Your Eternal Lies

TL;DR: This Manhwa does a stellar job at showing the change of relationship dynamic. The art is nice and the romance satisfying. The world-building, especially in the magic department, can feel a little lackluster. In short, an absolute Manhwa-gem that features a very unique story. (fiy: contains a lot of depictions of (sexual) abuse and suicidal ideations) The goods: This Manhwa goes all-in on character development, and I was genuinely impressed by the emotional depth it achieved. It's rare to see a romantasy story of this caliber in a medium often dominated by formulaic tropes. Even compared to better-rated titles, Your Eternal Lies impresses with itsnuanced power dynamics between the male and female lead. The premise may seem a little (too) simple at first, but the strength lies in the grounded and realistic dialogue (at least given the fantasy setting). Most of the story happens on a cruise ship, where conversations gradually reveal the characters' backstories. The closer we get to the destination, the more intense the story gets. Meanwhile the reader is always kept on their toes, not knowing whether they can trust the account of the female lead. Some minor negatives: The point I personally found most lacking was the world building. From the dresses you would guess this plays around the middle 18th-century, then you see a early 19-century steam cruiser and in the next panel there are F22-Fighter jets. While this can be excused as part of a fantasy setting, the lack of explanation about the magic in the world makes certain plot points feel a little deus-ex-machinay. Some critics mentioned they find the male lead too flat. Since it's coherent with the story, this is not something I would critizice, allthough it feels excessive at times. In some sections there are also some chibi-style comedic relieve panels, which might help some readers distance themselves from the rather heavy story, and as a plus, happens to convey the strong-willedness of the female lead. Personally I felt it was a little tone-deaf since this is supposed to be a more serious story. (Minor spoiler): The story could have ended a little earlier to be more in theme with the rest of the story and to stimulate imagination - but who can say no to some well deserved, healing after-story chapters. Rating: In terms of personal enjoyment this was a solid 9/10. Even from a more "objective" lens, it deserves at least an 8 for its originality and the skillful execution of character interactions. Definitely worth your time, if you're looking for a Manhwa that offers emotional depth.