What do you think?
Rate this book
Battle Royale: Angels' Border
The Program is a brutal military experiment that pits junior high students against each other every year in a brutal battle to the death. Most of the students from Shiroiwa Junior High scatter as soon as they reach the remote island where they must participate in the latest round of the Program. But Yukie Utsumi and five of her friends lock themselves in the lighthouse, clinging to a desperate hope of survival. They all trust each other, but they also know that only one can survive the Battle Royale… A graphic novel side story of the bestselling novel Battle Royale
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2012
23 people are currently reading
494 people want to read
About the author
Koushun Takami
97 books1,581 followersKoushun Takami (高見 広春 Takami Kōshun) is the author of the novel Battle Royale, originally published in Japanese, and later translated into English by Yuji Oniki and published by Viz Media and, later, in an expanded edition by Haika Soru, a division of Viz Media.
Takami was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture near Osaka and grew up in the Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku. After graduating from Osaka University with a degree in literature, he dropped out of Nihon University's liberal arts correspondence course program. From 1991 to 1996, he worked for the news company Shikoku Shimbun, reporting on various fields including politics, police reports, and economics.
The novel Battle Royale was completed after Takami left the news company. It was rejected in the final round of the literary competition for which it was intended, owing to its controversial content. It went on to become a bestseller when finally released in 1999 and, a year later, was made into a manga and a feature film.
He is currently working on a second novel.
Takami was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture near Osaka and grew up in the Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku. After graduating from Osaka University with a degree in literature, he dropped out of Nihon University's liberal arts correspondence course program. From 1991 to 1996, he worked for the news company Shikoku Shimbun, reporting on various fields including politics, police reports, and economics.
The novel Battle Royale was completed after Takami left the news company. It was rejected in the final round of the literary competition for which it was intended, owing to its controversial content. It went on to become a bestseller when finally released in 1999 and, a year later, was made into a manga and a feature film.
He is currently working on a second novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
September 27, 2024
In the main Battle Royale story, there's a group of girls from the Shiroiwa High School class forced to fight to the last student standing whose story is maybe the saddest, but to me personally didn't register much in terms of emotional impact at the time. Perhaps because I didn't invest in any of this group's members, preoccupied as I was by the fates of my favourites.
In this side story, we get to see them all again. But this story is different to the main one. Because it's not as gory and brutal (but don't think you can read this without the main story, this isn't a standalone). On one hand, this might displease those readers that like the extreme violence of the main story, as well as those not interested in slice-of-life glimpses into characters that weren't fan favourites by any means. But, on the other hand, this also proves Takami-sensei can (and does) write stories without extreme gore and violence that can be appealing.
The second major difference is precisely this slice-of-life storytelling. Enforcers is pretty much like an isolated world within the island, a little corner of unearned hope. The seven characters taking refuge in the lighthouse don't have much to do action-wise, so we don't see them doing much regarding the deadly game going round them. We mostly see inwards to their emotions and their memories, particularly those to two pairs of characters. The Yukie/Haruka story is one of (Sapphic) one-sided love, and the Chisato/Shinji is one of friendship. Love and friendship are the theme of this manga, which might be at odds with the reality of having to kill each other, kill your friends, so you can survive. Battle Royale is a world that brings out the selfish worst of people, so this is a welcome contrast.
Personally, it was the backstory of Chisato and Shinji that got me. I said in an update that Enforcers made me sadder than the main story, didn't I? The reason was Shinji.
When reading Battle Royale, of course I had my bets on who was the likeliest to survive. Most of my picks were based on either likability or ability. I bet on Kiriyama based on ability alone (I mean, that psychopathic bastard was incredibly good at the game, belief-defying good at times), and I bet on Hiroki based on likability alone (I mean, not that he was bad at survival, but you could see he wouldn't make it out of the island, he was too good-hearted and good guys die); and some favourites, like Shuya I never bet on (come on, we love this adorable dork, but let's be honest, he'd have croaked the minute he was out in the open if not for Shogo...). But Shogo and Shinji I bet on based on likability AND ability. If someone had to to survive this game, it would be Shogo or Shinji, I thought. If someone were to win between Shogo and Shinji, it would be Shinji, I thought.
