There are already a bunch of reviews, so I'll be writing on other things.

I'm not sure if this is a true idol novel, but I really wish I understand music to understand the MC's musicality. Out of all the idol novels I have read, this MC is the most skilled. The novel has pretty great narrative descriptions for MC's music and the reactions are pretty great as well. When I read the jam out sessions and covers that MC did, I kept thinking of examples in real life.

Overall, I did like the progression of the story. I already read a bunch of KR idol novels, but I don't really know about KR idol music and this novel had me thinking of other music genres instead, so it's refreshing. There's one thing that I should warn though, the translation by little pink starfish is done by AI. It has many, many gender mistakes, and even has a "Do you want a character analysis?" that wasn't removed.

4.5 stars.

It should be 5 stars, I think I misclicked. Anyway:

What I love about this novel, is that in this story about a depressed inhuman musician, who's closer to a god than a human, this story has set itself up to be about humanity. Let me explain. Throughout the MC's hundreds of regressions, the goal has always been to sell more albums. He learns music, searches for collaborators, does everything to try and make the numbers go up all for the sake of that ever distant goal. And in all... more>> that time he hasn't even come close. He's won awards, made music alongside generational talents, produced legendary songs, delved into basically every genre of music in existence, and none of it matters because at the end of the day he'll be back at the beginning with the 200 million album count reset to zero.

At the start of this novel, the MC has a plan. He's trying out the Korean idol industry, and he's going to spend a couple of loops learning its ins and outs before assembling his ideal idol team and making a run for the 200 million. But the interesting thing is that the story is already dropping hints that this loop that the MC has already written off as just a learning loop, may push him further towards his goal than expected. There's only been 62 chapters so I can't exactly say whether or not the hints pan out, but the possibility that the story will head towards the destination of that one loops where the MC lets loose because he doesn't care being the one where he succeeds, has me hooked. <<less

MC is a singer makes a deal with the devil to revive his comatose family after a car accident if he sells more than 200 million albums. He loops back to the beginning every time he loses faith that he can succeed. He's jaded, depressed, and absurdly skilled at all genres and types of musical talent. He decides to do a throwaway life as a Kpop idol, but then meets a group of good kids. The musical descriptions were great in this, and this is one of the few idol... more>> novels that don't get boring after the debut arc. There is an ensemble cast in the idol group members, but they are weaker in characterization than I would like. <<less

This is a work that is published in an astonishingly short timeframe, and has received quite a bit of flak from the Korean readers for a controversial internet meme used by the writer while writing the online community reactions as well as because of the pacing. I personally loved this novel to bits up until Chapter 201, which is when the pacing started to irritate me as well. So to avoid disappointment, a few things need to be acknowledged:

• • This is not an idol novel. It started off with a survival show segment, but that survival show was rigged to begin with, so there weren't as many 'team challenges' as you'd expect from other idol novels inspired by Produce 101. They also don't do a
    Spoiler

    typical debut so they're more like an indie band with some idol-like promotional activities

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• • There is an intense amount of introspection and third-party POV throughout the novel. I found this to be done quite well for the main cast, so I didn't mind it.

• • The online community is written quite different from what you would expect of usual idol fan forums.

• • The same event is often picked apart from different perspectives and mentioned again. This was what messed up chapter 202-226.

• • The ending feels a bit rushed. For all that build-up, I was hoping for a proper breakdown together with the members, but even though we can tell he cherishes the members, their POV is almost completely omitted after 150-something. The last scene with the
    Spoiler

    "devil" felt like almost a complete cop-out

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    I would have preferred even a fan POV about the final concert that was shown before the ending.

What's interesting is that the MC almost doesn't consider himself as Korean because after an infinite number of regressions, the time he spent living in the US is much longer than what he can remember from the timelines spent in Korea. There is a lot of details on different music genres and anecdotes from his previous timelines to explain how he wrote the music differently in this timeline, and some of the stuff the writer inserts about discrimination in the music industry may be upsetting for some people, but there is some truth to it. I love this novel because of its very detailed description of the albums and its refreshing take on regression. The description of his mental state as he hones himself to perfection and regresses to the point of losing faith in himself, in others and his fans feels very dimensional. His band/idol group are also an incredibly charming ragtag group of characters you wouldn't expect to debut together, especially not under the leadership of a heavily depressed regressor, so I just wish more screentime had been given to them in the end of the novel. If you're a music fan, you might like reading this.

