...I never thought I’d say this, since I’m typically biased towards kmedia (bc i’m korean), but I like how chinese fiction does this trope way more...?
I mean the whole “villainess steals spotlight from heroine by actually being villainous” thing. The “romance novel FL with grey morals/iffy ethics” thing.
I mean. Most cnovels I’ve read that use this trope have villain FLs w great manipulation & cunning. the novels do have their own iffy aspects (misogyny, homophobia, weaponized or “justified” r*pe, etc). But the FL’s villainy is usually self-directed, autonomous, independent in a way that Ayla’s is...not. 😔
Their machinations are self-wrought & they’re more likely to use others as tools/puppets than be used by them.
& to make this worse, the man that is going to guide/groom/“Make” Ayla is apparently the ML, & her love interest. 😬💀
I can only hope (in futility🥲) she has a period of reflection & growth apart from Sebastian, learns to act & scheme on her own, recognizes Sebastian as a potential threat, & is recognized/respected as a formidable foe/ally by Sebastian himself.
I can’t imagine enjoying a “romance” where Sebastian is still her defacto backbone/puppeteer.
But that’s all unlikely to happen. So I’m personally just left feeling icky about this set up.
I’d feel 500x better about it if the one guiding/“making” her weren’t her male love interest... ☹️ I think I’ll just skim through raws to see if I wanna stick with it? 🤷🏻♀️