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shiggythefiggy's review
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
windspice's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Homophobia
dynamicdylan's review
5.0
CW: Rape, Gang Rape, Torture, Homophobia, Manipulation
Okay, I know this is a dark story with some really heavy topics, however I loved this way more than I thought I would. We follow two young men who pursue music together. One of them becomes obsessed with the other, who abuses him.
I see this story as a character study of abuse. I know not all will read it that way, and that's okay. This story hit me in the feels. I don't recommend it to everyone. I may have just read it at a good time, but I loved it.
Okay, I know this is a dark story with some really heavy topics, however I loved this way more than I thought I would. We follow two young men who pursue music together. One of them becomes obsessed with the other, who abuses him.
I see this story as a character study of abuse. I know not all will read it that way, and that's okay. This story hit me in the feels. I don't recommend it to everyone. I may have just read it at a good time, but I loved it.
jkenna1990's review
1.0
TW: rape, homophobia, roofies
This book has a lot of heavy subjects in it. Normally, I can overlook certain things if they make sense in the plot. There were things in this that were heavy but made sense with how the characters were portrayed. We knew they were horrible people so them doing horrible things wasn't a surprise in that context. That being said. There were things that didn't need to be in this to further the story. Someone does not need to be raped to learn a lesson. There are so many other ways that the character could have learned and grown throughout the book. It just didn't seem like something that needed to be done to further the plot. And in the aftermath, it just seems like it's glossed over and everything is fine within a few pages.
Overall, this is not something that I'll be returning to and I probably won't read anything else by this author either. I don't want to waste my time on anything else that's similar to this.
This book has a lot of heavy subjects in it. Normally, I can overlook certain things if they make sense in the plot. There were things in this that were heavy but made sense with how the characters were portrayed. We knew they were horrible people so them doing horrible things wasn't a surprise in that context. That being said. There were things that didn't need to be in this to further the story. Someone does not need to be raped to learn a lesson. There are so many other ways that the character could have learned and grown throughout the book. It just didn't seem like something that needed to be done to further the plot. And in the aftermath, it just seems like it's glossed over and everything is fine within a few pages.
Overall, this is not something that I'll be returning to and I probably won't read anything else by this author either. I don't want to waste my time on anything else that's similar to this.
keikoreadsmanga's review against another edition
2.0
I've been looking for a badly written manga story because I want to experience rating a one-star or two, or maybe no star at all. But, in this case, it was love at first sight when I first saw this series. The cover just really did it for me. Well, yea, not until I scroll through pages and realized what a trashy story this one is. Man, I thought this is going to be something like Given and I adored that series! Augh, definitely not.
This series reeks of homophobia from top to bottom, rape on the sides, and abuse of power in the middle. And so sweaty all around (that's why I hate the art). The only good thing about this one is the ending, I think. Or, is it? Augh, I'm just glad that Asaichi mellowed down, but I still hate plot.
This series reeks of homophobia from top to bottom, rape on the sides, and abuse of power in the middle. And so sweaty all around (that's why I hate the art). The only good thing about this one is the ending, I think. Or, is it? Augh, I'm just glad that Asaichi mellowed down, but I still hate plot.
capriqueen's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Mixed feelings on this one. I love explicit uncensored manga, and this has a ton of smut so at first I was very pleased
Yoru is absolutely adorable, unexpectedly so. Asaichi is a sleazeball but gets better toward the end. I liked the push-pull of their dynamic. Yes it’s very toxic, but that’s what I expected from the premise
But then… a really really dark thing happens (not between the two mc’s but to one of them). And it was very dark. And it severely hampered my enjoyment because of how messed up it was. This was going to be like a 4-4.5 for me
It pulls it out in the end, getting back into the emotions and relationship between the two and their cute moments, but that one scene was very disturbing
I’ll still pick up the sequel though, as I have hopes nothing like that will happen again
Yoru is absolutely adorable, unexpectedly so. Asaichi is a sleazeball but gets better toward the end. I liked the push-pull of their dynamic. Yes it’s very toxic, but that’s what I expected from the premise
But then… a really really dark thing happens (not between the two mc’s but to one of them). And it was very dark. And it severely hampered my enjoyment because of how messed up it was. This was going to be like a 4-4.5 for me
It pulls it out in the end, getting back into the emotions and relationship between the two and their cute moments, but that one scene was very disturbing
I’ll still pick up the sequel though, as I have hopes nothing like that will happen again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence
kyleniccolo's review
3.0
I've read some Harada manga before, much of it surrounds dark topics involving BL. I will say out of all of the manga I've read by them, this is the most confusing and weird. I am glad about how the story concluded but the whole scene involving "payback" just confused the heck out of me, their manga is known to be very graphic and uncomfortable but this was the first where I visibly cringed from the images during that scene specifically. Overall this is a very classic Harada manga, fans of them will enjoy it. Overall I'd say besides that one uncomfortable scene this was a solid 3.5/5. Not their best work but definitely a staple you need to read.
juicelina's review
3.0
*Reread 4/10/2022*
I think I'm boosting my rating solely for the fact that now that I've read more of Harada's works and have really grown to love their writing, I liked it a little more. I am still disappointed and my previous review still stands.
