What do you think?
Rate this book
고래별: 경성의 인어공주 [Goraebyeol: Gyeongseongui Ineogongju] #1
Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (고래별: 경성의 인어공주) Volume 1
The year is 1926 in this retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid”, and Joseon (present-day Korea), is under colonial Japanese rule. Su-a Heo is a handmaiden who spends her days working and swimming in the sea. Her work is her whole life, until one day, when she discovers a wounded independence fighter named Uihyeon Kang washed up on the shore. She nurses him back to health, only to lose her ability to speak in a botched murder attempt by Uihyeon’s comrade, Haesu Song. As she travels to the capital, Gyeongseong (present-day Seoul), to get revenge, she finds herself growing more and more intertwined with a strange, brave new world and the people within it.
Episode 1 to 13
Episode 1 to 13
336 pages
Published August 12, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
August 15, 2022
I have always loved retellings of old stories; I didn't know I would fall in love with a historical retelling this much. Whale Star is the retelling of The Little Mermaid story and the author has done her job very well. I strongly recommend it to all readers. The story, history, characters and the art was so complete and astonishing. One of the best Webtoons and comics I have read...
May 6, 2022
"if I cut myself open and tasted my blood, it would taste like sea salt."
I'm sobbing.
I'm sobbing.
February 4, 2024
Gorgeous, intriguing story with beautiful art. It's such a good read!!!
April 22, 2026
TELLEMENT BIEN JE VEUX PAS ATTENDRE AOÛT POUR LE TOME 2
August 4, 2024
My emotions and tears are all out right now that I don’t know what to say.
Rewatching Mr.Sunshine while reading this doesn’t help either.
How the author woven in the story of The Little Mermaid was done well.
Rewatching Mr.Sunshine while reading this doesn’t help either.
How the author woven in the story of The Little Mermaid was done well.
June 1, 2022
The art is beautiful and the story is really powerful and touching. I can't wait to sink deeper into this story.
November 17, 2022
oh my gosh this was soooo good. i can't wait to read the rest
October 12, 2023
my first Manhwa and how much i'm loving it!
June 8, 2026
The Little Mermaid, early 20th century Korea during the Japanese occupation and beautiful pannels... I am sold! Great storytelling and characters and a very well researched time period (I am a big fan of historical fiction and this time period especially).
I would have prefered more dialogue though.
Will deffinetly seek out the other volumes in the series.
4.5/5*
I would have prefered more dialogue though.
Will deffinetly seek out the other volumes in the series.
4.5/5*
November 28, 2025
what the helly
February 2, 2026
трохи мене бентежать оці "товаришко/товаришу", але загалом цікаво
July 22, 2025
SOBBING CRYING
reading this is the literary/webtoon version of touching grass bc god that was beautifully written (and illustrated)
reading this is the literary/webtoon version of touching grass bc god that was beautifully written (and illustrated)
October 20, 2022
This has been a beautiful and heartbreaking story! From the very beginning the reader can tell that this is not going to be a magical reading. It's actually a retelling of the story of Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Little Mermaid". And it's set in 1926, when Korea (Joseon) was under Japanese rule. It's amazing how the author connected the story to that time.
And the characters!!! I want to say something about them: Su-a and Uihyeon are great from the beginning, so I won't say much about them. But Haesu and Yeongyeong!!!
Those two don't give a good impression at first, at all . I want to highlight this: this is a period of war. This story is not shy to talk about was and its consequences. Is what they did the right thing? No. Is it justifiable? No! But, is it understandable? Yes, because this is a period of war, and as spies, it's hard to tell who you can really trust. They won't be liked at the beginning. However, the author did a great jo with those characters, so please remember who the real enemies are while you read this story.
There, I needed to say that.
Once again, I want to highlight how wonderful this story is. I really loved it!
June 4, 2023
💧🌊🏙️🇼🇭🇦🇱🇪 🇸🇹🇦🇷⦂ 🇹🇭🇪 🇬🇾🇪🇴🇳🇬🇸🇪🇴🇳🇬 🇲🇪🇷🇲🇦🇮🇩🏙️🌊💧
4.5 Stars
Breathless, gasping, flawless, powerful, awe-struck what in the world did I just read?
"It's not shameful to lack an education. It's only shameful to be educated and still say the wrong things."
-Doctor Kim
↝What's it about: Set in 1926 Whale Star is a retelling by Na Yoonhee that starts off with a bang. Handmaiden Su-a Heo works for Lady Yunhwa. Lady Yunhwa's father is forcing her into a marriage with a powerful Japanese man. During this time, Joseon is under Japanese rule, and Yunhwa's family is pro-Japanese. When Uihyeon Kang, an independence fighter, is in possession of dangerous plans. Su-a nurses him back to health, bonding with him in the private moments they have together. With the people of Joseon struggling under this rule, the two will no longer have these moments as Uihyeon's duty calls to him. But when Lady Yunhwa gets involved in the whole ordeal, she must choose between the country and her people or her family and the beliefs she was taught.
"The day I first saw you Lady Su-a you looked just like the Little Mermaid to me."
