melitaylor's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
pagesofpins's review against another edition
3.0
Begins the story of how the shogunate made the transition from male to female in the wake of terrible disease. OH, YOU POOR PEOPLE, YOUR LIVES ARE WRETCHED.
ebbie_casuallereading's review against another edition
3.0
A low 3 stars
TW: animal killed be human
I had to come back and try to understand why this was set before the first book. I would have liked a small prologue just to remind myself why that was, as I wouldn't have been so lost reading it.
I think I also vastly preferred the first book. I also hate when animals are killed.
It wasn't bad, but it felt like it was mostly setting the scene for the next book, so it wasn't great either.
I also was soooooo annoyed at the whole "thee/thou" and other such style choices to convey "oldness" of the time presented. It didn't helpe understand that this was the start of the archive read by the shogun of the first book, so the purpose for it was very weak.
On to the next, hopefully it improves a lot from this one
TW: animal killed be human
I had to come back and try to understand why this was set before the first book. I would have liked a small prologue just to remind myself why that was, as I wouldn't have been so lost reading it.
I think I also vastly preferred the first book. I also hate when animals are killed.
It wasn't bad, but it felt like it was mostly setting the scene for the next book, so it wasn't great either.
I also was soooooo annoyed at the whole "thee/thou" and other such style choices to convey "oldness" of the time presented. It didn't helpe understand that this was the start of the archive read by the shogun of the first book, so the purpose for it was very weak.
On to the next, hopefully it improves a lot from this one
afreema3's review against another edition
3.0
Content warnings for sexual abuse and animal cruelty.
My rating of Volume 2 of Ooku is subject to change, but for now I'm feeling a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed the first volume enough to want to keep reading, and Vol. 2 hasn't ruined the series for me, but I do have some problems.
My first problem is the the translation itself, which I mentioned in my previous review so I have no real reason to repeat myself. My second problem is the sudden time shift. The Vol. 2 I believe is set 80 years prior to the events of the first volume, which I am not necessarily opposed to because it was somewhat expected. I just wish this whole prologue esc volume was handled a little differently. I still enjoyed the volume and the time shift really doesn't affect my rating that much. I think my main problem is the episodic nature of the series so far. I am not necessarily a fan of episodic stories, I personally prefer overarching storylines, and that just has not been the case so far in this series. But, I still want to keep reading because I think the premise of this story is still extremely interesting and the snippets of actual Japanese history have been really fun to read as a history major.
My rating of Volume 2 of Ooku is subject to change, but for now I'm feeling a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed the first volume enough to want to keep reading, and Vol. 2 hasn't ruined the series for me, but I do have some problems.
My first problem is the the translation itself, which I mentioned in my previous review so I have no real reason to repeat myself. My second problem is the sudden time shift. The Vol. 2 I believe is set 80 years prior to the events of the first volume, which I am not necessarily opposed to because it was somewhat expected. I just wish this whole prologue esc volume was handled a little differently. I still enjoyed the volume and the time shift really doesn't affect my rating that much. I think my main problem is the episodic nature of the series so far. I am not necessarily a fan of episodic stories, I personally prefer overarching storylines, and that just has not been the case so far in this series. But, I still want to keep reading because I think the premise of this story is still extremely interesting and the snippets of actual Japanese history have been really fun to read as a history major.
kamreadsandrecs's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emeraldreverie's review against another edition
4.0
This volume did not fuck around. Strikingly violent and dramatic. Fantastic art and driving story. I love it.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Volume 2 of a manga that was highly recommended at Orycon. Nice art and good writing but remains too Japanese for me to fully appreciate. The story was a little more garbled feeling than the first one. 4 of 5.
laryssa's review
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Reread. I like that it jumped backwards. The secret swine makes more sense now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Rape
velocitygirl14's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
misssusan's review against another edition
5.0
oh nooooooo
you would think that since this is a reread i would have been more prepared
nope. nope nope nope
how many bus rides will i spend surreptiously wiping away tears as i read about tragic things happening to good people?
TOO MANY
religious persons who act with compassion and generosity: my eternal weakness
frankly i don't know where yoshinaga gets off writing with such a clear eyed view of humanity and sympathy for the many ways people cope with trying circumstances
5 stars
you would think that since this is a reread i would have been more prepared
nope. nope nope nope
how many bus rides will i spend surreptiously wiping away tears as i read about tragic things happening to good people?
TOO MANY
religious persons who act with compassion and generosity: my eternal weakness
frankly i don't know where yoshinaga gets off writing with such a clear eyed view of humanity and sympathy for the many ways people cope with trying circumstances
5 stars