Rinko Ueda

Stepping on Roses Volume 8 was definitely a step in the right direction for me. I only had #2 and #8 of the collection, so obviously I'm not sure caught up in everything that's going on. Regardless, I wanted some manga to sink into and relax during all the insanity.

I did not enjoy the second volume, but I did enjoy this one! Sumi and Soichiro are a much better couple in this one (actually a couple, I might add), until she is ripped away from him to help make sure he stays safe. This new potential engagement is worlds of hurt for her, but she is determined to win her man back (and help her many siblings).

This series is absolutely insane (in the best way), and is clearly improving. I didn't enjoy that first volume, but number eight has clearly grown on me. I'd like to read the inbetween mangas if I ever get the chance, because it seems like the characters developed.

Overall, this manga is dramatic and sometimes romantic. It's definitely a unique read!

Three out of five stars.… (más)

I wanted to jump into more manga, as per my 2020 reading goals. Unfortunately, I think I picked the wrong series to jump in on.

I found two books from this series at a local used book store, so I decided... why not? I want more manga and this sounded like something I would enjoy.

I did not enjoy.

There's lots of abuse in this story towards our female lead and she doesn't even fight back. She gets hit, yelled at, demeaned and torn down and I don't stand for any of it. I just couldn't. I got more and more annoyed and wanted to DNF after the first scenario, but I didn't. I needed to finish reading it to give it an honest review. And it got worse.

Sumi's married to Soichiro, a rich man who basically bought her to be his wife but not romantic wife just convenient wife. He's a total jerk and demands she be a perfect lady and do whatever he thinks up but doesn't tell her, and when she doesn't do it he beats her and demeans her. She likes Nozomu, an old friend who seems nice, but can't go after him since she's married to a woman beater.

Yeah, I don't like this book. So much fury... so much.

Overall, this book is a major no from me. I can't do it. I have one other book in the series I'm gonna take a quick glance through but I'm almost certain this series is not gonna do it for me, ever.

One out of five stars.… (más)

[Review for manga as a whole; no spoilers]

This manga as a whole is so utterly dumb. I think at one point it genuinely tried to be suspenseful and dramatic, but everything is too ridiculous to take seriously. This is trashy reality TV, greasy fast food, and the most erratic telenovela you’ve seen. And yet I enjoyed it! I love this hot-behind mess. I think I’ve read it at least 4 times throughout the years since I first read it in Dec 2016.

The male lead, Soichiro, starts out mean and borderline abusive (he’s also terribly and inappropriately hand-grabby in the beginning chapters). He begins as a jerk until he has some SERIOUS growth. The female lead, Sumi, is beyond stupid, but I loved her determination to take care of her siblings. And the older brother you will want to dropkick in the throat. Nozumu was a. lot. And he never stopped being a lot.

So yeah, with no spoilers, read this one. It’s entertaining. The sibling relationships will wreck you all with tender hearts. Stepping on Roses does get tropey at times, but it’s worth it for the pure foolery it pulls out of its nose.

SN: I adore the way the mangaka draws babies and little kids. They always look so precious with their little bobble-heads. Also, men are always drawn startling handsome as well.

Major spoiler (read, only if you've completed manga): Something that annoyed me to no end is that the manga tries to pretend Nozumu's obsession with Sumi is because she's secretly his sister and somehow his body knows or whatever. But no dude is just messed up. no ifs ands or buts about it.… (más)