“Once I realised the things we take for granted are really miracles, I came to see everything in its precious, ephemeral beauty.”
- Lacie, Chapter 72
The first time I read this series, I was hit with so many emotions that it felt more like being trapped in a vortex than reading a manga. When rereading it, years later, I found myself appreciating all the little moments I missed before, and it only made Pandora Hearts better.
The narrative is a fresher take on the coming-of-age genre in which the idea of 'discovering who you are' takes on a new meaning. Mixing in the Alice in Wonderland elements with a bigger focus on fantasy and the intermingling of two different worlds establishes a strong foundation for the story. It also introduces enough interesting mechanics to keep readers hooked. The mysteries at the heart of Pandora Hearts spin an intricate tale that continues to improve as the series progresses.
Watching Mochizuki’s art style and story-telling develop and improve over the course of Pandora Hearts' run is an absolute joy; with the splash pages being absolutely stunning further in the series. The chain designs are imaginative while sticking to the constraints of the premise, inspiring a mix of wonder and awe. This process of growth, so integral to the story, is also well-handled with the characters with each becoming more and more engaging. Each character is given time to shine and feels as though they have their own stories which reach satisfying conclusions.
This series utilises these characters as part of the plot extremely well with the more philosophical elements being perfectly encapsulated by their struggles. The mirroring of characters, and the circular nature of Pandora Hearts' plot, means that the readers understanding of events is forever morphing; showing how our perception is not as fixed as it would appear to be. In doing this, Mochizuki puts the readers into the character's shoes which only heightens the already emotional moments.
The only complaint (if you can even call it that) is that at times the story can feel a little bit convoluted and difficult to follow at times. With so much happening, it would be nearly impossible to prevent some of the story threads from becoming tangled and Mochizuki does very well to avoid this being a bigger issue. And even then, these threads are untangled by the end which makes it all the more satisfying to read.
Overall, this series is beautiful. The characters are fleshed out and engaging, the core concept is intriguing and well-handled, and the art grows into something breathtaking. Pandora Hearts also stays true to its core themes; sometimes we may become unsure of who we are, but it's ok as that's a part of what it means to be human.
