Rating: 4.4
This story is a rather rare one in the BL category, a true dystopian setting with gore. Picture this: In 1000 years or so, we destroyed the environment completely (reasonable, amirite?). Science advanced by leaps and bounds to keep humans alive
... now, dash any hopes of a utopian future, because the gap between the rich and poor has gotten like 30x times as bad as it is now and morality has degraded to the point that it is no exaggeration to call the upper-class in this novel monsters with human skin.
Do not read if you don't like f*cked up humans making up the majority of the population. And when I mean 'fked up', I mean the kind that let children have drugs and guns at the age of a toddler because 'f*ck it the world is sh*t anyway'. Casual gang bangs and r*pe don't seem that bad compared to other horrible fates described. Now, to be fair, about halfway through you really get used to each arc being more messed up than the last and become a bit desensitized to the cruelty.
Along with the dark setting, I actually LOVE the main cp in this story. Both are manly, if I were to describe power dynamics, MC is better at combat, but ML is smarter. They are a switch couple, not in a toxic relationship, gentle towards each other. Romance is a slow burn. The ML and MC consider each other as family for a large amount of the story. With all the creepy rapists surrounding them, I was perfectly okay with their relationship not being horny/sexual for a long while. In any case, both are pretty cunning, good at fighting and killing, but usually are just trying to survive against society itself. This makes the atmosphere of the novel bleak. No matter how OP the MC and ML are, when so many people are against them, they struggle like insects to avoid torments worse than death.
The MC is tortured in numerous arcs, openly mol*sted, and nearly r*ped multiple times.
Yes... this novel also includes a lot of r*pe. I wouldn't call it 'disturbing' if it didn't. r*pe to women, men, children, with non-humans. It's not always happening on screen or described in detail, but you know it's happening. MC and ML do avoid being r*ped during the course of the story -barely- but other side characters are not so lucky. At its worst, the r*pe is described on-screen and some victims die from it because of the outright obscene methods used. I even needed to take a break while reading sometimes because I thought the MC was actually gonna get r*ped by nasty villain XYZ so many times... just cause' it seemed like the author had no bottom line that way. And I mean, he still got fking tortured and like, really really close to being r*ped.
Spoiler
BUT WAIT! There's more... okay so there is ONE scene that I consider a DOUBLE r*pe. Basically because of #reasons the MC and ML are forced to by the Killing Show's Sponsers/higher-ups to have s*x together. They are required to use drugs, follow instructions, and their whole bang session will be recorded and sold like p*rn. This is the first time I've read about a situation I could dare call double r*pe. The alternative to not having s*x with each other (MC/ML) is to get tortured for fun by rich folk for a few days. Between the two options, yeah they were gonna choose to have s*x with each other, but that doesn't mean it didn't feel wrong . Good god, it was their first time together but traumatizing for both of them. Phew yeah okay I think I spoiled enough
Still, most of the story is dramatic action in high-strung survival settings. Really exciting overall, just felt when it's something as dark as r*pe, I needed to make a clear warning for potential readers. And the most important thing is that the wholesome bond between the main cp can keep you going through the story. MC and ML find solace in each other. So don't worry, there are quite a few sweet moments in the novel, it's not ALL suffering. If even the MCs weren't good and wholesome to each other relationship-wise I couldn't have made it through the story. But they are. Like a dog, all I need is a scrap of goodness.
Spoiler
Also I can't express enough how much I love switch couples in BLs. I like them so much because it just feels so much more equal. Especially in this story setting, they both deserved to get some of each other, these poor sons of b*tches
MC and ML both have countless amounts of PTSD and backstory that led to them becoming hardened killers. MC has a bit of a killing switch, certain people that are evil (especially rapists), he hates with a passion and will kill impulsively at times. He acts carefree and happy-go-lucky most of the time, even while hiding his severe mental traumas which are often shown by his inability to keep food down and nightmares. ML is the more serious of the two, more rationale and shy compared to the MC. ML didn't want to stand out at the start of the novel but was quickly dragged in. His love for the MC grows from the MC's gentle and protective attitude towards him.
I find the plot of the novel to be the worst part of the story. It's too repetitive, which is a VERY common flaw in most light novels that span 100+ chapters. After a certain point, it becomes predictable, albeit still enjoyable (because I like bloodshed... hence the 4.5 rating. AHEM anywho). Here's how it goes: MC stands out by going against the killing show's system. Some powerful dude sets his eyes on the MC, wanting to ruin the MC so badly he forgets that he's a human being. MC and ML find a way to barely avoid that horrible ending but MC (and sometimes ML) are horribly injured in the process and almost die. MC is then revived by #advanced science and the cycle repeats in the next game show. This happens like uh 3+ times? Not to mention the author is repeating the same lines too often. Like how 'it was doomed to turn out that way because of the MC's actions' and like how he can't escape the claws of upper society. Like YO, I get it. No need to keep saying it with flowery paragraphs. The most shifts in plot occurred outside of the game show, as MC slowly gained a cult following of fans and they fought the upper class of the society until causing a large change to the world. You know, typical dystopian revolutionary stuff!
But for the most part, this is like a delicious angst trip.
Still, I wouldn't give it more than 4 stars if all the characters besides the MC and ML were one-dimensional. A number of side characters are interesting. For example, the son of an upper class who is fed up with the system. Various side characters that the ML and MC meet in the killing show also have larger roles and it's hard to predict which ones will die or survive the arc (as they don't ALL die, actually). There is even an organizer/producer of the game show who keeps himself drunk 24/7 to avoid a sense of guilt.
All in all, I really love this one because of the refreshing and interesting switch couple in this dystopian world of filth, as well as the DARK setting filled with action and gore. Highly recommend it if you are in the mood for something dark. The romance aspect IS more minimal, but it feels pretty fulfilling since pure love for another person is rare in this novel's world.
Spoiler
Also it's a HE. Mostly. Can't say anything about some of the poor poor side characters though.