I also can't understand what the FL is thinking, and not in a good way. In the last chapter, the ML basically tortures the circus trainer and, although the FL knows she'll have to deal with the fallout, asks him to (physically) sleep with her. I found that really idiotic, especially because at this point, she already knows that he doesn't deal well with physical affection. Her answer to this? Hugging him.

And from the reviews I've read, this will carry on happening whenever the ML reacts violently- she'll show him an act of affection to calm him down.

I just find the FL's behaviour weird- I'm still hung up on her asking him to sleep with her. I understand it's not s*xual but why? She's known him for a maximum of 2-3 days at this point, mind you. And I wouldn't have a problem with this if it was that sort of novel, but it doesn't fit the atmosphere or her thought process so far.

There's a moment when Erik threatens to kill the people she loves if she leaves him, and she tosses back that he should kill himself first because he's the person she loves the most. She's so good at diffusing the situation and getting him to walk away from the ledge to the horror genre.

There's also a moment when he tries to trick her to say something, and she quickly catches on and teases him. It's a sweet moment while showing that she is very smart too.

There's also a brief cameo by Christine and Raoul, and then a longer one by Daroga near the end of the story. Happy endings for everyone.

It gets so repetitive. Maybe FL's reaction to the ML is unusual and interesting enough, but the same scenario happens over and over again. ML tries to kill her and FL does something affectionate, and then ML stops in his attempt. Repeat this over and over again and that's basically their interaction in practically almost every single meeting they have. I assume it morphs into something else near the end, but for many chapters, this is their relationship. ML disappears for awhile and when he comes back, it's to repeat the cycle of him trying to kill FL and FL doing an affectionate action to prevent him from killing her. Like I get it, they're going for slow burn, but it's just a repeat of this scenario. There's development sprinkled in between, but this is their main source of interaction.

I think atmosphere was one of the things that made the story very interesting, but after the circus arc, the atmosphere drops off tremendously. It's too focused on the circus that the suspense gets lost. Okay, new setting and FL is more acquainted in the world so it's not horrible if the horror elements disappears. However, the circus arc is very boring. I think the draw of this novel is the relationship between FL and ML and her attempts at survival, now it's simply a business arc which is not done in a particularly revolutionary way. The romance takes a backseat to this circus business arc as well. The atmosphere gets more towards unintentionally silly too, since absurd things happen so FL can flourish her business, which makes the random attempts at continuing its haunted atmosphere seem out of place. The biggest problem in the business arc is that ML is just too convenient and OP. Why try to solve things in an innovative or interesting manner if the solution is simply "make ML use one of his many cheats." The attempt to make FL some sort of business woman seems like just because the author wanted to make this sort of setting for FL instead of thinking it would help the story at all. I would have no problem with this being the focus if the author did this in a way that was interesting.

he knows he's being decieved by the FL, and is treated with care by her just for her self-preservation.

the FL fails to gather info around her surroundings. Doesnt make backup plans. Doesnt really investigate much which caused the incident where they needed to leave early.

Her kissing, hugging, and giving human warmth to him when the impulses get to him due to his confusion is an interesting conflict. And im glad, again intellectual decency, the story is able to acknowledge it's a reflex caused by survival instinct and should be fixed in the near future. But at the same time, she feels safe around him. Like, it's such an understandable reason why she feels safe around him (won't dwell by giving examples, read the story or reread some emotional beats then you'll understand to those who haven't) that I think the author must've written this story twice and had some feedback.

a white lie about making a troupe for outcasts but when given the chance, it becomes a goal because she thinks she might die cuz she lied to him about this