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myra_rue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brambresseleers's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thisotherbookaccount's review
3.0
Funnily enough, even though this volume is devoid of action (there are two 'fights', but one is super one-sided, and the other ends before it begins), I really only have one major complaint: Rin.
To preface my complaint, I want to say that later volumes may very well change my mind about Rin as a character. However, as it stands at volume four, Rin's weakness/helplessness is only half as infuriating as her indecision to proceed with her revenge plot. In book one, we learn that both her parents were murderer before her eyes, and she later spends two years training up just to seek revenge on those responsible. Throughout the first four volumes, however, Rin constantly goes back and forth as to whether she wants to proceed with her revenge plot. Maybe it has less to do with Rin as a character, but more to do with the way the writer has failed to express the internal conflict. It's just not very clear what Rin has in mind most of the time. She's a passive character that kind of reminds me of Sansa. Even when she is actively pursuing a goal, you never quite know what she is trying to do — and not in the mysterious way, either. More clueless and naive, really.
Other than that, I don't have major complaints. Volume 4 seems like yet another here's-another-bad-guy-to-fight plot. Let's hope subsequent volumes move away from this conceit.
To preface my complaint, I want to say that later volumes may very well change my mind about Rin as a character. However, as it stands at volume four, Rin's weakness/helplessness is only half as infuriating as her indecision to proceed with her revenge plot. In book one, we learn that both her parents were murderer before her eyes, and she later spends two years training up just to seek revenge on those responsible. Throughout the first four volumes, however, Rin constantly goes back and forth as to whether she wants to proceed with her revenge plot. Maybe it has less to do with Rin as a character, but more to do with the way the writer has failed to express the internal conflict. It's just not very clear what Rin has in mind most of the time. She's a passive character that kind of reminds me of Sansa. Even when she is actively pursuing a goal, you never quite know what she is trying to do — and not in the mysterious way, either. More clueless and naive, really.
Other than that, I don't have major complaints. Volume 4 seems like yet another here's-another-bad-guy-to-fight plot. Let's hope subsequent volumes move away from this conceit.
floyd_jpg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
crookedtreehouse's review
5.0
The first half contains the first major turn in the story as we get to see the main villain from the story explain his side of things while having one of thr protagonists completely at his mercy. And, yes, he monologues, but he doesn't monologue an evil plan or talk about what a genius he is. His monologue explains why he's done the things that the protagonists think of as Terrible. And, they still are pretty terrible. But, like Magneto in better X-Men stories, you can tell that he thinks he's doing the right thing. And it's not too much of a stretch to things from his perspective.
The second half deals with the reprecussions of the first half and how it causes the characters to evolve.
If you like a long form story where, instead of repeating the same scenarios in slightly different fashion, the characters actually adapt to a changing environment, confront their shortcomings, and grow, then this is the manga story for you.
The second half deals with the reprecussions of the first half and how it causes the characters to evolve.
If you like a long form story where, instead of repeating the same scenarios in slightly different fashion, the characters actually adapt to a changing environment, confront their shortcomings, and grow, then this is the manga story for you.
machowska555's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
count_zero's review against another edition
4.0
Rin and Kagehisa finally meet face to face for the first time in this volume, and it makes for one hell of an encounter. I'd kind of compare it to the diner scene between De Niro and Pacino in Heat, to a certain degree - in terms of tension, and in terms of how the two characters really end up talking about why they do what they do, and how that makes them similar and different.
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