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nawarafra's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Can I just say that after all this time I am still floored that my dumb ass really thought Daiki was going to be the second love interest???
One other thing about why Ninako's feelings for Ren are important is because it was the first time that she realized something on her own, the first time she's thinking for herself. I know that sounds kind of unbelievable, but much like any high schooler, Ninako is young and impressionable, so yeah; of course she'll believe everyone when they forcefully spoon-feed the idea of her and Daiki down her throat! Poor thing really thought she was leading Daiki on when she was just being a good friend.
Speaking of Daiki, I've had friends in the past say they hated him in the first volume and I was like, 'but why though?' Daiki's antagonistic behaviour towards Ren is 80% immaturity and 20% 'if you hurt my best-friend and/or my sister I will kill you'. Of course he's going to be upset with Ren - he knows how much his sister loves him and to Daiki, Ren's kindness towards Ninako seems like a betrayal to his sister (which it's obviously NOT, but I'll give Daiki this one).
One other thing that I really appreciate about their dynamic is that even though Ren is treated as a celebrity at school, when Ninako interacts with him she's not being uncomfortably awkward even though you can tell he makes her nervous. I thought her trying to get Ren to wake up was a cute scene, and I like that she got all huffy because Ren started teasing her - all of it showed how easy it was for them to sort of just fall into this new friendship.
And I know this doesn't really track, but Ninako's defence of the butterfly charm that Ren got her was truly reminiscent of that one meme (because that's all I think about apparently) where Person A says, "I made you a friendship bracelet" and then Person B's all like "what, ew" and then Person A responds with "you don't have to keep it-" and then Person B snatches it back like "back off, it's mine, I'm keeping it forever" - that is immediately where my mind went.
One last thing - can we just talk about how Sayuri was QUICK to shoot her shot? Because I genuinely forgot her and Daiki became a thing in Vol. 1, I thought that was more a Vol. 2 thing, but my bad I guess.
To everyone who actually read the spoiler section - I'm so sorry, I had no idea that I had so many thoughts and opinions about Strobe Edge.
One other thing about why Ninako's feelings for Ren are important is because it was the first time that she realized something on her own, the first time she's thinking for herself. I know that sounds kind of unbelievable, but much like any high schooler, Ninako is young and impressionable, so yeah; of course she'll believe everyone when they forcefully spoon-feed the idea of her and Daiki down her throat! Poor thing really thought she was leading Daiki on when she was just being a good friend.
Speaking of Daiki, I've had friends in the past say they hated him in the first volume and I was like, 'but why though?' Daiki's antagonistic behaviour towards Ren is 80% immaturity and 20% 'if you hurt my best-friend and/or my sister I will kill you'. Of course he's going to be upset with Ren - he knows how much his sister loves him and to Daiki, Ren's kindness towards Ninako seems like a betrayal to his sister (which it's obviously NOT, but I'll give Daiki this one).
One other thing that I really appreciate about their dynamic is that even though Ren is treated as a celebrity at school, when Ninako interacts with him she's not being uncomfortably awkward even though you can tell he makes her nervous. I thought her trying to get Ren to wake up was a cute scene, and I like that she got all huffy because Ren started teasing her - all of it showed how easy it was for them to sort of just fall into this new friendship.
And I know this doesn't really track, but Ninako's defence of the butterfly charm that Ren got her was truly reminiscent of that one meme (because that's all I think about apparently) where Person A says, "I made you a friendship bracelet" and then Person B's all like "what, ew" and then Person A responds with "you don't have to keep it-" and then Person B snatches it back like "back off, it's mine, I'm keeping it forever" - that is immediately where my mind went.
One last thing - can we just talk about how Sayuri was QUICK to shoot her shot? Because I genuinely forgot her and Daiki became a thing in Vol. 1, I thought that was more a Vol. 2 thing, but my bad I guess.
To everyone who actually read the spoiler section - I'm so sorry, I had no idea that I had so many thoughts and opinions about Strobe Edge.
wawa_m's review against another edition
3.0
Here’s the thing when I started this story I was hopeful then got slightly disappointed and then got a bit interested in how the story would turn out. So despite the fact that I do not like that kissy-face drawing the author/artist does when her characters are musing, or disappointed, I think I shall continue reading this series. Godspeed.
familiar_diversions's review against another edition
3.0
I had problems getting into this manga. Ninako seemed nice, and I loved the bit where she told Ren “If somebody does something for me, I appreciate it, no matter what it is” when he thought he'd given her a cell phone charm that wasn't to her taste. However, she also seemed dumb as a rock, and way too easily manipulated. I get that Sakisaka was trying to show readers that she had no experience with love and had no idea what that emotion felt like, but it was like she didn't have a clue about any emotions, not just love. She interprets her reactions to Ren as the beginnings of a cold, rather than as emotional reactions. This was played more seriously than humorously, and all it did was lower my opinion of Ninako's intelligence even further.
