Kohske

(translation of the "recommended for: discerning readers" description: I'd recommend this to readers with mature taste in manga, who appreciate a well-crafted tale with excellent characterization.)

The first volume was quite good, but it's normally difficult to judge a series by the first volume. While reading the second, I found that the plot thickens (seemed like a good thing), the action intensifies (usually to be expected in a second volume), and the complexity of the story increases (possibly less than ideal, as some of the characters' places in the story get more difficult to track). In general, there was some character development, but much of it was still in the vein of getting to know characters as opposed to seeing a lot of new developments.

. . . then, in the last pages of this second volume, some surprisingly significant addition to character development arose, and it became clear that a lot of what had already happened before that point was setting the context for this moment. It was very nearly enough to push me to rate this five stars, but I'm always reluctant to assign that fifth star to any book. The top possible rating must be jealously guarded, lest it lose its meaning as indicating something truly amazing.

I don't know that I won't come back and bump it up to five later, though. I'm going to have to let this sit in the back of my mind while I read more of the series.… (mere)

This is the first manga I've read in a while that really made me excited! The story-line is fantastic and the art style is realistic yet stylized. The characters are all interesting and amazingly they aren't all 16 year olds (who often look 12) out to save the world! The main characters are even in their 30s! *gasp*

I loved it so much I immediately read the rest of the available volumes.

But be warned, this series is not for the faint of heart. It has lots of violence and trauma, and sexual situations. If you can't handle that or just don't like to read about it, maybe pass on reading this manga.… (mere)