
Links go to search results. Availability varies by region.
失楽園
25
6
Finished
May 22, 2009 to Mar 22, 2011
5.3/10
Average Review Score
38%
Recommend It
8
Reviews Worldwide
minor spoilers, mostly for the dumb ass ending * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * when abusers cry that they're the real victims and the author paints them as victims of society is where i draw the f**king line -forced to write a longer review, the ending is actually legitimately trash, glorifies self victimization and says it's ok to be a massive abusive piece of sh*t bc lol we live in a society, romanticises forgiving people who prolly shouldn't be forgiven just like that, no further questions taken at this time Art was pretty cute, though tobe honest there wasn't even a lot of shoujo ai at all, battles were pretty cool, this manga isn't recommended for actual feminists or people who have been through abuse because this sh*t can be damn triggering
Himoto Sora is a transfer student with a sense of justice and dreams of becoming a knight. Upon arriving at Utopia Gakuen, she learns of a virtual reality-like game played by the male students in which they use girls as weapons in battles for status and treat them as commodities. Seeing one of these girls being abused she steps in and though some sort of error unwittingly becomes the first female participant of the game. Included one-shot: Volume 2: Shitsurakuen (pilot)
A story with so much promise it fills me with regret every time I remember its beginning and rage when I remember its ending. I really enjoyed about 90% of the story. The art is good; it never felt awkward or lacking; nor did it impress me though. The characters were strong and vibrant; they really sold the world they inhabited. As for enjoyment, if you can read the whole story, chances are that you will either love it or hate it. Its not the kind of story you can read without caring about one way or another. It made my heart race with anxiety, anger, despairand joy (depending on the chapter). If you've read a lot of "knight saving damsels in distress" stories, then the path the story takes will feel familiar. Until you get to the end. Thus I warn future readers; Most good stories have a simple beginning, complex middle and simple ending. This simple end allows the reader to feel the emotion or ask the question(s) that the author intended. However, this story's most complex part is the end which leaves the reader conflicted and or confused. THERE ARE MINOR SPOILERS BELOW It throws a fairly big twist at the end. I haven't reread the series so I don't know how much foreshadowing their was but, I know that I definitely didn't see it coming. After the twist is revealed, the story wraps up things mostly. However, it's ending was a little lackluster. The author seemed to agree and came out with a second last chapter that has a more fan service ending (it didn't make much sense to me but it still felt better than the original ending). The problem comes in when you think about the twist. In my option it both completely betrays the story's theme and subverts the feelings of the reader. The story is turns out not to be about a courageous knight but rather about a manipulated fool. The worst part of that revelation is that it seems to unintended. The author seems not to notice that they have corrupted their own story. Well either that or they hate their own heroin and wanted to have an ending that belittled them. If you've read all this and still want to read it, be prepared, there are other (perhaps better) reasons to hate the ending.
Okay, let me explain my scoring. I love the art, it's a pretty fresh take on the 'harem' genre (it's rare to find harems centered around a female character), and most of the characters are pretty interesting, even if they start off as stereotypes. It does borrow HEAVILY from Utena, however, in terms of themes, a fairytale Greek chorus, and mechanics of the game played at the school, but it does switch it up enough to not be boring. There's also comparatively less fanservice than most harem manga. However, there's a lot of things wrong with this manga, and 99% of them have to do withthe male characters and the ending. I don't want to spoil anything in case anyone wants to give it a try, but know that there is a great deal of physical violence against women, rape threats/attempted rape, and abuse apologism, especially in the ending. I sincerely would not reccomend it if you are upset by depictions of violence against women, because this manga is rife with it. TL;DR: Lots of violence against women, abuse apologism, and all the men suck except for Akane, who is a very good boy.
The story of this manga is based on "Paradise Story" which is often included in the story and well-made to cover the whole events in the story. This manga is having a slow start and will leave you different perception more you dwell with the story. It's not a simple one but full of surprise and deep thought. The art is greatly drawn and kept like that until the end. Characters, battles, and events are drawn nicely throughout the series. Throughout the story, I don't like how they abuse the girls in the story, making my enjoyment so low but more you know story, this storyis very enjoyable. Having finished 23 chapter (I think ep.24 is epilogue) I really story as the whole. So, conclusively, just like me, maybe you will turn away from this manga in first few chapters, but I think as a whole, this manga gives a very great story.
this is my first review ever, i didnt even plan to review, but after that ending, i just had to write something until the end i had a 7/10 rating for this after the ending it fell to 4/10 the idea is cool, the art is amazing, the fighting was hella cool, and in a way, i liked the premise of the seriesbut come on, letting the abusers get painted as the victims?? and even have the actual victims, and the abused, just forgive them?? Even get romantically involved with them?? thats just fucked up like, i liked the girls, but seeing them do that i couldnt help but feel disgusted the yuri was nice tho