The relationship between Kai and Zygris is the same between a master and his servant, you could clearly see that even though Kai disliked the mere sight of Zygris (at first at least) he could do nothing but obey his wishes because he was scared for his life. Even in the end you could see how Kai never came to love Zygris, it was more of a surrender and acceptance of his future because he had no choice after getting baby trapped and blackmailed to become empress. He literally couldn't do anything without getting killed, so in the end he just went with it. Kinda sad, isn't it? Things were slightly better in the side stories, but just because the bar was on the floor and it could't get any worse. Every sex scene was basically rape so this is definitely not a love story, don't expect anything fluffy or any grandiose declarations of love. Don't get me started on the servant's side story, it was so disgusting i'm trying to forget it. The actions scenes were the only things i kinda enjoyed, they were interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Kay, who is a soldier from the outskirts is suddenly dragged into a adventurous journey with the most renowned duke, brother of the late emperor- Zigril. The aim for this mission is to retrieve the “Flower of Aloshya” in order to allow the emperor to produce a heir to the throne which Zigril doesn’t want to have, so they go through a lot of struggles and magical rituals in order to achieve the Flower so that the Kingdom would still be maintained well under the circumstances even if the Emperor passes away.
Over the course of this Journey the relationship between the Duke and Kay strengthens to the extent where Zigril’s possessiveness especially in the house of the nobels in Edor where Kay encounters one of his past lovers. As they retrieve the flower and decide to head back to the Capital to utilize the flower, Kay draws clear boundaries in his relationship with Zigril subtly suggesting that in the end he would leave him. Oh baby, not a wise choice indeed. They set camp as the journey would take them approximately 7 days on foot, Zigril offers to make Kay food, where it all went down. When Kay wakes up, in the Capital after 7 days of being unconscious, and is greeted with absurd news.
If it needs to be clarified: This book has 'darker', 'heavier' themes as well as ones that can make the uninitiated uncomfy, such as: noncon, coercion, MPreg, drugs, violence, etc etc. If that is NOT your usual cup of tea, do not read <3
That being said, I LOVED this so much and I need the next novel right now? I haven't had the pleasure of reading the original Korean novel, but based off of my own reading, I was extremely satisfied with the story, and the translation was absolutely perfect for setting the tone. I enjoyed the characters themselves, as I love a naive MC and a sly & wicked ML. Plus there's zombies soooo.... yes.
Having read it in Korean before, I was surprised by the smoothness of the English translation of the novel, and it definitely has a dated feel to it now. It has the traveling feel of a fantasy novel, interesting descriptions of magical effects, and the constant babbling of the magician Schumann... I seem to recall that there was a bit of Schumann's love story in the back, so I hope it's translated as well.
Los tags me gustan y el top prepotente no es nada nuevo: rubio, poderoso y con el aspecto de los dioses, pero no he conseguido conectar con ninguno. Eso sí, es cortita y ligera de leer. Igualmente, su manhwa está disponible en Lezhin Es.
⚠️Una cosa, hay forzamientos, coacción, pero bastante explícito, puesto que esta narrado.
Tres protagonistas buscan una flor que permite tener hijos independientemente del género. Zygril la busca porque no quiere ser el siguiente en la línea sucesoria.
Oh my gosh, I really like this story, it's no joke! BUT TO BE HONEST, I'M AFRAID OF THE ML there is rape, coercion but don't worry, they have a happy ending! later they will have a baby! HAH BABY? YES THEY HAVE A GIRL MPREG MPREG MPREG PREGNANT MAN🫃🫃🫃🫃
GUYS I DO REALLY SORRY I PUT THIS REVIEW IN WRONG IT SHOULD BE FOR VOL.2 ARGHHH#%@$@$ i think is okay tho! "Ohh..nevermind"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did I finish this book, yes was I expecting some character development(No) I hated Z but you know who I hated more his servant, I was so disgusted with that guy’s presence. Kay is a guard but reading the book, I didn’t see a guard but a princess in distress who needed saving all the time, it was very obvious home boy just accepted his faith and gave up, I mean he was baby trapped. I feel like that ending, The servant story and Z making the baby watch them was another thing to this book downfall
It's good as a detective/horror/suspense story but if you're expecting a love story, THIS AIN'T IT. A demanding ruthless cold top who forces the mc into sex because of lust and becomes obsessed with mc but can't understand why mc hasn't changed much towards him. He tricks the mc into digesting a flower that grows a temporary womb (no matter the gender of the person) so he can keep him tied to him. It was disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Si les autrices de BL se concentraient autant sur la romance que le plot je ne lirais rien d'autre parce que franchement le plot était vraiment intéressant pour le coup, mais la romance est au même niveau que la plupart des BL fantaisies-horreur, c'est à dire inexistant voir pire. Checkez les TW sérieusement.
Cái này chắc cũng được tính nhỉ=))))) mình không biết là nó cũng được hiện lên đấy ý dù không phải sách chữ. Nội dung cuốn, logic, đặc biệt là nét vẽ và nhân vật siêu đẹp nhưng hình như bị drop rồi hay sao í :((((
I'm not proud that I liked this book but I can say that It was fun to read. I honestly thought that the MC and the ML would not get together. The story was serious at times but also unserious at other times and I wish there was more plot to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is exactly what I expected when I read the synopsis. The world building is my favorite and the characters while not unique are very interesting. I'm looking forward to more in this series.
I really like the story. Jigryl is acting a bit weird, but also kind of cute considering it's his first love. I heard that it's an MPREG story, so I guess Kay will get pregnant... I can't wait to see the child (or perhaps children...?) of the two. The translation was good too. The sentences were short but fluent