You’re walking down the street, when you suddenly find yourself in the middle of an unknown area. You don’t remember how you got there, but a kind-looking women sees you looking around and guides you to a manor. Still not sure how you got there, and fighting the sense that something is wrong, you follow the women through the house where you meet….
To get to the point..:
Do I recommend this manga? Yes!
Who do I recommend this manga to? Fans of Japanese mythology and mystery stories.
Trigger warnings? There is mention of suicide and potential drug usage.
- To get to the point..:
- Information About the Manga
- What genre? What are the vibes?
- First Impressions and thoughts
- What’s it about?
- My Favourites
- My Least-Favourites
- The main characters
- Maddie’s ratings
Information About the Manga
Who wrote Hell is Dark with no Flowers?
The original light novel was written by Yoru Michio.
The manga illustrations were done by Ruka Todo.
How many volumes are out?
In Japanese, there are 10 volumes published.
In English, there are 2 volumes published so far. Volume 3 will be released September 23rd!
Where can I buy it?
For those looking for the Japanese digitals…
For those looking for the English physicals…
What genre? What are the vibes?
- Horror
- Japanese mythology
- Mystery solving
First Impressions and thoughts
I have to admit, I did originally judge this manga purely by the cover. I read parts of descriptions, and allowed my brain to fill in the rest. For some reason I had thought this was going to be a supernatural romance, and couldn’t bring myself to be interested.
When I saw it in the library the other day, I decided to borrow it on a whim, and I am so glad I did! This is a purely supernatural horror manga, that heavily includes themes of Japanese mythology. I would say it’s less horror and more supernatural, but I really found myself enjoying this story.
I found all of the characters to be incredibly interesting and likeable, and while the first mystery in this story wasn’t the most complex, it was so well-written that I was fully absorbed into it. I’m only upset that it ended on such a big cliffhanger! I now have to decide if I want to continue borrowing this from the library so I can read it right away, or if I should wait and order it in Japanese so I can add it to my collection…
What’s it about?
Seiji, our unfortunate main character, is really going through it. After succumbing to the high stress environment he found himself in, he dropped out of university and became homeless. To make matters worse, sometimes when he looks at people, he sees them as grotesque monsters.
One day, while walking down the street, he was wondering to himself how he was going to get by. Perhaps because he was so deep in thought, he didn’t notice himself stumbling down a path he’s never seen before. Before he could react, a mysterious women greets him, leads him into a manor, and introduces him to the master of the manor.
He soon learns that this master of the manor is hiding quite a few secrets, and is a rather shady person, but Seiji doesn’t have many options.
After they talk to each other for a little while, The master of the manor, Shiroshi, tells Seiji a little bit more about his, and the manor’s, purpose. Shiroshi is the child of a demon, and the manor is a gateway to hell.
Shiroshi tells Seiji that in return for lodging and feeding him, he would like Seiji to work for him. And after sharing this big secret, it’s rather clear what unfortunate future awaits Seiji should he turn him down. And so, the two begin working together to judge the souls of those who end up in the manor.
My Favourites
- The overall tone of this manga – the author did a masterful job at creating a constant, spooky atmosphere.
- Seiji and Shiroshi’s relationship – They have a pet dog and master relationship, and I found it to be a really cute addition to the story. It somehow really worked with the tone.
My Least-Favourites
- Nothing yet!
The main characters
Seiji Tohno
- 22 years old
- University drop-out
- Homeless
Seiji is having a really rough time. After dropping out, he became homeless and broke. While he knows he could go back to his family home, he isn’t confident that he’d be able to face his parents. He is afraid of socializing with other people, and crumbles under pressure.
Shiroshi Saijou
- ??? years old
- Mysterious yet kind to Seiji
- The son of a demon
Shiroshi runs a proxy for hell through his manor. His job is to fin sinners, and condemn them to hell. He is in a competition, started by his father, to decide who the most powerful demons of hell will be. His kind nature is impeding his chance at winning the competition, so he employs Seiji to increase his chances of winning.
Maddie’s ratings
Plot
Is the plot constantly engaging? – Yes!
Is it original? – Incredibly so!
Am I excited to continue reading? – Yes!
Art
Do I personally like the art? – I would say it’s average.
Does the art match the vibe of the story? – At times yes, at times no.
Is the artstyle unique? – No.
World-Building
Is there a lot of lore? – Yes! We were constantly being fed bits and pieces of the lore.
Personal Enjoyment
Would I re-read it? – Yes! I’m hoping to get it in Japanese.
Would I add it to my physical collection? – Yes! I’m hoping to be able to find it.
Would I recommend it? – Absolutely!
Maddies Manga 
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