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the_sunken_library's review against another edition
4.0
A disturbing and chaotic read.
This tale is based around a chilling myth that in the local area a young girl, who is repeatedly reincarnated, appears with the ability to predict the future and announces that a monster lives in a tunnel that will bring about the end of the world. The townsfolk, fearful of this revelation, sacrifice the girl and her reincarnations to appease the creature, not realising that with each death it grows ever larger.
This myth and it's telling leads the main character, a beautiful yet disturbing pale child, to be thrown down a well by her school mates where upon she slips into a coma and there remains until the end of the book. However, even though she is now silenced, her actions and her story live on through her affect and interactions with the school bully, a suicidal boy in her class and a man who is revealed as raping her just the year before she was "sacrificed".
This book is particularly complicated and disjointed as there are multiple time lines that Asano jumps through and the story's narrator seems to switch randomly as well. It's a book to be read slowly and more than once and it takes some careful consideration to understand what is "real" and what isn't, who is who and how they are all related and whether the ethereal yet violence inspiring butterflies are the creature or simply an unusual ecological qwerk.
You will walk away with a feeling of doubt about what you have read, confusion about the seemingly uncaring violence that springs up sporadically throughout and a feeling of disturbance about how so much of the violent behaviour is directed at this one child/woman for no real reason whatsoever.
It would have got 5 stars of it had been a little less disjointed and had not lent so heavily on violence and rape to get its message across.
This tale is based around a chilling myth that in the local area a young girl, who is repeatedly reincarnated, appears with the ability to predict the future and announces that a monster lives in a tunnel that will bring about the end of the world. The townsfolk, fearful of this revelation, sacrifice the girl and her reincarnations to appease the creature, not realising that with each death it grows ever larger.
This myth and it's telling leads the main character, a beautiful yet disturbing pale child, to be thrown down a well by her school mates where upon she slips into a coma and there remains until the end of the book. However, even though she is now silenced, her actions and her story live on through her affect and interactions with the school bully, a suicidal boy in her class and a man who is revealed as raping her just the year before she was "sacrificed".
This book is particularly complicated and disjointed as there are multiple time lines that Asano jumps through and the story's narrator seems to switch randomly as well. It's a book to be read slowly and more than once and it takes some careful consideration to understand what is "real" and what isn't, who is who and how they are all related and whether the ethereal yet violence inspiring butterflies are the creature or simply an unusual ecological qwerk.
You will walk away with a feeling of doubt about what you have read, confusion about the seemingly uncaring violence that springs up sporadically throughout and a feeling of disturbance about how so much of the violent behaviour is directed at this one child/woman for no real reason whatsoever.
It would have got 5 stars of it had been a little less disjointed and had not lent so heavily on violence and rape to get its message across.
kuronekostea's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, and Blood
Moderate: Pedophilia, Gore, Child abuse, Death, and Rape
sarahrnr's review against another edition
5.0
Me ha gustado mucho, las obras de Inio siempre me transmiten mucha calma, y que las cosas son como son por que si, la parte espiritual si que me ha costado un poco mas entenderla y no se si me lo tendré que leer otra vez para entender más cosas, pero es muy interesante. Me he quedado sin saber que decir, no se cómo describirlo ni decir que pasa, sin historias de gente y la gente tiene su vida y su parte espiritual y en este manga lo muestra, creo que esta es la mejor manera de describirlo
humnak's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This manga is the prime example why mangas are not for kids specifically the ones like these! So so mind boggling. My first manga from inio asano and he didn’t disappoint!
I started reading this on a whim and i was hooked from page 1.
The story isnt spoon-fed to you. You have to figure it out by putting the pieces together. Like you get the story but you literally have to put your whole attention and mind into it to understand. And when you do understand what is happening- it so so awful. And the characters- every single one of them is so twisted and insane and dark at heart!
All the characters are connected in some crooked way. The ominous random panels on the first page makes much more sense by the end of the manga. At times i was like wait .. what the hell did i just read? Wow! Absolutely loved it. A stunning read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Death, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Body shaming
Minor: Fatphobia and Physical abuse
moboms's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mildcurry's review against another edition
2.0
Not Asano's best. Felt like I should read it twice to be able to pick up on the nuances of the non-linear plot, but nothing was compelling enough in the first readthrough to tempt me to a second.
cornbread's review against another edition
4.0
violent & complex with beautiful art, needs a re-read to fully grasp
geektastically's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0