This has probably been one of the best BL titles I've read this year. I found the story really interesting and unique, the art was amazing, and the feelings this gave me range from melancholy to bittersweet happiness. It's the angst of the year!
In this land, birdlike humanoid creatures with toxins in their bodies exist. They are kept as "pets" and are seen as a symbol of power. Their worth lies only in their beauty, which is proportionate with how toxic their bodies are. The more beautiful, the more deadly and only a Zhen keeper knows how to groom them to perfection. That is what General Fei used to do, up until his brother was killed by the Zhen he was keeping. Unfortunately, now he must return to being a keeper whenever Cai Hong, owned by the Grand Marshal, becomes ill. And it seems like a sick twist in fate that Cai Hong is also the Zhen that murdered his brother
What does it mean to be worth something? What is beauty? What is love? How much are you willing to sacrifice for "love"? What is a sacrifice? What is happiness?
A wholly original and unexpectedly beautiful story. It would have been improved only by a little more clarity with regards to the story's events and perhaps some color; though manga is almost never in color, I would have loved seeing the wings vibrantly colored. Nevertheless, I really loved this one.
For sure this was something different..... not bad. There was some angst, and maybe I would have liked more explanations for some things, but it still was a nice story.
this had a lot of potential. a young, high-ranking soldier is called home for the first time in years to deal with the rare magical bird/man (zhen) that killed his brother. something seems off about the case. why, after all these years, did the zhen turn on his beloved master? why, after refusing to part with the zhen for so long, had he agreed to sell it just before his death?
i honestly have no idea about any of this, but i do know you can punish a zhen by giving it a handjob. which i honestly didn't actually want to know.
The world design was truly beautiful, utilising a historic setting for a fantasy twist, but the story is a no from me: the Zhen as pets concept is giving too much enslavement without it ever being problematised, hell not even called out as such, and the question of consent is weary at best. The emphasis on value through beauty is not even fully subverted by the couple's actions and the ending note on what feels to me like insecurity in the relationship just all piled up to leave me rather uncomfortable, I'm sorry to say.
strange, original, creepy... but incredibly good! An intriguing story that made me want to read more. a short manga, but with a super different story and beautiful art.
Tiene una historia muy original con toques románticos, pero no centrado totalmente en ello, y un dibujo precioso que te da la sensación de poder ver los colores a pesar de que es en blanco y negro.