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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 Stars
Okay so this series seems to be going down a half star for every volume I read, which isn't a great sign. Unfortunately, I think I'm not going to get what I was hoping to from this series and I might have to call it a day. I do want to continue on since they're so quick and easy but it's pointless since it's not what I was hoping for and doesn't seem to be getting there in any way at all. There are really weird dynamics that I just don't understand and we don't seem to be getting any explanation for and I don't think I'm willing to read loads of volumes to find out when it is something that could so easily be addressed much quicker than what this series is doing.
Okay so this series seems to be going down a half star for every volume I read, which isn't a great sign. Unfortunately, I think I'm not going to get what I was hoping to from this series and I might have to call it a day. I do want to continue on since they're so quick and easy but it's pointless since it's not what I was hoping for and doesn't seem to be getting there in any way at all. There are really weird dynamics that I just don't understand and we don't seem to be getting any explanation for and I don't think I'm willing to read loads of volumes to find out when it is something that could so easily be addressed much quicker than what this series is doing.
No sé com he acabat llegint una altra saga de Shuzo Oshimi, però em sento igual que durant l'època que només llegia Paul Auster: enganxadíssima a històries que tenen massa semblances les unes amb les altres, tant pel que fa a la trama com sobretot als personatges. És impossible no veure semblances entre el Yohei, el Kasugo (Aku no hana) i el Makoto (Happiness): són bàsicament el mateix arquetip de personatge. També hi ha aquesta atmosfera tèrbola, fosca, subterrània al voltant dels personatges, que no saps si tenen un punt de maldat, si és que se senten sols i desemparats en el món, si s'avorreixen, si estan malament del cap o una barreja de tot plegat. En cas, però, em sembla molt refrescant la premissa, tot i que veurem quin tractament fa l'autor d'aquesta cerca i descoberta de la identitat sexual dels protes. Em sembla entreveure una nova concepció de la masculinitat, menys tòxica i fràgil, així com una exploració al no binarisme i la identitat trans. Encuriosida i amb ganes d'acabar-la! ♥ (chapter 33)
Review for the whole series:
This is such a wild read. This series absolutely has to be paired with the author's notes that appear at the end of each volume. It puts a lot of stuff into context.
The "romance" in the series is so back seat to literally everything else going on in the manga. This isn't about a love triangle between childhood friends, this is about Oshimi's own struggle with what it means to be a man. Kei and Yui are not people, they are the two paths of masculinity that Yohei has to choose from. Kei is the ambiguous agender/gender queer departure from strict social expectations that are required to be masculine in the world. Kei represents freedom, an escape from gender all together. This is desirable but not an easy choice to make. Yui is the path of traditional masculine gender identity and masculine sexuality. Things that happen to Yui and Yohei are basically direct translations of Oshimi's own sexual trauma around masculinity. And this struggle between the two paths is represented by a love triangle, which i think its pretty powerful and brilliant.
Then there is Yohei themselves, who is struggling with gender and body dysphoria. Kei and Yui also seem to represent Yohei's struggle between his sexuality and his gender desires. There is a REALLY intense scene during the final volume that just blows my mind and feels like the perfect physical manifestation of this struggle for Yohei. It was honestly amazing.
With that out of the way, this series is going to make you uncomfortable. This manga has sexual assault and dubious consent. I would not say it is full blown rape but its uncomfortable for sure and its suppose to be. There is also self harm in the form of self mutilation. Even with all of this, the manga really made me think about my own gender experience, and while I don't really identify with Oshimi's struggle, this was still such a good read. I literally binged it in like 2 days. Recommend if you can handle it.
dark
emotional
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual violence
This series is so underrated right now.
Oshimi is a master inking emotions to the paper and it takes courage to write a story like this.
Yo really needs to drop Mitani. She's a mess. She'll only make him drown in her abyss of gaslighting. She plays for the "Me and only me first team" and Yo needs to figure out that quick.
Kei has a very strong personality and is a great friend to Yo. Yo needs to realize that.
Great series!
Oshimi is a master inking emotions to the paper and it takes courage to write a story like this.
Yo really needs to drop Mitani. She's a mess. She'll only make him drown in her abyss of gaslighting. She plays for the "Me and only me first team" and Yo needs to figure out that quick.
Kei has a very strong personality and is a great friend to Yo. Yo needs to realize that.
Great series!
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This is my third ever manga series which doesn’t say much cause I just started reading manga last month but I cannot put this series down. I will read anything Oshimi puts out at this point. I want to root for Kei and and Yo but I’m like worried it’s gonna end so bad why do I do this to myself. Also I want to know what the hell is going on with Mitani, girl needs a hug and a nap.