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pants0701's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_ash0_'s review against another edition
5.0
With such a cliffhanger ending, I am dying to read the next volume. I guessed the killer early on because of all the clues that the author was dropping but I didn’t expect that twist towards the end. Amazing! Reminded me of The Flash so many times with its time travel, altering timelines and its similarity to flashpoint.
tealeafbooks's review against another edition
5.0
One character's background is explored much more thoroughly than in the anime.
belle_fiction's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely my favourite volume so far! <3
This series is crazy (but in the best possible way). I will say there are trigger warnings for sexual assault in this volume and some of the illustrations concerning suicide are pretty disturbing so please do remember this.
Erased has always been a very dark story - it focuses on Satoru Fujinuma, a twenty-nine year old man who undergoes "revivals" which transports him to the past where he is a nine year old school boy. Here, he needs to prevent the kidnapping and murders of several schoolchildren (mainly girls). However, this volume really explores the darker and disturbing plot!
In volume 3 we learn the killer's identity (all I'm going to say was I already guessed it) and then there is a chapter dedicated to their upbringing and it is horrible - [#32 The Spider's Thread]. I mean it is really disgusting and vile, and I was very uncomfortable reading that chapter.
The last third of the book was incredibly heartbreaking and I had to fight back tears on learning that Satoru had finally woken up from his FIFTEEN YEAR COMA. Whilst he has been asleep, many things have happened - Kenya is now a lawyer (following in his father's footsteps), Hiromi is a doctor and is married to and has a child with Kayo Hinazuki! I was really shipping Kayo with Satoru but obviously being in a coma for fifteen years kind of dashes that hope.
And then there is the unwavering love, care and support from Satoru's mother who has looked after her son whilst he was in a coma - honestly, I bloody love Satoru's mom!
The volume ends with Satoru meeting Airi who enters with a bang...and now I am desperate to read the next volume!
jessicaistired's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one a lot. The story really picked up in the second volume and has stayed fairly consistent since then. Although, it was a bit predictable at times.
This series can be tough to read at times due to content, but the theme of helping others and reaching out to one another when you think something is wrong is nice. It’s pleasant to see the main character grow and learn from his mistakes while also creating a rag tag group of friends who love one another.
Looking forward to continuing the series with volume 4.
This series can be tough to read at times due to content, but the theme of helping others and reaching out to one another when you think something is wrong is nice. It’s pleasant to see the main character grow and learn from his mistakes while also creating a rag tag group of friends who love one another.
Looking forward to continuing the series with volume 4.
saramarie08's review against another edition
5.0
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
Satoru and his friends continue “playing detective” by finding all the elementary students in their class who spend too much time alone. These kids could become targets for the serial killer on the loose. Satoru has succeeded in thwarting some of the killer’s plots, but he’s has now prevented the murders he knows about, rendering him effectively blind in predicting the killer’s next moves. Being such a visible deterrent to the killer has put Satoru in the path of the killer, but he doesn’t realize this until much too late. This volumes ends with a major time jump and only one and a half volumes left for Satoru to get everything straightened out in his life.
There are a lot of really big moments in this volume as the story starts to come together to a conclusion. The killer is revealed, and it’s the biggest, most jarring moment since the main reveal of Satoru’s power in volume one. While the time jump and the reason for it seem completely plausible given how much of a thorn Satoru has become to the killer, I am a little upset by it and what it means for Satoru. But, unsettling is sort of the name of the game for Erased! There isn’t much space left for the storyline to conclude, so I’m guessing the next volume is going to be packed.
This whole series has a feeling very akin to The Lovely Bones or the movie Frequency, where supernatural elements are involved in helping to solve murders, particularly of children. There are some violent moments throughout the series. Child abuse is also a major topic. While the murders themselves mostly happen off page, there is some blood and “interesting” angles that allow for partial viewing of the bodies of murder victims.
Sara’s Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
Satoru and his friends continue “playing detective” by finding all the elementary students in their class who spend too much time alone. These kids could become targets for the serial killer on the loose. Satoru has succeeded in thwarting some of the killer’s plots, but he’s has now prevented the murders he knows about, rendering him effectively blind in predicting the killer’s next moves. Being such a visible deterrent to the killer has put Satoru in the path of the killer, but he doesn’t realize this until much too late. This volumes ends with a major time jump and only one and a half volumes left for Satoru to get everything straightened out in his life.
There are a lot of really big moments in this volume as the story starts to come together to a conclusion. The killer is revealed, and it’s the biggest, most jarring moment since the main reveal of Satoru’s power in volume one. While the time jump and the reason for it seem completely plausible given how much of a thorn Satoru has become to the killer, I am a little upset by it and what it means for Satoru. But, unsettling is sort of the name of the game for Erased! There isn’t much space left for the storyline to conclude, so I’m guessing the next volume is going to be packed.