While I was glad Ninako figured things out within the first volume, I still thought it took her a touch too long to realize the meaning of her reactions to Daiki vs. Ren. This line prompted a huge eye roll on my part: “Why does my heart feel so heavy? Is this how it feels when the person you like does something nice for you?” In this case, “the person you like” is Daiki. Ninako hurt her ankle and was feeling a bit lonely on the sidelines while her classmates had fun. She was happy when Ren took the time to keep her company, but when Ren left and Daiki came and said he'd do the same, it made her heart feel heavy. And it still took her a couple scenes after that to figure out that Ren was the one she really loved.
Ren confused me. I couldn't tell whether he was already beginning to develop feelings for Ninako, or if everything he was doing was just him being nice. On the one hand, when Daiki confronted him and told him to focus on the girl he's already got, he didn't deny that he had feelings for Ninako. He didn't confirm that he did, either, but I would have thought he'd at least say something like “You're misunderstanding the situation.” On the other hand, his girlfriend said the two of them call and text each other every day. Even in this first volume, it's made clear that good people don't lead other good people on. When Ninako learns that Ren already has a girlfriend and that her feelings might never be reciprocated, she doesn't turn to Daiki instead. She tells him the truth, because to do otherwise would potentially hurt Daiki worse. If this is what good people do, then what's going on with Ren? He's supposed to be a good guy, so he doesn't strike me as the type who'd continue to call and text his girlfriend while nursing budding feelings for Ninako.
I liked that Ninako was honest about her feelings, once she finally figured out what they were. A lot of shoujo heroines would have remained conflicted, allowing the misunderstandings to grow to the point that finally telling the truth would hurt multiple people. Ninako doesn't let that happen. I also liked that Ninako's friends accepted her decision and didn't continue to pressure her into becoming Daiki's girlfriend. I had worried that Daiki would be the sort to blow up on Ninako when she finally made her feelings and her decision crystal clear. That didn't happen, and I appreciated that, too.
So, there were definitely things to like about this volume. It just didn't grab me as much as it should have. Ninako actively turned me off for most of the volume, Ren is still too much of a mystery (and not really in a “I must know more!” kind of way), and many of the characters don't have much personality yet. Ninako's friend might as well have been an amorphous blob – I couldn't pick any individuals out, and didn't realize the one character late in the volume was one of her friends until I started checking names prior to writing this post. The artwork is okay, but something about the way Sakisaka draws the girls (and, to some extent, the boys) makes it hard for me to tell them apart.
I'm on the fence about whether I'll read more of this series. Ren and Ninako's moments together were cute, but the same could be said about a lot of shoujo couples. If I do read more, it will be via ILL.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
While I was glad Ninako figured things out within the first volume, I still thought it took her a touch too long to realize the meaning of her reactions to Daiki vs. Ren. This line prompted a huge eye roll on my part: “Why does my heart feel so heavy? Is this how it feels when the person you like does something nice for you?” In this case, “the person you like” is Daiki. Ninako hurt her ankle and was feeling a bit lonely on the sidelines while her classmates had fun. She was happy when Ren took the time to keep her company, but when Ren left and Daiki came and said he'd do the same, it made her heart feel heavy. And it still took her a couple scenes after that to figure out that Ren was the one she really loved.
Ren confused me. I couldn't tell whether he was already beginning to develop feelings for Ninako, or if everything he was doing was just him being nice. On the one hand, when Daiki confronted him and told him to focus on the girl he's already got, he didn't deny that he had feelings for Ninako. He didn't confirm that he did, either, but I would have thought he'd at least say something like “You're misunderstanding the situation.” On the other hand, his girlfriend said the two of them call and text each other every day. Even in this first volume, it's made clear that good people don't lead other good people on. When Ninako learns that Ren already has a girlfriend and that her feelings might never be reciprocated, she doesn't turn to Daiki instead. She tells him the truth, because to do otherwise would potentially hurt Daiki worse. If this is what good people do, then what's going on with Ren? He's supposed to be a good guy, so he doesn't strike me as the type who'd continue to call and text his girlfriend while nursing budding feelings for Ninako.
