체크 메이트 3

Checkmate #3

by Tan, 탄

선배 기자 민석은 자신의 후배가 단지 기삿거리가 될 만한 소재를 찾아 박문섭의 뒤를 캐는 것이 아님을 직감하며, 수현과 은성 사이에 놓인 은밀함에 관심을 가진다. 한편 수현은 위험을 무릅쓰고 박문섭의 화실을 찾아간다. 그리고는 그간 은성이 마주했을 박문섭의 실체를 알게 되는데….

Genres: Manhwa, Manga, LGBT, Romance, Yaoi, Queer, Contemporary

292 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2024

Reviews

[charly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely the best rivals to lovers bl. They just have this tension that is so palpable that you can feel it come off the page. Soohyun and eunsung are just the perfect match. Grumpy x sunshine to a T. I love how the author never really labelled them but make it so obvious how in love they are with each other

[The Girl Murdered by Her TBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I’m talking about. This manhwa is perfection. The plot is heavy so you better be ready for a roller coaster of emotions but it was worth it at the end.

So happy for my Soohyun… my power bottom and Eunsung… my caring and clingy top 💚

[⋆ ࣪˖ ִֶָ sel ་༘࿐ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[S3CH66-103+SS] Beautiful execution up until the end. That is one hell of a satisfying read! Soohyun and Eunsung is finally on the same page.

As I was saying about the previous season, there's not much thoughts we can get from Eunsung so it gives light on this one. Eunsung never disregarded Soohyun as someone below him, he's just a quiet observer. He has always been looking at Soohyun, trying to remove himself from the picture to at least make Soohyun's life "easier." But he realized that Soohyun hates him not because of who he is as a whole, but because of his silence. But that golden silence also became a routine and solace between the both of them in that small space of study desks on the side of each other. It's so bittersweet.

That graduation really gave them both a sense of relief and despair. Soohyun finally cutting his connection with Eunsung but also despairing that same fact, even crying about it. And Eunsung's relief that he will never get to see those people again and finally he can wish Soohyun well in an environment where he's not present, but also realizing his shortcomings related to Soohyun and they will in fact, never see each other again. In the end they never got to talk.

But it's never too late for something to finally start. After years of silent separation, Soohyun finally found a way to squeeze Eunsung in his life again. He was never alive unless Eunsung is in his life. It was an obsession he at first didn't know how to define. Checkmate encapsulates the beauty, horror, and self-deception that obsession—love—can do to someone. Soohyun doesn't understand Eunsung's behavior but he doesn't understand his own feelings. He doesn't understand because he is entranced by Eunsung's existence, he didn't know what to do with that aside from bringing him down and keeping Eunsung to himself. Eunsung's existence has so much impact to him because he loves him but the only way he can express that is by both exploiting Eunsung's weaknesses and play mind games with him, while also self-destructing every now and then.

Ah fuck, I love Checkmate! Power bottom Soohyun and this pup top Eunsung. I also love that they are not some big "overpowered" characters; instead, they are deeply flawed and complex which makes them so human. The plot isn't that deep and you can find a lot of stories with similar elements but Checkmate is a league of its own. From start to finish, the escalation of events are highly engaging and mind-boggling, it makes you not want to drop the book. I highly commend the author! It has been a very amazing journey.

"See you tomorrow." There's no point in dwelling in the past, so they can only now create new and wonderful memories together. I hope I get to see more from them! Soohyun finally smiling and Eunsung letting himself go by acting like a child after years of creating a cold front. There's no need for corny love confessions, it's a tacit understanding that they both rightfully belong to each other. And they both also know and can fully feel it.

[quynh · Rating 4 out of 5]

WDYM JTS OVER WDYM WDYM WDYM WDYM WDYM WDYM WDYM
😭😭😭😭NO NO NO NOOONO
4.5 stars
chat. chat chat chat chat. chat.
this is the epitome of enemies to lovers like
lee soohyun the man that you are oh my gos
THE WAY HE FLIPPED
THE WAY
HE
FLIPPED
AND COMES TO TERMS
WITH HIS OBSESSION
AND REALIZES HIS FEELINFS
THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES HIS LJFE OR WHATVER
SHUT FHE FUCM UP FUCKKK!!!!
the way they complete each other is just so perfect
the last act of this story was so damn intense i was clenching my asschrdks so hard man
the way they don’t even need to say i love you to get their feelings across to each other
the way eunsung ran to soohyun after BITCH SUCKER violated soohyun
the way eunsung was so protective of soohyun
the way soohyun would do anything and face everything for eunsung
holy shit
it made me so sad to see soohyun lose interest in his work after eunsung 😭😭
like he’s slowly abandoning sunbae after all the shit they went through together like NOOOO THEY WERE SUCH A POWERFUL DUO
this was a great enemies to lovers with so much damn tension and suspense that it pained me yet brought me undeniable joy to read
the way their characters slowly changed and their feelings began to blossom for each other under such a stressful predicament is such a beautifully tragic yet wholesomely adorable story
soohyun reassessing his obsession and eunsung finding endearment and affectionate dependence on soohyun
i just
you wouldn’t get it

[Lyss · Rating 5 out of 5]

These idiots are so obviously in love with each other. Clingy and protective Eunsung. Obsessive and dedicated Soohyun. Both of them sticking their necks out for the other but acting like it’s nothing.

