A review by literarysaara
Levius/est, Vol. 1 by Haruhisa Nakata
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I was incredibly intrigued by the blurb of this manga volume, as it mentions that the story takes place in a cybernetic, dystopian world that is still recovering from the effects of a war. Levius is a Mechanical Martial Arts fighter - a cybernetically augmented fighter who has been augmented into a brutal fighting and killing machine.
The reading pace of most manga and graphic novels are usually faster than the average text-only book, but I found this manga to be incredibly more fast-paced than other manga volumes I have read up until now. Perhaps this is because there are multiple flashbacks throughout the dialogues of multiple characters, which can at times make understanding what's happening a bit confusing. I'm guessing that with continuous reading of the series, the flashbacks will start to make more sense. As an introduction to the series, I'd say this first volume is a 50/50 - it has all the key elements of a fictional world I want to desperately get absorbed in, but the way it's written and the initial pace makes it more difficult to do so. I will read the second volume of this series and depending on how I find that read, I will either continue reading through the series or not.
The reading pace of most manga and graphic novels are usually faster than the average text-only book, but I found this manga to be incredibly more fast-paced than other manga volumes I have read up until now. Perhaps this is because there are multiple flashbacks throughout the dialogues of multiple characters, which can at times make understanding what's happening a bit confusing. I'm guessing that with continuous reading of the series, the flashbacks will start to make more sense. As an introduction to the series, I'd say this first volume is a 50/50 - it has all the key elements of a fictional world I want to desperately get absorbed in, but the way it's written and the initial pace makes it more difficult to do so. I will read the second volume of this series and depending on how I find that read, I will either continue reading through the series or not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Torture, Slavery, War, Mental illness, and Violence