The Gods Lie is a short manga about two sixth graders, Natsuru Nanao and Rio Suzumura, who grow closer over summer break. After learning about Rio and her little brother’s living situation, Natsuru takes it upon himself to protect them. Natsuru challenges his morals: how can he protect someone else when his methods are questionable? Kaori Ozaki focuses on child welfare through the eyes of two children. This slice of life offers a glimpse into child abandonment.
About the Book
The God’s Lie (2013)
Author: Kaori Ozaki
Demographic: Seinen
Genre(s): Coming of Age, Drama, Romance, School Life, Slice of Life
Trigger(s): Child abandonment and negligence, and death
My thoughts
The Story
Ozaki’s story is dark and heavy. The story is told by Natsuru, so we mostly get a childish perspective of Rio and Yuuta’s harsh situation. And although the perspective is childish, the gloomy undertones remove the rose-colored lens. Ozaki’s storytelling is subtle: before the revelations, we know something is amiss through the carefully worded dialogues, narration, and near-perfect visuals. And yet, something is still missing from the story.
The story’s finale falls short with its pacing. After the kids’ getaway fails, the story quickly shifts into an awkward summary of what happened after they were separated. Of course, the story is told through Natsuru’s perspective, so it’s not like we can expect perfect details about what happened to the Suzumura siblings. However, even Rio’s life after the events is summarized. The ending made me wish that Ozaki’s manga was a bit longer. Natsuru’s development is abrupt, and Rio’s is nonexistent. In short, the story is more plot-driven than character-driven.
The Characters
There were very few moments where Rio’s perspective was featured, which was disappointing. Personally speaking, Natsuru’s character lacks any personality to be memorable. What I learned of him was that he enjoys soccer, he is a student, and he is impulsive. At the same time, Rio is reserved and doesn’t shine without Natsuru. Rio and Natsuru are characters that need each other or others to seem interesting. Again, the story focuses more on the events.
Conclusion
Although the manga has its faults, I enjoyed reading it. Ozaki’s words are very direct and moving from time to time. I should also say that Ozaki’s art style, while simple, is clean, easy to follow, and beautiful. I would recommend this manga to casual manga readers, or for those who are willing to explore the medium.
This review is an edited version of my original review on Goodreads.com.
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