-Uihyeon Kang
↝The Plot: I have read several pieces of literature, watched many movies, and read many webtoons, manhuas, mangas, and manhwas. Never have I stumbled upon a story that so effortlessly stirs such emotion within me in the span of thirteen episodes. I would recommend this to anyone, anywhere. I implore those who do not read webtoons to still give this a try. This takes place in a time of Korean history that my grandparents and parents would tell me about, but I have never really read or seen anything about it. There was a long time in history when Korea (Joseon) was forced to live under the rule of Japan. It's visceral to really see what my ancestors would have experienced. I could definitely see elements of The Little Mermaid inserted so well into the story and given a fresh breath of life. The first thirteen episodes are intense, establishing glimpses of romance in a dark, fairytale-esque, inspired story rooted in history. The dynamic between characters is anxious, tense, fearful, and powerful. This is a rather dark webtoon that shows how much each character is struggling. So much is accomplished in these thirteen episodes—so much emotion stirred up, so much complexity—that already I can feel that this will become a favorite.
"I am not like you. I cannot leave anything behind and I can't gain anything either. I cannot leave anything behind because I am a traitor. I cannot gain anything because I'm a woman. Thats why I cannot become a woman of a dying nation. I cannot become a patch of dry grass trampled upon before I had a chance to breath."
-Lady Yunhwa
↝The Characters:
- Su-a : Su-a is such a strong-hearted, kind girl willing to help those in need. As described in the synopsis, she loses her ability to speak as someone tries to rob her of the ability to communicate with others. Su-a is a handmaiden who never received an education and was never taught to read or write. There is a heavy focus on the class divide between a servant and her master. Her dynamic with Lady Yunhwa was very interesting. When they were children, both were good friends, only to have the pressures and expectations force them apart. From what we know, she was not yet entrenched in dark politics until she met Uihyeon. He seems to lift a layer from her eyes, exposing a side of her people's suffering that has not yet fully hit her. Su-a is such a brave protagonist, and I am truly excited to see more from her.
- Uihyeon : While we don't get to see a lot from his perspective, in the first thirteen chapters, Uihyeon's character is well established well. The reader learns that he is a courageous man fighting for the freedom of his people. Every day is a struggle; every mission could change the course of history or destroy him and Joseon's freedom. There is a struggle between the Koreans who are pro-Japanese in order to save themselves and those who keep on fighting. Uihyeon was very kind to Su-a. I loved how he inspired the characters he met and the way he called Su-a "Lady Su-a," even if she wasn't of high status.
- Haesu : I saw little of his character in the episodes, yet his actions showed me a lot. Haesu was a man who didn't want to stoop down to accommodate his oppressors. He was willing to do whatever it took to achieve freedom, even at the cost of his own life, the lives of others, and his own sanity. Unlike Uihyeon, there is a coldness to him. He is a man who fights for the right cause but doesn't necessarily inspire a noble and kind-hearted image. Instead, he is a man who has been hardened and beaten by pain until he comes out as someone who is callous. Still, he still has little bits of humanity within him, and it will be interesting to see how that will affect his mission.
- Lady Yunhwa : *pauses for a moment of silence* Wow. Lady Yunhwa's character was so complex, so complicated, and so conflicting. She was brought up to support what her father wished. Forced into marriage with a man so much older than her. Forced to act, speak the language, look, and talk the way that others wanted. She was, put simply, a traitor not only to her own people but to herself as well. We see the mounting pressure within her reach a breaking point. She was truly a woman who left such a strong impression.
✅PLOT
✅CHARACTERS
✅PLOT TWISTS
4.5 Stars
Breathless, gasping, flawless, powerful, awe-struck what in the world did I just read?
"It's not shameful to lack an education. It's only shameful to be educated and still say the wrong things."
-Doctor Kim
↝What's it about: Set in 1926 Whale Star is a retelling by Na Yoonhee that starts off with a bang. Handmaiden Su-a Heo works for Lady Yunhwa. Lady Yunhwa's father is forcing her into a marriage with a powerful Japanese man. During this time, Joseon is under Japanese rule, and Yunhwa's family is pro-Japanese. When Uihyeon Kang, an independence fighter, is in possession of dangerous plans. Su-a nurses him back to health, bonding with him in the private moments they have together. With the people of Joseon struggling under this rule, the two will no longer have these moments as Uihyeon's duty calls to him. But when Lady Yunhwa gets involved in the whole ordeal, she must choose between the country and her people or her family and the beliefs she was taught.
"The day I first saw you Lady Su-a you looked just like the Little Mermaid to me."
-Uihyeon Kang
↝The Plot: I have read several pieces of literature, watched many movies, and read many webtoons, manhuas, mangas, and manhwas. Never have I stumbled upon a story that so effortlessly stirs such emotion within me in the span of thirteen episodes. I would recommend this to anyone, anywhere. I implore those who do not read webtoons to still give this a try. This takes place in a time of Korean history that my grandparents and parents would tell me about, but I have never really read or seen anything about it. There was a long time in history when Korea (Joseon) was forced to live under the rule of Japan. It's visceral to really see what my ancestors would have experienced. I could definitely see elements of The Little Mermaid inserted so well into the story and given a fresh breath of life. The first thirteen episodes are intense, establishing glimpses of romance in a dark, fairytale-esque, inspired story rooted in history. The dynamic between characters is anxious, tense, fearful, and powerful. This is a rather dark webtoon that shows how much each character is struggling. So much is accomplished in these thirteen episodes—so much emotion stirred up, so much complexity—that already I can feel that this will become a favorite.
