rlobel's reviews
83 reviews

Berserk volume 1 by Kentaro Miura is the start of an intriguing story that highlights a character with intense beliefs and perceptions of the world around him, driving him toward his vehement goals. As someone who mostly reads novels, Manga is definitely a new type of medium for me; however, when I stumbled across Berserk, I found myself wanting to learn more about its world and characters. Miura created a riveting epic fantasy, with a world inspired by medieval Europe, portrayed in a constant barbarous and remorseless nature. The Manga follows Guts, a mercenary, who is a questionable character as we get to know him. From the very first page, it is quite clear that Guts is not a hero because of the situations he puts himself in. As a fantasy, Berserk's world is filled with demons and higher beings, called apostles, that prey on the weak, and through the pages, we follow Guts as he hunts and fights these demons and apostles as a way to reach a higher goal of his. This first volume doesn’t reveal much about Guts except the importance of his values surrounding brutality and war that revolve around his belief that the weak deserve to die and those strong enough will fight until their death. Though there’s still yet to learn about what Guts’ goal is, it’s disclosed that he is searching for the five members of the Godhand. As a reader, we don’t know who or what that entails; however, it is implied that this goal of his has something to do with his brutal past that Miura has yet to unveil.

Berserk volume 1 was an enthralling start to this new adventure. The book had me on the edge of my seat with every page. Even though Guts is not someone to look up to, you can’t help but root for him, even through his monstrous traits. The illustrations were absolutely stunning with the angles that Miura decided to portray, and the fight scenes make the manga worthwhile. If Berserk was created as a novel, its story wouldn’t flow the same because the visual contrast of black and white, and the facial expressions that reveal an underlying portion of who Guts is make up how the entire story is perceived by each individual person. The only critique I have on this piece is that I wish it was longer so that there was more revealed about the plot. As someone who hates a rushed story, I’m glad Miura let us soak in who Guts is before revealing too much of the story before the time was right. However, to have this volume longer could have shown more of the plot that I’m so desperately wanting. Still, I’m excited to pick up volume 2 and continue on with this barbaric, yet thrilling adventure, and to learn more about Guts and what makes him truly tick as a gruesome fighter. Overall, Berserk had me hooked till the very end, and I have no choice but to give this volume 5/5 stars.

Content Warnings

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

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emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

5.0

The Poppy War is the first book of its trilogy. The series is based on Chinese culture and history, specifically mirroring the second Sino-Japanese War. The series follows a war orphan, Fang Runin (Rin). The book begins with her taking the keju, which is a nationwide test to find the most talented youth to learn in the academies across the Empire of Nikan. Rin, having the highest score in her province, gets accepted to the most prestigious military academy, Sinegard. For a good chunk of the book, we follow Rin and her journey throughout the school years, and the discrimination she endures from being a dark skinned orphan, from a low province. But the petty squabbles of academic rivalry shift for Rin when she discovers she has the rare ability of a Shaman to call the power of one the Gods, that have been assumed myth. To make matters more complex, a second poppy war breaks out, with Nikan's longest enemy, Mugen. Now, with this newfound power, she becomes a military weapon, but with power comes a price, and Rin might have to pay with her own sanity.

The Poppy War is a rich and beautifully vivid book that creates a gorgeous fantasy from the very real events that occurred in our own world. Rin's character arc was brilliant in the way we saw a determined girl turn into a powerful soldier of war. The magic system was so intricate as it intertwined with religion and the very severe consequences that are given if used. I found some of the events shocking to read, and it was even more shocking to find out that the majority of it was based on very real tragedies. This is a phenomenal epic fantasy, but I would highly recommend researching its trigger warnings before picking it up. I can't wait to read The Poppy War's sequel, The Dragon Republic, and to follow Rin's journey in vengeance and fire. Again, incredible read 5/5⭐️.

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rlobel's reviews 83 reviews

rlobel's reviews
83 reviews