Are you into trio mystery cliffhanger stories? If so, Link Click is the story for you! While it can sometimes stress you out, it’s also enjoyable. Some stories are stressful without much enjoyment, but Link Click has the perfect balance.
The story follows Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, two friends who run a photo studio with a unique ability: they can dive into photographs, reliving the moments they were taken. What starts as a way to fulfill clients’ sentimental requests soon spirals into a high-stakes game of consequences, as every change they make in the past has unpredictable, often devastating effects on the present.
Past or Future, let them be. Time Photo Studio is a small photography shop tucked in a quiet corner of a modern metropolis. This seemingly abandoned place is run by two friends, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, who use superpowers to enter photos to fulfil their clients’ requests. But their time agent missions don’t always go as planned…
Manhua Review: Link Click Vol. 1
The first volume of the story focuses on difficulties that are closely associated with family issues. As the plot develops, it’s great to see how life changes and how individuals attempt to make up for their past transgressions. The story includes intense arguments and self-aware moments as they overcome their challenges. By looking at old pictures of the client, they can understand her feelings and emotions. However, they must realize that they cannot change history entirely.
You can actually feel the frustration of not being able to change the past and the difficulty of accepting it as the story goes on. You feel as though you are walking in the character’s shoes as the story draws you into their thoughts and viewpoints. With all the points I said, I felt it while reading it. This is particularly true for one of the main characters, who experiences various points of view by inhabiting the body of someone they own. The story emphasizes the struggle to control and fix things without making drastic changes that could disrupt the timeline and things don’t go according to plan.
You can use the following link to buy Link Click Vol. 1.
Past or Future, let them be. Time Photo Studio has a new mission: Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi are to visit the client’s worst day in the past and deliver a few messages to the people he holds dear. Easy, right? But Cheng Xiaoshi is not the type of person to blindly follow rules, and certain events end up changing course. What will become of all this?
Manhua Review: Link Click Vol. 2
The theme of regret is explored in depth in this volume. They have a deeply regretful character, which many of us can identify with. They work to correct what they want to change when they have the opportunity to change the past, but they also have to deal with the difficulty of not altering the original timeline. As the story unfolds, they come to understand that their mission is linked to an unimaginable memory—a moment they fervently hope to alter. But despite their best efforts, they are ultimately unable to change the future, and the character they control is forced to face a painful past.
The idea that some things cannot be changed, even if given the chance, is effectively communicated in this volume. It introduces the idea of a “canon event,” a crucial occasion that has to occur regardless of the circumstances. Certain events are unavoidable for the truth of the timeline, but small adjustments can be made. The harsh reality that some things are out of our control, regardless of how much we would like to change them, is highlighted in this particularly strong scene of the plot. It provides an important push that, despite the opportunity to change the past, some things are just meant to be.
You can use the following link to buy Link Click Vol. 2.
Past or Future, let them be. Cheng Xiaoshi is recovering from his last mission when Captain Xiao arrives with a cold kidnapping case. A boy disappeared three years ago, and Time Photo Studio is the father’s last hope. Tension builds as events unfold!
Manhua Review: Link Click Vol 3
With its focus on a missing persons case, the third volume takes the story in a very emotional and mystery direction. I found this story volume to be especially tragic because it examines the intense grief of missing someone so much that you want to go back in time and make things right without seriously upsetting the timeline. This situation got me thinking about how hard it would be to go through such a loss in real life. I was deeply impacted by the story’s emphasis on the value of safety and cherishing the people you care about.
I don’t want to go into too much detail because the backstories of the characters they’re attempting to save are so interesting and complex. Their heartbreaking struggles and attempts to make amends for past transgressions are relatable. When it comes to the mysteries they’re attempting to solve and the emotional depth it adds to the story, I can honestly say that this volume is my favorite. It’s sad, but it happens in real life.
You can use the following link to buy Link Click Vol. 3.
Design Review:
Let’s discuss the book’s design. I was truly taken aback by how beautiful they were when I first received them. It’s stunning that the outer paper cover shimmers and changes as you move the book. I adore that they are hardcover, which is uncommon for these kinds of stories because they are typically printed on paper. To be clear, I have nothing against paperbacks. I like them. But because this story is so intricate and vibrant, the hardcover keeps the book in great shape and helps prevent bending.
The book’s artwork is breathtaking. The donghua (animated series) seems to have been printed on paper. I was so taken aback that I had to check how closely the illustrations in the book and the donghua matched. The amount of detail was incredible. I was amazed by how accurately the artwork was made, and I kept alternating between the two. The best thing about reading the story this way is that, unlike when watching the fast-paced animation, you can appreciate the characters’ emotions as you turn the pages.
The the cover design is high quality. Every book has a distinct theme that mixes together in seamlessly with the plot. The designers kept it simple yet impactful, balancing a visually filled cover and a clean, uncluttered look. I appreciate this thoughtful approach to design. The same design, devoid of the shimmer effect, is visible beneath the outer shimmering cover. The quality is still excellent, though.
I’d give these books a very high score as someone who’s very picky about design. They’re visually stunning, well-made, and perfectly complement the story they tell.
Link Click, originally a donghua (Chinese animated series), has now been adapted into a manhua (Chinese comic) published by Aloha Comics.
© bilibili / BeDream
English edition © Aloha Comics
Anime Corner received a copy of Link Click Vols. 1-3 in exchange for a review.