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mariebrunelm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Slavery
Minor: Gun violence
hue's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I would definitely read the follow up, of Shuna's journey back home to his village. I would love an animation, too. How beautiful it would be.
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, and Violence
brogan7's review against another edition
4.0
The story I found troubling. Deeply dystopian and Shuna's hero's journey is definitely a superhero's journey... which to this reader was a disappointment, there were so many scenes he wouldn't have made it out alive, so how can we have hope for anti-slavery movements?
Also noted, the deeply Westernized characters, which is totally a manga thing but it feels less bearable in the current moment and with a story with such clear Asian roots (clear before you read the translator's note).
I wasn't expecting the level of violence, and I felt for the human-eating ghouls, especially the one whose hand he shot off!
In summary, it's hard to give this text a clear score. It's so gorgeous and so enchanting and at the same time it could have been a more clear parable, it felt muddied by oddness I couldn't understand or place within a framework (the "land of the gods" where no one wants for anything and no predation even occurs--except that human fodder is going into this all-consuming ... what??) It's just so fantasy and so all over the place.
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Gun violence
TW: heteronormativebooks_and_fairy_lights's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
The themes are very Miyazaki too (relation to the environment, greed, ...), and so are the protagonists (strong female, nuanced and ambi uous "hero"). There was no clear cut moral, but rather observations and reflections, from which the reader can take whatever they want, which makes for a super interesting and definitely enjoyable read.
Moderate: Slavery and Trafficking
Minor: Gun violence
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Kidnapping
food insecurity, starvationmossgoblins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Murder
robinks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: illnessemmishane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Slavery, and War
jjb1313's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Dementia
Minor: Cannibalism and War