To Take An Enemy’s Heart Volume 1

To Take An Enemy's Heart #1

by Yusa

“Careful! Orders are no one is to tell him that he was sold to his enemy.”

Kassan is believed to be the sole survivor of the Azkun clan, after Master Igen, a ruthless ruler, slaughters his family. Master Igen brings the young boy as a slave into his home, exploiting, beating and starving him. The only one who cares about him enough to risk the Master’s wrath is Lanour, a fellow slave. Oblivious to the fact that Master Igen is the one who had the members of his clan killed, Kassan starts falling in love with him. To make things more complicated, his brother is alive, ready to take vengeance.

Genres: Manga, Manhwa, Historical, Romance, Fantasy, Yaoi, Enemies To Lovers

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[L Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slavery and abuse ➡️ love
3.5 stars

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't been this excited for a new yaoi release in a long time! The plot is that a cruel lord has taken vengeance on another family, murdering everyone except the youngest son. He takes the young man as his slave to torture him, but doesn't tell him he is the one that murdered his family. The evil lord's main goal is to make the boy fall in love with him and then stab him in the back by revealing his true identity just before killing him. Of course, though, they fall in love...

The art is beautiful. The characters all have long, flowing hair and the author has done a fantastic job creating an original wintry landscape with unique costume designs for her characters. The art is by far the best thing about this manhwa.

I did dislike some of the writing and translation choices, though. The chapters often end on dramatic cliffhangers, but in the next chapter those major ordeals are swept aside as if they were never a problem to begin with. It's like there are gaps between each chapter, in which you don't see what is happening. For example, one chapter ends with an armed assassin suddenly appearing behind the evil lord, who is all alone outside without his guards. Cliffhanger! But the next chapter begins with that same assassin stripped of his sword and shirt, beaten and bound, lying at the feet of the lord's men. How did that happen? You never find out.

In volume one, it is also not explained why the cruel lord wanted vengeance on that family to begin with. I'm hoping that will be explained eventually, but the writing isn't the greatest, so I have some doubts. Still, as cruel and awful as the lord seems, it appears his new slave is carving a path to his icy heart, so I want to read more.

I enjoyed the manhwa a lot. It is pretty violent, especially in the beginning, as the author builds her seme up to be a horrible person. But he occasionally shows a bit of humanity. I look forward to seeing him develop into an actually caring person. Hopefully.

[Mimona Masarwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

read till ch 25 - that's what was subbed till now, and it seems they update it every year\!}\
honestly, the storyline is so twisted, a lot of things going on!!

[frau.meln · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was amazing! Enemy to lovers trope at its best! The storyline was very thrilling and interesting, the characters and their dynamic well developed. Sometimes it was bloody and sometimes really cheesy. Also the side characters where gorgeous.
In the end it has a great message as well. I felt all the emotions and couldn’t help but to loose some tears during some chapters at the end!
Oh. And the art style is very pretty, even though sometimes a little off! There is a lot if long and pretty hair, as well as emotional eyes and mimics!

I have no words which really could describe how much I felt while reading! Highly recommend 👌🏼

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh, SO much to say, but no time. I'm so addicted to this it's not even funny and I need the next one yesterday!

[Dani(elle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has the same vibes as Captive Prince by CS Pascat but less rape-y.

[Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this hate to love story between 2 people who were supposed to be sworn enemies with nothing in common but end up being each other’s salvation <3

[Xena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for people who enjoy truly hate to love storylines, so not for everyone. It’s not all fluffy. I have gone back to this so many times whenever I need that fix. There are dark/toxic elements here as the story revolves around family massacres and revenge. It’s messed up. The author balanced it with the brighter sides, as we get towards the ending. So it’s not just about abuse/revenge/hate. I think she wanted to make a point about how pure hate/revenge can destroy a person even more.

I felt like the transition was smooth and believable for them. I say this because it is about two people who have nothing to lose, living with horrible conditions during a historical time. Their past history and relationship to each other makes it all the more tragic. It’s like they had nothing else.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s some real ENEMIES TO LOVERS, like they meant it meant it. This shit made me feel sum. I felt so conflicted for the both of them at one point, then I felt so sad for them. Boy it was a ride… looks like I have new manga to add to my collection🤦🏾‍♀️😩

[Neha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want this book 2nd vol in English too.
I am too excited to read further this
book.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wonderful BL story! lots of ups and downs but worth the read now that it's complete! give it a try!

[Aymee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a dark and twisty story. I'm anxious to get my hands on the next installment soon!

[Tina Sy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It reminds me of captive prince.
So cruel and dark.
I read somewhere that Yusa is a popular Webtoons artist. Excited to start my first series by her. Such beautiful intricate artwork.

[A. Katariina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn this was good but he’s so mean😬

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite all intentions, Kassan and Igen find themselves bonding over a trauma only the two of them can understand. The cruel twist is that Igen is the man responsible for Kassan’s deep wounds.
This story begs less the question of how their affair will turn out and more so whose revenge will overrule them all. Thus far, we have the revenge of Igen, the revenge of Hakar, and Kassan is sure to exact retribution once he finds the truth of his circumstances.
Everything is so messy while yusa does excellently at showcasing the feelings and developments of the various cast alongside progressing the story itself. The story is peculiar and complex, the outfits are (in my opinion) to die for, the art is incredibly stunning, and the ambience yusa builds is fantastically immersive. Overall, To Take An Enemy’s Heart is an expertly crafted manhwa, though some of the content is a bit questionable even for the time of its original publication (2014, 2018 in English).

[Janina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. Nothing unexpected, too fast-paced when it comes to the relationship progression and the characters were very stereotypical.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Series ongoing.
Review of first 20 chapters.
Damn, this gave me headache!
They are supposed to be master and slave, but there is an awful lot of - well..not that - going on... It's mostly just angst...
And someone asked them if they were in a serious relationship? It's his slave! Does this author not know what a slave was?!
And the 'slave' was completely abused by his 'master' for weeks in the beginning, but still fell in love/like the first time his master was kind to him.
Do not recommend. Too much hairpulling!

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terminado por ahora hasta que consiga leer el resto de capítulos una vez que sean traducidos (no sé coreano ;-;)

2024 update: is cometpleted now, but I read 15 eps of this and it was really bad so I dropped it. Reg flag no thanks.

[Aurora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well this is a mess of a book. It was so clunky, and I can’t even chalk that up to the awkward translation. The situation makes no sense, I couldn’t get behind any of the character motivations, and I didn’t find it sexy, so it failed on pretty much all counts.

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
I liked the character designs and the story was good (seems like a good enemy's to lovers). The writing was a bit off for me but that might be due to translation.

[Just a dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have enough words to describe this book 😭😭
Look at the trigger warnings and read this book guys!

[suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If y'all enjoyed C.S. Pacat's Captive Prince series, may I suggest this one. Obsessed. Can't remember the last time I was reading something and bought the next book before I even finished.

[Morgan Buchanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so twisted. I randomly picked this up and now I know a new world of manga and messed up stories. Still go art work, and I love the type of dress and complex attitude/emotions draw in the characters.

[Ragad]

It will be very enjoyable