A review by trintrin
Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 7 (light novel): Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen by Kafka Asagiri, Sango Harukawa

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

my precious sillies I love them sm

I feel like with the anime, it didn't really sink in that Dazai and Chuuya were just 15 years old when all this happened. But here, omg they're KIDS what are they doing in highly dangerous organisations wtfff get them out of there. The reason I didn't read the light novels as soon as my BSD obsession started was because something about reading instead of watching animanga characters was quite off putting. Plus I was worried about the translation being subpar. HOWEVER- The translation was not only great, it felt like poetry at times. Absolutely beautiful, kudos to the translator. I loved reading about these characters in the third person, it felt like I'm seeing an entirely different side to them. Dazai and Mori's manipulative side really shone here. 

Chuuyaaaaaa, the love of my life, what an absolute icon. I've read the Fifteen manga until whatever has been published, watched the anime, watched parts of the stage play, rewatched the anime again, and still didn't quite understand what Chuuya's role was in this story (apart from the plot twist
that he is Arahabaki
), or how much Rimbaud and the Sheep impacted him. But now, I wish I could give him a hug :( DO NOT get me started on Dazai, the little gremlin shithead. A 15 year old should not be as witty or as cunning as him. One moment he is evil incarnate, a master manipulator who predicts battle outcomes down to the last detail, next he's an innocent child experiencing the wonders of the world for the first time and is meant to be shielded from all evil. Where did he learn all of this from? What circumstances in his past turned him into this monster we know now? If anything, it's greatly increased the adoration and respect I have for the 18 year old Dazai for dragging himself up and turning his life around. 

I need to start Stormbringer rn, I've been hearing nothing but good stuff about it. Can't wait for more soukoku moments, plus of course I need follow up after that cliffhanger
of Verlaine at the end
See ya there :D
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