This novel is so different from other idol novels. Ahh, I don't really wanna get into it..., but basically the MC, Han Si-On, is a regressor. He made a deal with the devil to sell 200 million physical album copies and... it's been a struggle.

He's got Regressor Depression and regresses everytime he gives up so you can imagine there were times when he kept going back to the starting point in seconds. 😱

He also spent most of his time in America for a while so there's a lot of... more>> American perspective on music and pop culture. There's musical terminology and a study of trends and how real world politics and race effected music. COVID and quarantine comes up a lot because of the k-pop boom that happened during that time.

Anyway, Han Si-On is an experienced and versatile musician. He's spent literal HUNDREDS of years studying and analyzing various musical styles so he makes very atypical music for a Korean idol (even when he was trying to be normal. Lol.) This time, he decides to give an idol group a shot again after a very long time. And the kids he coincidentally groups up with, may just make it.

It's super interesting. And super fun honestly, just because it is a different take on the idol novel genre. The group members don't super stand out? I hope they're developed more later, but in the meantime I think it's worth reading. <<less

i love broken regressors no matter what so MC is definitely my type !! but other charecters? no... tbh others except MC have a strong extra vibes that it makes it hard to take interest in them... the story need more explanation ngl sometimes it was just like "yeh I performed and I nailes it " with no other saying... the story had so much potential so I'm kinda disappointed... MC band mate are so lame (cause of the lack of depth) that I really wished he wouldn't have insisted... more>> in debuting with them but if hes happy ill ignore it... we know nothing about the other team in survival show which is sad cause some of them seemed interesting (specially the main vocalist... such a shame really) I only read the survival show arc and tbh the arc didn't satisfy me at all and I don't like when survival shows have fix groups.... I also don't get the program plan they had a winner from beginning in their mind so why did they promote MC who was in other group? Ofc in that way he will gain more fans and ppl will vote his team which is not the team the program wants to win :/ anyways I might continue reading the rest later cause of MC hoping the story gets better.... oh and MC is not flawless at all but he's a broken regressor so what can I do I have soft spot for these characters... wanna complain a bit more cause I really had high expectations but lets end it here (I was in ch 82 when I wrote this)

UPDATE: OK I continued and im currently at ch 108 and things got better after the survival show ended 👍 and I like MC much more now (my depressed regressor pookie who has protagonist disese) about the rest of the charecters they're not bad still not to my liking tho and some times plot satisfys me cause MC has lots of confidence I specially liked when

Spoiler

he confessed he's the one who composed both drop out and nop hit songs

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<<less

I usually like to give 5-stars for series that I like and I would really love to give this series a 5-stars but the ending was not it at all.

As Uhei mentioned the ending felt so rushed and a cop out. Without going into the details and giving spoilers, it’s like a roller coaster that’s ascending to the most thrilling part and you’re anticipating such an awesome descent but when you actually descended you can’t help but say “That’s it?” That’s what I felt with this novel.

I was disappointed with... more>> the ending cuz I loved this novel a lot. I followed it when it was still new in KKP. I was obsessed because MC was a type of protagonist I haven’t encountered yet and he really charmed me. I loved the monologue and introspection done in the story. I think the author did a great job in making you empathize with MC and his regressions. If I was in his spot I would feel novel about the whole thing at first but with no end in sight and the goal being so far away, I feel like I’d react worse than the MC.

Overall though, this is such a solid read and I don’t think you will regret reading. I wish the author will post some extras because I want to read more about what happened after (Also cuz I have like 10 something ticket left and I can’t refund QAQ). <<less

It’s such a good web novel that I can’t stop thinking about it since the last time I’ve read it. I honestly can’t get enough of it. Normally I don’t read MTLs but I haven’t found any translators for damn idol that is past chapter 34. Even reading it as a MTL I’ve found myself addicted. I’m actually mad I’ve not been able to find an English chapter past 127.

The MC is the webnovel makes you want to root for him. He’s not like those regressors who become arrogant and... more>> annoying from other web novels. The MC is a bit depressed but seems to be getting better now that he has his band mates. Honestly I adore the relationship he has with his band. They all have such a cute dynamic. Tbf at the start of their relationships the bandmates seemed a bit one dimensional but they gain character depth as it progresses. <<less

Surprisingly pleasant to read. It's not too fast skipping details, nor it is it too slow boring you. The pacing is done well to keep you entertain enough to binge it.

The story also gives you snippets of his past regression and how it has affected him, both negatively and positively, without relying on multiple chapters on flashback.

If there is any complaints, it is that there isn't enough translated chapters out.