"I am not like you. I cannot leave anything behind and I can't gain anything either. I cannot leave anything behind because I am a traitor. I cannot gain anything because I'm a woman. Thats why I cannot become a woman of a dying nation. I cannot become a patch of dry grass trampled upon before I had a chance to breath."
-Lady Yunhwa
↝The Characters:
- Su-a : Su-a is such a strong-hearted, kind girl willing to help those in need. As described in the synopsis, she loses her ability to speak as someone tries to rob her of the ability to communicate with others. Su-a is a handmaiden who never received an education and was never taught to read or write. There is a heavy focus on the class divide between a servant and her master. Her dynamic with Lady Yunhwa was very interesting. When they were children, both were good friends, only to have the pressures and expectations force them apart. From what we know, she was not yet entrenched in dark politics until she met Uihyeon. He seems to lift a layer from her eyes, exposing a side of her people's suffering that has not yet fully hit her. Su-a is such a brave protagonist, and I am truly excited to see more from her.
- Uihyeon : While we don't get to see a lot from his perspective, in the first thirteen chapters, Uihyeon's character is well established well. The reader learns that he is a courageous man fighting for the freedom of his people. Every day is a struggle; every mission could change the course of history or destroy him and Joseon's freedom. There is a struggle between the Koreans who are pro-Japanese in order to save themselves and those who keep on fighting. Uihyeon was very kind to Su-a. I loved how he inspired the characters he met and the way he called Su-a "Lady Su-a," even if she wasn't of high status.
- Haesu : I saw little of his character in the episodes, yet his actions showed me a lot. Haesu was a man who didn't want to stoop down to accommodate his oppressors. He was willing to do whatever it took to achieve freedom, even at the cost of his own life, the lives of others, and his own sanity. Unlike Uihyeon, there is a coldness to him. He is a man who fights for the right cause but doesn't necessarily inspire a noble and kind-hearted image. Instead, he is a man who has been hardened and beaten by pain until he comes out as someone who is callous. Still, he still has little bits of humanity within him, and it will be interesting to see how that will affect his mission.
- Lady Yunhwa : *pauses for a moment of silence* Wow. Lady Yunhwa's character was so complex, so complicated, and so conflicting. She was brought up to support what her father wished. Forced into marriage with a man so much older than her. Forced to act, speak the language, look, and talk the way that others wanted. She was, put simply, a traitor not only to her own people but to herself as well. We see the mounting pressure within her reach a breaking point. She was truly a woman who left such a strong impression.
✅PLOT
✅CHARACTERS
✅PLOT TWISTS
March 28, 2023
This was legit such a depressing read. I really loved all the characters...they were so realistic and complex..my heart is shattered 🥲
I especially loved how complex each character is and how the author explores each character individually...Haesu grew on me as a character especially...although what he did to Su-a was unforgivable...you find yourself understanding his point of view and admiring him for his devotion/loyality to his country and his people.
I also really loved the artstyle! Especially the background scenery...it's so beautiful.
I especially loved how complex each character is and how the author explores each character individually...Haesu grew on me as a character especially...although what he did to Su-a was unforgivable...you find yourself understanding his point of view and admiring him for his devotion/loyality to his country and his people.
I also really loved the artstyle! Especially the background scenery...it's so beautiful.
June 8, 2026
𓈒𓏸.°• 5 emotional stab wounds stars straight to the heart. 𓆜⋆˚࿔
Finishing the last chapter felt a lot like watching the final stretch of a really good tragic sageuk: I just sat there, hollowed out and teary, needing a moment to breathe. There’s this aching mix of beauty and futility running through the whole manhwa that left me feeling both moved and a little haunted.
It also instantly made me think of Mr. Sunshine— not in plot, but in that same bittersweet blend of romance, patriotism, and the unbearable weight of living under occupation, where loving someone and loving your country keep colliding in painful ways.
The plot, tone and why it hit me:
Set in 1926, during Japanese colonial rule, Whale Star follows Su‑a, a 17 y/o handmaid working for a pro‑Japanese collaborator’s household in Joseon. One day, she discovers an injured independence activist, Uihyeon, washed up on the beach and secretly nurses him back to health; a meeting that pulls her into both first love and the dangerous world of resistance. The story is loosely inspired by The Little Mermaid, so from the start there’s this quiet knowledge that you’re reading a tragedy, not a fairy tale.
What made it feel so Mr. Sunshine‑coded to me is how the manhwa balances intimate, personal moments with the vast, brutal backdrop of history: stolen country, small people forced into impossible choices, love stories that are beautiful precisely because they exist in a time where happy endings are a luxury no one can afford. Every time characters talked about Joseon, or what they were willing to sacrifice for it, it had that same mix of pride, grief, and inevitability that I associate with Mr. Sunshine.
