Duchess Debauchery - Reviews

Another “male lead treats the female lead like shit and instead of going after the actual good guy, she hooks back up with the dude who tossed her aside like trash” manhwa. Not worth it. And if you think it is, the art is really bad. No anatomy of the human body was researched properly on and the faces are downright weird. 

Keep it moving. 

This isn't a wholesome, clean romance. Expect both characters to be incredibly flawed people with toxic traits and abusive tendencies, motivated by their own selfish desires.

I've seen a lot of very valid criticism for this manhwa and I agree with most of them. For the sole purpose of giving you the full disclosure on what you can expect to see in this manhwa, this review will have multiple spoilers. Granted, the story is basically porn with some (if you put your glasses on) plot but delving into the specifics may help you decide if this is for you or not.

Characters

Oh god. The people here are also incredibly fucked up it's not even a joke. The male lead, in his interest to get rid of his FL wife, neglects her and starves her in order to force her to agree to the terms of divorce. Women in this world have little to no value outside of being marriage bargaining chips so this essentially spells out a social and physical death for her. What man would want a woman who they perceive to be 'spoiled' by another man? 

And the Duke knows that this is the case but he doesn't care about her at all.

She asks for a condition to choose another lover before their divorce gets finalized, which is reasonable because the ML hasn't shown her a whit of affection since their marriage. The Duke then manipulates things to his advantage, by pretending to be her concubine and hiding this information from her despite having sex with her almost every night. He slowly falls in love with her and realizes he made a mistake in getting rid of her after the copious amounts of sex they have. Sigh.

So, that's the male lead. He gets a little better later on but I don't think his actions later absolve him of all the trauma and pain he gave the female lead; it doesn't erase the fact that he couldn't apologize or own up to his actions despite her confronting him about it.

The female lead is a heartbreaking character. She's been thrown as a bargaining chip from man to man, unable to decide on her own life and to be loved the way she deserves. She tries to take back what little freedom she has by deciding to explore her carnal desires and letting loose all the horny she's pent up throughout the years. Unfortunately, the possessive and prideful ML gets in the way of this. Sigh. I just want her to punish him and leave him forever to suffer the consequences of his own actions; not every apology, no matter how heartfelt, merits forgiveness.

Plot

The plot is basically the porn mixed in with an unhealthy dose of trauma and conflict. I do say that the sexy scenes were done quite well, giving us enough of the smut while still incorporating some of the story. The manhwa also incorporates a host of characters that help flesh out the world a little better outside of the FL and ML. I went in for the fantasy smut but then stayed because I wanted

However, it's basically just an entrapment operation of the ML, figuring out how to retain the FL by his side by getting her to fall in love with him and his Rod of Youthful Power (*cough* *cough*). I personally root for the FL. I went in for the fantasy smut but then stayed because I want to see the FL be freed from the shackles of this fucked up relationship so she can finally gain happiness of her own with someone out there or with herself, which is why I keep reading. Like, you go girl, you don't need no man!! 

Art Style

Art is a hit or miss for most people. I don't know on the back-end what the situation is but you could tell that the style changes a couple of times - I'm not sure if it's a change in artist, deadlines, or direction but it's definitely visible. If you're bothered about it, stick around until the first 10 - 15 chapters. If the story still doesn't grab your attention or the art detracts from the experience, I would say that that's the hard limit already.

One other thing - this is clearly stylized. The art is drawn as lustfully as possible and this means sometimes suspending your belief that some parts and features are sized realistically. They clearly aren't. Just embrace the horny and temporarily suspend your disbelief at how some characters are drawn. 

Final thoughts:

Definitely don't read this expecting that the characters will somehow get a redemption arc or be punished for their sins. I honestly think that the ML will be redeemed by the author (idk how just yet) so he'll be 'forgiven' for all the horrible things he's done to the FL. The way that the story is progressing, the victim will end up with her abuser through some strange plot twist concocted to frame him in a better light. 

If you're okay with all of this, then it's okay to give this manhwa a try. 

Reviewed at Chapter 41.

There were so many things I did not like about this story I don't even know were to begin. I don’t know why I even bothered to finish the story.

Spoilers:

• Women are viewed as property, objects for male sexual gratification, baby popping machines, and a means to gain political power (which is somewhat understandable because of the time in which the story took place, but I still hated this aspect). If you've been married before and/or had children, or are just older in general, your values drops. 
• The ML is manipulative, controlling, and financially abusive. The first thing we find out about him is that he cut off all financial support to the duchess for months in order to force her into a divorce. 
• The ML claims to hate the FL. He proclaims to anyone and everyone how much he hates his wife; going as far as to have other women sit in her seat during events. Therefore, humiliating her in public. Then refusing to sleep with her, let alone have kids with her. Also, since the FL will be returning to her father, she wants to use the minimal freedom she has to actually enjoy herself. The ML reluctantly agrees, so she hires a male escort. But what the FL doesn't know is that her male escort is her husband. 
• Sex = Love? After having sex with his own wife countless times, he magically falls in love with her. What logic is that? It just further solidifies the first point about women only having value if put out for their husbands. 
• FL is stupid. After finding out the she was tricked by her husband (him being the male escort and he planned this from the beginning so she doesn't sleep with anyone else) and everything else he did in the beginning of the story, she still loves him. WHY?!! She even went as far as to run away from him. 
• Male Guard: I think the FL should've ended up with the young sweet innocent male guard that was always by her side, loved, and appreciated her. They would've made a cute sweet couple. 

Meh. The explicit scenes are hot for sure. And I liked the story idea. But this manga is almost ruined by the weird artwork and the crappy translations. 

before you read anyfurthur there is slight spoilers but its nothing that you wont find out within the first 2 or 3 chapters

It's annoying, I have read so many like this know theres gonna be one of 2 endings shes gonna end up getting outa it and getting a man who really loves her and isent like the guy she's with right now, or the more likly ending there gonna end up getting back together cause he still likes her after having a equal pleasure sex with her{some people are into that but the person in question isen't im talking about mc}. If its the later I might end up dropping it if I see the plot leaning towards the alternate fork in the road. but the art style is kinda doki doki but when its a sex scene it gives of a different vide if i had to say the best this about this manga it would be that but if you are not as annoyed as me by a weak female lead even tho she isent the weakest female lead i've ever seen compaired to some other manga that will not be named [cough] immortal sword [cough] she ok strong but i hate the position shes in but who knows maybe it'll be different