Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler -, Vol. 1

by Homura Kawamoto

Toru Naomura (Artist)

Hyakkaou Private Academy. An institution for the privileged with a very peculiar curriculum. You see, when you're the sons and daughters of the wealthiest of the wealthy, it's not athletic prowess or book smarts that keep you ahead. It's reading your opponent, the art of the deal. What better way to hone those skills than with a rigorous curriculum of gambling? At Hyakkaou Private Academy, the winners live like kings, and the losers are put through the wringer. But when Yumeko Jabami enrolls, she's gonna teach these kids what a high roller really looks like!

• ISBN10: 0316562890
• ISBN13: 9780316562898
• Publish Date: 18 July 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
• Imprint: Yen Press
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 246
• Language: English

Reviews

[lessthelonely]

Kakegurui holds a specific space in my heart. I first read this when I was looking for something a bit more mature and when I was already aware of my obsession with Thriller and Mystery. I believe that Kakegurui delivers on that. In fact, I had never expected to hold a manga series in such high regard, but this is one that feels incredibly self-aware of its own over-the-top nature, and ends up creating very believable character moments.

The setup is as "manga" and "anime" as it gets. The art is absolutely superb and I found myself sometimes having to re-read panels because the explanations warranted that. I also believe this series has some very intriguing motifs, especially for the main characters (namely: Yumeko and Suzui).

Also, the problems here are quite obvious: oversexualization - in my opinion, one can look past it, which is what I do because I enjoy what's out of it. Other than that, some light "lesbian bait" is also present, and I would argue it also gets a little more intense as you go on, but that's in later volumes.

I find this to be very entertaining. Probably why I'm able to re-read this, too!