Characters:
I loved Su‑a’s journey the most: she starts as this innocent girl who just wants to survive, but as she’s dragged deeper into the independence movement, her understanding of love: romantic love, love for home, love for freedom which keeps expanding in painful, beautiful ways. Uihyeon and Haesu are equally unforgettable; the story lets them be flawed, stubborn, and contradictory, and that complexity made me care about them far more than I expected.
The art is soft and luminous, almost storybook‑like at times, which only makes the harsher moments land harder; the contrast between the gentle visuals and the heavy subject matter is devastating in the best way.
If I had to nitpick, it’s that knowing it was based on The Little Mermaid had me bracing early for hurt, and sometimes I wished I could forget that and just hope. But honestly, the inevitability is part of what makes the whole thing so powerful; it leans into that original fairy‑tale melancholy and uses it to talk about colonization, sacrifice, and what it means to love something you might never live to see freed.
If Mr. Sunshine made you lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling thinking about colonization, sacrifice, and “right person, wrong era,” Whale Star will do it again but with mermaid allegory and even more emotional damage. Absolutely a masterpiece, 10/10 would let it emotionally destroy me again.
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
Finishing the last chapter felt a lot like watching the final stretch of a really good tragic sageuk: I just sat there, hollowed out and teary, needing a moment to breathe. There’s this aching mix of beauty and futility running through the whole manhwa that left me feeling both moved and a little haunted.
It also instantly made me think of Mr. Sunshine— not in plot, but in that same bittersweet blend of romance, patriotism, and the unbearable weight of living under occupation, where loving someone and loving your country keep colliding in painful ways.
The plot, tone and why it hit me:
Set in 1926, during Japanese colonial rule, Whale Star follows Su‑a, a 17 y/o handmaid working for a pro‑Japanese collaborator’s household in Joseon. One day, she discovers an injured independence activist, Uihyeon, washed up on the beach and secretly nurses him back to health; a meeting that pulls her into both first love and the dangerous world of resistance. The story is loosely inspired by The Little Mermaid, so from the start there’s this quiet knowledge that you’re reading a tragedy, not a fairy tale.
What made it feel so Mr. Sunshine‑coded to me is how the manhwa balances intimate, personal moments with the vast, brutal backdrop of history: stolen country, small people forced into impossible choices, love stories that are beautiful precisely because they exist in a time where happy endings are a luxury no one can afford. Every time characters talked about Joseon, or what they were willing to sacrifice for it, it had that same mix of pride, grief, and inevitability that I associate with Mr. Sunshine.
Characters:
I loved Su‑a’s journey the most: she starts as this innocent girl who just wants to survive, but as she’s dragged deeper into the independence movement, her understanding of love: romantic love, love for home, love for freedom which keeps expanding in painful, beautiful ways. Uihyeon and Haesu are equally unforgettable; the story lets them be flawed, stubborn, and contradictory, and that complexity made me care about them far more than I expected.
The art is soft and luminous, almost storybook‑like at times, which only makes the harsher moments land harder; the contrast between the gentle visuals and the heavy subject matter is devastating in the best way.
If I had to nitpick, it’s that knowing it was based on The Little Mermaid had me bracing early for hurt, and sometimes I wished I could forget that and just hope. But honestly, the inevitability is part of what makes the whole thing so powerful; it leans into that original fairy‑tale melancholy and uses it to talk about colonization, sacrifice, and what it means to love something you might never live to see freed.
If Mr. Sunshine made you lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling thinking about colonization, sacrifice, and “right person, wrong era,” Whale Star will do it again but with mermaid allegory and even more emotional damage. Absolutely a masterpiece, 10/10 would let it emotionally destroy me again.
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
January 1, 2025
The little Joseon mermaid who bombed .·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·.
🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️
If you have a bit of knowledge regarding Japan's last war on Korea, you fangirl over spy stories and you feel ready to be devastated by a tragic romance, this is the one for you.
NOTE: Don't give up reading after the first chapters! It just gets better ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
The art style is so beautiful, so sensible, so saturated. I was instantly hooked.
Soo-a is a complex heroine, groomed to be an obedient servant and not only do everything, but even believe her employers are god-like entities. Everybody she meets takes her kindness, her resilience and her selflessness for granted. They even threaten her life on several occasions. Yet, she cares for them nonetheless. Taking a look back, she did resemble Ariel in many ways, but her ending consolidated her as a complex activist. She made a difference, yet her existence dissolved in time. Which is both heartbreaking and infuriating 💥
From the moment she was introduced, Nokjoo stole the spotlight. She was smart, cheeky, ambitious, non-judgemental and caring for all, even though she's always been left out of all the possible discussions. And Geon with his green but stern loyalty was a close second for me. Such a breath of fresh air to see young characters develop and hold themselves together even when faced with tough choices.
