Sometimes it’s a hit sometimes it’s a miss and sadly this time it was a miss. I don’t know why I didn’t love this story but I was just bored, I know someone who would love this but for me it was a no.

I wasn't expecting to get emotional with this book, but I did. I loved the main character and the friends she made during her childhood. The artwork was beautiful and conveyed lots of emotions.

The story is very tragic, but has a theme of hope that I'd love to see developed in the next volumes, I'll definitely be reading them.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

I am just in shock. What a powerful story and that just for Volume 1? I am just speechless. The fact that it start all cute, wholesome, and innocent and continued on with THE MESS OH MY GOD. did i expect everything that happened to happen? hell no. I just can't believe this. I am literally crying. I absolutely hate the new "family" and also Yocchan sacrificing himself so that Misato can be free is just 😭😭☹️☹️ I hope he'll be away from his shitty family one day too. Can't wait to read Volume 2!!

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this arc!

4.5/5 stars rounded up

Wow this was an emotional rollercoaster that definitely made me tear up a few times! Poor Misato has just been dealt a shitty hand so far in life. I'm excited for the next volume, I hope things start turning around for her somehow

Roar: A Star in the Abyss by Ai Okaue follows the early life of young woman named Misato who, through various circumstances, begins to lead a life of tragedy that she is fervently working to escape. It is a very down-to-earth approach to family dynamics and grief, as well as abuse of a child by a family. This exploration is heavy, blunt, and painful to read through.

This story is multi-layered, highly emotional, and filled with beautiful artwork that truly pulls the reader into Misato's life and head to allow them to feel the extent of her grief and abuse at the hands of her adopted family. It reads like a modern day retelling of Cinderella, and it pulls you in as a reader and lets you root for Misato while also wishing for every downfall of her adoptive mother.

I absolutely will be continuing this series, and I was surprised by the level of depth that the first volume encompassed! Thank you Netgalley, Kodansha, and Ai Okaue for this copy!

An idyllic childhood is unfortunately a great backdrop for a tragic background. Misato's carefree life on a Japanese island, surrounded by her parents, friends, and new opportunities goes up in flames one night, and everything changes forever. A mysterious woman appears, claiming to be Misato's "real" mother, who whisks her away to a lavish home, where decadent furnishings and fresh-cut flowers do little to hide the stench of rot and greed of the people within. With a childhood of anger, loss, and injustice as her platform, Misato stands poised to take her place among the stars!

I liked this book for a number of reasons - the art style gives me 90s vibes to an extent, the story is melodramatic and poised for a "good for her" arc (at least I hope, poor Misato needs a break), and I love getting my feelings hurt in 190 pages or less. I think the TV drama lovers will really resonate with this story, and the note we exit on leaves a lot of questions unanswered which I will definitely be seeking out in Volume 2. For younger readers, there are some adult themes here so I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone younger than probably 16 or so, but otherwise this was a great start to a promising new series!

This story was intense—so much happened that shaped the difficult life this young girl had to endure. She goes through so much abuse, all because of the consequences of someone else’s choices. I’m really invested and want to know what happens next—will she reunite with her childhood friend? Will she be able to help the other friend who was there for her during the hardest times? I’m rooting for her and can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This one seem to be the kind of story where you're confused half of the time, not knowing what's happening, but intrigued nonetheless.
It's a bit exagerated in most regards, it reminds me of soap operas, with it's cartoon-ey villains, the prodigy child who is perfect at singing and acting and also pretty but treated like trash by basically everyone surrounding her. Nothing wrong with that if that's the kind of stories you enjoy reading or fancy at the moment, it certainly makes up for a good beggining to a revenge tale.

Like I said, it's an intriguing beggining but it's mysterious nature might be a bit annoying to those who might enjoy when the plot is laid out/defined since the start.

I’m absolutely hooked after reading the first volume of Roar! The story is drenched in mystery, nostalgia, and grief – my heart was aching from the build up of the backstory. This volume set the stage well for all of the characters in the story and where the tendrils of resilience and revenge sprouted from.

With similar themes of Cinderella, this is the arc of an underdog protagonist who is both loving and a little bit lost in the world. The final pane and artwork was just *chefs kiss* a work of art, tying in the title to the story.

