Aku no Hana, or "The Flowers of Evil", is one of the longer manga series I've read through the years, but I finished it within 3 days - it was that captivating. The story is quite mature and the physical abuse the FL inflicts on the ML might turn you off since there's no "revenge plot" or "getting her back" for what she does as a manipulative, abusive, and blackmailing girl wrapping the ML around her finger to do her bidding.

Aku no Hana is a master at visual story-telling. There's not as much actual reading to do on your part, and some of the subtle writing/artist decisions might not connect with you until the second reading, but those more psychologically aware will catch on to many of the emotional cues of the characters or when certain panels pay specific attention to an object, an expression, or something that would otherwise seem benign or unimportant.

I was recommended this when in pursuit of a romance manga. While I was actually in anticipation of a romance, I was greeted with something far different, but I stayed for the ride all the way through regardless. There's not much in the way of romance, so if you're eyeing that "Romance" genre tag in anticipation of getting your fix, drop that expectation now. Don't get me wrong, there IS romance included in this manga, but it's not the focus and

I don't think it's a spoiler for me to mention that there is a time skip about half way through. Some don't like that, but I didn't mind and in fact it renewed interest in me since the danger the ML and FL were getting themselves into and the chemistry that progressed between them kept building up to the point that I was unsure where the author was going to end them at, but the time skip solved that dilemma and relieved the reader of that tension of "what could possibly come of this when the the ML has nothing left to lose now and he's cornered himself into obeying the FL's every whim?" During the final volumes, I was questioning whether or not the new female character introduced would actually be the FL years later but didn't recognize the ML or forgot about him. To the author's credit, I wasn't convinced with certainty if she was or not until the reveal finally came and we saw the FL post-time skip near the ending chapters. Getting to finally see her again and wondering how she progressed as a character after years of being away from the ML was cathartic and kept me antsy to see

All in all, Aku no Hana - "The Flowers of Evil" - kept my eyes glued to the pages and while it's not the type of book I could pick up and read through multiple times, it's not one easily forgotten, either.

I have read this back on 2012 or 2013 and it's still stuck in my head. I can still clearly remember the ending of this manga.
I read it in one sit and I enjoyed it. It was a fun read. I remembered that I was smiling and quite satisfied once I finished the manga.
Tho one thing that I don't really know is how to accept and come to term with the FMC ending. I just feel really sad for the FMC. If the author can show more of the FMC life, I might not have this feeling.

... Last updated on August 29th, 2023, 8:56am

A lot of reviews of this manga, to me at least, missed the point. this story is not a case of masochism or the mmc being a wimp. He acted on impulse as a kid going through puberty (which i feel a lot of people missed) the stuff that goes through your head during that time makes you constantly question your actions especially those considered "impure". With that being said he was caught doing something most would look down on but the fmc gave him a chance and a way out. Admit who you truly are and escape this boring town with me. Even the fmc at the end of the day was still a girl herself going through puberty and that mixed with her relationship or lack there of with her parents probably turned her the way she was. But to the whole even she is still a girl too thing. When the mmc and the muse had sex the muse said the fmc was shaking when she hugged the muse. Meaning the fmc probably also had real feelings for the mmc even though on the surface it is supposed to look like they are just both perverts escaping a boring town. you have the fmc who saw her mom up and leave and more than likely her father held some resentment to her for that as he saw his ex wife in his daughter somewhat and that was her catalyst. the mmc was getting caught acting on impulse in smelling his crushes clothes. More than likely had he not heard a noise like someone coming in the room he would have put the clothes back but he ended up in a bad situation and almost worse outcome. a lot of people also didnt like the time skip but i thought it was more important to the story than people realize. what would be the point in picking up right where it leaves off when he moves. it reflects more on the story that some time has actually passed and he is still struggling with what happened not only him but his parents who are the cusp of divorce because of it. then he meets the new li. shes his breakthrough back to "normality" and had there not been a time skip but he still met her it would have been worse for the story imo as it would make no sense for him to move on that quick. time heals all wounds and that was the point of the time skip for some of them they moved on quicker for others they hadnt yet like for instance the muses friend she broke down at the restaurant with the mmc and in the epilogue when she finally runs into the muse at what seems to be a decent time going by it looks as though she can finally move on. does it suck the mmc and fmc dont end up together? yes and no i like tokiwa as she somewhat mirrored the real mmc in that she felt like she had to be fake to fit in and didnt want to share her love of books because her friends and bf might look down on her for it, yes i know that trope is dumb asf but still,. i think if the mmc and fmc ended up together it would do more harm then good as they might have been happy but everyone around them would still hurt. he needed to move on from her and let her heal in her own way as he did also accomplish his mission in saving her from that town for some they may not have noticed it but the fmc moms said since she moved in with her the fmc had calmed down to me meaning she was healing and moving on from the town she was from. she even eventually was able to what looked like make up with her dad. its a bit bitter sweet if you wanted the fmc and mmc to get together but life isnt like that sometimes even if they are of the opposite sex you just need someone special to save you from certain circumstances and nothing more and thats what this story was. and on a final note again this was not some story of a wimp mc who couldnt stand up for himself like really ask yourself this youre 13-14 going through puberty and some random girl catches you stealing a girls used gym clothes and smelling them then blackmails you what are you going to do, and if you say you know a way out of that other than admitting to what you did or violence youre wrong. 13-14 year olds dont have resources like that. so open your mind up and maybe reread this story from a new perspective not the on of the 20 something year old you are now,