The rest of the cast was very rational and dedicated to a specific cause, yet somehow couldn't bring themselves to fully live or love. And because of this reason, in the beginning most are portrayed as having uncreative and malicious means of solving dangerous situations. As rebels, I imagine one always is met with harsh decisions. However, all of their lives changed after meeting Soo-a. Yes, most of our characters didn't survive by the end, but they were able to grow emotionally, while holding space for a significant move that would end their country's suffering. Such convoluted arguments. No good cause feeds off the murdering of innocents. Yet, no true freedom was ever unlocked without sacrifice.
Contrary to my complete loathing over the "teach me how to read" trope, this reinterpretation wasn't that bad and made sense within the context.
In the end, after so many breakdowns, I choose to believe we got a happy open-ending. Kudos to the author for such a brave and emotional retelling!
🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️🧜🏻♀️
If you have a bit of knowledge regarding Japan's last war on Korea, you fangirl over spy stories and you feel ready to be devastated by a tragic romance, this is the one for you.
NOTE: Don't give up reading after the first chapters! It just gets better ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
The art style is so beautiful, so sensible, so saturated. I was instantly hooked.
Soo-a is a complex heroine, groomed to be an obedient servant and not only do everything, but even believe her employers are god-like entities. Everybody she meets takes her kindness, her resilience and her selflessness for granted. They even threaten her life on several occasions. Yet, she cares for them nonetheless. Taking a look back, she did resemble Ariel in many ways, but her ending consolidated her as a complex activist. She made a difference, yet her existence dissolved in time. Which is both heartbreaking and infuriating 💥
From the moment she was introduced, Nokjoo stole the spotlight. She was smart, cheeky, ambitious, non-judgemental and caring for all, even though she's always been left out of all the possible discussions. And Geon with his green but stern loyalty was a close second for me. Such a breath of fresh air to see young characters develop and hold themselves together even when faced with tough choices.
The rest of the cast was very rational and dedicated to a specific cause, yet somehow couldn't bring themselves to fully live or love. And because of this reason, in the beginning most are portrayed as having uncreative and malicious means of solving dangerous situations. As rebels, I imagine one always is met with harsh decisions. However, all of their lives changed after meeting Soo-a. Yes, most of our characters didn't survive by the end, but they were able to grow emotionally, while holding space for a significant move that would end their country's suffering. Such convoluted arguments. No good cause feeds off the murdering of innocents. Yet, no true freedom was ever unlocked without sacrifice.
Contrary to my complete loathing over the "teach me how to read" trope, this reinterpretation wasn't that bad and made sense within the context.
In the end, after so many breakdowns, I choose to believe we got a happy open-ending. Kudos to the author for such a brave and emotional retelling!
August 1, 2026
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Whale Star ?
"Un nouveau manhwa qui parle de l'occupation japonaise en Corée tout en étant une réécriture du conte de la petite sirène, je ne pouvais pas passer à côté et je remercie les éditions Kotoon de me l'avoir proposé."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Sua mène une vie modeste en tant que servante dans une famille aisée qui collabore avec les japonais, mais tout change lorsqu'elle trouve un jeune homme appartenant à la résistance échoué sur la plage et qu'elle décide de l'aider..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce premier tome est assez introductif et il m'est difficile de me faire un avis précis avec cette seule lecture mais ça me paraît normal pour une série en six volets. Quoi qu'il en soit, tout ce qui y est mis en place me plaît beaucoup, notamment en rapport avec la petite sirène. Le conte d'origine est très cruel et connaissant les coréens, ça pourrait être ce vers quoi on se dirige et cela crée une tension supplémentaire dans ma lecture. Quant à la colonisation japonaise, c'est une partie de l'histoire de la Corée qui me passionne et je suis ravie qu'elle soit évoquée ici sous le prisme de la résistance. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé les dessins, les coloris choisis pour nous immerger dans le récit et l'époque et le travail soigné de l'éditeur. J'ai même reçu, avec mon exemplaire, un livret replaçant le tout dans son contexte historique, ce que j'applaudis, mais je trouve dommage que ce texte ne soit pas intégré au manhwa lui-même pour que tous les lecteurs puissent en profiter."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"La fin m'a vraiment prise par surprise, le découpage est très bien pensé et je meurs maintenant d'envie de lire la suite, une entrée en matière plutôt efficace donc."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Un nouveau manhwa qui parle de l'occupation japonaise en Corée tout en étant une réécriture du conte de la petite sirène, je ne pouvais pas passer à côté et je remercie les éditions Kotoon de me l'avoir proposé."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Sua mène une vie modeste en tant que servante dans une famille aisée qui collabore avec les japonais, mais tout change lorsqu'elle trouve un jeune homme appartenant à la résistance échoué sur la plage et qu'elle décide de l'aider..