My heart got broken and stomped on with mindless brutality when that wasn't the case. Seeing a backstory for Shinji broke it again.
I don't regret reading this, though. It's a good complementary side story, no matter how different it feels. Does it add to the main storyline? Not really, no. We already know what happened to the lighthouse girls, we already know what happened to Yukie and Haruka, we already know how Chisato dies, and we know the fate of Shuya and Shinji. Nothing new is added in terms of plot to the main story. But characters? Yes, this adds to the main story in terms of pure character expansion only, which might not the every manga-fan's cuppa tea. For me, however, it was the perfect type of story to add to the Battle Royale universe.
What is there to add to the main story in terms of plot, really? And I'm talking about the main plotline, not about a story from before or after the island. The island arc itself can only be enriched with character-study type of stories, I think. In that light, this wasn't a bad choice.
Oh, and the art is nice. Much richer than the one for the main story. Maybe it's the improvements over time applied to manga, or maybe it's the artist, but I found the illustration style for this side story much more polished.
In this side story, we get to see them all again. But this story is different to the main one. Because it's not as gory and brutal (but don't think you can read this without the main story, this isn't a standalone). On one hand, this might displease those readers that like the extreme violence of the main story, as well as those not interested in slice-of-life glimpses into characters that weren't fan favourites by any means. But, on the other hand, this also proves Takami-sensei can (and does) write stories without extreme gore and violence that can be appealing.
The second major difference is precisely this slice-of-life storytelling. Enforcers is pretty much like an isolated world within the island, a little corner of unearned hope. The seven characters taking refuge in the lighthouse don't have much to do action-wise, so we don't see them doing much regarding the deadly game going round them. We mostly see inwards to their emotions and their memories, particularly those to two pairs of characters. The Yukie/Haruka story is one of (Sapphic) one-sided love, and the Chisato/Shinji is one of friendship. Love and friendship are the theme of this manga, which might be at odds with the reality of having to kill each other, kill your friends, so you can survive. Battle Royale is a world that brings out the selfish worst of people, so this is a welcome contrast.
Personally, it was the backstory of Chisato and Shinji that got me. I said in an update that Enforcers made me sadder than the main story, didn't I? The reason was Shinji.
When reading Battle Royale, of course I had my bets on who was the likeliest to survive. Most of my picks were based on either likability or ability. I bet on Kiriyama based on ability alone (I mean, that psychopathic bastard was incredibly good at the game, belief-defying good at times), and I bet on Hiroki based on likability alone (I mean, not that he was bad at survival, but you could see he wouldn't make it out of the island, he was too good-hearted and good guys die); and some favourites, like Shuya I never bet on (come on, we love this adorable dork, but let's be honest, he'd have croaked the minute he was out in the open if not for Shogo...). But Shogo and Shinji I bet on based on likability AND ability. If someone had to to survive this game, it would be Shogo or Shinji, I thought. If someone were to win between Shogo and Shinji, it would be Shinji, I thought.
My heart got broken and stomped on with mindless brutality when that wasn't the case. Seeing a backstory for Shinji broke it again.
I don't regret reading this, though. It's a good complementary side story, no matter how different it feels. Does it add to the main storyline? Not really, no. We already know what happened to the lighthouse girls, we already know what happened to Yukie and Haruka, we already know how Chisato dies, and we know the fate of Shuya and Shinji. Nothing new is added in terms of plot to the main story. But characters? Yes, this adds to the main story in terms of pure character expansion only, which might not the every manga-fan's cuppa tea. For me, however, it was the perfect type of story to add to the Battle Royale universe.
What is there to add to the main story in terms of plot, really? And I'm talking about the main plotline, not about a story from before or after the island. The island arc itself can only be enriched with character-study type of stories, I think. In that light, this wasn't a bad choice.
