Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Review (Manhwa/WebNovel + Spoiler Free)
A story about stories! Meta-fiction done right!
ORV is a story about a reader, Kim Dokja, and how the novel he has been reading for the longest time abruptly turns into reality. Thus, begins something like Squid Game but on a cosmic scale. Our MC and the main party of the novel he was reading become strong allies and overcome various challenges, referred to in the novel as “Scenarios”. Just like Fate series, we encounter many popular characters, whether historical figures or mythical ones. This time around, however, these higher-level existences, referred to as “Constellations” act as sponsors, while humans become the contracted incarnations of these beings. There exists a bureau in ORV, operated by a mysterious race, and they act as a streaming platform and scenario managers. Members of the bureau open their channels and stream the misery of incarnations to constellations. The whole mechanism behind the bureau, scenarios, etc., is very intriguing and unique.
The world of ORV is vast. The story begins on Earth, but the characters eventually face many challenges while traversing different realms. It is one of the most unique and unorthodox stories ever told, featuring an unusual power system in which the accumulation and generation of “Fables” play a major role. Although it is possible to enjoy the series at the start without understanding too much about elements such as role of fables, the reason why all this is happening, what these constellations truly wish to achieve at the end of the scenarios and mysteries behind a novel becoming reality as they're a crucial plot premise that you will explore, theorize about, and better understand as the journey continues, however, ignoring them altogether would be the wrong approach. These elements begin to play vital roles once the stakes elevate and the novel marches toward its conclusion.
Moreover, this work is not limited to being just another urban fantasy series where the only unique factor is a prophetic or badass MC. The plot is highly convoluted, and there is a vast plethora of perceptive, intelligent, and well-written characters. The plot premise, dialogues, and dynamics surrounding the family-like main party, as well as the various shrewd higher beings, are incredible. Also, Kim Dokja's meddling led to many events that didn’t happen in the novel he read, and dangers not found within it also came to visit them.
Apart from its intriguing mechanism of storytelling and power system, it also deals with many themes like the differences between being a reader who knows the story and a character who lives through it, the difference between reading a story and truly comprehending it, and whether you really know and understand a person/character just because you read about them in a lengthy novel... To truly appreciate this work for what it is, one should keep a broad horizon.
Coming to the MC Kim Dokja, he initially was a very lonely person (Dokja literally means single child/alone and reader) and quite a selfless person too, so much so that he caused trauma to his own comrades. He had his fair share of struggles and trauma even before the novel became a reality, but things gradually change as he faces challenges with his newfound allies including Yoo Joonghyuk (the MC of the novel he read). He is also a main character, although initially he seems very cold and rude, with limited presence. His character becomes more understandable and likeable as the story progresses through the scenarios, presenting shocking twists, turns, and revelations.
To wrap up, if you're a manhwa reader who has completed a fair share of the comic and appreciated ORV for what it's really about and its unorthodox approach and style, then switching to the novel wouldn't be a decision you would regret. Through the novel you can better understand the thoughts, emotions, and monologues of the characters involved and experience the worldbuilding along with storytelling in more depth. I switched too after reading more than 250 chapters of the manhwa.
11.5 out of 13 users liked this review
