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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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:
Yes
I love when a series can get in tell it's story and leave me feeling just about anything in under say 20 to 25 volumes. I think it's a testament to the skill of the mangaka in worldbuilding, character writing, and in their art. Hell's Paradise is joining my favorite series up there with Tokyo ghoul and Demon Slayer. In a way this series is also reminiscent of Jeff VanderMeer's Area X series of books which I also really enjoyed.
Using the concept of Tao as a magical source was something I hadn't seen before. I found that the give and take nature had me constantly on edge, worrying for characters as they had to burn drastic amounts of their life force to overcome dreadful monstrosities.
The monster design was great in this series as well! I love a big monster and Hell's Paradise gave me PLENTY! The transformation and ensuing fight scenes were captivating. The degree of detail in their appearance and how it connected to the underlying nature of the transformed was well done. I found the tactics used to fell a umber of this enormous beings to be believable withing the rules of the world and found it exciting seeing the human cast come together to take on otherworldly foes in hopes of escaping.
On a more personal level this story asks questions of the criminal justice system, relating to executions and whether people can truly change. The series almost went down a peg because one of the characters called a darker skin character a gorilla. When I read this I was tempted to put the book down altogether but this was in I think volume 10 or 11 out of 13 so I kept going as I was too far to turn back now. I'm glad I kept going. In further reading it became evident that the mangaka was drawing on realistic feelings at the time and it was a part of what made that character stand so closely to her beliefs and to her allies who in a way taught her self acceptance in the face of the time periods racist ideologies.
Using the concept of Tao as a magical source was something I hadn't seen before. I found that the give and take nature had me constantly on edge, worrying for characters as they had to burn drastic amounts of their life force to overcome dreadful monstrosities.
The monster design was great in this series as well! I love a big monster and Hell's Paradise gave me PLENTY! The transformation and ensuing fight scenes were captivating. The degree of detail in their appearance and how it connected to the underlying nature of the transformed was well done. I found the tactics used to fell a umber of this enormous beings to be believable withing the rules of the world and found it exciting seeing the human cast come together to take on otherworldly foes in hopes of escaping.
On a more personal level this story asks questions of the criminal justice system, relating to executions and whether people can truly change. The series almost went down a peg because one of the characters called a darker skin character a gorilla. When I read this I was tempted to put the book down altogether but this was in I think volume 10 or 11 out of 13 so I kept going as I was too far to turn back now. I'm glad I kept going. In further reading it became evident that the mangaka was drawing on realistic feelings at the time and it was a part of what made that character stand so closely to her beliefs and to her allies who in a way taught her self acceptance in the face of the time periods racist ideologies.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
i’m sad this is the end
this series was such a great fast read. heartwarming last volume every single character is my bff
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Fire/Fire injury
A solid ending.
I was actually surprised more people didn't die. I guess I was expecting it, so when it didn't happen I was taken aback. Also surprised how the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly. Saying that, I loved the villain's motivation, the art is gorgeous, and the people I did enjoy actually got mostly a happy ending here.
So sometimes it's okay to be happy. A 3.5 out of 5, bump it to a 4.
I was actually surprised more people didn't die. I guess I was expecting it, so when it didn't happen I was taken aback. Also surprised how the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly. Saying that, I loved the villain's motivation, the art is gorgeous, and the people I did enjoy actually got mostly a happy ending here.
So sometimes it's okay to be happy. A 3.5 out of 5, bump it to a 4.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
tense
fast-paced
This may be one of the best battle manga out there due to it’s concise plotting, moving story about doubt and love, and badass fights with wicked cool characters. I love a religious story and the way this one plays fast and loose with religious imagery is pretty cool in my book. The final fight was really everything I could of asked for, epic in scale with a supposedly unstoppable boss where everyone comes together for the fight. There was a stretch of 15 pages where not a single word was used and this just really hit home the sheer level of godlike power they were up against. The fact that they ultimately beat Rien by appealing to her humanity was a greatly heartwarming if bot somewhat cheesy end to the fight. I liked that it was because Gabimaru saw that she had a husband and thought that the two of them could relate in their do anything for their partner kind of love. I was really happy with how the series had most of the main cast make it through, this was the kind of sappy ending I wanted and needed. The final part where we saw everyone now was really fun and lent itself to the goofy yet serious tone of the serious. I loved seeing Gabimaru sleep and Yui, Yuzuriha, and Sagiri chatting while in the cute little mountain farmhouse. What a top tier series with some super duper characters!