romem_m's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
timefliesaway's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
Shiva and Sensei have left their home because of the soldiers. They find and settle in a new cottage, but things don't stay quite for long...
Some chapters were really fun, with Shiva just enjoying youth. One time it snowed and they were having a snow day.
But Shiva's also really mature for her age – that might be because she's so watchful and perceptive. And has many patient people around her. Some conversations are truly amazing and I love reading these. The fact that Shiva also sometimes appears more mature than characters from other mature stories I've read, is truly mesmerizing, but makes this Manga even more beautiful.
The story is progressing and more mysteries have been revealed, which, again, also only brings more questions to the table. But it's so fun thinking about all the possibilities and theories on how things may or may not unfold!
It also has melancholic bits, suddenly, right in the middle of a funny chapter. As a sucker for melancholy, I'm all here for it, though.
Some of my theories include: (spoilers, read on your own risk!)
- We haven't seen any young cursed children so far. Maybe children simply aren't affected of the curse? Could be due to them being more connected to nature and having the "purity" of being young.
- So, Albert either is Sensei or Albert cursed Sensei. Or that's what Sensei thinks. But maybe Sensei was Albert in his previous life, got cursed, became a tree, returned to Mother, and was reborn again, resembling his old cursed form. And for some reason has the memories as well. But are these memories? Maybe it was written in one of the journals, that Albert, the cursed human, kept, and Sensei read them then. So many times until he thought they are his own.
Sensei being so obsessed on insisting he was a human before, reminded me a lot of racism. I don't know if the author had the black and white race struggle of our world in mind, but they do have – suspiciously – a lot of similarities.
Now, this isn't a political story, so I hope I won't discourage anyone reading this. Just what I think.
I mean, all humans are white, and when you get cursed, you become "a black child", which are "children of darkness". While I haven't heard the argument that dark-skinned people in our world are children of the devil, it still kinda is or feels like a reference to our political problems... Idk.
Honestly, though, the black children are really beautiful and the more the characters say it's a curse, the more it feels like a huge brainwashing that was done years ago. Centuries maybe even. I don't see a curse at all when looking at them. Looking at the white people and how they treat others of their own kind in their society, however, that reminds me of evil beings.
I really hope that there won't be a plottwist of the "god of white" being the good guy after all. He has to be the bad guy, since there's no way he isn't.
Gorgeous artwork as always.
-07.11.23
Some chapters were really fun, with Shiva just enjoying youth. One time it snowed and they were having a snow day.
But Shiva's also really mature for her age – that might be because she's so watchful and perceptive. And has many patient people around her. Some conversations are truly amazing and I love reading these. The fact that Shiva also sometimes appears more mature than characters from other mature stories I've read, is truly mesmerizing, but makes this Manga even more beautiful.
The story is progressing and more mysteries have been revealed, which, again, also only brings more questions to the table. But it's so fun thinking about all the possibilities and theories on how things may or may not unfold!
It also has melancholic bits, suddenly, right in the middle of a funny chapter. As a sucker for melancholy, I'm all here for it, though.
Some of my theories include: (spoilers, read on your own risk!)
Spoiler
- The woman in the locker could be his wife, but I feel like the locker is just something he either found at the cottage or woke up next to it, after getting cursed. Idk, maybe they are related, might even be his mother or something, but... I don't think so. Who knows.- We haven't seen any young cursed children so far. Maybe children simply aren't affected of the curse? Could be due to them being more connected to nature and having the "purity" of being young.
- So, Albert either is Sensei or Albert cursed Sensei. Or that's what Sensei thinks. But maybe Sensei was Albert in his previous life, got cursed, became a tree, returned to Mother, and was reborn again, resembling his old cursed form. And for some reason has the memories as well. But are these memories? Maybe it was written in one of the journals, that Albert, the cursed human, kept, and Sensei read them then. So many times until he thought they are his own.
Sensei being so obsessed on insisting he was a human before, reminded me a lot of racism. I don't know if the author had the black and white race struggle of our world in mind, but they do have – suspiciously – a lot of similarities.
Now, this isn't a political story, so I hope I won't discourage anyone reading this. Just what I think.
I mean, all humans are white, and when you get cursed, you become "a black child", which are "children of darkness". While I haven't heard the argument that dark-skinned people in our world are children of the devil, it still kinda is or feels like a reference to our political problems... Idk.
Honestly, though, the black children are really beautiful and the more the characters say it's a curse, the more it feels like a huge brainwashing that was done years ago. Centuries maybe even. I don't see a curse at all when looking at them. Looking at the white people and how they treat others of their own kind in their society, however, that reminds me of evil beings.
I really hope that there won't be a plottwist of the "god of white" being the good guy after all. He has to be the bad guy, since there's no way he isn't.
Gorgeous artwork as always.
-07.11.23
audreyliz964's review against another edition
5.0
Even though this volume wasn't as exciting as some of the previous ones, it still built on both the overarching plot and the characters' development. I can't wait to see where the story goes next. Such a well-written manga series.
maeverose's review against another edition
3.5
I’m somewhat torn. Because this one was cute, I loved seeing Teacher and Shiva playing in the snow and being adorable. But given the author’s pedo stories in that one book is hard for me to enjoy moments like that in this series… :/ If I hadn’t learned about that this volume would’ve probably been the first 5⭐️ in the series for me. I just don’t feel like I can rate it that highly though when it kind of just gives me the ick a bit now.
The world building was finally explained a bit better, but it’s still kinda vague.
The world building was finally explained a bit better, but it’s still kinda vague.
Spoiler
Also didn’t we already know Teacher was once human? It felt like it was supposed to be a reveal but I swear he already told Shiva that in the first or second volume.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Body horror
Moderate: Grief and Religious bigotry
daria_nedelcu19's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Enjoyment 9/10
Concept 8/10
Execution 8/10
Art 10/10
Dialogue 8/10
Plot & Logic 7/10
Pacing & Structure 8/10
Characters 8/10
Intrigue 7/10
Rating: 4.22/5
Concept 8/10
Execution 8/10
Art 10/10
Dialogue 8/10
Plot & Logic 7/10
Pacing & Structure 8/10
Characters 8/10
Intrigue 7/10
Rating: 4.22/5
raven_nivhaar's review against another edition
4.0
I have noticed that sometimes it's hard to tell who is talking. The bubbles don't line up with the characters 100% of the time.
My thoughts on the storyline have not changed, though I DO have a theory about Teacher that I am curious to see if I'm right about or not.
My thoughts on the storyline have not changed, though I DO have a theory about Teacher that I am curious to see if I'm right about or not.
quillonon's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jimhart3000's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.0