Reviews

I think I'll start with my favourite part of this series, which I still adore and will always love, and that is its concept. I've had so many people tell me that something like this would never happen, there is no way that the government would start banning different forms of media and it would get to a point where we need to get soldiers involved, this is so ridiculous, blah blah blah. To me, hearing people say stuff like this, is actually the ridiculous part. Obviously, this is a work of fiction, but it doesn't stray far enough away from reality for me to find it ridiculous or impossible. People have fought wars for the right to speak and to read books in their mother tongue - just look at any Language Movement. There are countries that have banned billion-dollar films, animated films, from being released in their country because of a 10-second scene featuring a gay couple. The Indian film industry still has a censor board. Banned books exist pretty much everywhere around the world. Just last week, I went into a bookstore and the first thing I saw on display were banned books, and because this series had still been on my mind I couldn't help but think of living in the world of Library Wars and how this bookstore would've been demolished by the MBC. I don't care how silly this sounds to people, the central plot of this series is something that I will always be attached to and I don't like that people dismiss it because it's part of a romance series for teens. Get over yourself.

That being said, I haven't read this book in years, which is insane because I love this series, but this first volume is not as amazing as I remember it. Don't get me wrong, I still had fun with the book, but there were a lot of times where I was like "oh I don't like this... and I don't remember it either."

I remember Iku needing to grow up and develop for me to truly root for her beyond just being the main character, however, I completely blocked out just how arrogant she was. It's not her naivety that annoyed me, truly, it was her arrogance. I can appreciate her being confident in her abilities, but once it becomes obnoxious I'm over it, I have zero desire to empathize with a character.

I forgot what an asshole Tezuka was in the beginning, I swear he's a lot more chill in later novels, I refuse to even want to understand his perspective, he's unreasonably mean. ~~(In another life, they would've absolutely been a thing, my dumb ass thought he was gonna be the second love interest when I first read this book, that is the only thing I remember.)~~

I also forgot about their wilderness survival thing, just literally no recollection whatsoever. In other parts of the book I was kind of like 'oh yeahhhhhh', but here I was like 'is this a new edition or something?'

At the end of the day, this book was fine. I'm pretty sure this first time I've re-read it so I'm shocked that I even recognized certain parts. I want to end off by saying that Iku and Dojo are my favourite height difference couple. I love couples with height differences, but theirs is definitely one of my all-time favourites. Poor Dojo trying to comfort her by patting her on the head and her just being like 'damn, you're really short'.

ivorypalaceprincess's review against another edition

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5.0

This has got to be one of my favorite manga series ever! The two main characters- Iku and Dojo- are beyond adorable (I'll resist fangirling over them much as I'm tempted), the plot is compelling and original, and the supporting cast is well fleshed out and believable.

I will admit it's a tad predictable at times- there's a secret I guessed in the first volume that you don't find out until volume seven or eight.
And, this volume contains some language and a little bit of violence- but nothing anywhere near graphic.

Overall, it's a fun and compelling read with great characters and an exciting, well done plot ^_^

ivorypalaceprincess's review against another edition

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5.0

The hold this series has on me

meredythp's review against another edition

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2.0

My first manga! I read this for book riot’s read harder challenge, and I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t have picked up manga on my own. It did take some getting used to, reading right to left. Interesting concept with this one, but I don’t feel inclined to keep reading the series.

bookwyrmknits's review against another edition

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3.5

This is an amusing manga, though a lot of it feels like set-up since this is volume one of a series. I think the characters will be quite amusing to watch as the series goes on, and the concept (where librarians have to literally fight the government over censorship) is enjoyable to read as well.

bobbiereads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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