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lavendermarch's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of emotion in this volume. That teacher seems sketchy. I'm excited to have this arc wrapped up. I don't hate Anna, but I'm not really a fan of her either. I guess I'll see where the next volume takes things. Cute cover. 4 stars.
Reread December 9th, 2022
I still don't like Anna but I guess I understand her a tiny bit better now. The music teacher seems incredibly sketchy and dangerous. I liked the new year's scene. 4 stars.
Reread December 9th, 2022
I still don't like Anna but I guess I understand her a tiny bit better now. The music teacher seems incredibly sketchy and dangerous. I liked the new year's scene. 4 stars.
heyjudy's review against another edition
4.0
~4/5
Maria finally talks to her friends (excluding Shin) about what happened at St. Katria with Anna. There’s a lot of crying, and a lot of sweet words from Yusuke and Tomoyo. Maria comes to some realizations about herself and her relationship with Anna. Afterward, as Maria and Yusuke are walking home, Yusuke confesses, and Maria has a flashback of her mom. Which starts off Maria’s knowledge of Yusuke’s feelings, their nightly phone calls (to get closer, but also to help Maria from having nightmares), and the beginning of Maria’s realization of what happened to her mother. And Shin is trying to figure out what to do with Maria, is finding out stuff about her and Anna’s past, and cluing Yusuke in on some of it.
Then the focus shifts to music. Maria wants to sing for people, and she has a big confrontation with Anna about it, that rather upsets both of them, and none of them really know what to do about any of it. Maria also decides to sing on the street, but that doesn’t turn out. And the music instructor at the music place, Mr. Sakaki, is pushing Maria to sing, that all that matters is the technique, not the words or the feelings, which upsets Maria immensely.
(SPOILER!) And then Anna leaves. She leaves the school, the dorm, everything, leaving behind an identical necklace to Maria’s, with no word. Maria is upset about this, as she was hoping to clear something up; she was starting to find it hopeless, but still wanted to do something. I don’t think this is the end of Anna, so maybe they’re going to hunt her down, but I’m still not sure what’s going to happen with them. It’s all just messy and angsty and sad and bad, and I’m wondering what’s going to happen and hoping that it doesn’t have a cliché conclusion.
Very much so looking forward to the next volume, though, which I should have very soon.
This review is also available on my blog.
Maria finally talks to her friends (excluding Shin) about what happened at St. Katria with Anna. There’s a lot of crying, and a lot of sweet words from Yusuke and Tomoyo. Maria comes to some realizations about herself and her relationship with Anna. Afterward, as Maria and Yusuke are walking home, Yusuke confesses, and Maria has a flashback of her mom. Which starts off Maria’s knowledge of Yusuke’s feelings, their nightly phone calls (to get closer, but also to help Maria from having nightmares), and the beginning of Maria’s realization of what happened to her mother. And Shin is trying to figure out what to do with Maria, is finding out stuff about her and Anna’s past, and cluing Yusuke in on some of it.
Then the focus shifts to music. Maria wants to sing for people, and she has a big confrontation with Anna about it, that rather upsets both of them, and none of them really know what to do about any of it. Maria also decides to sing on the street, but that doesn’t turn out. And the music instructor at the music place, Mr. Sakaki, is pushing Maria to sing, that all that matters is the technique, not the words or the feelings, which upsets Maria immensely.
(SPOILER!) And then Anna leaves. She leaves the school, the dorm, everything, leaving behind an identical necklace to Maria’s, with no word. Maria is upset about this, as she was hoping to clear something up; she was starting to find it hopeless, but still wanted to do something. I don’t think this is the end of Anna, so maybe they’re going to hunt her down, but I’m still not sure what’s going to happen with them. It’s all just messy and angsty and sad and bad, and I’m wondering what’s going to happen and hoping that it doesn’t have a cliché conclusion.
Very much so looking forward to the next volume, though, which I should have very soon.
This review is also available on my blog.
rinku's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This volume was my least favorite volume of A Devil and Her Love Song yet which is why I gave it 3.5 stars. Plotwise, the story is still centred around Anna and the music school. We furthermore get a classic Shojo New Year’s party and a really weird teacher at the music school.
The characters are the main reason though for the lower rating this time. Some of them really annoyed me, like Anna (as always, can’t wait for her arc to end in the next volume), or Shin, sadly. His behaviour just didn’t make sense to me. At least Maria is still a great protagonist and gets even more backstory here, but I find it weird how the other characters think she’s at fault for her mother’s suicide. I always find it difficult to give someone else the fault for one’s suicide – yes, I’m talking to you, 13 Reasons Why . Also, it’s so great how Yusuke cares for her when she has these terrible nightmares. Both love interests are interesting in their own way, and I don’t know which one I want Maria to end up with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Suicide attempt
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
friendshiiiiiip. <3 the first half of this volume was like a straight shot of happy feelings to the chest. all of maria's friends being so supportive and loving her! she loves them back! her and yusuke are my friendotp! \o/ and i still hold out hope for her and anna. it is painful now but i'm sure there will be pay off! 4 stars
annelives's review
3.0
I'm not sure I've ever read a manga with so much crying in it. Well, maybe Black Bird.
rach's review
4.0
So, it seems like the main conflict between Maria and Anna stems from the fact that Maria feels like expressing Anna's thoughts and emotions helps her, while Anna feels like it invalidates them in a way. When Maria expresses Anna's feelings, that doesn't mean that Anna herself gets to feel the joy of expressing them. I get where Anna's coming from, but she really shouldn't blame Maria for all of this unhappiness she feels at her situation.
I'm glad Maria finally told everyone about what happened at St. Katria and between her and Anna. She really has made some great friends, and hopefully they will stick by her.
I live that Yusuke confessed again to Maria, and made her believe him by hug-attacking her, even if it did bring nightmares of her mother. In the end, it will be better for her to remember what happened and work through it, than that it remain buried and always preventing her from drawing close to people. And I'm happy that Yusuke is refusing to let Maria push him away, and is insisting on staying by her side, supporting her with a smile. I really like that guy. If Shin's not careful, while he's busy holding Maria at army's length, Yusuke's going to sweep in and steal her away.
Creepy music teacher guy is super creepy. I've learned to trust Maria's opinions about people. And if she thinks something is up with him, then it probably is. I get what he was saying to the street performer, about not everyone being born with the voice to get their songs out to a wider audience, but that still doesn't mean that guy should stop trying. It'll be interesting to see what happens.
I'm most excited in the next volume to see the Anna storyline completely wrapped up, which the author promised in the notes.
I'm glad Maria finally told everyone about what happened at St. Katria and between her and Anna. She really has made some great friends, and hopefully they will stick by her.
I live that Yusuke confessed again to Maria, and made her believe him by hug-attacking her, even if it did bring nightmares of her mother. In the end, it will be better for her to remember what happened and work through it, than that it remain buried and always preventing her from drawing close to people. And I'm happy that Yusuke is refusing to let Maria push him away, and is insisting on staying by her side, supporting her with a smile. I really like that guy. If Shin's not careful, while he's busy holding Maria at army's length, Yusuke's going to sweep in and steal her away.
Creepy music teacher guy is super creepy. I've learned to trust Maria's opinions about people. And if she thinks something is up with him, then it probably is. I get what he was saying to the street performer, about not everyone being born with the voice to get their songs out to a wider audience, but that still doesn't mean that guy should stop trying. It'll be interesting to see what happens.
I'm most excited in the next volume to see the Anna storyline completely wrapped up, which the author promised in the notes.
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