I think this was just easier to swallow because I already knew what to expect. I still found myself putting it down because I just hated the situations. I hate that Asachi and Futsu are the type to roofie a drink. I hate that Asachi uses slurs towards Yoru. Like I think it would be fine for Asachi to be uncomfortable with how pushy Yoru was being, but he's just such an ass. I hate that the brother took his jealousy over Yoru to such an extreme that Asachi had to go through such a horrific thing and it just seemed kind of brushed off. It just felt like it was treated as a lesson that Asachi had to learn and there were no repercussions for the brother. I don't even think repercussions are even necessary, but the aftermath just didn't seem right. I hate that Shiori felt guilty for her involvement, when she was a victim in this situation herself and her using Asachi to get to Yoru was so minor compared to what was done to her.
I still like the ending scene. I like Asachi's soft look when he realizes he cares for Yoru and wants to be with him, but I hate how we got there. I hate how Yoru is just an air headed punching bag that let Asachi drag him along and do whatever to him. Even his strong moment when he was protecting Asachi was kind of strange.
It's such a bummer that this is how the story went. I don't dislike mean or problematic characters or situations, but idk I didn't love them in this. I think the story does have some moments that are good and funny, but a lot of it was very uncomfortable and not in a way that it should be.
*Original Review 3/5/2022*
-Original rating 2 stars-
I'm so disappointed!! I love stories about bands so much and I was really hoping to like this one, but it was just bad from the start. The chapter at the end was the only redeeming thing about it and I guess the art, I like that, but god what a bummer. This overall just made me uncomfortable. Asaichi is so unlikable and Yoru is so air-headed and just blindly likes him. Even after they revealed the reason why he likes him it didn't really make it believable. The whole thing with the girl's brother was so awful. I just hate when sexual assault is used like that. There was definitely a way to make Asa vunerable and Yoru protective without doing that. And when it was "resolved" it was completely brushed off and it low key felt like a joke. I hated that so much. The vulnerability and the little bonding they had after I liked, but I hate that that's what got them there. I mean Asa's not exactly a good person, but that was not the solution for his shitty behavior. Idk, man. I feel like this had the bones for a good story, but everything that happened just upset me.
I think I'm boosting my rating solely for the fact that now that I've read more of Harada's works and have really grown to love their writing, I liked it a little more. I am still disappointed and my previous review still stands.
I think this was just easier to swallow because I already knew what to expect. I still found myself putting it down because I just hated the situations. I hate that Asachi and Futsu are the type to roofie a drink. I hate that Asachi uses slurs towards Yoru. Like I think it would be fine for Asachi to be uncomfortable with how pushy Yoru was being, but he's just such an ass. I hate that the brother took his jealousy over Yoru to such an extreme that Asachi had to go through such a horrific thing and it just seemed kind of brushed off. It just felt like it was treated as a lesson that Asachi had to learn and there were no repercussions for the brother. I don't even think repercussions are even necessary, but the aftermath just didn't seem right. I hate that Shiori felt guilty for her involvement, when she was a victim in this situation herself and her using Asachi to get to Yoru was so minor compared to what was done to her.
I still like the ending scene. I like Asachi's soft look when he realizes he cares for Yoru and wants to be with him, but I hate how we got there. I hate how Yoru is just an air headed punching bag that let Asachi drag him along and do whatever to him. Even his strong moment when he was protecting Asachi was kind of strange.
It's such a bummer that this is how the story went. I don't dislike mean or problematic characters or situations, but idk I didn't love them in this. I think the story does have some moments that are good and funny, but a lot of it was very uncomfortable and not in a way that it should be.
*Original Review 3/5/2022*
-Original rating 2 stars-
I'm so disappointed!! I love stories about bands so much and I was really hoping to like this one, but it was just bad from the start. The chapter at the end was the only redeeming thing about it and I guess the art, I like that, but god what a bummer. This overall just made me uncomfortable. Asaichi is so unlikable and Yoru is so air-headed and just blindly likes him. Even after they revealed the reason why he likes him it didn't really make it believable. The whole thing with the girl's brother was so awful. I just hate when sexual assault is used like that. There was definitely a way to make Asa vunerable and Yoru protective without doing that. And when it was "resolved" it was completely brushed off and it low key felt like a joke. I hated that so much. The vulnerability and the little bonding they had after I liked, but I hate that that's what got them there. I mean Asa's not exactly a good person, but that was not the solution for his shitty behavior. Idk, man. I feel like this had the bones for a good story, but everything that happened just upset me.
mochitofu's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0