Very intriguing, now a personal favorite

~WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD!~

So I was watching a YouTube video on manga recommendations and this was on the list. I was hesitant at first ( most likely because I was judging from the manga cover ), but wanted to give it a try. Also the other manga I was reading didn't update the latest chapter, and I was too impatient to wait for it to come out.

~About~

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The story is set on a small, fictional island called Hitogashima. A boy named Shinpei Ajiro returns after leaving two years ago to live in Tokyo. He comes to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Ushio Kofune. Eventually, Shinpei starts to uncover the dark mysteries and monsters of the island, and must save his family and friends.

The monsters, which in fact are called shadows. Personally, I like to call them walking printers that can shapeshift.

~Characters~

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First off, the characters are great. I like how each one has their own personality and you learn their roles in the story after Ushio's death. Shinpei is a good character who loves his friends and family dearly, and is willing to do anything to protect them. There are times where he doubts himself, but then his confidence starts to come back. I also find the " take a step back and think" kinda funny cause it reminds me of one of my family members saying something similar to that. I like how Shinpei's able to use his objectivity and think things through. Mio's a nice, cute character. She was really funny in the story, especially when it came to Sou confessing his feeling to her. Speaking of Sou, he's great! Though, I feel bad that he thinks it's his fault for Ushio's death cause he wasn't fast enough. Nagumo/Hizuru were super cool, and did a great job during the big fights ( which you'll see once you get near the middle of the story ). Shadow Ushio is very funny. She was energetic and was serious when she needed to be. I would say she was the most positive out of all characters. She wasn't just the comedic relief, but she's strong and I like that about her.

~Art style~

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I think the artsyle plays a major role when it comes to making manga. It's what draws the reader in and allows them to feel like they are in that setting. Put simply, the artwork was stunning. I loved the amount of detail that was put into the background and into the characters. For example, in the scenes when it was raining. I liked the way they were drawn. Even if it's in black and white, you can still see the beauty of it. Like literally, I wish I could draw like that!

~Plot ~

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The plot was very interesting. It's like if the movies "Us" and "Happy Death Day" had a child. Just different characters and slightly different objective. Seeing the characters work together was great, and I like how in each chapter, the characters were getting closer and closer to finding a way to stop the monsters. I will admit that there was a lot of information to take in, especially when Shinpei is explaining certain things. So it's kinda a lot to process. Nevertheless, it didn't stop me from enjoying it. I couldn't put the manga down.

~Conclusion~

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All in all, this was a great series. As I am writing this review, I am currently watching the anime adaptation. Would I recommend it? Sure, if you don't mind violence and bloodshed. So if you like action, thrillers with a bit of comedy, this is perfect for you. Although, I think it would be a little too much if you are planning to recommend this to a person who is just getting into manga.