A dark, gothic Victorian fantasy story that explores the different facets of humanity and blurs the duality of good and evil. How this manhwa is not more well-known is frankly criminal. This is one of the most sophisticated and beautifully written manhwa I've ever read with its complex characterization, heavy thematic messaging and deep introspective meaning. It portrays the nuances of love and family, revenge and betrayal, the loss of innocence and the best and worst of human nature. Although I can't really say whether this manga is historically accurate, but it really does seem like the author did her research and took the sociocultural implications of the time and place into context in developing the story.

This is not your average guilty pleasure supernatural romance. In fact, if you're looking for a sweet mindless lovey dovey story, this is not for you because trust me, IT WILL HURT.


Story - 10/10

Well-paced with carefully crafted storylines and interweaving flashbacks. The writer really takes her time to set up all the elements and building to the mystery and then pays them off beautifully. It's a haunting, mature, emotional and occasionally tragic journey deep in literary meaning and thematic resonance.


Art - 10/10

The art is amazing and just really, really pretty. There's not much else to say about this.


Character - 10/10

One of the areas where this series really shines. The characters are incredibly well-developed, incredibly complex, deeply flawed and yet utterly human and understandable. This series does not shy in making its characters fall in grace or suffer horribly. There are no black-and-white characters. No straight-laced heroes and no definite villains. And none are more intriguing than Rose, who IMO, is one of the most compelling and multifaceted female characters I've ever seen in a manga/manhwa/anime. As the story goes on you will discover a new side of her layer by layer shedding more light as to why she is the way she is. The side characters don't in any way fall short either. Each one is excellently developed and the multiple POVs only enrich the story and add to the narrative complexity, blurring the distinction between the heroes and the villains.


Enjoyment - 10/10

Although it can be a bit heavy, I wasn't at all bored once. It's an engrossing story that is truly binge-worthy with constant twists and turns that will leave you breathless.


Overall - 10/10

In a sea of generic isekais with the same recycled plots, I don't always have the highest opinion of manhwas as truly great ones are far and few in between. But this manhwa stands out as a rare gem among gems. I can't recommend it enough.