Rute > Recent Status Updates

Chapter 13: Annnnnd we're back! Lots of plot happening all over the place. The Beom are scheming and Bulti needs therapy. There are some good Beom but they don't seem to be doing well at all. Our guys are all connected from past lives, exciting! And we get introduced to Cein (mint haired and with nifty tools) and Hosu (ugh tortured, hope he gets out fast). The 7 are here so we should have some cool stuff ahead of us!

Chapter 12: Jooan seems super sweet and cool, he blends well with the group. Clearly he has some secrets, same as the other characters, so things might become more complicated later on. Haru is still the funniest, but I did not expect Dogeon to be such a comedic character too, what a pleasant surprise. We're starting to get a feel for the team's dynamic and I'm loving it. Now that last scene with the Beom... creepy!

Chapter 11: The Tiger Butterfly team is still a nuisance and I'm still not interested. The Beom are making their moves and I'd like to know more. A comparably slower chapter, but we got Zeha, Haru and Dogeon being their delightful selves, it's great to see them interacting more. Haru has never looked so much like Jimin as in this chapter and I appreciate that. Best part: Jooan makes his entrance. Hi, Jooan!

Chapter 10: Did we get a chapter without any of our protagonists? Assuming that mistery person at the end isn't one of them. Still, many interesting developments: the Beom might actually be a little justified in their hatred of humans (and Hupo is not that bad, compared to others), they are starting an organized attack on the city and now there's a non-human person who is stronger than Beom involved in all of this!

Chapter 9: Dogeon has impeccable timing! And it's nice to see him back. Haru keeps stealing the show, just claiming whatever he wants as his and getting people to help him through sheer charm. Plotwise, Dogeon and Hwan being after the same Beom will make things interesting... Whenever they meet again, that is. The Tiger Butterfly team is annoying and a little boring, but give me more of whatever the Beom are plotting

Chapter 8: That is a cool sword you've got there, Zeha, it moves on its own and everything! Sadly a bit ominously named and it seems to drain your energy like crazy. But I like the mistery. And I like seeing Haru's powers too. But the biggest news is: we meet WWH Hwan! The silent type so far (ironic), but an impressive archer.
I rarely mention the art but it's always good. There are some really great panels here!

Chapter 7: This was really funny, mostly thanks to Haru! From defusing the tension with Dogeon, to bickering with Zeha and wanting to take whatever he wants from a museum... never learn how humans work, Haru. The plot thickens with a magic sword reacting to Zeha. And do we have a possible human conspiracy to help the Beom? Anyway, see you Dogeon, hope you're more impressed with Zeha's sword next time!

Chapter 6: I figured things would get awkward between Dogeon and Zeha eventually, but I didn't think it would happen this fast! Also... Zeha smells like a beom? Beom have a smell? I'm impressed Dogeon could even tell from that distance. In other news, Zeha's training is really paying off! I find it kind of funny how Haru just stands on the side directing Zeha, but are we ever going to see his powers?

Chapter 5: That's an interesting gun you've got there, Dogeon. Why isn't everyone else using one of those? Why arrows and swords instead?
We finally meet some of those Beom that can pass as humans... and they're super creepy. Zeha's dad is still the only nice one.
Speaking of Zeha, he and Haru are back! And to the rescue, maybe?
Oh and turns out Bulti was the real bulletproof boy all along! (Terrible joke, sorry)

Chapter 4: Tragic backstory time for Dogeon! And very tragic indeed. Did not expect that him being a "criminal expert" would mean he's an actual criminal.
Note: this one has a soundtrack and it's pretty great!

Chapter 3: Creepy, creepy beom. Ouch, poor Zeha. Haru is sneaky, love it! Dogeon is here, yeah!!!

Chapter 2: The plot thickens and Haru is still the best. The villain makes a stupid mistake but there would be no story otherwise

Prologue and Chapter 1: Intriguing

12th story: Bright White Hearts
Good note to end on. Loved all the parallels between the sea and the sky/space as well as all the folklore and fairytales relating to bodily difference - how we define ourselves through stories. My one quibble is that the writing wasn't working for me at the beginning of the story. Jen's style is always fragmentary, but at first this one wasn't coming together as well as the others.

11th story: Human Satellites
I wasn't expecting a sci-fi premise in this collection! Very intriguing. A planet called The Hours folds in itself and contains matter from the future, but its discovery gives rise to a range of very human reactions. Not usually a fan of such short short stories, however, this one hit absolutely the right note with me.

10th story: Sea Devils
There is a sadness and cruelty to this one that will get to you. Not my favourite, but it's hard not to be affected by it.

9th story: Aunt Libby's Coffin Hotel
Very funny with a suitably creepy ending, this is just a fun ride. A Coffin Hotel is just a great concept and all the shenanigans these women get up, to to keep up their con, are hilarious. But is there any real supernatural stuff going on? The most thrilling yet.

8th story: Pebbles
Sweet and moving. There's a whole lot of interesting imagery in this one, but I have to admit it didn't end being quite as compelling as I was hoping from the beginning of the story.

7th story: The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night
Loved all the stories of creation (no logic allowed!). Loved the idea of mapping out our beginnings and of all the versions of ourselves. Quietly heartbreaking. Didn't think I'd like the play format but it worked perfectly here.

6th story: Little Deaths
Vivid and weird, evoking death, memory and loss. A world full of ghosts and the strangest homework you'll ever see:
"Maths: How much should your family and friends cry at your funeral? You have a limit of 1000 tears. Please share these out among those you expect to attend. Show your working."
It's too short to fully satisfy though, I would love a whole novel set in this world.

5th story: Margaret and Mary and the End of the World
This one will get under your skin. Margaret uses art, religion and fairytales to come to terms with her trauma. The story (and Margaret herself) goes around its themes but avoids addressing them directly, so it'll take some time for you to get the full picture. But what a horrifying and heartbreaking ppicture it is.

3rd story: Plum Pie. Zombie Green. Yellow Bee. Purple Monster.
Weird in the best way. Blends folklore and speculative fiction beautifully in a tale of a group of part-human part-plant kids. An interesting look at the societal treatment of bodily difference.

4th story: In The Dark
My least favourite so far, wish it was more developed. A snapshot of a chance encounter, showing how bonds can form even across languages.

2nd story: Jacob
Sweet and moving. Jacob's voice is perfectly believable as child.

1st story: Animals
Creepy, dark and lusciously written. A surreal take on love and abuse.