Joining the rising trend of webtoons, or manhwa, is Ink Pop’s inaugural translated manhwa: My Life As An Internet Novel, penned by Yu Hani-Ryeo and illustrated by A Hyeon.
My Life As An Internet Novel, also referred to as Inso’s Law, has been my favorite webtoon since I first encountered it a long time ago. It centers around an ordinary girl named Dani who unexpectedly wakes up in a new world and life that isn’t hers, not as the heroine, but as a side character who is childhood best friends with a beautiful girl. Dani finds herself in the same class as both the main heroine and her four dashing love interests.
While My Life As An Internet Novel utilizes familiar tropes found in other webtoons of the same genre, a unique twist makes this story intriguing and distinct from other titles sharing similar themes. The first volume quickly captured my attention, even though it had been a while since I last read this webtoon.
©2020 by A Hyeon, Yu Han-ryeoMy Life As An Internet Novel is about Dani’s New Life & Relationships
What I appreciate about My Life As An Internet Novel so far is its narrative style. The webtoon emphasizes Dani’s new life and her navigation through it and her relationships with those around her. I was instantly captivated by the challenges Dani faced as she discovered her new world, life, and the individuals she was meant to know and interact with, and how she would manage those situations.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Sumiko Uo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
In contrast to other webtoons where protagonists die and are reincarnated with memories of their past lives or are summoned, Dani unexpectedly awakens in this world without any recollection of what transpired. The author cleverly portrays her as having a life within this world, but Dani possesses none of those memories. Still, she must act as though she belongs, trying to find a way back to her true reality. What’s intriguing is how she engages with her surroundings; lacking a solid foundation, her reactions are more believable, and she comes across as more sensible compared to other leading characters in webtoons. She only relies on tropes from other internet novels she occasionally reads when situation calls for it. Other than that, she is merely an ordinary middle school student attempting to make sense of her existence within a romantic narrative.
In the middle of the first volume, there’s an unexpected three-year time jump. This left me wondering what transpired during that time, especially since Dani vowed to avoid involvement with the main characters, yet she ended up forming connections anyway. After the three-year leap, we catch a glimpse of Dani’s relationships with the main characters, revealing that she unexpectedly developed friendships with those she initially tried to distance herself from. The next volume promises to explore how Dani became friends with them.
Dani shares an incredibly sweet bond with Yeoryeong, her supposed childhood best friend in this world. Their interactions are so endearing that I could envision fans wanting to ship them, as it genuinely brightened my mood to witness their connection. Yeoryeong’s affection for Dani is both genuine and amusing, demonstrating that she has eyes only for Dani and seems willing to go to great lengths for her. I eagerly anticipate their evolving relationship and interactions with each other in future volumes, as well as Dani’s dynamics with the other characters in the narrative.
©2020 by A Hyeon, Yu Han-ryeoA Slow-burning Webtoon
This is a wonderful story to enjoy, but if you’re seeking action, drama, fantasy, or rapid romance, this may not satisfy your needs. Though I genuinely savor reading My Life As An Internet Novel, the pace of the narrative is quite slow. Revisiting the first volume reminded me of its leisurely pace, as it primarily introduces Dani and the other characters. We barely reach the introductory stage for most characters. I recalled how I had paused reading this webtoon several times until enough episodes accumulated for me to binge-read them. I knew there would be angst and drama present in this webtoon, and while I braced myself for potential emotional moments as I tend to be quite sensitive, I didn’t encounter those feelings in the first volume.
A Gentle Beginning Before the Real Story Unfolds
My Life As An Internet Novel is a slice-of-life romance centering on a young girl thrust into a world of internet novel romance tropes. The first volume serves as a premise or introductory backstory before delving deeper into the narrative in the subsequent volume. At this stage, I have no significant complaints aside from the story’s pacing, and I’m eager to wait for the next installment. I have no issues with the translation, as it hasn’t troubled me at all. I recommend giving the first two or three volumes a try. Due to the slow pacing, it might be more enjoyable to wait until several volumes are released to read them collectively if you prefer not to wait between each release.
I eagerly anticipate all future volumes of My Life As An Internet Novel from Ink Pop, and I hope to finally complete this webtoon experience this time. My gratitude goes out to Ink Pop for the opportunity to read and review their first translated manhwa.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Sumiko Uo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
The first volume of Ink Pop’s My Life As An Internet Novel is now available in physical and digital formats.
