silquesoleil's review against another edition
5.0
So, let me tell you a thing about friendship. Friendship is a big deal. Love is a great thing, you know, but you can't expect to just find love and sometimes the relationship to your family is complicated, but what you can always rely on are friends. Friends are what keeps you going.
And Pandora Hearts, as intruiging as the story is, is mainly a manga about friendship.
I am saying this because a few weeks ago a troll in the Pandora Hearts fandom dared to call Alice a whore – the usual 'ew a female character dares to get in the way of my male/male ship' bullshit which was even more stupid because Alice hardly grasps the concept of romance, not to mention sexuality and she is pure in every way. Not because she is a virgin, mind you, but because she also never grew up in a society that branded – mainly female – sexuality as something bad, she also claims Oz as her own. In other words, Alice is fabulous, she is one of those rare female characters whose actions are not dictated by a love interest and she saved Oz so many times, so if you want to ship Oz with Gilbert that is fine, you know, but your shipping preferences don't change a damn thing aout Alice and Oz' friendship and is no excuse for character hate. And don't you dare tell me that Alice is useless. Basically, if you hate Alice – or any other female character in the series – you haven't understood what this manga is about and you can fuck off and search yourself a less intelligent manga, thank you very much.
But back to the topic: FRIENDSHIP!
During this Volume of Pandora Hearts, the reader gets a rather pivate view on the Baskervilles, by Lily who is the most adorable thing ever, cute and cruel in that special way that only the mind of a child can be. I thought it was interesting to find out that the Baskervilles get chosen and judging by the ones whose backstory had been revealed so far (and by 'so far' I actually mean up to Retrace 83), they are lost children, abandoned by their families so that they made their own. They are the villains of the story and yet they are so likeable.
Another thing that really got me was the whole interaction between Reim and Lily and how it was pointed out that Reim is not contributing less to the mission because he does not fight with weapons or has no aggressive Chain. (In fact, Reim is the backbone of Pandora, without people like him who deal with this entire bureaucracy, the organization would not be very organized.) I repeat: he is not lesser for not fighting. He is not less of a strong character just because he is diplomatic.
(Being a strong character does not mean being an arrogant and ignorant jerk who can not change their opinion!!!)
I was also drowning in feels because of Reim's and Break's relationship to each other, that usually seems a bit unbalanced, but it became so obvious how much Reim means to Break when Break, despite having his own plans, chooses not to have a secret agenda with the Baskervilles because they inflicted deadly wounds on Reim.
And when he finds his friend dead, he fucks their shit up.
A++++ manga here.
And Pandora Hearts, as intruiging as the story is, is mainly a manga about friendship.
I am saying this because a few weeks ago a troll in the Pandora Hearts fandom dared to call Alice a whore – the usual 'ew a female character dares to get in the way of my male/male ship' bullshit which was even more stupid because Alice hardly grasps the concept of romance, not to mention sexuality and she is pure in every way. Not because she is a virgin, mind you, but because she also never grew up in a society that branded – mainly female – sexuality as something bad, she also claims Oz as her own. In other words, Alice is fabulous, she is one of those rare female characters whose actions are not dictated by a love interest and she saved Oz so many times, so if you want to ship Oz with Gilbert that is fine, you know, but your shipping preferences don't change a damn thing aout Alice and Oz' friendship and is no excuse for character hate. And don't you dare tell me that Alice is useless. Basically, if you hate Alice – or any other female character in the series – you haven't understood what this manga is about and you can fuck off and search yourself a less intelligent manga, thank you very much.
But back to the topic: FRIENDSHIP!
During this Volume of Pandora Hearts, the reader gets a rather pivate view on the Baskervilles, by Lily who is the most adorable thing ever, cute and cruel in that special way that only the mind of a child can be. I thought it was interesting to find out that the Baskervilles get chosen and judging by the ones whose backstory had been revealed so far (and by 'so far' I actually mean up to Retrace 83), they are lost children, abandoned by their families so that they made their own. They are the villains of the story and yet they are so likeable.
Another thing that really got me was the whole interaction between Reim and Lily and how it was pointed out that Reim is not contributing less to the mission because he does not fight with weapons or has no aggressive Chain. (In fact, Reim is the backbone of Pandora, without people like him who deal with this entire bureaucracy, the organization would not be very organized.) I repeat: he is not lesser for not fighting. He is not less of a strong character just because he is diplomatic.
(Being a strong character does not mean being an arrogant and ignorant jerk who can not change their opinion!!!)
I was also drowning in feels because of Reim's and Break's relationship to each other, that usually seems a bit unbalanced, but it became so obvious how much Reim means to Break when Break, despite having his own plans, chooses not to have a secret agenda with the Baskervilles because they inflicted deadly wounds on Reim.
And when he finds his friend dead, he fucks their shit up.
A++++ manga here.
andreavisbal240's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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
timefliesaway's review
5.0
DAMN, THIS WAS WAY TOO THRILLING.
I literally wrote half a novel with my theories. Especially chapter 52... geez.
Also, please, that one guy better not be dead!
I literally wrote half a novel with my theories. Especially chapter 52... geez.
Also, please, that one guy better not be dead!
echo_bastralle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
5.0
misssusan's review against another edition
4.0
oh no
what am i going to do with my life
i think i know who the headhunter is now and i am 100% not ready to deal with it
pandora hearts: for the soul who wishes to have their emotions twisted every which way and remain in a state of frozen fearful anticipation for what the next part of the story will bring
4 stars
what am i going to do with my life
i think i know who the headhunter is now and i am 100% not ready to deal with it
pandora hearts: for the soul who wishes to have their emotions twisted every which way and remain in a state of frozen fearful anticipation for what the next part of the story will bring
4 stars
bookish_manatee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
angeliq_star's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
svnfl0wery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
irayred's review
4.0
Elliot and Leo had a fight and say things they probably don’t mean but, later on we see how they met and how much they truly care for each other, even if they come from different places and families.
Unfortunately, we also witness the little Baskerville fighting against Reim, and even if she doesn’t truly understand why her “family” are the bad guys here, she basically beats him to death.
These guys are planning to replay the events of the Sablier Tragedy once again and everything was perfect to held a new ceremony/ritual to break the seals that contained Glenn Baskerville’s soul.
At the same time, the chain Humpty Dumpty, previously mistaken for the Head Hunter, makes its appearance, so we’re left with another big cliff hanger!
This volume contains Retrace 50 – 53.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7 | Volume 8 | volume 9 | Volume 10 | Volume 11 | Volume 12
Unfortunately, we also witness the little Baskerville fighting against Reim, and even if she doesn’t truly understand why her “family” are the bad guys here, she basically beats him to death.
These guys are planning to replay the events of the Sablier Tragedy once again and everything was perfect to held a new ceremony/ritual to break the seals that contained Glenn Baskerville’s soul.
At the same time, the chain Humpty Dumpty, previously mistaken for the Head Hunter, makes its appearance, so we’re left with another big cliff hanger!
This volume contains Retrace 50 – 53.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7 | Volume 8 | volume 9 | Volume 10 | Volume 11 | Volume 12