Haruka 17
- Thread starter MangaDex
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Contributor
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- Mar 1, 2018
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- 230
It's a rough start, and it's not without flaws, but with the scanlation reaching the end of the publication I just wanted to hint to new readers that this manga is--surprisingly--a gem to read as the mangaka develops as a storyteller along with their heroine and several of the side characters. It is what makes this story so compelling despite the problemtatic and melodramatic antagonism and power structure within the Japanese entertainment scene.
Dex-chan lover
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- Dec 7, 2018
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Good read with solid pacing throughout most of it. Has some twists and turns that keep it engaging, the characters aren't typically one-dimensional with decent explanations of their motivations, and the characters all seem to grow over time. Oh, there us some nudity and sexual content despite the tags not being for it, but it's infrequent and definitely story driven. 8/10
Group Leader
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- Jun 24, 2018
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In my opinion, this manga is probably best divided into two parts, the first 120 chapters and the rest. The first half was breathtaking - Haruka's struggles as she stumbles the dark side of the entertainment industry is captivating, her battle to rise to the top while upholding her values, as well as finding her own values is absolutely enjoyable. And it's all supported by charimastic side characters and obstructed by her interesting adversaries.
The second half however, if there's a word to describe it, it's probably "tamer", or "stagnated". As Haruka's developed, her surroundings changed and not in a good way. Most things established as stakes in her career is resolved rather anti-climatically, important and charming side characters just fuck off the story without more or less a reason, or have their personalities completely changed. The pacing for the first half is rushed but just well enough so that Haruka's story can still be thrilling, for the second half, that fast pacing is completely sluggish, throughout the final 70 chapters, Haruka has accomplished at most *two* things, while her achievements and hardship in the first half are completely undermined or forgotten. There's no more thrills, no more stakes, no more interesting supporting characters, it just feels like a completely different, yet worse manga altogether.
The first half is a solid 9, while the second is at most only a 6. And the terribly indecisive and sudden ending as well - surely it couldn't have been rushed, considering the theme and charm of the manga has died out two-thirds of the way through. But this manga is still worth reading for its first half, 110 chapters or so, for that Haruka is an amazing main character, the story and premise is solid as well as the brilliant world-building.
The second half however, if there's a word to describe it, it's probably "tamer", or "stagnated". As Haruka's developed, her surroundings changed and not in a good way. Most things established as stakes in her career is resolved rather anti-climatically, important and charming side characters just fuck off the story without more or less a reason, or have their personalities completely changed. The pacing for the first half is rushed but just well enough so that Haruka's story can still be thrilling, for the second half, that fast pacing is completely sluggish, throughout the final 70 chapters, Haruka has accomplished at most *two* things, while her achievements and hardship in the first half are completely undermined or forgotten. There's no more thrills, no more stakes, no more interesting supporting characters, it just feels like a completely different, yet worse manga altogether.
The first half is a solid 9, while the second is at most only a 6. And the terribly indecisive and sudden ending as well - surely it couldn't have been rushed, considering the theme and charm of the manga has died out two-thirds of the way through. But this manga is still worth reading for its first half, 110 chapters or so, for that Haruka is an amazing main character, the story and premise is solid as well as the brilliant world-building.
