Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Vol. 1

At first (and I mean after the “supposed” introduction to the protagonist), you feel that this doesn't bring anything new and that the protagonist is as simple as it gets. Yet, I was incredibly surprised how my entire perception of the character changed 180º. Suddenly, we know his motivations, his drive to give his all in the mission assigned to him, as well as his philosophy and values.

Basically, everyone has a perception of who the protagonist “is”, so we as the readers go along with it, but then during the fight at the beginning, it's revealed his true intentions, and immediately we have an incredibly complex character. This in addition to his personality made me enjoy his incredible fights. In addition, the other co-protagonist is also really compelling in how she must struggle to gain the respect of her clan (you know, women's roles in any period setting don't always have a great relationship), and you feel her frustrations. You care, and you can't wait to see more of her.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *

Okay, I picked this one up on a whim and ended up loving it. It is dark, gritty, bloody, and the beginning of a promising series. Action fills the pages and even though this is a new world and different rules, it never felt like the information was dumped on us. The tension remains throughout as this journey is life or death. And yet, there are still many humorous moments to keep the darkness from overwhelming the book.

I'm hooked. Recommended to people who like darker manga.