Die seltsame Braut des verwunschenen Prinzen

Okay, let me start by saying, if you don't like Shion, you're not going to enjoy this arc, as it revolves heavily around her. As for me? I adore Shion. She's my favorite character, and this arc beautifully portrays why. Sure, bad things occur, but I believe those who dislike Shion might not delve into the reasons behind these events. This arc genuinely broke my heart, and I don't mean it was so terrible that it did—it was so intense and emotionally charged that it even brought me to tears.  

Story 10/10 - This narrative is positioned as a counterpart to the "Cotton Drifting Arc" (Watanagashi-hen), but instead of focusing on Keiichi, it's told from Shion's perspective. For the first time in the series, this arc spans four volumes, and it certainly requires that space to pack in all the information, emotions, and deaths surrounding Shion. I watched the anime first, so I already knew what was coming, but the manga added so much more depth than what made it into the anime. Don't get me wrong, I still adore the anime; I just wish they had included some elements from the manga. Regardless, the story, viewed from a fresh angle, remains incredible, capable of surprising and haunting you, whether you saw it coming or not.  

Art 9/10 - Yutori Houjyo handled the art for this arc, just as she did for the Cotton Drifting arc. I genuinely appreciated the art style, more so than some of the other artists who have illustrated Ryukishi's works (I found their styles a bit too "chibi-like" for my taste regarding how Higurashi should be depicted, though they were undoubtedly enjoyable. And yes, I'm aware of how the VN was drawn). The eerie scenes we've come to expect from Higurashi were executed flawlessly, so much so that certain two-page spreads left me wide-eyed with shock when I turned the page. There were actually a few such spreads that left a lasting impression.  

Character 10/10 - As mentioned, I love Shion. Even during moments when I felt disturbed by certain occurrences, my admiration for her remained unwavering. I cherish her character, her flaws, her insecurities, her backstory, and her love for Satoshi. To clarify, I'm not a romantic—I'm quite the cynic—but her devotion to him resonates deeply with me every time I reflect on it. And honestly, I couldn't care less how that makes me sound. It was also refreshing to witness changes in the behavior of other characters at various points. Keiichi, as always, shines brilliantly.  

Enjoyment 10/10 - If you relish uncovering a darker, bloodier side to a story you've already experienced, then you'll thoroughly enjoy this. I have a soft spot for twists, and even if it wasn't unexpected for some, this was one of Ryukishi's masterful twists among several others.  

Overall 10/10 - There wasn't a single aspect of this manga that could have been altered to make me appreciate it any more than I already do. This story will forever hold a special place in my heart, as will Shion.

<p>Meakashi is definitely one of my least favorite arcs in Higurashi. Perhaps it's because I already disliked Shion before Meakashi Hen, and this chapter only intensified those feelings. Despite that, the story itself is quite compelling. Witnessing the profound impact Satoshi leaves behind and observing Shion's struggles is genuinely disheartening. The tragic misunderstanding at the heart of the tale is also deeply saddening. Nevertheless, I still can't help but despise Shion for her numerous heinous actions. I feel like the creators failed to evoke any sympathy for her effectively. On a positive note, the art is fantastic—I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's unfortunate that it happens to be one of the less favored art styles among Higurashi fans.<br /><br />The characters are well-written, with the exception of Shion. She epitomizes an edgy character throughout this arc. At times, the writing attempts to be profoundly sorrowful, yet it falls flat and becomes almost comical in certain moments.<br /><br />Overall, if you adore or even like Shion, you'll probably enjoy this chapter immensely. However, if you didn't care for her beforehand, chances are you won't appreciate this chapter much either. Rating: 8/10</p>

Why do I subject myself to the torment of reading a Higurashi manga, only to have my heart torn out due to its intense emotional weight?  

Such is the manga Meakashi-hen from the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series.  

Story: 10/10  
The narrative is incredibly captivating. I appreciate how the author chose to present events in chronological order, clarifying many questions I had about the anime. It's an utterly compelling read with excellent pacing that kept me eagerly turning pages.  