I can’t wait to see where the threads pick up with the other characters that are being woven back into the storyline in the next volume!!

This graphic novel completely pulled me in from the first page. The combination of stunning artwork and emotionally resonant storytelling made it impossible to put down. The characters felt fully realized, and the pacing was tight without ever feeling rushed.

In the first volume of Roar, we follow Misato, a young girl whose peaceful childhood on a Japanese island is turned upside down when she’s cast as an extra in a TV show. What seems like a harmless chance soon spirals into a series of events that force her to move into a glamorous but toxic household full of schemers and liars. As Misato struggles to find her footing in this dangerous new world, she realizes that seeking revenge might be the only way to take back control of her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the e-book copy!

This is my first work from this author but I have heard good things about their previous series so I was excited for this release. This first volume gives you a lot to think about as we get the set up for the main character and her impending journey to stardom. There is a lot of betrayal and abuse that the main girl experiences in this volume that it leaves you wondering if she will catch a break. I was on the edge of my seat till the end of the volume and I will be awaiting the next volume. Give this a read if you are a fan of revenge stories like "Burn the House Down".

Thank you, NetGalley and Kodansha, for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a tough read because of how rushed and messy everything felt. I liked the premise and the idea they have for the characters, but everything is so surface level and fast-paced that I couldn't connect. Maybe they are trying to lay a lot of groundwork for the next volumes, but I don't think I will continue.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for allowing me to read this novel. I feel better for this little girl and how she be treating with that fake ass woman's family. I don't know why that lady and the daughter treat her shit and to their blood son wtf. I am pissed but at the same time I hope that Misato find her family/friend asap and hope she can help the "brother." I just wonder why that mean lady take Misato and lie that she her real mother she is not. Geez I look forward to read the novel book 2. I giving this book a 4 stars.

#NetGalley
#KodanshaComics
#RoaraStarintheAbyss1
#GraphicNovel

A tragic yet compelling manga, the introductory lines really gripped my attention and made me read the entire volume in one sitting. I loved the author's use of a non-linear narrative structure, it truly added mystery and suspense to the story. All the characters were sufficiently developed, I'm hoping to see more character depth for the step-mother and the father in the upcoming novels. Overall, a solid manga which grapples with the themes of grief, lonliness and trauma.

I don't know what I was expecting when I decided to read this manga, but did it surprise me. I'm not someone who necessarily likes intense, dark or tragic stories, but this manga was able to grab me and keep me locked in. There were times where I felt like I couldn't stomach it and had to speed read or completely skip over parts because they were a bit much for me. However, I really did enjoy it. I am routing for Misato and I hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for her. I would definitely pick up the next volume that comes out.

Wow. This was dark, twisted but intriguing. Misato is treated so poorly and its so tragic and sad everything she goes through but the story keeps you reading and interested. I would love to continue the series but please, keep in mind its not a light read. Dark, interesting, sad, angering.

A baby not supposed to be born but saved by a doctor who couldn't kill. A glimpse of a life well-lived... stolen in a blink of an eye. What is the value of living when no one around wants you?

Roar: A Star in the Abyss 1 begins the story of Misato, that baby, as she starts her life.

Since this first volume covers many years, character development is a bit weak and time jumps are large. The story itself, is alright but as far as I can tell, there is nothing exceptional about it. Still, the story flows well and is easy to understand. I recommend it to only mature readers as their is some nudity.

Misato wants to be an actress. Surprisingly, she's actually really good at it. Unfortunately, her world comes crashing down because of a fire. Now, thrown into a house where everyone seems to hate her, how will she ever dream again?

I like this. I'm interested to see how this plays out. It is difficult to assign stars to something that is obviously incomplete (this is just Vol. 1). I may continue this.

The story feels like the early 2000s korean melodrama but I am intrigued with the plot. I like the background story of the MC, her happy childhood with her doting parents and close friend, Junya at the small island before a tragic event leading to the death of her beloved parents and her being whisked away by a woman who claimed she was her birth mother to the city. The drawings and illustration are gorgeous.
However, there are some parts that feels choppy especially the storyline pace and how some characters were introduced and portrayed especially the villain(s) in the story.