Back to Keenie_'s Profile Keenie_'s Profile

The best thing about this manga is the artwork, easily. The cover is what convinced me to read it, the protagonists design is simple and haunting (I mean, just look at his eyes). But that's the only positive of the Manga. And even then, I feel the surrealism style isn't pushed far enough to compensate for the lackluster plot and themes.

None of the characters have names, few have motivations, and little happens in the grand scheme of things. I read the manga in about thirty minutes and I feel nothing. There are shock factor elements, but if you have ever read anything with purposeful ... shock factor then you know exactly what's going to happen. And there isn't enough build up in between these moments to justify anything about the series.

There isn't any set up going on, everything is announced immediately before it happens meaning there isn't any tension. And because the art style is so simple that there isn't actually anything keeping you engaged for most of the manga.

Just read Litchi☆Hikari Club, it's basically the same plotline with a more traditional art style and character's developed enough to have their own names and relationships.

There's alot of neutral to negative reviews of this manga on here, and I simply and utterly disagree with all of them.

This is, simply put, the most accurate depiction of the LGBT+ experience I have ever read in Manga. If you are looking for a BL story this is not it. It's bitter, honest, and up-front about the pain of human connection, the contradictions we all create in personhood and the struggle of being alone vs being understood.

Characters across all ages, in various stages of their lives and their identities come together to form a community.

I've seen some people say this is ... not an accurate depiction of the Gay experience and I have to disagree. As someone who was outed by people I thought were friends, I found the initial chapters incredibly relatable. I live in a western, relatively accepting country, and I was still completely hurt and utterly terrified when it happened to me. Having an intimate part of you shared without your permission is terrifying, and I have never seem those feelings so clearly represented then here.

The ending is a little bittersweet, not every question is answered, not every relationship turns out perfectly fixed, not all characters react to situations like you want them to. But the story is fulfilling, the characters are empathetic, and everything feels painfully human.

Also it's beautifully drawn!! The mix of expressionist art and bitterly realistic storytelling really got to me.

If you're interested in LGBT+ things or just coming of age stories in general, I consider it a must read.