Art: 9/10  
The artwork is stunning, featuring a smoother and softer style compared to the earlier volumes I've read. The artist truly excelled here, masterfully capturing both normal and frenzied expressions. My only minor critique is that hands are occasionally drawn somewhat awkwardly.  

Characters: 10/10  
The characters are portrayed far more effectively than in the anime. Shion's motives and internal struggles are depicted in a sympathetic and complex manner, moving her away from the stereotypical yandere archetype. Other characters, particularly Satoko and her older brother Satoshi, are also brilliantly developed.  

Enjoyment: 10/10  
To enjoy something means it brings you joy. I'm delighted by the engaging storyline, perspectives, and breathtaking art. However, this was not a light-hearted or cheerful experience. In fact, I found myself tearing up at numerous points. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed it because a great manga keeps me emotionally invested.  

Overall: 10/10  
A profoundly emotional manga with characters I can deeply connect with, coupled with beautiful art and the power to make even a stoic reader like me cry? Absolutely, I must say this is one of the greatest manga I've ever read, which is why I consider Meakashi to be among the best of all time.

Well, after venturing to complete the entire series, what I discovered wasn't exactly the best experience.  

Story - 7/10: The narrative felt largely predictable, serving as Shion's perspective on the Watanagashi-hen arc (whereas Watanagashi-hen was from Keiichi's point of view). Despite following a familiar storyline, it introduced unexpected elements, some of which weren't present in the anime adaptation. Overall, while the story was fairly foreseeable, it still managed to keep me engaged.  

Art - 6/10: The artwork in this arc differed significantly from previous installments, leaning more toward a shoujo style. This was quite disappointing, as it failed to capture certain scenes as effectively as the anime did. The depiction of blood was less impactful compared to earlier arcs, and iconic features like the "scary slit cat eyes" were absent. Even the portrayal of characters questioning their sanity felt poorly executed. The art was a letdown for me, especially given my appreciation for the Onikakushi and other "-hen" manga art styles.  

Characters - 8/10: While much of the plot was predictable, exploring Shion's side of the story and her perspective on events was well done. The return of familiar personalities added to the enjoyment, even if the artwork wasn't entirely appealing. The characters remained compelling, and reading through the entire series helped me better understand Shion.  

Enjoyment - 7/10: My enjoyment of this series stemmed from my love for the anime and my determination to finish, even when resorting to untranslated chapters. If not for the near-shoujo art style, I would have enjoyed this much more, and it might have become one of my favorites.  

Overall - 6/10: Fans of the manga who aren't overly concerned with the art style may find this enjoyable. However, if you're not fond of shoujo aesthetics but still wish to proceed, feel free to dive in. Although it didn't meet my expectations, like all Higurashi arcs, it kept me captivated until the very end.

I hope this helps someone out!  
So, if you're looking at this thinking "I kinda wanna get into Higurashi," I'll tell you right now, this is not the first arc. But, in my opinion, it's the best arc. Not that any of the other arcs are bad—neither is it that I'm a Shion fan—but something about delving into her backstory and her perspective answered so many questions I never thought I'd get answers to. Also, I cried. My heart has died after reading Higurashi. I loved exploring the psychology of the characters, and this was the first arc where I truly felt sorry for them. It kinda sucks because it's really hard to blame anyone in this arc for all the bad things that happen—I don't even know what I'm saying anymore, but I loved this arc.  

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One of the best books I’ve read in a long time!

The twist is interesting!

MC is the personification of cringe. He White Knights every woman he has a conversation with, and can basically solve every world crisis instantly, but takes his time just f*ck*ng around while he gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and allows innocent people to die until he can have a DBZ-style battle and fix things in one fell swoop. Every lame trope is present in MC's harem. Every other male in the story is either trying to give their daughter to the MC, are against the MC, or are so far down on whichever ladder of comparison is present that they're either browbeaten into submission or maintain an entirely neutral stance. He's 100% an alpha dude bro, but thinks he's a Japanese Beta. Neither of those things are positive, and the weird mishmash that forms his broken personality comes across as a constantly bored sociopath in search of amusement without any semblance of a real human being.