On That Webtoon Train

The first post is the hardest, amirite? So let's start with the tried and true. How about some thoughts on three recently launched webtoons?

But first, I want to set some ground rules for these round-ups:

Official webtoon platforms only! For me, that means Manta, Webtoon, and Tapas.

They've all launched on English-language platforms within the last month. Recently launched means recently launched.

I've read at least 10 chapters because how else am I going to form a proper opinion?

I'm enjoying the webtoon. I'm intrigued by the webtoon. I think the webtoon is promising.

Okay?

Okay.

The Villainess Lives Again: This webtoon is a new addition to Manta's catalog, and it's being treated like a new series, but it's actually a rescue title from the soon-to-be-shutdown Pocket Comics. As you can surmise from the title, it's a villainess regression story, but I've heard people compare this series to Game of Thrones in that you can't turn off your brain while reading and you have to pay attention to the female lead's politicking. Seems promising so far! I like smart heroines.

To Tread Into Darkness: This one's a historical fantasy. I'm reading the mature version, but Manta also has a censored version for folks who don't want the explicit content. The female lead is the daughter of the former emperor (RIP) and a shaman, so she has supernatural powers. Unfortunately, this led to her being turned into a living talisman by the man who usurped her father's throne. Basically, she gets married off to princes who are soon-to-be-rulers and any injury dealt to them, she suffers instead. But I've been promised that her current husband is not into this and fully intends to kill everyone who wronged her. I do love a good revenge story, so I hope the vengeance is dark and bloody.

For a Thousand Autumns: This one keeps messing with my head because of its similarities to the danmei series, Thousand Autumns, by Meng Xi Shi. There's the title. The love interest really reminds me of Yan Wushi. And it's also a BL series featuring a longstanding conflict between righteous and demonic sects. Basic premise is that the male lead is a lower warrior of a demonic sect. The succession of the sect has been thrown into chaos because the patriarch has reached physical enlightenment and is young again. He's now physically younger than the men and women he took on as disciples! Anyway, our male lead gets tasked by the first disciple to spy on the patriarch (aka the love interest) and this is so above his skillset and pay grade. I'm enjoying this one and especially keen on figuring out what really happened in the past between the Heavenly Demon (the head of the demonic sect and the love interest), the Sword Hero (who the Heavenly Demon allegedly killed), and the Sword Hero's wife (who I bet isn't as virtuous and righteous as everyone believes). This one only has an explicit version, so sorry if you're not into that.

And that's what's new for now. ✨