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A review by dame_samara
Blackguard 1 by Ryo Hanada
1.0
Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, and Self Harm are basically all anyone talks about in this book.
Other Content Warnings: Attempted Murder, Blood, Death, Depression, and Violence.
I don't know why I kept reading this like I legitimately spent 3/4 of this book gritting my teeth thru reading. 1. It's sad to know that mental health stigma/treatment is just as bad in 2070 as in 2020, if not worse. 2. Apparently, someone's suicidal ideation is what people just spend their lives thinking about to an obsessive amount.
This was incredibly disappointing as someone whose experience with suicidal ideation is quite similar to Minami's, where it is always there but primarily passive.
The fact that Hanada chose to only focus on the suicidality also means that we are missing out on the opportunity for growth because Minami's depression is obviously not being successfully treated and is; as a result, a husk of a human being. This man does not have any hobbies, does not take days off, and eats solely nutrition cubes whose flavors are basically decided by RNG.
This choice to only focus on a symptom rather than the illness as a whole also means that when we have a moment that should have been impactful and an actual realization for Minami, it ends up falling flat. For example, not being his time to die could have been an impactful and thought-provoking moment for Minami.
My final and possibly biggest peeve is the entire last half of this book. Anyone who has been through any mental health triage training will tell you it never hurts to ask someone if they are considering killing themselves. By doing so, you will not be giving them the idea. Hanada takes this knowledge and burns it to the ground.
While there is some difference in how this question is presented by the antagonist vs. how it would be by someone meaning to help. The fact that Hanada chose that to be the reason that Minami spirals was infuriating. Especially when you hear that he hadn't previously considered methods of killing himself outside of dying in the line of duty.
The world is intriguing, but everything else is honestly hot garbage, and I hate it.
Other Content Warnings: Attempted Murder, Blood, Death, Depression, and Violence.
I don't know why I kept reading this like I legitimately spent 3/4 of this book gritting my teeth thru reading. 1. It's sad to know that mental health stigma/treatment is just as bad in 2070 as in 2020, if not worse. 2. Apparently, someone's suicidal ideation is what people just spend their lives thinking about to an obsessive amount.
This was incredibly disappointing as someone whose experience with suicidal ideation is quite similar to Minami's, where it is always there but primarily passive.
The fact that Hanada chose to only focus on the suicidality also means that we are missing out on the opportunity for growth because Minami's depression is obviously not being successfully treated and is; as a result, a husk of a human being. This man does not have any hobbies, does not take days off, and eats solely nutrition cubes whose flavors are basically decided by RNG.
This choice to only focus on a symptom rather than the illness as a whole also means that when we have a moment that should have been impactful and an actual realization for Minami, it ends up falling flat. For example, not being his time to die could have been an impactful and thought-provoking moment for Minami.
My final and possibly biggest peeve is the entire last half of this book. Anyone who has been through any mental health triage training will tell you it never hurts to ask someone if they are considering killing themselves. By doing so, you will not be giving them the idea. Hanada takes this knowledge and burns it to the ground.
While there is some difference in how this question is presented by the antagonist vs. how it would be by someone meaning to help. The fact that Hanada chose that to be the reason that Minami spirals was infuriating. Especially when you hear that he hadn't previously considered methods of killing himself outside of dying in the line of duty.
The world is intriguing, but everything else is honestly hot garbage, and I hate it.