Solid start to a new series! Shout out to the publisher for giving us a new Josie title, which is hard to come by.
There are so many layers to this story that will eventually be pulled away as this series progresses! The character development is fantastic, we know that our protagonist is going to be on a ride throughout the story, and we will be going with her. With this in mind the first volume is a little slower paced because the mystery is being laid out. Expect twists and turns, as well as emotional investment.

I really enjoyed Roar: A Star in the Abyss #1. This volume leaves a few plot questions unanswered, and I’m eager to see where the story goes in part two. Misato-chan’s character and backstory are captivating from the start, and I’m looking forward to watching her journey unfold. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked it. This Manga focuses more on the background of her story, which is honestly very tragic, but it definitely left me wanting more!
A big thank you to kodansha Comics and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

3,5 ⭐ rounded up

misato grew up in peace on a quiet island, loved by her parents and far from chaos. but when a tv show begins filming nearby and she's cast as an extra, everything changes. a stranger claiming to be her real mother appears, dragging her into a life of luxury and deception. surrounded by schemers and lies, misato's journey into fame quickly twists into darkness, fueled by betrayal and the need for revenge.

the first volume of this manga started off strong. ai okaue's storytelling is really good and perfectly captures misato's emotions.
the story is mysterious at times - the part where the step mom appeared added a layer of tension and intrigue.
misato and her step brother have lived for years in a terrible atmosphere and dream of escaping someday, but it always feels like someone is watching. i loved the maid for allowing them to spend time together.
the setting felt claustrophobic, and i truly felt the helplessness when the step bro discovered the hidden camera.

the characters are very intriguing and well-developed. some of them are incredibly unlikeable, such as misato's stepmother and stepsister, but the story also includes characters i root for.
i can't wait to see how theit story unfolds.

they way the author made them feel for the protagonists was powerful - i felt so sorry for them, and i absolutely despise people like the stepmother and stepsis in real life.

i also loved the art style and how it captured the multiple timelines - misato as a child, a teenager, and even scenes from before she was born.

overall, this volume left me with a lot of questions, and i'd be happy to read what happens next. i'm truly rooting for misato and i'm curious to see how her journey for vengeance will unfold and what secrets lie within her step family.



*thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics and the author for providing me with an ARC of this manga.*

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC of Roar: A Star in the Abyss Vol. 1.

This manga took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Misato's journey from a peaceful island life to the dark and manipulative world of showbiz is both heartbreaking and compelling. The sudden appearance of a woman claiming to be her real mother adds layers of mystery and tension. I'm left with so many questions about Misato's true origins and the reasons behind the animosity she faces. The artwork beautifully captures the contrast between innocence and the lurking darkness. I can't wait to see how Misato's story unfolds in the next volume.

Ai Okaue's storytelling is masterful, weaving a narrative that is both poignant and suspenseful. The characters are well-developed, each with their own complexities and secrets. The themes of identity, betrayal, and resilience are explored with depth and sensitivity. The pacing is well-balanced, gradually building tension while allowing for moments of reflection.
mcnallyrobinson.com

Overall, Roar: A Star in the Abyss Vol. 1 is a powerful start to what promises to be an unforgettable series. I highly recommend it to fans of dramatic, character-driven stories that delve into the darker aspects of human nature.

This was a really solid first volume. Lots of mystery and questions to think on until the next volume releases. Misato is a character I am rooting for and I'm curious to see her potential road to revenge begin in the next release.

Roar: A Star in the Abyss 1 by Ai Okaue, I understand, is book one, but the story felt a bit chaotic and all over the place: somethings made no sense but I'm hoping its just because it is the first book, and as the story goes along the piece will start to fall into place, still very entretainting I will be looking foward for the second book, I just think it did not have a very strong start.

This was bad? There is no plot except for revelation after revelation. Like I've seen the same plot on Criminal Minds and in books. Very disappointed in this.

Roar: a Star in the Abyss is an intense adventure that draws the reader into a story full of dark elements. Identity and fame continually intertwine to create an unsettling ambiguity.
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced reader's copy.

A Dark, Gripping Descent into Stardom and Vengeance

Roar: A Star in the Abyss delivers a chilling and emotionally charged narrative that delves into the darker facets of fame and identity. Ai Okaue, renowned for Guilty, masterfully crafts a story that is both haunting and compelling.
penguin.com.au

The protagonist, Misato, transitions from a serene island life to the tumultuous world of showbiz after being cast as an extra in a TV show. Her life spirals as she is thrust into a lavish yet treacherous environment, surrounded by opportunists and manipulators. The sudden appearance of a woman claiming to be her real mother adds to the turmoil, leading Misato down a path where vengeance becomes her only solace .

Okaue's artwork is striking, juxtaposing Misato's initial innocence with the stark cruelty of her new reality. The illustrations effectively convey the emotional depth and tension that permeate the story.

While the first volume primarily sets the stage, focusing on Misato's suffering and the establishment of her new world, it lays a solid foundation for the unfolding drama. The narrative's pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in Misato's transformation and the complexities of her circumstances.

