The artwork in this series is what I enjoyed the most. The eyes are so expressive while at the same time suggesting a deep intensity of sorts. In this sense, I would have loved to see the modeling/acting career take a front seat to it all, just for the sheer satisfaction of seeing so much artistic expression.
That aside, the story line started out with a lot of potential, and Kou & Natsume's relationship offered a lot of room for growth, character development, and intense moments. However, the author threw so many wrenches into the plot that things fell off kilter quickly. This choice wasn't necessarily bad however, because it added another realistic perspective to going through tragedy and navigating life when things don't go as planned. Asakura's portrayal of grief, trauma, and emotional scarring emphasizes the difficulty of the healing process. Characters in the story lash out, fall into themselves, feel unworthy, and are unable to cope. On one hand, this is all quite real, accurate, and 100% possible if people don't get/seek help in dealing with trauma. But on the other hand, this manga really misses a chance to develop it's characters, and it really leaves the reader frustrated and let down over and over again.
The most disappointing aspect of this manga is the missed opportunity to delve deeper into what it means to start life over when all seems lost. Just when it seems like there's an opportunity for the characters to grow/become more dimensional, they instead show no initiative to be better or move forward, and efforts from other characters to facilitate healing always fall flat. After a while the story began to feel tepid and stagnant. There is never time given to properly exploring Kou's psychological background and reasoning for his actions, though at times it is implied. Natsume's trauma plays out again and again, yet is sadly never remedied in a healthy way, and is actually severely triggering. The other characters remain one-dimensional, and their attempts to affect the plot are half-hearted and feel like a waste of time.
This story line is of course a reasonable and REALISTIC way things could play out in real life, which in it's own way is refreshing, yet heart wrenching. It kept me turning the pages, hoping that on the next one there would be some headway made. The consistency of the tragedy leaves readers mired in the story, clinging desperately to moments of joy while falling back, almost as familiarly as the characters do, into the dark pit of depression that holds them in a vice-like grip.
tl;dr
Overall, the story is worth a read. Despite the fact that it falls short in many ways, some of those ways are definitely my opinion and not hard facts. Asakura avoids the common cliches and brings to the table a raw and refreshing look at real life struggles and feelings, and tells a story that gets readers emotionally involved and painfully moved. Top it off with hauntingly beautiful and unique artwork, Oboreru Knife is a mature story with serious themes that stands apart from much of the lighthearted drivel that the manga world is rife with.