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Ce premier tome est assez introductif et il m'est difficile de me faire un avis précis avec cette seule lecture mais ça me paraît normal pour une série en six volets. Quoi qu'il en soit, tout ce qui y est mis en place me plaît beaucoup, notamment en rapport avec la petite sirène. Le conte d'origine est très cruel et connaissant les coréens, ça pourrait être ce vers quoi on se dirige et cela crée une tension supplémentaire dans ma lecture. Quant à la colonisation japonaise, c'est une partie de l'histoire de la Corée qui me passionne et je suis ravie qu'elle soit évoquée ici sous le prisme de la résistance. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé les dessins, les coloris choisis pour nous immerger dans le récit et l'époque et le travail soigné de l'éditeur. J'ai même reçu, avec mon exemplaire, un livret replaçant le tout dans son contexte historique, ce que j'applaudis, mais je trouve dommage que ce texte ne soit pas intégré au manhwa lui-même pour que tous les lecteurs puissent en profiter."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"La fin m'a vraiment prise par surprise, le découpage est très bien pensé et je meurs maintenant d'envie de lire la suite, une entrée en matière plutôt efficace donc."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
August 14, 2025
4.5 stars
such a melancholic tragedy.. i was genuinely not expecting the amount of depth and poetry entangled within this story when i read it but i should’ve known better
this is definitely unlike anything i’ve read before because i usually don’t like reading depressing stories but here we are
it was so compelling and thrilling throughout the entire read that i pretty much locked in and couldn’t stop
seeing how fleshed every single character is evidence of the author’s dedication and passion towards both their work and their knowledge of korean history
this was such a well crafted story with both incredibly immersive characters and world building
i felt everything for every character and each character was so well detailed that you could understand their motives and feel their emotions vicariously
although this story was literally just one tragedy after another, it still felt fulfilling and like a realistic read, so i loved how they included each emotionally disheartening scene and ravaged the readers hearts and emotions
and the art style was deceptively warm throughout the story which i loved because i felt like it played a beautiful contrast between the characters love and desire for a free korea and the cold, creep of death lurking around the corner
it felt like it created an atmosphere of hope and optimism, allowing for a space to appreciate the beauty of the independent fighters little moments together and greatly contrasts against the chilling, uninviting arms of their fates
anyways basically this was a great read and quite educational towards the korean independence movement and their fight
i loved this and i would reread if i forget the plot
such a melancholic tragedy.. i was genuinely not expecting the amount of depth and poetry entangled within this story when i read it but i should’ve known better
this is definitely unlike anything i’ve read before because i usually don’t like reading depressing stories but here we are
it was so compelling and thrilling throughout the entire read that i pretty much locked in and couldn’t stop
seeing how fleshed every single character is evidence of the author’s dedication and passion towards both their work and their knowledge of korean history
this was such a well crafted story with both incredibly immersive characters and world building
i felt everything for every character and each character was so well detailed that you could understand their motives and feel their emotions vicariously
although this story was literally just one tragedy after another, it still felt fulfilling and like a realistic read, so i loved how they included each emotionally disheartening scene and ravaged the readers hearts and emotions
and the art style was deceptively warm throughout the story which i loved because i felt like it played a beautiful contrast between the characters love and desire for a free korea and the cold, creep of death lurking around the corner
it felt like it created an atmosphere of hope and optimism, allowing for a space to appreciate the beauty of the independent fighters little moments together and greatly contrasts against the chilling, uninviting arms of their fates
anyways basically this was a great read and quite educational towards the korean independence movement and their fight
i loved this and i would reread if i forget the plot
June 26, 2026
OKAYY ILL WRITE DOWN NA LANG EVERYTHING THAT I LOVE IN THIS MANHWA INSTEAD OF LIKE WRITING SA EACH GID NA VOLUME. BROO, I WILL FOREVER AND EVER HOLD THIS STORY IN MY HEART. I LOVE HOW THE STORY DOESN’T JUST FOCUS ON SUA, BUT RATHER ALSO BUILDS UP THE STORY OF EACH CHARACTER. EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER FEELS IMPORTANT, AND YOU GET TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MOTIVATIONS, STRUGGLES, AND GROWTH. I LOVE HOW IT ISN’T CENTERED ON THE ROMANCE (IF THERE EVEN IS ONE, CAUSE FOR ME THERE ISNT) BUT RATHER USES IT TO COMPLEMENT THE STORY AND MAKE THE EMOTIONAL MOMENTS EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL. IT’S LIKE A HISTORY-TYPE MANHWA THAT DOESN’T JUST TELL A PERSONAL STORY, BUT ALSO SHOWS THE HARSH REALITY OF THE TIME. THEY WERE ABLE TO PORTRAY THE PREJUDICE, INJUSTICE, AND SUFFERING THAT PEOPLE FROM THE LOWER SECTORS HAD TO ENDURE, AS WELL AS THE STRUGGLES OF THOSE LIVING UNDER JAPANESE OCCUPATION. EVERY DECISION THE CHARACTERS MAKE FEELS MEANINGFUL BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEY’RE LIVING IN.
THE ART, THE SYMBOLISM, AND THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH WERE ALL SOO AAAAAA.
