Thally Fel: Manga/Manhua Reviewer
More Than Just Horror
Entering the world of danmei and LGBTQ+ manga/manhua without recommendations from a trusted source can be dangerous. A majority of the more popular novels tend to fall under the genres of psychological horror and some include elements of gore. Because of this, they often deal with heavy themes (some of them taboo) and can be triggering for readers who enter without knowing or fully understanding what they’re going to be reading. A reviewer of manga/manhua on YouTube and TikTok, Thally Fel is upfront about the subjects in the reading material she recommends.
There was a period of time on TikTok in 2020 and 2019 where stories such as the award winning Killing Stalking were being recommended to underage viewers without taking into consideration the heavy psychological themes. Rating systems and genres exist for that sole reason. They’re not for tricking an audience into consuming something they weren’t ready for, but to properly caution readers so that they know what they’re getting into.
When Thally Fel recommends novels, be they LGBTQ+ or heterosexual romances, she cautions her viewers on any possible triggers and the novel’s accompanying ratings. She’s careful in that aspect because she doesn’t know if her audience has any triggers and, as stated previously, some of the more popular titles deal with themes that can be traumatic for a reader who isn’t prepared or who can be triggered by those themes.
There’s a wide list of LGBTQ+ novels that don’t fall underneath the umbrella of horror and aren't sexually explicit. Thally Fel covers all of these spectrums and divides her longer YouTube reviews by genre. A majority of what she reviews and recommends tends to be outside of the realm of horror, but anything outside of wholesome slice of life novels have an adequate amount of trigger warnings (if any are necessary).
She does cater towards a Western audience with her reviews and includes explanations for terms and cultural differences that a new (and presumably Western) reader may not know. Another facet of her reviews and posts is that she will often link and showcase content from indie publishers and writers as well as linking all the shops she buys her physical copies from. The main point behind her reviews and recommendations is to help make LGBTQ+ content accessible, which is why she tends to look at indie publishing houses and writers when searching for new titles to review. Thally Fel posts monthly videos on YouTube and weekly videos on TikTok, she also cross posts on her Twitter.