In summary, Roar: A Star in the Abyss, Vol. 1 is a compelling start to a series that promises to explore the intricate interplay of ambition, betrayal, and revenge. It's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and dark dramas.

Thank you to Kodansha for the e-arc of this manga! This story broke my heart and intrigued me. Misato-chan deserves better, and I look forward to seeing her journey to happiness and success (hopefully). Please look up triggers before reading this manga. 4 🌟

Thank You NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!

The cover is just absolutely beautiful, and the visuals are just so eye catching! This volume was pact full of things that happened, and It broke my heart seeing what happened to Misato and her family. She lived a rough life trying to adjust to her life and re-finding her purpose. I will say, the revenge sometimes seems a bit over the top, almost cartoony in a way where 'villains are bad because they are villains' and there's far too many questions that have been laid out on the table all at once. But, I am very interested in what happens to Misato and her journey!

Came for the pretty cover and description and stayed to find out what'll happen! Misato's life is full of tragedy and mystery but at the end of volume 1 we're on the precipice of maybe, some of those mysteries... well, either increasing or starting to be solved? A terrible, lying foster family, an inert natural acting skill, and long lost friends I'm assuming will come back to in later volumes, there was a lot of interesting things going on here that has me looking up the release date of volume 2 for my ongoing manga spreadsheet!

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing the e-ARC of this manga for an honest review.

Misato, after the tragic loss of her parents in a fire, is taken in by a woman who claims to be her real mother. However, this seemingly happy ending to a terrible tragedy soon turns into a living nightmare the moment she steps foot into the house. Her stepsister bullies her from the start. Her stepfather ignores her and, as the stepmother, joins in the bullying and the abuse, avoids stepping in. Misato does make a friend in her stepbrother, but just as she thought she had someone to hold on to, her stepsister and stepmother take it away and Misato, now 16teen, runs away.

I won't delve into specific spoilers, but I can say that the theme of revenge is not one-sided. We are following Misato on her own path to claim back the years lost, but we are also given hints and clues as to the secrets of her stepfamily. In particular, her stepmother, who's also on her own path to revenge, and her stepfather, who's hiding something.

I really liked this first volume; its pacing, as other reviewers pointed out, is quite fast, and it does feel a bit overcrowded with characters, but I will ask readers to give it a try. There is more that I left out in this review for a reason and that is to, I hope, pick your interest like it did for me.

This story has some secrets, and I will be looking forward to learning them. Some characters are sympathetic, but the villains are very villain-y and I am here for it.

Sometimes you just get lucky and stumble upon a truly phenomenal manga, and thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy, I hit the jackpot with Roar: A Star in the Abyss 1. And let me tell you, it is damn good.

This volume masterfully weaves together all the elements I absolutely adore in a story. We meet a little girl living a charmed life, only for it to be brutally shattered when her parents perish in a mysterious fire. Ripped away from her only friends and thrust into a nightmare scenario with a wicked stepsister and an awful new mother, she's fighting tooth and nail just to survive.

What truly elevates this series is its brilliant use of multiple timelines. The narrative deftly jumps between pivotal moments: before she was born, when she's a tender five years old, and as a sixteen-year-old. Each timeline is incredibly effective, pulling you deeper into the mystery and building a palpable sense of anticipation. I'm already on the edge of my seat, eager to see where this gripping thriller takes us next!

Roar volume 1 sets up the plot for what is sure to be a show business story full of ups and downs and betrayal. This josei manga has similar vibes to Skip Beat and Oshi no Ko, but without the comedy and with heaps more tragedy instead. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

Okay, wow—what a whirlwind! Roar: A Star in the Abyss Vol. 1 throws you straight into a tangled web of secrets and emotional intensity. It’s hard to describe the premise without dipping into spoiler territory, but trust me: if you enjoy layered dramas with complex stakes and a touch of chaos, this one’s worth checking out.

This volume is absolutely packed. So much happens so fast that I occasionally found myself a little lost, but never disengaged—I inhaled the whole thing in one sitting. The storytelling style leans into the dramatic, and while that might not work for everyone, I found it gripping. It feels very much like this is the groundwork for an even bigger arc to come, and I’m eager to see where it goes.

The art complements the intensity of the narrative, and the characters—though introduced quickly—left strong enough impressions that I’m curious to learn more in future volumes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 4.75 ⭐️

I haven’t read manga in a veryyyy long time and I’m happy that this was my first one in a while. First of all the art is beautiful it reminds me of artwork from the early 2000’s sort of like 20th Century Boys (great series btw). The story was even more beautiful and I connected to the fmc so easily.

I truly CANNOT wait for volume 2 to come out so I can what happens next!! I really recommend this to anyone who likes a good revenge plot! I def need to see karma bite that lady nd her daughter in the ass LMAOO.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha comics for allowing me to arc read this!! I can’t wait to read more!

This first volume hit the ground running when it came the drama and tragedy! I'm really excited to see how the main character grows and evolves! Most of all, I can't wait for her to get her lick back on those slimy characters who wronged her! 😤