ohhellosandee's reviews
27 reviews

it's no brainer that i'm gonna end up giving this 5 stars. i've already watched the entire first season of the anime and fell in love. the artwork is divine. i prefer the manwha art style compared to the anime - just a personal preference. so many questions i'm very curious to know the answers to. got me hooked from start to finish. already reading the second one.

Life and death. This is a theme used a second time in this volume. As Jin-woo was once again faced with the probability of death, he was given a task. It was a task he was not sure if he could do at first, but ended up being able to do it with ease. The brings the question though, whether the system asked him to do it or not, I feel like Jin-woo would have done it anyways. When you get pushed too far to a corner, you have to choice but to shove.

The stronger Jin-woo gets, the more complicated the decisions he had to make. Even though I pretty much know what’s gonna happen next since I watched the anime, I’m still pretty excited to read the next one.

This volume gave me so much butterflies. I swear to god, I’m so excited to get to the new volume. Rishe and Arnold’s relationship is developing perfectly. She’s getting to know more about him and how different he is to who she thought he was based on what she knew about him from her previous lives. I think Arnold is unintentionally falling in love with her too which is so cute. The way he stared at Prince Kyle during that one scene will never not be hilarious. He was jealous, but I guess he wasn’t sure that was what he was feeling at the time. I love this couple so much. I just wish we don’t get some stupid miscommunication trope along the way because I would really hate that.

this was my second time trying to read this... i liked the writing but i really couldn't get myself to finish it unfortunately. i will try it again. maybe. someday.

I wish I could reach inside my heart and show her that it's filled with nothing but her.

I read this book in a day! It’s been a while since a book was able to keep my attention for longer than 10 minutes. I couldn’t put this book down. I needed to know what happens next. It was a need. I was addicted. This is one messy soap opera drama and I freakin loved it. I’m starting the next one asap.

Long Story Short:

Story follows Raven who was arranged to be married to her best friend’s brother, Ares. He ended up falling for her sister, Hannah. Ares broke of their engagement to date and eventually marry Hannah. This broke Raven’s heart as she has always been in love with Ares. But due to some weird twist of fate, Raven and Ares got married. Raven is determined to win her husband’s love - no matter what it takes.

Bulleted Review:

- This book was addicting. I couldn’t stop reading once I started. I guess it might be due to the fact that I am obsessed with the marriage of convenience or arranged marriage tropes. This book was not perfect, don’t get me wrong, but the amount of enjoyment I got while reading it just speaks volume.

- Raven. Oh boy, I loved this girl. Not gonna lie, I was kind of worried she was going to stay a doormat for the rest of the book. Fortunately, she was able to stand her ground and said fuck off to her mother and her sister, because they were really terrible people. Another thing might be because I related to her. How she’s always the one who looks out for other people even if it hurts her.

- Let’s go talk about the first Windsor brother, Ares. I was expecting to hate him because he’s kinda dumb at first. lmao. How can you not know your sister’s best friend has the hots for you? Like how can you not? Anyways, he totally made up for all his idiocy at the beginning of the book. I forgave him because he was just perfect. I was expecting him to cheat, but he didn’t. He made a promise and he stuck to his promise no matter how hard it has been for him. You have to appreciate a man with conviction.

- Right off the bat, I loved Raven and Ares’ chemistry. Kinda dumb of them that they didn’t get together sooner when everyone can see they were perfect for each other. The amount of sexual tension before they actually did it was hella satisfying. Took a bit but when they got there, I was satisfied. The sex was spicy. I was satisfied.

- The Windsors and the other side characters. One of the reasons why I loved this book was because of the side characters. Every time they’re together I just found myself smiling or giggling whenever they banter with each other. Oh to have older brothers. I got super attached to these people and want to know what happens to them too.

- One thing that kinda irks me is when these fictional men wants their women walking and dripping in their cum… like… why?

