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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
There was much in this story that touched on the craziness that surrounds an idol, showing the reader the sadder side of the industry. That was much appreciated, as the story progressed, putting those moments in the forefront. What that can do to a person, and the need many have felt for a different appearance, different name, a forgotten face.
But, it also felt a little out of sync, as some scenes weren't made clear, the order of it, flashbacks and all. Or, the fruition of it all just wasn't what it could have been. It didn't take much from the story, but it did create a bit of a disconnect for me as the reader. Not only that, but visually a bit confusing with the issues at hand. The manga comes off as cute and adorable, which is what many manga's are like, but it wasn't necessarily fitting to the theme.
All in all, it was still a captivating story, with many truths, and difficult hard-hitting topics, just wish it was brought forth in a different format than manga. Not sure how I feel about there being a cliffhanger, requiring more volumes to be written. Since it's something that had me in the in-between with this one already, I might not be choosing to pick up the next. It's possibly just not something for me, at least as mentioned, not in this format.
***I received this copy from VIZ Media LLC, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
But, it also felt a little out of sync, as some scenes weren't made clear, the order of it, flashbacks and all. Or, the fruition of it all just wasn't what it could have been. It didn't take much from the story, but it did create a bit of a disconnect for me as the reader. Not only that, but visually a bit confusing with the issues at hand. The manga comes off as cute and adorable, which is what many manga's are like, but it wasn't necessarily fitting to the theme.
All in all, it was still a captivating story, with many truths, and difficult hard-hitting topics, just wish it was brought forth in a different format than manga. Not sure how I feel about there being a cliffhanger, requiring more volumes to be written. Since it's something that had me in the in-between with this one already, I might not be choosing to pick up the next. It's possibly just not something for me, at least as mentioned, not in this format.
***I received this copy from VIZ Media LLC, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
We follow Nina Kamiyama as she tries to forget her life as an Idol, and to move past the trauma she suffered as one. Idol girls are forced to abandon a lot of things or they end up getting kicked out for not being everyone's idol. When whispers of a man groping high school girls starts going around it sends Nina into reliving things she's been trying to forget. She's not really popular in school and perfers to be left alone. When one of the girls she knows gets sexually 'attacked' and blows it off as nothing it makes Nina angry and upset that she acts like it's okay and that's how the world is. I do enjoy the story Aoi Makino is sharing with everyone and I think it reveals a lot in our world today as girls/woman of all ages are dealing with these type of advances. I can't wait for Volume 2 to come out!
I definitely wanted to like this more, and while it had all the ambitions in setting up some very good insight into idols and the dark side of fandoms/abusers/enablers/etc/etc, I was left wanting more.
Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC of this manga. All opinions are my own. I liked this graphic novel but had a few concerns about some of the violence in it. I loved the gender fluidity and standing up for yourself, but some of the story felt a bit too much like a victim shaming.
Thank you, NetGalley, for a complimentary copy of this manga!
Wow, just wow!!! I read this one in one sitting...not only because it was a short read, but I got sucked into the story!! I felt for Karen and Tsuji and I love Hikaru! The story is fantastic and I can't wait to read the next one! The graphics were great as well. I loved the "background images" when the MCs were remembering the past. The manga was well-written and addressed touchy subjects, such as assault, gender expectations, and the struggles in the aftermath of such incidents really well...the fears, the problems trusting people, the desire to change your appearance--all that was portrait well in this book!
Wow, just wow!!! I read this one in one sitting...not only because it was a short read, but I got sucked into the story!! I felt for Karen and Tsuji and I love Hikaru! The story is fantastic and I can't wait to read the next one! The graphics were great as well. I loved the "background images" when the MCs were remembering the past. The manga was well-written and addressed touchy subjects, such as assault, gender expectations, and the struggles in the aftermath of such incidents really well...the fears, the problems trusting people, the desire to change your appearance--all that was portrait well in this book!
When I read this years ago I enjoyed it. But looking back, and rereading it, I couldn't get through it. The constant male bullying, female and victim bashing, and the over and over trope of "she asked for it" when a character gets sa'ed is too much. When an author uses that as one of the only tropes it makes you start to think that that's how they feel. And then there was the "romance" that NEEDED to happen with the main character and one of the male leads which felt contrived and unnecessary. Like the main NEEDED the man and the romance to "become a proper girl again". The whole thing made me feel icky. So I'm going to say no to this one and to the second one as well.
This is the first Manga that I've read in a very long time (probably around 10 years) but it was a fantastic entry point back into that genre! It looks at a lot of issues such as feminism and masculinity in such a brilliant way - I never felt that it was too heavy at any point but it also didn't take it lightly. This is actually more of a 4.5 stars but I did feel in some places that it wasn't cohesive and I struggled for a few panels tom understand what was going on but other than that, it was a fantastic read. It does contain abuse from fan (SPOILER: he cuts her arm with a knife) but the actual scene is shown once and mentioned a few times if that could be an issue for you. I also really liked how it had 2 separate perspectives on the whole groping situation and although it's frustrating to listen to what i thought was a ridiculous excuse for the groping, it was so great to also have it included.
This is a fantastic, suspenseful manga and I can't wait for the second volume to come out!
This is a fantastic, suspenseful manga and I can't wait for the second volume to come out!
Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC of this manga. All opinions are my own. I liked this graphic novel but had a few concerns about some of the violence in it. I loved the gender fluidity and standing up for yourself, but some of the story felt a bit too much like a victim shaming.
A #MeToo manga with a dark mystery/psychological thriller plot. I dug it, but at the same time it hit close to home. Definitely an older manga read for your high schoolers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of the ARC which I received in exchange for an honest review.
Nina Kamiyama was living her best life as Karen, an idol in the famous Pure Club, but all that changed when she was attacked by a crazed fan. Fearing for her life she withdrew from the public eye. She had decided to no longer recognize herself as female in public. Even going as far as to appear as a boy at her new high school.
Most of the students shun and ignore her presence. Has she becomes comfortable in her new life she is befriended by a classmate who knows more about her than he should. As she fears her identity may be revealed she grows closer to her new friend, but nothing could have prepared her for what is to happen.
The writing is smart and fast paced, building a sense of dread as the story progressed. Character development is thoughtful and well placed as flash-backs through out the story.
I really enjoyed reading as Nina's story began to unfold. I was drawn in to the suspense and felt her emotions has the story progressed. Highly adictive read that left off on a cliff hanger that has me dying to know how it will turn out.
Nina Kamiyama was living her best life as Karen, an idol in the famous Pure Club, but all that changed when she was attacked by a crazed fan. Fearing for her life she withdrew from the public eye. She had decided to no longer recognize herself as female in public. Even going as far as to appear as a boy at her new high school.
Most of the students shun and ignore her presence. Has she becomes comfortable in her new life she is befriended by a classmate who knows more about her than he should. As she fears her identity may be revealed she grows closer to her new friend, but nothing could have prepared her for what is to happen.
The writing is smart and fast paced, building a sense of dread as the story progressed. Character development is thoughtful and well placed as flash-backs through out the story.
I really enjoyed reading as Nina's story began to unfold. I was drawn in to the suspense and felt her emotions has the story progressed. Highly adictive read that left off on a cliff hanger that has me dying to know how it will turn out.