ghada_mohammad's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good that I stayed up past 4 a.m to finish it. The art, the plot, the pace, the characters...everything was just perfect and five stars are never going to be enough. This is hands down the best manga I read in years.
In Volume 1 we are introduced to Asano Katsuya, the psychiatrist who provided a profile that led to the arrest of a serial killer whom Katsuya is now charged with evaluating. The main story is interrupted repeatedly by flashbacks of a younger Katsuya's kidnapping. Any prospective reader should be aware of the fact that In These Words is an adult manga; there are multiple explicit scenes of sexual violence and body mutilation that even adult readers might find disturbing and or triggering so do proceed with caution. Personally, I found it quite disturbing, but the mystery element kept me hooked and I do not regret a thing. I loved Katsuya and Shinohara's dynamic. I could read entire volumes of them going back and forth. Absolute masterpiece. I highly recommend.
In Volume 1 we are introduced to Asano Katsuya, the psychiatrist who provided a profile that led to the arrest of a serial killer whom Katsuya is now charged with evaluating. The main story is interrupted repeatedly by flashbacks of a younger Katsuya's kidnapping. Any prospective reader should be aware of the fact that In These Words is an adult manga; there are multiple explicit scenes of sexual violence and body mutilation that even adult readers might find disturbing and or triggering so do proceed with caution. Personally, I found it quite disturbing, but the mystery element kept me hooked and I do not regret a thing. I loved Katsuya and Shinohara's dynamic. I could read entire volumes of them going back and forth. Absolute masterpiece. I highly recommend.
haitianname's review against another edition
4.0
Besides the pornographic stuff there is an actual plot (a fucking good one)
juicelina's review against another edition
3.0
*More of a 2.5*
This was just alright. It started to pick up a little towards the end and I'm hoping the second volume is better. I was expecting something a little more intense and messed up and sure it was kind of that, but it just wasn't enough. It didn't feel psychologically jarring enough for me. The way the case was set up didn't really make sense. It just didn't feel realistic? I also didn't love the writing.
I honestly can't even pin point what exactly I took issue with, but the way this was paneled and drawn, it just didn't flow the way I'm used to manga flowing. Don't get me wrong the art is gorgeous, but sometimes it was too perfect or purposeful. Obviously all panels are purposeful, but there was just something about these that felt off.
And a gripe that has nothing to do with the book, but these aren't printed the way manga usually is. Most manga has this blank space where the pages get bound so that panels don't disappear into the seam of the book and this doesn't have that so I had to nearly break the spine to get the full detail of the page which bothers me. I like to look and read every little thing even if I know it doesn't matter. Also there were so many typos, missing words, one part that wasn't translated but I mean it's self published, I believe, so it is what it is. Everything else about the book, the cover, the art, the paper quality is reallyyyy nice, though. I just wish they'd taken a little more time to edit, but I'm not faulting the story for any of that.
Anyway this was kind of a let down, but I'm hoping I like the next volumes more.
This was just alright. It started to pick up a little towards the end and I'm hoping the second volume is better. I was expecting something a little more intense and messed up and sure it was kind of that, but it just wasn't enough. It didn't feel psychologically jarring enough for me. The way the case was set up didn't really make sense. It just didn't feel realistic? I also didn't love the writing.
I honestly can't even pin point what exactly I took issue with, but the way this was paneled and drawn, it just didn't flow the way I'm used to manga flowing. Don't get me wrong the art is gorgeous, but sometimes it was too perfect or purposeful. Obviously all panels are purposeful, but there was just something about these that felt off.
And a gripe that has nothing to do with the book, but these aren't printed the way manga usually is. Most manga has this blank space where the pages get bound so that panels don't disappear into the seam of the book and this doesn't have that so I had to nearly break the spine to get the full detail of the page which bothers me. I like to look and read every little thing even if I know it doesn't matter. Also there were so many typos, missing words, one part that wasn't translated but I mean it's self published, I believe, so it is what it is. Everything else about the book, the cover, the art, the paper quality is reallyyyy nice, though. I just wish they'd taken a little more time to edit, but I'm not faulting the story for any of that.
Anyway this was kind of a let down, but I'm hoping I like the next volumes more.
daybreak's review against another edition
4.0
Disturbing, dark and so fucking twisted. This is not a light story but it's an engrossing read that keeps you hooked. The villain is fascinating while so repulsive and sick.
The drawings are magnificent. The story is quite horrifying and even, one could say scary.
The drawings are magnificent. The story is quite horrifying and even, one could say scary.
magnus_iskander_reim's review against another edition
3.0
Somehow, I must be very dumb or living in a cave because I didn't know this was yaoi. I'd heard about it as a very good and dark crime/thriller manga, and it is. So, not only is it yaoi, but it is a very dark thrillery-crimey one. There's a lot of triggers in here : rape, torture, mental manipulation, violence and so on. Aaand quite a few graphic sex scenes. Do NOT give this to your little brother, sister or your bigoted grandma.
This first book was very good ; characterisation is developed and nuanced, the art is beautiful, the plot very engaging. However, it's still "just" good crime and mystery with pretty much what is the most disturbing "couple" ever.
One thing I can tell us that volume 2 is far, far better and puts everything that annoyed me in book one upside down. PLEASE don't stop at book one.
This first book was very good ; characterisation is developed and nuanced, the art is beautiful, the plot very engaging. However, it's still "just" good crime and mystery with pretty much what is the most disturbing "couple" ever.
One thing I can tell us that volume 2 is far, far better and puts everything that annoyed me in book one upside down. PLEASE don't stop at book one.