Asterism

[not spoiler-free] The constellation of us is a very much underrated work.

I started it out of curiosity a few months ago, let it sit because it hurts too much – luckily stopped at the end of a narrative arc – and finished it in one sitting.
I honestly thought it was a cute coming-of-age romance when I started. I was then shot 57 times.

The first thing that struck me was the art. The paneling of this manhua felt like a narrated museum – almost each panel, as silly as it seemed, was beautiful. You could take a random panel and it would be a full illustration that could be hung up in a museum, and if it's too simple, the following panel made it make sense. It's like that ; an artistic ride through the minds of Hao and Weiyu.

Considering that the story follows art students, I felt like it portrayed perfectly the emotional turmoil that came out of it. The desperation and dedication spent to create, the wish to create but being only seen as entertainment – and not an actual artist whose works are meant to be felt; not just amusing.

Then, the story; what a heartbreaking yet also warm story. The first season was the early stage, the innocent love. The second hits harder; its the leftover feelings of something that could've been. Its the lost potential and the forgotten dreams. As an artist, it felt like each chapter had something to be commented on, whether it was the art or the narrative. It portrays beautifully each stage of life , from childhood to how it shapes your teenage years and molds your adult self. The dominoes effect thorough the entire read is something that honestly needs to be studied, because the tiniest action led to something way bigger.

I've honestly loooved the entire final ride into Hao's book through Weiyu's eyes. I'm a sucker for anything star-related, so the whole metaphor of a star dust wanting to become a star stuck to me. I'm not sure if I truly got the 'right' interpretation, the one the author meant to write, but I like to think that this little stardust was looking for love. Touching/Becoming briefly a star was the euphoric and innocent relationship they had. But everyone's against it – it's impossible for a simple stardust to become a star after all. Some get burnt and lose themselves in the vast universe, and some touch it to never feel it again. But the stardust was still looking for it. Because it was what felt right.

_"What do you see ? Is it light, or death?"
"I see light."_

I've been trying to make this review spoiler-free but in the end i couldn't :,)
It's a very good read – if not one of my favorites so far. It definitely has beautiful metaphors and a narrative that makes me want to reread asap. Would recommend in case of existential crisis (kinda...).