Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (고래별: 경성의 인어공주) Volume 4

고래별: 경성의 인어공주 [Goraebyeol: Gyeongseongui Ineogongju] #4

by 나윤희, Na Yoonhee

Episode 48 to 66

"그대 부디 물거품으로 사라지지 않기를"
1920년대 군산, 대지주의 몸종으로 팔려온 수아는 윤화 아가씨를 모시며 하루하루 성실하게 일한다. 어느 날 수아는 바닷가에 수영을 나갔다가 독립운동가인 의현을 발견하게 된다. 목숨이 위태로울 만큼 상처 입은 의현을 극진히 보살피며 의현을 연모하게 되는 수아. 그러나 윤화 아가씨에게 이 일을 들키며 의현은 성치 않은 몸으로 다시 도피를 하게 되고, 의현을 그리워하던 수아는 의현이 부탁한 서신을 전하려다 목소리를 잃게 된다.

네이버웹툰에서 현재도 인기리에 연재 중인 '고래별'의 첫 단행본으로 엄혹했던 일제 치하를 배경으로 의현을 통해 독립운동가 단체와 우연히 만나게 되는 주인공 수아의 첫 번째 이야기를 담았다. 수준 높은 일러스트와 아름다운 문장, 매우 입체적인 캐릭터들이 치밀한 서사에 덧입혀져 자꾸 다음 장을 재촉하게 한다. 75주년 광복절을 기념해 출간된 이 책은 기존 웹툰에서 공개하지 않은 에피소드도 함께 수록하고 있다. 아름다워서 더 처연한 경성의 인어공주 이야기.

Genres: Manhwa, Manga, Historical Fiction, Comics, Romance, Drama, Historical

360 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2021

Reviews

[Julissa]

"You saved me. So half of my life is made up of you. Wherever you are in the future, I will be able to find you".

[Kate Borysenko]

"любити Корею - то товаришувати зі смертю, тож не можна намагатися зберегти добре ім'я "

[Brittany Hilgemeier]

The writing continues to be poignant and absolutely beautiful. Sometimes the scenes of the Japanese/Korean conflicts are so realistic that I consider stopping. I can’t imagine how things like this happened, but they did; and as a reader you just keep going even as your heart breaks.

[Demyana]

I can't take this much stress anymore...

[Miriam Alvarez]

Every chapter is just as amazing as the last!

The artwork is breathtaking, the storyline is so beautifully crafted. It's easily one of the best webtoons/manwha's I've ever read plus the research put into the story is amazing top notch

[Yan]

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.

[eve._.lyn reads]

4.5 Stars
Without spoiling much and saving my praise for the review of the final volume, Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid is one of the greatest things I have ever read. The story fades into the past bringing the reader deeper into Haesu's story. It strengthens his decisions, doesn't excuse them, but helps the reader break down boundaries and really get to know him. This really displayed how much pain and hurt turned Haesu into a man paranoid, ruthless, driven, cold. Uihyeon's struggle between his growing feelings, the pressure of his family, and his duty to his country, his duty to the woman he loves, or his duty to his families legacy. Meanwhile Su-a works hard to find her voice to learn how to say what needs to be said, without the voice that she had spoken with for most of her life. The author has so much to say with this story, making each scene so painstakingly reminiscent, visceral, captivating, truthful.

"Why is it that you make me feel this way. My devotion to Joseon is my greatest love, then what is this feeling? I cannot allow this to be love."
-Uihyeon

[Jess]

This review covers chapter 51 - 70 of the webtoon.

Oh... Haesu 😭💔 he has become my favourite character. His tragic background, his characterization and character development, everything about him is just so heartbreaking.

Uihyeon's father is a terrible person and I hope he gets his reckoning in the end. I'm not sure what Uihyeon is up to but I hope he knows what he's doing. Author, please don't make him into the bad guy who betrays his comrades.

[L]

“you saved me so half of my life is made of you, wherever you are in the future, i will be able to find you” I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

SPOILERS/

but also WHAT THE FUCK??????? nokju??? pleaseeee noooooooooooooo 😭😭😭😭

[Shawna]

this volume was beautiful, both the story and the art, but so heartbreaking

5/5

[yen]

NOT HER BEING THE BOOK COVER—???1??1?1????

[Zanjabeel]

Rating: 5 stars

[Halyna Nahurska]

Цей том особливо болючий і теж історично цікавий

[christina c]

I still stay obsessed, this novel ripped my heart out

[Grace Son]

3.5