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rnbhargava's reviews
411 reviews
Perfect World, Volume 2 by Rie Aruga
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This volume builds the tension, showing all the ways that their relationship could be challenged. These threats, often in the form of other characters are kind of aggravating, understandably so but it’s still annoying. I like how the tension is building mostly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
The characters go through it in this volume, there’s ableism, gaslighting/bullying, panic attacks and feeling mentally overwhelmed, though they also have examples of positive relationships similar to theirs as well. Challenges to their relationship even existing is the theme of this volume.
Perfect World, Volume 1 by Rie Aruga
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book wonderfully depicts the struggles of a paraplegic man in relationship to the woman he comes to care greatly for, his former schoolmate. It doesn’t pull any punches in showing the recurring health struggles of Itsuki’s disability, complete with glimpses into how the people around him interact with his disability. I frequently found myself relating to Itsuki’s experience, feeling emotional yet happy to have physical disabilities seen in a story that reaches many types of people that hopefully learn a bit from it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
This volume covers the gamut of ways that Ableism is pervasive in daily life, complete with not so great things being said behind Itsuki’s back, disabled people feeling undesirable, friends and family members caring too much or too little about the ups and downs of the disabled person’s health, struggles with independence and usual rights of passage are all illustrated well and written about with a deft touch. I hope this series continues to be this high quality in future volumes, I’ve already bought about half of volumes of the full run of this series. It would be a shame if it loses its way as it progresses. I’d definitely recommend this book even if it’s to someone who doesn’t usually read romance leaning stories.
I Am a Cat Barista Vol. 2 by Hiro Maijima
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Another wonderful slice of life, helping people out through lending a sympathetic ear during their everyday struggles.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
The triggers are all in the context of regular everyday stressors like relationships and jobs and self image in relation to everyday tension. Then, some advice is given over cafe standards. Workplace comedy a bit too. Love this book so far, hope many more volumes get published
I Am a Cat Barista Vol. 1 by Hiro Maijima
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is cozy and uplifting. The Cat Barista reminds me of Studio Ghibli’s Baron character. He just knows the right thing to say and do.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Misogyny, and Alcohol
This book is very light, the conflicts depicted are very common like being reluctant to open up to others about parts of your personality and figuring out how to be true to yourself while fitting in with different crowds in your life. It’s all very re-affirming.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book is a very fun and emotional adventure. My biggest gripe with the book is that the protagonist has the most abundant plot armor around, even in situations that should be seriously harming toward her. Minor quibble I guess for essentially a chosen one type fantasy action adventure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
There is violence throughout this story but the characters are immortals so that can undercut some of the tension a tiny bit. The author specifically has to write in that something is limiting their natural resilience but then there are healing magics to help characters recover. It leads to more emotional tension when paired with the action. I quite liked this novel and will read the follow up. That said the protagonist’s plot armor is abundant and strong. If that bothers you perhaps stay away. It’s a fun mythological adventure otherwise
Vinland Saga, Volume 10 by Makoto Yukimura
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This volume is great, that said it’s a thick, middle section of the War in the Baltic arc. Garm is a great new antagonist, Thorkell and Sigurd get a great dynamic between them. Thorfinn’s put through a ringer. The situations that everyone get into put them through the ringer. Everyone colliding is what makes this volume great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
This volume really hits on the dichotomy between those fully invested in engaging with War and Violence with those that just want to live free of the turmoil war causes basic life. There is some decapitations, impalements, arrow injuries, stabbings, and a person being destroyed by catapult ammunition.
Frogcatchers by Jeff Lemire
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a good, sort of plunge into a quasi-fantasy world with an Inception-like vibe. It’s all focused on a small number of characters. It’s fast, impacting, emotional and definitely leaves an impression
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
There is some medical treatment for severe illness in the book, most of the rest is surrealism akin to something like the film Inception where there’s thriller type action and character interaction intrigue.
Sneeze by Naoki Urasawa
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This manga compilation of Urusawa shorts is wonderful. There’s a lot of variety but you still get a lot of his key themes in all of these.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
There’s nudity, violence done in the name of all sorts of things, there’s musicians partying with drinks and drugs, there’s gun violence, there’s mass disaster type violence, there are unsavoury type characters that are our leads that you oddly become sympathetic toward. I only put this at 4 rather than 5 because I could stack how I liked different shorts in comparison to each other. It’s absolutely wonderful if you’re a fan of this manga creator Urasawa.
Asadora!, Vol. 5 by Naoki Urasawa
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This volume is thrilling in all the storytelling that’s cross-crossing and overlapping now. The reveal is incredibly well handled with all the emotion and action you hope for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
I’m leaning harder on the triggers here as you genuinely feel afraid for some of the characters here that are in precarious positions through their own fault or through interacting with the dangers that the main characters go through. Just be aware.
Asadora!, Vol. 4 by Naoki Urasawa
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This volume is all rising action. They spring into full tilt during a major storm, all the conflict smushes together at once and it’s thrilling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Car accident
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
This volume is all rising action and tension. Asa’s friend willingly goes to a very sketchy “audition” and the Government Agents are quite obviously not what they seem yet some of them are quite decent people. Kasuga’s attempts in this volume to protect Asa are very tense yet entertaining. Keiichi Nakaido is such a fun addition despite the fact he regularly rudely calls Asa a nobody. Kinuyo and the siblings even get good stuff to do. Hopefully Miyako gets some meaningful action soon. Asa is such a great protagonist. I’m loving this series. Solid volume again.