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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 A fine start for a manga. From fan reviews, looks like it gets better, and that maybe the anime was better.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
* Slice of life
* All-powerful main character
* Misfit supporting cast
* Dark undertones
A lot goes into taking care of a manor house - keeping guests happy, maintaining reputation, and ensuring those who wish to harm the Earl of Phantomhive are punished appropriately. And it all falls to the butler, Sebastian Michaelis.
I originally picked this book up for the premise - who doesn’t want to read about an all-powerful butler at the beck and call of a a 12-year-old on a quest for revenge? So I was super disappointed that aspect of the plot wasn’t apparent until the very end, and even then it’s incredibly vague and unsatisfying. The plot itself is super hard to follow, and the characters are all very one-dimensional, with the only interesting and competent one being Sebastian himself. I think in future installments the cast has the potential to become lovable and the plot to become stronger, but for this first introduction the lack of redeeming qualities of the incompetent servants and the meandering, disjointed storytelling makes it a tough one.
This reads more as a fluff slice of life than the dark tale of intrigue the back cover copy implies. I’m optimistic about the future volumes because friends speak highly of the story, but the first installment leaves something to be desired.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
adventurous
I picked up this manga, because I've heard so many people say that it's a great series. After one volume, I don't know...
It wasn't bad per se, but there was nothing that captured me. I feel like I missed something. The synopsis characterizes Sebastian as a demon to whom Ciel sells his soul. But I didn't see any of that in the first volume. Presumably, it will become clear in later volumes. I'm all for a gradual build-up of a paranormal world, but you have to give me something to work with at the beginning. And I didn't see much in this volume.
Sebastian emphasizes over and over what a good and dedicated butler he is. Obviously, he's more than that, but I couldn't tell just from reading. Ciel seems like a spoiled, weak 12 year old boy who relies on Sebastian for everything. I think this is also a poor characterization, but it's what I gathered from the volume.
My main problem with this volume is that not much happened for a long time. We had an introduction to the characters, a showcase of how Sebastian can do martial arts and set a table, of how Ciel owns a huge company despite being a kid, and is richy rich. Things didn' get going until Ciel was kidnapped by the Italian mafia and Sebastian had to go rescue him. That was interesting enough, but a little silly at the same time.
What do you think? Have you read this series? Should I keep going?
It wasn't bad per se, but there was nothing that captured me. I feel like I missed something. The synopsis characterizes Sebastian as a demon to whom Ciel sells his soul. But I didn't see any of that in the first volume. Presumably, it will become clear in later volumes. I'm all for a gradual build-up of a paranormal world, but you have to give me something to work with at the beginning. And I didn't see much in this volume.
Sebastian emphasizes over and over what a good and dedicated butler he is. Obviously, he's more than that, but I couldn't tell just from reading. Ciel seems like a spoiled, weak 12 year old boy who relies on Sebastian for everything. I think this is also a poor characterization, but it's what I gathered from the volume.
My main problem with this volume is that not much happened for a long time. We had an introduction to the characters, a showcase of how Sebastian can do martial arts and set a table, of how Ciel owns a huge company despite being a kid, and is richy rich. Things didn' get going until Ciel was kidnapped by the Italian mafia and Sebastian had to go rescue him. That was interesting enough, but a little silly at the same time.
What do you think? Have you read this series? Should I keep going?
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes