I was absolutely obsessed with this when I was 14. I would reread it over and over again while it was still ongoing, and binge on the monthly forums discussions. The theory crafting was perhaps the most fun part of the journey "reading and waiting" for it, like the off-season of a long running show. But even so, as the story reached towards the end, the obsession started to fade. The knots are getting tied, the intrugues, once laid bare, starting to lose its weight to me. Perhaps, unconsciously, there were areas that started to bother me became more perceivable the more I started to think about it. And with all the interesting parts resolved, I tried really hard to find if there were worthwhile arguments that would make me wanting to reread it---there wasn't.

Pros
- memorable and iconic design (lots of cute girls and boys eye candy)
- strong, immersive ambience (and kinda soothing) as long as the cons below doesn't detect you or your immersion (aka suspension of belief isn't triggered)
- cute, adorable, and dorky main cast (earnest, loyal, fun-loving, etc.)
- the type of plot twists was fun (for a 14 years old anyway... Not sure if I would enjoy doing it now --- I still enjoy mysteries but would probably consider this type of mystery not my fav nowadays)
- there's something about the above quantities to be very likeable to kids under 15-16. Personally I guess the appeal of the cute sides and the occasional rumination relatable and fascinating? (But it never truly gets as dark like works with heavy thematic like Bokurano and Oyasumi Punpun)

Cons
- the developments hinges a lot on shock factors ; and they do get repetitive after a while ; losing its impact --- becoming more "arbitrary and random".
- seems to be a story that relies strongly on the world building (that explains why things are the way they are), but with a poor in-story world building due to the author focusing too much on banters instead of developing the world and its mechanisms, making it feel fake and made me not care about the stakes at all. The problem is that the mobs are handled like a decoration, an afterthought, and not a resident of the world. The author would often introduce scenarios like "omg! Dangerous scenario incoming! Characters will die", but 99% of the time they are NPCs that either off screened, flashbacks, or jerks---with less than one panel of development. So MOST OF THE TIME you end up never really caring when there's a "dangerous scenario" (maybe only at first). I swear I feel more guilty letting 1 Shin Megami Tensei / Devil Survivor mob die than 50 characters in Pandora hearts dying. If not guilty, at least add shock factors like Gantz/Jagaaaaaan, but nah, the mob assaults feel more on the level of "how unfortunate"---because you never really get to interact/to know them.
- weak reread motivation due to not wanting to go through the badly crafted parts. It has some fun plot points, but with a weak framework full of plot holes that couldn't support it.

Now that I think about it, the plot and the storytelling formula is really close to these rpgmaker games made around 2010-2020s that hinge on the shock factor and horror.

Biggest problem with the series is that everyone but the main cast and arc centric character feel neglected, making the scope and works feel narrow, like a theater stage rather than a world of its own. With unresolved plot threads that feel unsatisfying at the end. Granted, it's a really old work and standards and expectations weren't the same. It's a really simplistic kid story with loose threads in the end that the adult me can't see past the weaknesses anymore. Maybe i saw that it had the potential to be something more, but it couldn't punch past its weight class.

Vibes? Reminds me of Toilet bound Hanako-kun (which is geared towards 9-15 years old kids), but with a more European-inspired setting.

Recommended?

It'll be a more or less fun experience if you set your expectations not too high, seeing that it's a story that would be considered most enjoyable for kids.

It's not a difficult read, and gets even easier if you enjoy the characters. However, if you don't find the mystery solving intriguing at the 3 chapters mark, then you won't find it intriguing because that's the bread and butter of this series.

... Last updated on February 23rd, 2024, 11:49pm

Character tropes are up here

Mc is nobel but he is like oh i like the poor and will treat my servants like my equal cause im just a good boy
Black hair mc is like i want to serve u, i am a servent despite i shall serve you because you are my best friend

Femc: ill do this but not because i like you or anything.

My god the overuse character tropes make me cringe while reading, it just makes it feel like the author put too much effort into the plot and not enough effort in the characters themselves

There are very few manga that can actually measure up to Pandora Hearts. That's just how brilliant it is. All plot twists are shocking and brilliant. The ending is very satisfying. Relationships between the characters are also well done. The comedy is on point, the drawings are marvelous and very spooky. My only problem is that i don't have a favorite character, like they are all very good characters but there isn't that one character that makes you melt by just seeing them, ahahahaa you get it XD In this regard, i actually like Vanitas a bit more (though we will see if that one will end as perfectly as this one).

At first it maybe seem like the writer left a lot of plot holes but then when the twist happens everything starts to make sense.
The art is well done and the story is compelling, I get a detective story or an horror RPG made into manga form vibes from this one.
The plot seems obvious but it turns out to be distraction from the actual plot.
There is also genuine bromance and friendship.
Works best as a summer reading.