LOWKEY MADE ME PISSED OFF AT SOME CHARACTERS BECAUSE WHY DOES SUA HAVE TO GET LIKE DRAGGED INTO THEIR MESS?? LIKE SHE HAD THE WHOLE WORLD PA SANA AHEAD OF HER, AND IT WAS JUST SHATTERED. BUT I CANT COMPLETELY SAY IT WAS SHATTERED SINCE EVEN THOUGH SUA BECAME ANO, SHE EMBRACED IT AND USED IT AS A DRIVING FORCE TO LOOK FOR THE BEAUTY AND LIGHT IN THOSE DARK TIMES
THE ART, THE SYMBOLISM, AND THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH WERE ALL SOO AAAAAA.
LOWKEY MADE ME PISSED OFF AT SOME CHARACTERS BECAUSE WHY DOES SUA HAVE TO GET LIKE DRAGGED INTO THEIR MESS?? LIKE SHE HAD THE WHOLE WORLD PA SANA AHEAD OF HER, AND IT WAS JUST SHATTERED. BUT I CANT COMPLETELY SAY IT WAS SHATTERED SINCE EVEN THOUGH SUA BECAME ANO, SHE EMBRACED IT AND USED IT AS A DRIVING FORCE TO LOOK FOR THE BEAUTY AND LIGHT IN THOSE DARK TIMES
February 22, 2025
This is one of the fairytale retelling that I enjoyed so far reading in a manhwa. Most of the retelling that I've found where about Cinderella or was executed poorly, but I can say that this manhwa really did justice. I was unable to determine what will be the next thing that will happen. At first, I thought that it will be Yunhwa who will be the villain in this story and will be the hindrance between Sua and Uihyeon, but I was wrong. I kept myself from commenting such things especially against Haesu and Yeongyeong, but their story was also shown in this manhwa where you are able to know the reason behind their actions. I felt disappointed when Yunhwa suddenly died. I can also say that the arc where Sua started living with the Whale Star and Uihyeon dragged too much or there was no remarkable actions that I was able to see, and then suddenly the progress of the story suddenly become fast after the movement was found until the arc where things go crazy. I feel sad that there was no happy ending in this story, but this manhwa was able to see the realistic side that not all fairy tales have a happy ending, like Ariel who became a sea foam after being left by her Prince Charming.
September 18, 2025
I haven't been able to read anything in a long time now, and not for lack of time.
I find this to be very honest and well written. I don't know how you write about the daily struggle of losing people you love over and over and over again. Not very skillfully, the story tries to skip showing just that, but I forgive it. I wouldn't know how you could show it either.
Haesu and Su A in the winter remind me of Estraven and Genly Ai across the ice in The Left Hand Of Darkness:
"What I was given was the thing you can’t earn, and can’t keep, and often don’t even recognize at the time; I mean joy."
"Su-A. If Snegurochika was real, would she have looked like you?
One more time. I wish I could go to the mountain where I spent the winter with you. That would be nice..."
Joseon and the struggles of the people that loved it are ingrained in my mind now. They will come back to me when I think of Korea.
I find this to be very honest and well written. I don't know how you write about the daily struggle of losing people you love over and over and over again. Not very skillfully, the story tries to skip showing just that, but I forgive it. I wouldn't know how you could show it either.
Haesu and Su A in the winter remind me of Estraven and Genly Ai across the ice in The Left Hand Of Darkness:
"What I was given was the thing you can’t earn, and can’t keep, and often don’t even recognize at the time; I mean joy."
"Su-A. If Snegurochika was real, would she have looked like you?
One more time. I wish I could go to the mountain where I spent the winter with you. That would be nice..."
Joseon and the struggles of the people that loved it are ingrained in my mind now. They will come back to me when I think of Korea.
November 18, 2025
"Whale Star" (고래별) confesso mi ha attirata in primis per l'edizione fisica splendida, con pagine interamente a colori (che valgono i 16.90€). Lo stile di Na Yoonhee è armonioso fatto di tonalità pastello, molto dettagliato e attento a ambientazioni, espressioni, abbigliamento.
Il cuore è l'ambientazione: la Corea sotto il dominio coloniale giapponese (inizio XX secolo), un periodo storico di profondo impatto e ancora poco conosciuto al pubblico internazionale. Il webtoon utilizza questa cornice complessa per tessere una storia di resistenza e speranza.
Il retelling de La Sirenetta è sapientemente marginale; non è l'elemento centrale, ma piuttosto una metafora che amplifica i temi di sacrificio e amore in un'epoca di oppressione. È un'esperienza visiva ed emotiva che illumina un capitolo cruciale della storia coreana. Super consigliato. Per fortuna ho preso direttamente anche il volume 2.
Il cuore è l'ambientazione: la Corea sotto il dominio coloniale giapponese (inizio XX secolo), un periodo storico di profondo impatto e ancora poco conosciuto al pubblico internazionale. Il webtoon utilizza questa cornice complessa per tessere una storia di resistenza e speranza.
Il retelling de La Sirenetta è sapientemente marginale; non è l'elemento centrale, ma piuttosto una metafora che amplifica i temi di sacrificio e amore in un'epoca di oppressione. È un'esperienza visiva ed emotiva che illumina un capitolo cruciale della storia coreana. Super consigliato. Per fortuna ho preso direttamente anche il volume 2.
