I see a lot of mixed reviews in the comments even though rating is high. So, l will state some facts after the review which can be pros or cons based of the reader's perspective.
Disclaimer: I read the original print on Pocket Comics and therefore will not be commenting on the translation.
The plot is unique take on isekai which does not revolve around romance. It rather gives us a more sensible take on many cliché plot points. The story is really nice though it does get slow at times. The world building was amazing. The fictional world seems to be inspired by Victorian era in mid 1800s - mid 1900s. Can't be sure, but it seems the time of tight-lacing corsets, women only seen as future mothers, early marriage, no ownership of property, no right to SI consent, no for education and no offical employment opportunities. The world followed a pater family concept.
Our FL started her career in this world disguised as a man when she was just 13 with 2nd ML as her mentor. Our FL being from the 21st century Korea tries to introduce the concept of "comfortable cloths" to the world. Her journey starts about 7 year before the empress gets in the picture. This fictional world started to change as we find an Empress coming into power and striving at making the society more equal. While the FL has made a name for herself in the clothing community (mostly men), she is now presented with an opportunity to make a dress for the empress. The Empress who sent out her brother, ML, to seek a person who can free her from the tight laced corsets meets our FL and introduces her skills to the empress. With many ups and downs we see a great friend emerge between the FL and the empress. The plot is more like a journey which we take along with the FL while she meets women in different situations and with their fair share of challanges. We see the impact our FL has on their lives and visa versa. It is a emotional and fun read.
The character design made this story a thousand times better for me. Each main character had their side stories (as filler episodes) and they were well thought of. This mix bag of personalities, which includes both cliché and unique designs made me enjoy the series much more. The character are funny, sarcastic, emotional, serious, you name it, you will find each character showing different attributes. Since the story mostly focuses on women, I found the male character designs to be lacking at times but never disappointing.
The art was fantastic. I am neither a art critic nor knowledgable in the field so I won't say much. Just that I enjoyed reading it. Good looking backgrounds and good looking horses 😉. Each main and side character had unique features which helped me and recognise them.
Now somethings that I hope will help you decide to read it or not:
- FL chatches on quickly to feelings of people around her (including 2nd ML)
- Characters are realistic and act in a more logical way.
- Heavily criticised used of tight-lacing corsets and waist training in kids.
- The world does not have much magic.
- Romance as a subtext.
- No villains or villainess.
- FL is not always right and makes mistakes.
- Blatant mysogynistic society.
- Open discussions about mensuration
- Age-gap issue discussion.
Some minor spoilers and my view point:
1. The scene where FL was labelled as a creep when she undid a women's corset to save her life. I think the disappointment of the empress was valid and her judgement was fair. We later see how other men discuss this incident with FL in sleesy ways, laughing and making disgusting remarks about the women. This social behaviour clearly shows why the empress will be sceptical. A man, with most power in the society, vs a women, opressed until recently and who barely got an opportunity to work as a low grade official. The women freaking woke up and saw a man undid her corset and was looming over her, can you truly blame her for misunderstanding this situation. Imagine that happening in real world with a women and her bra.
2. FL was right to straight out reject 2nd ML who was 15 years older to her and her teacher/mentor. She maybe mature inside but that does not take away her uneasiness given the power gap between them, him being a brother, father or teacher figure to her. Just because it is common in other manhwas or that it was common in this fictional era doesn't not mean FL has to be accepting or comfortable with his feelings. Also, it does not drag on, her rejection happens in chapter 59.
