Webcomic An unexpected but great surprise
As perhaps the only other person to edit this manhwa's tropes page, I thought I'd drop its first review as well.
It's a comic based on Egyptian mythology. Specifically, it is based off the "Osiris myth," where Seth kills his brother Osiris and usurps the throne, and Osiris' son Horus decides to reclaim the throne through a series of contests. What it deviates from the myth is that it is heavily focused on a BL romance between Horus and Seth (nephew and uncle) as they struggle for the throne, which is a notion very likely to turn off...let's say, 99% of readers. Probably 100%. Let's round that to 100.
With that in mind, Ennead is a quite well-written, and definitely superbly-drawn manhwa. Main and supporting characters are given complex backstories and personalities, the scenes are very nicely crafted, and the action is fluid, dynamic, and absolutely a joy to read. It's heavy on spoilers as well, so I'll do a quick run-through:
PLOT: For a piece of work with a...unique premise, I was pleasantly surprised at how tightly written the plot was. One of the main questions that drives the plot is "Why did Seth kill Osiris?" and the reasons will definitely come as an absolute shock.
ART: Some truly amazing action scenes. If you've ever wandered how a Sandbender would fight against the Falcon, you will partially have your wish, and you will LIKE it.
CHARACTERS: Godcest aside, the characters are absolutely a delight to read. Despite all odds, Seth—who is true to his post-demonisation characterization of a cruel, power-hungry tyrant—is given immensely sympathetic traits for valid reasons, as well as showing off an insane amount of skill and power. In essence, he's the redhead Crazy Awesome Tragic Villain embodiment. Horus is the equivalent of a stoner, albeit one that can fly and also has a very...interesting admiration of his uncle. Certain gods make Ramsey Bolton look like a sweetheart, and of course, Ra is the god that as always gives no shits, doesn't take any, and is singlehandedly responsible for some of the funniest scenes in the entire manhwa.
SETTING: The creator definitely has done their research. It follows the Myth quite closely but with several impressive plot twists, and it makes a great combination between canon myth and action-packed BL manhwa.
Are there problems? Probably. Likely. Yes. But it's a manhwa very much worth reading, and ENNEAD's power in story, characterization, and dynamic art makes for a very enjoyable time.
8.5/10
Webcomic Unique BL; intriguing story and visuals
The word used in the synopsis, “compelling”, I think is perfect for this series. The first season is very plot-heavy, and the story generally takes its time to wade through and untangle the various plot lines. Some might find it a bit too slow-paced, but I personally enjoyed it; there isn’t much romance to speak of between the main leads yet, which is probably where the slow pacing/slow burn might turn some off. What really might turn some people off is that most of the sex depicted thus far is non consensual. There is a great deal of non-con across the two seasons (more so in the second) and sexual violence is an overarching motif of the series that ties into its most significant themes. The storytelling around it, and in the series at large, I’ve generally found very well-done, in a way that I haven’t seen in many other webtoons. The story and art can be addictive and beautiful, and I found myself bingeing the chapters the first time I read them. Similarly, Seth is a pretty compelling protagonist to follow, though it can get hard and sometimes frustrating to do so at times. He has a lot of layers, which are evident from early on in the story, and actually follows a story arc, leading through significant character development. The narrative and the dialogue can be hard to understand at times, which I think is largely a result of translation difficulties. Some of the more difficult concepts are thus rather awkwardly explained. There are a lot of plot threads, most of which are still unresolved, which can be difficult to keep track of. Overall, I think Ennead has a lot of highs but some lows in terms of the story, but it really is kind of captivating if you’re someone who likes dark BL with a lot of plot.