Hadashi de Bara wo Fume
Stepping on Roses

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I'll keep it sweet and simple, no matter whether your big on shoujo or not I recommend you check this one out.

The synopsis and the covers of this manga may look like your cliche shoujo manga, and whilst yes a chunk of it is that since it is obviously made with the intent of being a shoujo, I can tell you now that this manga has it's fair share of dark moments for what the main synopsis is described as.

So even if you aren't big on this type of thing, I highly recommend this as this manga gave me a roller coaster ride ... of emotions.

I started this manga with low hopes, and I was proven wrong for the first half. The first half of the story was extremely well written and the characterizations were just so beautiful and realistic. The story was a little fast-paced, but it suited the style and the setting it created was wonderful.

HOWEVER! The second half, at around chapter 30, the plot goes completely downhill. It was like it was written by a completely different person. No spoilers, but it was like none of the characters made any sense anymore, all of their motivations were practically thrown out and did a whole 180. The ... plot became extremely unrealistic and almost every chapter made me want to throw my laptop.

So! If you're willing to read only the first half and then drop it, I would recommend. If you're like me and wanted to finish it just to get it over with, it's not worth your time.

"Hadashi de Bara wo Fume" is like fast-food: Easy, comforting tropes; but very, very toxic with unhealthy character patterns. Think normalized rape, abuse, gambling, and almost very nearly incest - all wrapped tidy and pretty within a sugar-coated fairytale.

The plot contained interesting elements - particularly the antagonist's psychosis which could have created an amazing psychological thriller (like Light from Death Note's psychopathy). It could have completely subverted the syrupy shoujo genre, except the author was superficially focused on what she liked best: fashion and faces (literally, the characters have great faces but awkwardly proportioned bodies).

It's an alright manga for some PG ... love - lots of kissing, chaste sleeping at night, occasional kisses, no sex until attempted rape occurs (lol). I can see why this manga would appeal to the worst of tween fantasies.

10/10 to stay away from. Buyers beware.