Just finished binging all eight translated volumes, excuse my enthusiasm. Ahem.
Man. This manga is seriously fantastic though. The scanlation team (Traumerei Scans) is phenomenal. The story is so solid.
The thing that stands out for me with this manga is that it's believable. It's not the kind of manga that exaggerates the severity of the situation - it doesn't serve false danger. The dangers the MC encounters are real, and the insanity of the Tendou household is as well. The scale makes me think of Hunter x Hunter and the Zoldycks. Of course, this one is less fantastical due to the lack of magic/fantasy elements present in this work, but the presence is absolutely there. Also, not the kind of manga which has the MC start off from a disadvantaged point and automatically gain every skill and virtue under the sun in 5 seconds. The MC is dumb and I'm so here for it. She's so cute and dumb and I'm GLAD because it's not a bad thing.
Beyond that, its characterization also feels very appropriate to the situation these characters are wound up in. No one is perfect. The male lead, female lead, the characters they're surrounded by all have their flaws and are unconventional in their own ways. The shading pairs so well with the text in delivering some seriously eerie moments which remind me of Junji Ito, who I haven't read but recall certain stills/caps from.
The story expresses loss and grief so, so well, and in such a heartbreaking fashion...I really cried with the MC
where her grandpa was concerned, her motivations for putting her life on the line...just the desperate desire she had to be reunited with the only family that she has and loves.
While this story isn't just trauma fuel, the way it handles loss and the extreme stance the MC takes reminds me of the manga Reiri which gave me a similar, if wayyy more brutal, punch to the gut.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST. The romance. For me, I really enjoy the slow pacing the story has going. It leaves an appropriate amount of time for a bond to develop between the FL and ML, as well as time for the dynamics within that bond to shift and change. It starts off fucked as hell in the best way lol, authority figure versus small, abandoned girl who has more to her than meets the eye but isn't given luxury treatment regardless of the fact. Their dynamic remains the cold, cruel (SLEAZY) keeper and his charge. ML remains twisted for a decent portion, although it's clear the influence the FL gradually has on him, especially with the presence of Tachi. Things become softer between them and he treats her more like a friend/pet/playmate at times, although even in later volumes, he's still possessive and domineering as all hell lol. The difference is that he begins to listen to her more, to care...
it's 4AM and I've only established like one or two of the things I had going in my head but. If you love romance with themes of authority and dubious circumstances, this is definitely the one for you!