... Last updated on December 28th, 2021, 10:32pm

Pandora Hearts is IMO the greatest manga I’ve ever read. The first 3 volumes start off a bit slowly, but after volume 4, the series picks up and gets better and better as it goes on. The art also starts out good enough and also radically improves. The story was very good and heartbreaking (the ending made me pretty depressed), but it is very confusing on a first reading. The characters are also very solid. Overall, I love this manga, and I hope it gets a new anime one day that adapts the entire manga.

My personal recommendations for this manga are:
- D.Gray-man, which has a similar art style and tone. I read this alongside PH for sometime as well.
- Chrno Crusade also has a human making a contract with a supernatural being. It’s also very sad.
- Crimson-Shell and Vanitas no Shuki, which both share the same creator and have a lot in common with PH.

This manga is for people who want to read complicated story, if you just want simple story, I don't recommend you to read. This is psychological manga, so it's hard to understand each character, if you just want simple character, get out.
For people who feel something is weird with the story, ending or whatever, please read again, everything make sense if you read carefully. If you think the story telling is terrible, it's just the style of manga. Like, the author likes to put backstory a lot almost every chapter, sometimes it increase the feel of horror, it makes me curious at the time enough to continue but not enough to reveal the mystery. But it doesn't mean you need to remember every single thing because everything will be revealed in the end.

Story: Complicated with a lot of plot twist.

Character: Complex and twisted. This is PSYCHOLOGICAL so every character motivation is unique and only belong to them. You can't find character with completely the same motivation because every character motivaion and way of thinking influenced by their environment, personality, etc. Of course they are twisted, can you imagine going through the same tragedy as them and live in the same world as them? Of course you can't. The world there is grim but there is hope. This is what the author want to convey.

Art: Beautiful.

... Last updated on June 4th, 2021, 2:01am

Overall it was really fun till the ending. The *twist* though predictable was flashy and satisfying. The series was good the romance could've been better and the characters could've been more fleshed out but I was satisfiyed.

The problem lies in the ending. It doesn't make sense lmao. Like i get what the author was going for but really the ending just didn't stick it for me.

Story: 10/10
Art: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Quality Polish Edition: 8/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 9.6/10

I read this over a decade ago when it was first serialized and re-read it on a whim since I like Vanitas. I feel like the main problem was how much of the story is ret-conned and plot twists that were pointless. I feel like the story fell apart and the major plot points were incredibly convoluted.

There were times where I had no idea who/what/where/why events were just crashing into one another with fast pacing and I didn't have time to get a breather before the next one hit. As a result . I still have no idea about . I felt that many of the individual character motivations were nonsensical and just it would make the story more dramatic.

Also that ending lol

Female characters

FWIW: The manga-ka does improve a lot with her art from vol 1 to the ending chapters. I esp liked the water-colored chapter pages and inserts.

... Last updated on August 20th, 2019, 8:47am

I started PH when it first got scanlated, there were reasons why I wanted to try it, and it was worth it all. Although it took a long time and a lot of intentional drops (to spam read instead of waiting slowly for a single chapter)...including my laziness, I was finally in the mood to catch up to the end. Sometimes the series might test your patience but so to say, there is merit.

The entire series doesn't rush itself, it takes its' time to develop wonderfully, which I want to say, this is not a self-butchering series. Love, tragedy, pschological, light humor, philosophy, and action, it's all there including the darkness and my favorite theme, Alice in Wonderland. It was the easiest bait for me to give into this series along with the artwork that I end up loving.

My major credit and utmost respect for the entire series is that each chapter or every few chapters, you get a new development and plot twists, and the most important factor, is the foreshadowing (includes plot twists).
Despite the patience-testing occasionally, after certain major events, bits by bits, everything fits in but not completely in a sense. It draws you back into recalling the various hints and moments that might not have seemed too important but ends up being crucial. This was the sensation that I've always loved because it rattles your mind only to throw you off sometimes.

Every character has a role or a connection to every factor, if not, it relates to the story to some extent or beyond. They blend well, they don't totally miraculously appear from nowhere whenever a new character is introduced.
I don't think I've ever disliked any characters after finishing Pandora Hearts, in fact I loved them to a certain extent even if I was previously annoyed before. Maybe it was due to the anime, but it felt much easier to read, imagining how the characters' voices from the anime did its charm sometimes. Not to mention once you've seen their backgrounds, you can't really dislike any either, each character has their own philosophy as humans we are as well.

Nonetheless, I grew fond of most characters, the theme being an instant bait for me, and how the series advances slowly but with regards as it is a mystery as well... I believe Mochizuki executed everything splendidly befitting of it's contents and what it is.
Honestly, I wish for a Pandora Hearts anime reboot so it can adapt everything that the anime couldn't have done as it was still progressing at that time. Pandora Hearts is a series that I love, for the set up and the development that it was underestimated but regardless, it is beautiful and spectacular.

... Last updated on December 29th, 2016, 2:07am