I liked that Ninako was honest about her feelings, once she finally figured out what they were. A lot of shoujo heroines would have remained conflicted, allowing the misunderstandings to grow to the point that finally telling the truth would hurt multiple people. Ninako doesn't let that happen. I also liked that Ninako's friends accepted her decision and didn't continue to pressure her into becoming Daiki's girlfriend. I had worried that Daiki would be the sort to blow up on Ninako when she finally made her feelings and her decision crystal clear. That didn't happen, and I appreciated that, too.
So, there were definitely things to like about this volume. It just didn't grab me as much as it should have. Ninako actively turned me off for most of the volume, Ren is still too much of a mystery (and not really in a “I must know more!” kind of way), and many of the characters don't have much personality yet. Ninako's friend might as well have been an amorphous blob – I couldn't pick any individuals out, and didn't realize the one character late in the volume was one of her friends until I started checking names prior to writing this post. The artwork is okay, but something about the way Sakisaka draws the girls (and, to some extent, the boys) makes it hard for me to tell them apart.
I'm on the fence about whether I'll read more of this series. Ren and Ninako's moments together were cute, but the same could be said about a lot of shoujo couples. If I do read more, it will be via ILL.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
awexis's review against another edition
5.0
I don't remember when did I first read this manga. I think last two years ago? or something. But I absolutely love this series from the start. I like Ninako very much and of course, Ren!!!
theromanticace's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
2.0
This review is for volumes 1-6. I really had to force myself to keep reading these. First of all, I am not a manga fan. Reading left to right is so ingrained in me that I kept reading the panels in the wrong order and having to go back and reread. The whole "I love him/her, but he/she doesn't like me back" got old pretty quickly. Twelve year old girls might like this series, but I did not.
absentminded_reader's review against another edition
4.0
Now that I've read as much of Sakisaka's early work as I can find, I'm giving this series, my first introduction to her work, a second reading.
I have been struck by her skillful use of moment to moment transitions with aspect transitions added for emphasis. She specializes in close-ups, giving each moment intense intimacy, but she doesn't overdo it. She uses collages within one panel a great deal to mingle setting details with emotional close-ups. She'll fill a page with facial close-ups during an intense scene, but bookend the scene with aspect transitions that also serve to establish setting.
Ninako's character grew in this volume as well, but is perhaps the only weak point of this manga. She's profoundly naive in the beginning, unbelievably so, but meeting the love of her dreams changes her. By the end of the volume she becomes less passive and more likable, but the transition was a bit abrupt.
When I become intimidated by Sakisaka's skill, I remind myself now of the long journey she has traveled to get to this point of excellence, and how many one shots she experimented with to develop her current style. Not all of them were winners. In fact, many were full, but they all served to train her. This much talent takes years to develop.
I have been struck by her skillful use of moment to moment transitions with aspect transitions added for emphasis. She specializes in close-ups, giving each moment intense intimacy, but she doesn't overdo it. She uses collages within one panel a great deal to mingle setting details with emotional close-ups. She'll fill a page with facial close-ups during an intense scene, but bookend the scene with aspect transitions that also serve to establish setting.
Ninako's character grew in this volume as well, but is perhaps the only weak point of this manga. She's profoundly naive in the beginning, unbelievably so, but meeting the love of her dreams changes her. By the end of the volume she becomes less passive and more likable, but the transition was a bit abrupt.
When I become intimidated by Sakisaka's skill, I remind myself now of the long journey she has traveled to get to this point of excellence, and how many one shots she experimented with to develop her current style. Not all of them were winners. In fact, many were full, but they all served to train her. This much talent takes years to develop.
nee311's review against another edition
3.0
I like this story thus far. Didn’t have any cringe moments and found the story to be cute so far. Side note the authors page on her random thoughts made me lol, could definitely relate. Aside from that I like Ninako’s character. Her wanting to avoid her friend Daiki once she realizes what she’s feels for him isn’t the same as his and just the eventual laying it out there versus dragging it out. And I like the quietness of Ren but that’s probably what makes him so appealing in a way (being the quiet, mysterious, reserved guy). Will be checking out the next volume.
tanyxscreams's review against another edition
2.0
Nina is such a bella! She can't decide anything for herself. The guys were developed enough, and it was well-drawn, but the only thing drawing me to the second volume is the ending and boredom.