The beginning sucks, main character is a wimp and masochist. He is a pussy and can't decides who he wants to be with, and by the time he does decide, he goes for the domestic abuser. Like bruh, you were dating the other lady who was ur muse, and then break up because u can't imagine her pure image to be destroyed. Like bruh, people shouldn't be put up a such a high pedestal. He didn't even know her and once he did get to know her, he was in denial because what he knows goes against his idea of her and her purity and shit. Overall the beginning sucks ass

Chapter 44 and 45, I was about to slap my head with his confession, but then I reread chapter 44 and felt that his confession was actually appropriate, he seen her hide herself and true interest from others and has no one to share her interest with. Overall this is good

... Last updated on October 2nd, 2022, 12:47pm

Plot: 7/10

For a high school drama, Aku no Hana opens with a crazy setting and pervert characters. It explores the theme of troubled youth and lost in society. The first part was briliantly written. It excited you and has you turned the pages. Then comes the second part and the downhill. I suppose the author wants the latter part as the redemption and maturation for the main characters. However, he executed poorly. We readers are led to believe the Tokiwa girl help our hero turn to the right path: become a responsible adult. It is not convincingly at all. I see the protagonist changed Tokiwa but not the way around. She wrote some stories but it was thanks to him that she dares to be herself. And then we met crazy girl Sawa again. But this time she is blank and unemotional. And then some weird shit happened and suddenly they all forget the dark past and move on😕 I guess the author tries to be ambiguous for reader's interpretation.

TLDR; This manga has an interesting theme and really tries to convey that theme. But the execution is not that good.

Art: 7.5/10

It's easy to dismiss the art, but Aku no Hana isn't your typical cute high school art. While it's far from complicated and detailed artstyle, the mangaka captures the sense of suspense and characters' dark mind really well through bleak background and focus shot on characters. Another high point is how the art is quite consistent throughout the series and how it shows characters change and mature.

Characters: 7/10

The cast is small and centered around Kasuga, Sawa and Saeki in part 1 and we have Tokiwa in part 2. But Tokiwa is pretty bland in comparison so I'll leave her out of discussion. Sawa started as the problematic and outcast girl. The way she acted bluntly and violently made you forget her vulnerability. I felt the most for her throughout and wish someone can really reach her. Kasuga tried but he only made her worse. In the end, she just magically got better? Saeki appeared to be annoying for the first few chapters due to her just like a typical star students. As we learned about her, we feel her pain and how she wish to change. In the end, it seems she accepts her society expectation. Her ending is probably the saddest. Now Kasuga is the only one who really changes for the better. He accepts himself as a 'perverted' person while tries to maintain his social expectation and become a responsible individual.

Enjoyment: 7.5/10

Love it or hate it, Aku no Hana is still an exciting read. I have conflcted feeling for it. But I appreciate how thought provoking it is among other 999 other high school dramas.

Overall: 7.2/10

Other than psychological, this is not my go to genre, so it is not appealing to me due to it's genre. This series was addicting, fun, anguishing, and heart wrenching at times. It has mentally unstable characters and is realistic to how children, people with disorders, and parents would act. It really got me emotionally involved. For that, I would recommend it to anyone who loves psychological drama.

I really enjoy this manga until chapter 33. It was a really interesting journey. Perversion is rarely brought up in any media, so it's really good to see Aku no Hana exists and takes perversion as one of theme explored. But after time skip, I lost interest in this manga.

New characters introduced and a new story begin.
No, it took all what I felt about the manga after I got immersed out and left me empty. This is why I dislike a long time skip.
Dropped

... Last updated on June 15th, 2018, 12:14pm

So I read it for like 3 days and at the beginning I really hated the main dude 'cause he's a wimp and a pervert.Then I kinda like how he saw through that new girl but kinda hate how it all happen.
The ending(chap 56) on the other hand is amazing and I really like it,if your here for ROMANCE then there is actual romance that actually progress.The last chapter is more like a extra chapter for me.
I enjoyed it really it can stir up feelings but don't be discouraged cause it's good.
About the ending

It was alright. Honestly, compared to other manga about coming of age, this one is a little twisted. As mentioned before in a previous comment, this manga indeed felt sick. The only saving grace I can think of is the ending, I guess... Whatever, back to reading fluffy stuff for me.

So far - since I haven't even reached the middle of the story - what is certain is... that these kids (they are children, what is, it is) are ... hmmm... how should I politely express myself?... kids are tragically unwise. The story itself is kinda stuck in a cubicle, of course, since that's the kind of the story it is - you can simply follow it. I find it hilarious, although there is that "how sad" thought lurking in the background


P.S. I could be saying what we all thought at some point... Well, I hope you know what I mean.

P.P.S.


... Last updated on January 14th, 2016, 12:29pm