August 20, 2022
De pequeña amaba la sirenita. De grande aprendí que la sirenita no solo iba de una chica que tiene cola de pez y se enamora del príncipe, sino del hecho de salir y descubrir el mundo. Y esta historia nos muestra justamente eso. En un símil casi perfecto, al menos para mí, con el cuento de Andersen. Pero, además de eso, te lo presenta en una historia de época; en un mundo en donde Korea, Gyeongseong, era "colonia" japonesa. Muy interesante, y amé sus ilustraciones, especialmente cuándo hacía el simil con la sirenita.
September 1, 2022
“If my breath was able to retain your life, I hope you will love me with that life”.
This reminds me too much of Mr. Sunshine. . . I know that the ending is going to be bittersweet but it still worth the read. You’ll notice the Little Mermaid references, and I love the drawings at every end of a chapter. . I spent a lot of coins because it’s just too good. Hoping for a drama adaptation of this webtoon.
This reminds me too much of Mr. Sunshine. . . I know that the ending is going to be bittersweet but it still worth the read. You’ll notice the Little Mermaid references, and I love the drawings at every end of a chapter. . I spent a lot of coins because it’s just too good. Hoping for a drama adaptation of this webtoon.
April 9, 2025
I didn’t know that Webtoons could be added on here until I saw a list for some on here. I’ve been getting back into reading this webtoon recently and it’s really interesting with Su-a’s story and her encounter with Uihyeon while taking inspiration from the original “The Little Mermaid”, as Episodes 1-13 have hooked my interest. I also really like the sprinkles of history facts throughout. Recommend if you like comics and historical fiction.
July 26, 2025
Questo manhwa racconta la storia di Sua Heo, una cameriera che lavora per una famiglia collaborazionista, è stata venduta per pagare dei debiti e ora è al servizio della figlia del padrone. Ama nuotare e un giorno trova sulla spiaggia un uomo, nello specifico un ricercato, un rivoluzionario. Farà di tutto per salvarlo e l’interesse verso di lui continuerà a crescere fino a che, a causa di un tentato omicidio Sua Heo perderà la voce per sempre.
La trama è molto interessante e mi piace molto la visione che ci viene portata del volume, il retelling della sirenetta, con un contesto storico fortissimo e senza fantasy di mezzo. Ne sono rimasta sorpresa, stupita e ho apprezzato moltissimo la narrazione di un pezzo di storia che molti di noi ignorano, ma che invece è accaduto davvero. Questo è solo l’inizio, il primo di sei volumi e non vedo l’ora di scoprire cosa ci riserverà il futuro.
Un manhwa che è pronto per essere letto e per portarvi una cultura, la storia e la luce di una ragazza che perdendo tutto, forse troverà se stessa. Non lo sappiamo, possiamo solo immaginarlo, perché questo è solo l’inizio.
Recensione estesa sul blog sakuraribooks.it, anche su instagram e tiktok
La trama è molto interessante e mi piace molto la visione che ci viene portata del volume, il retelling della sirenetta, con un contesto storico fortissimo e senza fantasy di mezzo. Ne sono rimasta sorpresa, stupita e ho apprezzato moltissimo la narrazione di un pezzo di storia che molti di noi ignorano, ma che invece è accaduto davvero. Questo è solo l’inizio, il primo di sei volumi e non vedo l’ora di scoprire cosa ci riserverà il futuro.
Un manhwa che è pronto per essere letto e per portarvi una cultura, la storia e la luce di una ragazza che perdendo tutto, forse troverà se stessa. Non lo sappiamo, possiamo solo immaginarlo, perché questo è solo l’inizio.
Recensione estesa sul blog sakuraribooks.it, anche su instagram e tiktok
July 24, 2025
I disegni originali sono molto belli ma l'edizione cartacea italiana ha una stampa pessima, così scura e sbiadita che rende difficile la lettura.
La storia è interessante ma la scena nell'albergo non ha senso, parlare di argomenti delicati accanto alla porta, quando nel corridoio poteva esserci chiunque è un errore così grossolano, un plot device così forzato che mi ha fatto passare la voglia di continuare.
La storia è interessante ma la scena nell'albergo non ha senso, parlare di argomenti delicati accanto alla porta, quando nel corridoio poteva esserci chiunque è un errore così grossolano, un plot device così forzato che mi ha fatto passare la voglia di continuare.
December 1, 2025
oh wow. I know rather little about the Japanese occupation of Korea but how that tragic history is incorporated to the re-telling of little mermaid is done so masterfully. How far people are willing to go for freedom for their nation, for their ideologies, and for themselves is told so skillfully. And on top of that the art-work is just wonderful on its on. I especially love the color ways that are used and the frames going back to the story of little mermaid.
March 9, 2026
I don't think I've read many mahwas with this level of writing. It draws you in from the very begining, never hurrying, but never wasting time either. Every scene has a purpose, every character is masterfully crafted. Weaving together the classic tale of The Little Mermaid with the history of Korea under Japanese occupation and the fight for independence seems like a weird concept but it fits together perfectly and serves a greater message that becomes clear as the manhwa progresses.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews