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diifacto's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
cschinke's review
3.0
Fun read, but it comes across more like a highlight reel. However, having seen the first two films of this saga, I know that there were highlights left out. It's a nice companion for fans but not much more.
rnbhargava's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is a highly influential manga that also has an associated highly influential anime. It’s a really good read but it’s absolutely affected by how much you might be familiar with later manga and anime that we’re inspired by this. It might make some things seem derivative when they’re not. The pacing is a mixed bag between slow to medium to quite fast. If you were to compare this book to a major North American science fiction franchise I would say maybe “Star Trek” but with more sexual innuendos and a slightly darker storytelling sensibility. It’s really good, in fact I would recommend for people to read this. The pacing though is where this book lives or dies. It worked for me ultimately but some may find it entirely slow given most manga and anime today are extremely fast paced. Also, the last story section at the end of the book feels like it should be somewhere within the book chronologically but it’s still enjoyable. The whole story ends on a cliffhanger anyway regardless.
P.S. the book is actually 648 pages not including blank dark blue end sheets on either side of the book.
P.S. the book is actually 648 pages not including blank dark blue end sheets on either side of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and War
The content warnings for misogyny and sexism are more to do with outdated cultural thinking. That said, the sexism and oversexualization of female characters has arguably become worse in manga as the years have passed so just be aware it’s present in this book but in arguably a softer way than what is often published now.
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