Eunsung is becoming more open with his worry for Soohyun and Soohyun is becoming softer around Eunsung.

Will Soohyun ever realize this was a one sided rivalry the entire time?

[Ivka_s_knihou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo! Konečně si s tím hajzlíkem poradili.

[n · Rating 5 out of 5]

favorılerımden o kadar sevıyorum kı. budur yanı boyle seyler okumak ıstıyorum yav.

[[melanie] · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY DID IT END BEFORE HE MET HIS PARENTS AJSHKSJSKSHSJSKS MY CUTESY PATOOTSIESSS

[Astaroth · Rating 4 out of 5]

-1 estrella en todos porque vword

[Say · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!!

Damn I need volume 4. Now as in now!!! ASAP!!!

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

marking this for season 3 + the side stories

Such a beautiful conclusion to a very messed up story. I'm happy everything worked out as it did - especially with Soohyun. The character development was chef's kiss

[juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these two

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume completes the English release of the series to date. Park is really a piece of work, and can't fade into the background fast enough. Things looked more than a little rocky for Soohyun and Eunsung for awhile there, but somehow they both seem to have come to the same conclusion without actually using the words or labels with each other while they do use them with others around them? Even their friends and at least Soohyun's family have put the pieces together except for Eunsung's one old school friend that likes to show up unannounced, which adds even more hilarity to the encounters. Both boys have a bit of a possessive streak, though that could work in their favor long term as long as they stay on the same page. Despite Soohyun's confusion over the drawn out date nights and slow kisses given their previous fast and hard relationship, it's rather touching to see the boys actually spend time together and getting to know one each other instead of just dragging each other to the nearest bed. Timing is also amusing as the main part of the series wraps up around Christmas/New Years and it's New Year's Eve tonight. It seems like the series could go on with these side stories at the end nearly indefinitely depending on the author's whims and reader's attentions.

[Heather’s Reading Bubble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checkmate is one of those series for me that I know is about two very toxic individuals and their relationship. These are two deeply disturbed individuals. Their relationship is a very shady agreement and their first sexual encounter is SA. I’m not going to justify or defend it. But I will say that I am so enthralled in this train wreck of a relationship, if you can even call it that. I want to see how this plays out. Is it the best thing I’ve ever read? No. Is it the worst thing I ever read? Also no. I would only recommend this to someone that is interested in reading a story of two very very messed up individuals that is also extremely layered and complex.

[aled]

ngl this manhwa is really smth else... idno the right bunch of words to describe exactly how i felt while reading and then finishing this volume.. its like i know both characters are extremely fucked up and toxic towards each other but i cant help but want them to hash things out,,, talk things through and get together in a healthy and safe manner. .. at the same time there is a part of me that doesn't want that and i want to see the extremities of how each of the characters will go to, to get what he wants... one thing for sure.. park moon seob fuckc off u fkn shitcunt

[Yadi Gaviria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bueno, al principio no le tenía mucha fe a este manhwa realmente las razones de Soohyun me parecían un poco sosas, pero luego entendí que todos vemos las cosas desde distintas perspectivas y llegamos a tener diferentes humores al respecto, el desarrollo de la trama y de los personajes fue increíble, realmente es uno de los mejores que he leído este año, la pareja termina siendo realmente hermosa y además tienen mucha química, los extras estuvieron llenos de mucha ternura y amor.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel for Eusung. Park is disgusting. He literally stalked him till he gave in. And what he did to others in front of Eusung?! Ugh. Eusung must be feeling so much guilt from getting away…

And what’s the deal with Soohyun? He doesn’t want Eusung to fawn over him. He wanted to get back at him but that would be too hard to accomplish if Eusung falls for him… Or perhaps is it the other way around…? Ooooo…

[Filip Skovin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checkmate is about two deeply damaged people and their toxic relationship.
It’s uncomfortable to read at times — their connection is messy, manipulative, and dark.
Still, there’s something strangely captivating about how it all unfolds.
It’s not the best thing I’ve read, but not the worst either.
I’d only recommend it if you’re interested in complex, broken characters and stories that live in the grey areas.

[becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
they rlly did it for me it was so complex and captivating and just what i really do like and it was just sooooo good i wish it was even longer because the story was just so good and ahhh i just loved it sm

[Ida Østby · Rating 4 out of 5]

At it's peak, towards the end, this volume approaches a weird state between 2 and 5 stars. It continues vol 2's raising of the stakes, but there are also so many stakes it can be tough to pay attention as complexity also rises.

[Jessica Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOS AMO, MUY LINDO! ♥

[noémie · Rating 4 out of 5]

so toxic but so good, can't lie

[Just a dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Season 3 and the the side stories.
I love the chibis.😭😭

[Karoline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

[Hudky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyitaaaa.

[Eve Healy]

Spoiler-Included Reviews:

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[amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

read June 13, 2024 - June 13, 2024: 4 stars

[ally_owos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Losing my shit over how needlessly good this was what the fuck

[Alexandra Bunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consumed this entire series in three days. absorbed it into my soul. this is hands down the best bl I’ve read in a WHILE

[selenarity · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’en veux encore et encore.