If I say reviewing this is difficult to put into words, it's because there are both too many and not enough words to express how magnificent this series is. I started reading this at the end of my workweek (Friday morning) and finished all seven novels by Sunday morning that same weekend. Then, I reread the series again over that next week. HakoMari is most definitely the best light novel series I've ever read. It's not too drawn out, but it has enough content to stick in your memory. The beginning of the series focuses on Kazuki’s adamance about maintaining normalcy in his day to day life. The degree to which he works for that result is literally the core of his character, dictating all his actions and goals. Then, we have the main heroine Maria, the literary embodiment of altruism. She will give life and limb to attain happiness for everyone but herself, and if she can’t achieve that via her actions, she does so by granting others a wish, but at a cost. The focus on the relationship and trust between these two established in the first volume becomes the foundation of the series. Maria’s inability to lose herself to her goal because of her relationship with Kazuki, and his truly warped desire for normalcy eventually encompassing Maria is the catalyst for most of the character development. The psychological warfare between O, the antagonist, and our two heroes ends up causing no shortage of harm to those involved, and at one point you truly get to witness the hero live long enough to become the villain as Kazuki descends into madness. As you read through the series a sense of depravity is displayed in a way that can be seen anywhere you look. Tackling dark subject matter in a way that causes one to reflect on the lessons each arc has to offer has influenced my way of thinking a lot. Death, distrust, betrayal, and the silver linings between them are considered in each of the volumes, culminating in both a heartbreaking and emotionally liberating experience. It left me speechless when I read it, but since then I’ve only had praise to give. My words do not do this series justice by any means but saying HakoMari has kept me up at night is no exaggeration. It has provided me with food for thought, intrigue, and one of the most beautiful emotional train wrecks I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. It is truly a mistake to overlook this series, and I only regret not having read it sooner.
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