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_pandachi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? No
5.0
Such an addicitng read. It's one of those few books I look forward to read every single night. It was so hard to put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
smallredboy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Literally so so good. Like insanely good. Each character had an unique voice and it all felt so realistic, all things considered. Was screaming and crying and throwing up in the last few chapters. I need to read the sequel manga right the fuck now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Trafficking
itshardizzy's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It was so fast paced. The author didn't held back on the killings and I'm lowkey thankful for that because the whole story IS about teenagers killing each other. There was some characters that i felt a bit more connected with but them they were killed :(((. There is multiple POVs but the one more constant is Shuya, who i found just annoying and really naive. the most in-depth characters was Shogo, Shining and Mitsuko in my personal opinion. They all have the most interesting stories specially Mitsuko. Mitsuko is made to be a bad girl but when we take a look at what she had been through is impossible to not feel sorry for her. I believe the author deeply criticized Japanese persons that go after minor girls or that sexualize minor girls. Shinji was actually the one that everyone thought was going to win and he really could have won if it weren't for his deeply dependence for his uncle. He really lived at his uncle shadow and I believe that is why he didn't succeed . The author did a really good job at critizing governments that send their youth to war in his version of Japan, the youths don't need to go to war BUT in return one school and one specific class will be chosen (at random) to be a part of a experiment that will help the government to understand how people react to certain events and weapons, which is basically a war itself but a minor one. . I really had my hopes up about the ending but unfortunately it wasn't what i wanted. Still I liked the book and the criticism that the author pointed out in a very interesting way. Definitely worth to read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Suicide, War, and Xenophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Drug use, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Rape
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An incredible book. I wondered how it would manage to keep me hooked for over 600 pages- but it did! I was hanging onto every sentence. A very dark book though, I did have to put it down at times to calm down, but I loved this book and the ending made me cry a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Yall what a wild ass ride. The book is insane. Sardonic. Brutal. Gore porn. Chaotic brilliance. The satirical tone with the biting Japanese society social commentary/critique and sarcastic remarks throughout might be weird and seem inappropriate or out of place but that added to the dehumanization of the Program and the regime's “successful fascism”.
I was spooked, heartbroken, amused, disgusted and absolutely glued to this book once I got really into it. Yes, the pacing and the translation were a little clunky and repetitive (how many times can the phrase “That's right.” be written in a book? Read this book to find out lmao) but it also made the experience of reading this like a past citizen of the Republic of Greater East Asia was the one telling the story, you know. Also, even if the end result of the translation is a little wonky, I don't know how much I can fault the translator bc Japanese is a very intricate language and English can be so limiting to expressing the same tone or context. Especially a book heavy in satire and sarcasm as this one, the humor really would be hard to translate.
I think all the little backgrounds were effectively employed and gave the kids varied and dynamic personalities. And the junior high school crushes throughout the book were believable enough. I mean they're exploring their sexualities and hormones are going crazy. As for the inability of some of them to get over the fact they had to kill their classmates they'd known for years, like what do you expect? Even I as an adult would freak tf out if I were in the same situation and would take me a long time to reconcile with the fact I had to kill other people. I don't know I probably even wouldn't man, it's not worth it. So I don't think the kids's reactions were corny or unreasonable and I think the book really conveyed a realistic spirit of mistrust and fear in the mind of 15 years old, imo. Which in turn, reveals the extensiveness and effiency of that distrust in the general population. Contrary to other dystopias where the regimes are established through questionable ways and the existence of such seems unlikely and unachievable, the efficacy of the Program, the murders of the kids parents, and like Shogo says, the given propensity of their culture and society to respect hierarchies, be submissive, and not revolt, makes it chillingly real.
Characters wise, Kazuo Kiriyama is pretty iconic and terrifying af (in both versions). Shogo Kawada and Shinji "The Third Man" Mimura were amazing and sympathetic. I cried buckets reading Shogo's ending even though I knew it was coming and like I had seen the movie. It was definitely more emotional here, though. I think I would have wanted a more conclusive, hopeful ending for Shuya and Noriko (but then it wouldn't be a dystopia, huh). (I watched the movie so long ago I don't remember the ending exactly but I think it was a lot more optimistic??) But also the idea of them always on the run but together is captivating enough. Still the ending brought it down one star.
I was spooked, heartbroken, amused, disgusted and absolutely glued to this book once I got really into it. Yes, the pacing and the translation were a little clunky and repetitive (how many times can the phrase “That's right.” be written in a book? Read this book to find out lmao) but it also made the experience of reading this like a past citizen of the Republic of Greater East Asia was the one telling the story, you know. Also, even if the end result of the translation is a little wonky, I don't know how much I can fault the translator bc Japanese is a very intricate language and English can be so limiting to expressing the same tone or context. Especially a book heavy in satire and sarcasm as this one, the humor really would be hard to translate.
I think all the little backgrounds were effectively employed and gave the kids varied and dynamic personalities. And the junior high school crushes throughout the book were believable enough. I mean they're exploring their sexualities and hormones are going crazy. As for the inability of some of them to get over the fact they had to kill their classmates they'd known for years, like what do you expect? Even I as an adult would freak tf out if I were in the same situation and would take me a long time to reconcile with the fact I had to kill other people. I don't know I probably even wouldn't man, it's not worth it. So I don't think the kids's reactions were corny or unreasonable and I think the book really conveyed a realistic spirit of mistrust and fear in the mind of 15 years old, imo. Which in turn, reveals the extensiveness and effiency of that distrust in the general population. Contrary to other dystopias where the regimes are established through questionable ways and the existence of such seems unlikely and unachievable, the efficacy of the Program, the murders of the kids parents, and like Shogo says, the given propensity of their culture and society to respect hierarchies, be submissive, and not revolt, makes it chillingly real.
Characters wise, Kazuo Kiriyama is pretty iconic and terrifying af (in both versions). Shogo Kawada and Shinji "The Third Man" Mimura were amazing and sympathetic. I cried buckets reading Shogo's ending even though I knew it was coming and like I had seen the movie. It was definitely more emotional here, though. I think I would have wanted a more conclusive, hopeful ending for Shuya and Noriko (but then it wouldn't be a dystopia, huh). (I watched the movie so long ago I don't remember the ending exactly but I think it was a lot more optimistic??) But also the idea of them always on the run but together is captivating enough. Still the ending brought it down one star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
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