This whole series has a feeling very akin to The Lovely Bones or the movie Frequency, where supernatural elements are involved in helping to solve murders, particularly of children. There are some violent moments throughout the series. Child abuse is also a major topic. While the murders themselves mostly happen off page, there is some blood and “interesting” angles that allow for partial viewing of the bodies of murder victims.
Sara’s Rating: 10/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
ablotial's review against another edition
3.0
You saw that correctly - I picked this book up after I put the kids to bed last night and stayed up until I finished it. For all that, it wasn't nearly as good as the second one, and not even as good as the first. But, it was still enjoyable and I'll continue reading the next volume.
Unfortunately lots of major spoilers here in the things I didn't like, so I'll see you on the flipside...
The whole chapter from the teacher's point of view explaining his backstory annoyed me. I don't think we really needed an explanation of WHY he was doing it -- some people are just bad. I feel like in some way the author was trying to make us feel empathy or understanding for him? Sure, he's a bad guy, but look at what happened to him as a kid? It took me far longer than it should have to understand what was going on with the missing hamster seeds and what his motivation was for killing his brother -- THAT is the kind of subtlety I am talking about in the last paragraph... don't need to come right out and say it, let the reader figure out what is going on!
Finally, the coma. Ugh. I mean, ok, fine obviously don't want Satoru to die. But I feel like it's kind of a cop out. They could have fished him out and had him be out for a week and then back and still have forgotten everything. But 15 years? So far, at least, I don't understand the motivation for that (except I guess to give the killer time to move around and kill more kids)... or just stay there and keep teaching through the school year - had Sotoru woken up, he'd have to run sooner which would look very suspicious given the circumstances... ok so fine, Sotoru is out for a year. Blah. Maybe in the next book it will reveal why he needs to be an adult but I don't like it.
Also the "files" Kenya made. The writing seems very child-like and not written by someone who is an adult lawyer. But he already writes "15 years" as the length of time of the coma... which indicates that it was written recently... which then the writing style annoys me. Just to be nitpicky.
What _did_ I like? Character development of the kids, Kenya in particular. Learning a little more about Yuuki-san and his father. Watching the kids become friends with people outside their social norms and having it work out makes me very happy. Seeing the friendship attempt with the slightly older girl floundering but then work out because of one of the more unlikely members of their group. Everyone has a place, it's great. Even the teacher and many of the lessons he imparts to the children. And Satoru's mom is still awesome. And I loved seeing Satoru slip up and mention things from the future that he shouldn't and almost give himself away.
This is still a good addition to the series, even if it isn't quite the way I would have done it. I am looking forward to the conclusion.
Unfortunately lots of major spoilers here in the things I didn't like, so I'll see you on the flipside...
Spoiler
I thought the revelation of the teacher's guilt was far too obvious. One of the things I liked about the first two volumes was the subtlety of figuring out what was going on. But even before it was officially revealed, I felt like I was being banged over the head with it. He was on my list of suspects from the get go, but I really think [a:Kei Sanbe|964024|Kei Sanbe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563209447p2/964024.jpg] could have eliminated most of these obvious clues and still had it be believable but more of a surprise than it was. Just having him "show up" at the hockey game the same way he did in a few other places would have been perfect.The whole chapter from the teacher's point of view explaining his backstory annoyed me. I don't think we really needed an explanation of WHY he was doing it -- some people are just bad. I feel like in some way the author was trying to make us feel empathy or understanding for him? Sure, he's a bad guy, but look at what happened to him as a kid? It took me far longer than it should have to understand what was going on with the missing hamster seeds and what his motivation was for killing his brother -- THAT is the kind of subtlety I am talking about in the last paragraph... don't need to come right out and say it, let the reader figure out what is going on!
Finally, the coma. Ugh. I mean, ok, fine obviously don't want Satoru to die. But I feel like it's kind of a cop out. They could have fished him out and had him be out for a week and then back and still have forgotten everything. But 15 years? So far, at least, I don't understand the motivation for that (except I guess to give the killer time to move around and kill more kids)... or just stay there and keep teaching through the school year - had Sotoru woken up, he'd have to run sooner which would look very suspicious given the circumstances... ok so fine, Sotoru is out for a year. Blah. Maybe in the next book it will reveal why he needs to be an adult but I don't like it.
Also the "files" Kenya made. The writing seems very child-like and not written by someone who is an adult lawyer. But he already writes "15 years" as the length of time of the coma... which indicates that it was written recently... which then the writing style annoys me. Just to be nitpicky.
What _did_ I like? Character development of the kids, Kenya in particular.
Spoiler
I'll admit, for a while I have thought he was a time jumper too, or maybe the killer and have been very suspicious of him.This is still a good addition to the series, even if it isn't quite the way I would have done it. I am looking forward to the conclusion.
whitecat5000's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Talk about a plot twist....
sammyshellstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
parkerjordanlee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75