A review by rnbhargava
Perfect World, Volume 3 by Rie Aruga

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This volume is really good, the main couple are trying to persevere in their relationship despite physical distance and through their own respective health struggles. Also, rivals for their individual affections really make themselves more present in this volume. You kind of end up in a love/hate relationship with these rivals as they are given character dimensions too. Some character choices in our mains are a bit frustrating hence I dinged it down to 4 but the story is excellent throughout and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Sexism

Moderate: Body horror, Car accident, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Terminal illness

These themes on the triggers are all there, much of it is kind of passive aggressive, only between certain characters in technically somewhat private settings and they all directly inform the plot. The main couple is getting threats to their relationship from all sides despite the volume starting on a fairly positive note. It gets a bit frustrating seeing how they don’t clue into all these threats to them a bit faster but I guess there’s a certain amount of realism in that. Loving this series so far.