A great manga and I love the interesting story and characters. But just a warning to future readers, that when it says it's a tragedy, it really is a tragedy.



I wish it was a few chapters longer, or a whole different ending lol. But yeah it felt a little rushed at the end, and I was confused for a while.

Rearing an orphaned shota into your former lover (his father) may sound endearing, but when you're batshit crazy? Nuh-way.

I really feel sorry for that Marco kid. He's had such a shitty life because of the protagonist's indoctrination and meddling. Literally forced to change his name to his dad's and love the woman that caused his parents' deaths.

... Last updated on June 1st, 2016, 11:43am

It was such a tragedy, at first I put it off because of the art but then I came back to it and I'm glad I did. This story was really heart breaking at times and It made me all teary eyed. I really wished happiness for the main character. All in all I definitely recommend it if your into tragedies. I for one enjoyed this despite the melodrama and ending.

Never have a I read a manga so miserable, so tragic, with so much angst. The plot devices were terrible- as most majority in classics it was quite melodramatic. The art was amazingly beautiful...I will never judge another book by its cover again. While the story was not excellent the tragedy and drama itself was so emotionally evoking. I just kept wishing there would be a happy ending already. I too, enjoy my share of tragedy but this was simply too miserable to watch. And yet it's uncanny fact that I enjoyed this manga thoroughly.

The artwork is pretty good for old manga, though I was quite disappointed in the plot. I really did like the plot as it was a plot with a deep meaning, where happiness can also be a source of sadness. The first few chapters were already emotional and I felt pity and sadness for the protagonist, imagine what a emotional havoc it was towards in the middle and towards the end *sigh*. I would definitely say that this manga is a pure tragedy (it was too much for me though).

Why the plot was a disappointment.

for me, that's this story about.
Oo my god, what a cruel story it is. Eventhough I declare myself as tragedy-lover, this is so... hnng... I thought I've read many tragedy mangas, but really, no matter it's ended in tragedy or happiness, maybe Suna no Shiro is the first that I found torturing the protagonist to that extent... For a manga though, since I do not watch movie or TV that much (because below someone saying it's much like soap opera, but I never followed one.). Not to say she made Natalie's characteristics like that. It's rare there's a moment of happiness in a story moved me that much, but this one did, since there's so much tragedy happened to her I even wished a happiness to her...
Well, I like how the mangaka is consistence in presenting the protagonist's nature, passing her feeling and emotion very well, and reasonable. Consistence, where her (Natalie) reaction to an event is really, really suited her nature. Her unstability, mellow, weak-minded, negative-thinking... Haha, where could you get a protag more suitable to a tragedy than Natalie? And IMHO, the mangaka told it very, very well. IMHO, a very good characterization .

My thoughts for ending (this IS SPOILER)


Well, it could not (though almost) bring tears to me, but if you want a truly depressing story, give this one a try.

... Last updated on April 28th, 2013, 12:24pm

i hate sad mangas. i know that when I picked it up. which is why I gave it a ten cause it is so MELO that I can't put it down. Its like a piece of your heart shattering into pieces and being trampled upon. or worse than that. I hate it.... and i love it all at the same time. Awwwww.... T_T

Alright, I read a lot of 70s shoujo manga. 70s shoujo manga is, as a rule, incredibly melodramatic. That is established. But all of that melodrama is downright mellow compared to Suna no Shiro. Compared to Suna no Shiro, Oniisama e is a light comedy. I am not even exaggerating.

The plot is cliche and unlikely (and a little icky), the characters downright unappealing. And I absolutely adore it. What it lacks in pretty much every area it makes up for in gorgeous art and emotional insanity.

Suna no Shiro isn't for everyone. In fact, it isn't for most people, assuming that most people don't enjoy soap operas so ridiculously over-the-top they seem to be parodying themselves. But for those that do, man, this is nirvana.

I read this with my japanese friend i swere when he told me about each page i was emotionally distorted, it hurts so much like a needle pokin ur artery. definitley a ten

... Last updated on March 28th, 2009, 5:54pm