Through my work, I have witnessed the final moments of all manner of people. When they are on the brink of death, I perceive what lies in their hearts. The blade reflects one’s true nature. Some may bluff and keep a brave face to the bitter end. Some turn desperate and cling to life. While others deceive themselves into accepting death.

This is fucking epic. I watched the first season of the anime (criminally underrated if you ask me) and loved it. I wanted to find out how it ends so here I am reading the manga. Gabimaru might be one my favorite characters ever. Don't be fooled by his tiny and unassuming look. He is a brutal and violent man who has slaughtered and taken countless lives. But when he met his wife, everything changed for him. He was whipped as fuck. The only reason he still has the motivation to live was because of her and as you read through the first volume, you'll understand why.

We also meet Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, a female executioner, who has been getting misogynistic comments from her colleagues telling her she should quit her job. Like, fuck off. She can do the job. She has been doing it for a while and the annoying side comments like women should be doing shit at home is just plain annoying and stupid. Luckily, my girl does not care about men's opinion. Being around Gabimaru was good for her.

What I needed all along wasn’t the strength to kill without fear, but rather the resolve to bear the weight of that fear. The weight of the lives I take.

Luca being a serial pussy eater immediately got an edge over Ares in my book.

"All the Lovers in the Night" by Meiko Kawakami is a emotional exploration of loneliness, self-discovery, and human connection. The story follows Fuyuko Irie, a freelance proofreader in her mid-thirties who has lead a life of isolation and routine. In short, her daily life is pretty unremarkable. She often struggle with feeling of emptiness and disconnection, that is until she meets Mitsutsuka, an older physics teacher who offers her a new way to view things. Their interactions became the catalyst for Fuyuko to confront things she has been trying to suppress. Fuyuko gradually learns to open up and embrace vulnerability. She confronts her fears and insecurities, which leads to a deeper understanding of herself and her desires.

The reason why I kept reading this book was because Fuyuko's journey deeply mirrored my own experiences. Kawakami's writing is simple yet beautiful. All the Lovers in the Night was written in a way that was both detached and aloof yet also intimate in some ways, similar to how Fuyuko is. It was able to capture the nuances of Fuyuko's inner narrative with a delicate touch which in a way also showed my own.

Even though I like this book, I found it challenging to finish it due to its slow pace. I am not a huge fan of slower paced books hence why this was a struggle to get through. There is not a lot that happens in terms of plot; instead, it delves deeply into Fuyuko's character and her mental and emotional struggles. While I appreciated the rich, introspective exploration, the lack of action made it difficult to stay engaged at times. The book focuses a lot on Fuyuko that it left the secondary characters mostly underdeveloped.

Despite this, the book's deep exploration on identity and societal expectations stuck with me. For those who enjoy a character-driven narrative and the beauty in quiet moments of self-realization, "All the Lovers in the Night" offers a poignant and relatable reading experience.

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 2 continues to deliver a compelling story, filled with intense emotions and intricate character dynamics. One character stood out to me for all the wrong reasons. His misogynistic attitude towards Sagiri was something I found really infuriating. Eventually he changed his views but not until, you know, bad things already happened.

One of my favorite aspect of this manga series is the enigmatic mystery of the island and its inhabitants. It’s really fascinating. The mix of mythology and reality keeps me at the edge of my seat, wondering if these beings are gods or something else entirely.

Sagiri, one of the elite Yamada Asaemon, stands out in this volume for me as she struggles with internal conflicts and societal expectations. Her journey is marked by emotional depth, as she confronts fear, doubt, and the weight of her lineage. Her interactions with Gabimaru reveal layers of vulnerability and strength, showcasing her journey to self-acceptance and changing role as an equal partner in their mission. Sagiri's struggles with gender roles and expectations add a compelling layer to her character. Yuji Kaku did an excellent job portraying her with a balance of strength and vulnerability, making Sagiri one of the most compelling characters in this manga series.

Overall, Vol. 2 of Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku continues to grip me with its rich storytelling, character development, and intriguing mysteries. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next.