Oh, and the art is nice. Much richer than the one for the main story. Maybe it's the improvements over time applied to manga, or maybe it's the artist, but I found the illustration style for this side story much more polished.
August 10, 2022
Why does this exist?
Where's the gore? Where's the thrills?
I don't understand why this was created in the first place. It's just a small segment of the original book. And it doesn't add much at all to the source material. I'm just confused.
I wish I could read a manga of the actual Battle Royale or something based on that premise. I love the horror mages plot. But this was way to fast and flippant
Where's the gore? Where's the thrills?
I don't understand why this was created in the first place. It's just a small segment of the original book. And it doesn't add much at all to the source material. I'm just confused.
I wish I could read a manga of the actual Battle Royale or something based on that premise. I love the horror mages plot. But this was way to fast and flippant
March 30, 2017
A side story manga about the lighthouse girls from "Battle Royale"? Sign me up!
I've been pretty high key obsessed with BR since coming across it as a teenager in the mid-2000s. The original manga adaptation was passed around my homeroom each time I purchased a new volume, and I owned several bootleg copies of the movie before it was given a proper DVD release in 2012. How I missed the release of "Angels' Border" is beyond me, but I am glad I finally read it.
The saga of the lighthouse girls is one of the more fascinating aspects of "Battle Royale," in my opinion. While they are mostly remembered for their epic death scene(s), I think what makes me love them the most is how relatable they are. As much as I wish I could be as cool as Shuya, Takako or Kiriyama, I know that in a BR situation, I would be a Yukie Utsumi, pulling together my friends in an attempt to survive.
What stands out about this adaptation is the artwork. As much as I loved the original manga series, all the characters looked too old (and in the case of the girls, they were all nearly sexualised to an uncomfortable degree). The artwork of "Angels' Border" has even Kiriyama and Mitsuko looking age appropriate. There are no panty shots here, folks. Dare I say, the art of Chisato's story is adorable? I wouldn't mind getting a new manga adaptation with updated artwork if Mioko Ohnishi or Youhei Oguma were illustrating it.
I've been pretty high key obsessed with BR since coming across it as a teenager in the mid-2000s. The original manga adaptation was passed around my homeroom each time I purchased a new volume, and I owned several bootleg copies of the movie before it was given a proper DVD release in 2012. How I missed the release of "Angels' Border" is beyond me, but I am glad I finally read it.
The saga of the lighthouse girls is one of the more fascinating aspects of "Battle Royale," in my opinion. While they are mostly remembered for their epic death scene(s), I think what makes me love them the most is how relatable they are. As much as I wish I could be as cool as Shuya, Takako or Kiriyama, I know that in a BR situation, I would be a Yukie Utsumi, pulling together my friends in an attempt to survive.
What stands out about this adaptation is the artwork. As much as I loved the original manga series, all the characters looked too old (and in the case of the girls, they were all nearly sexualised to an uncomfortable degree). The artwork of "Angels' Border" has even Kiriyama and Mitsuko looking age appropriate. There are no panty shots here, folks. Dare I say, the art of Chisato's story is adorable? I wouldn't mind getting a new manga adaptation with updated artwork if Mioko Ohnishi or Youhei Oguma were illustrating it.
July 14, 2019
I read 'Battle Royale' by Koushun Takami some time ago and absolutely loved it. I came across this manga and finally found time to read it. Battle Royale is an extremely long book so this only covers a couple of scenes but it was so good I was desperate for more.
I would not recommend this book if you haven't read Battle Royale but I can definitely recommend you read both!
I would not recommend this book if you haven't read Battle Royale but I can definitely recommend you read both!
April 25, 2019
Contains 2 stories of characters from Battle Royale, which is both good and sad, because you know their fates going into it.
June 27, 2021
This little manga is a really nice deep-dive into the back-stories of a few characters which were quite overlooked in Battle Royale. In my edition of BR, at the end the author mentions wanting to pay more attention to the girls in the lighthouse, to explore their characters more.
This book goes into 2 couples (well not quite couples) present in BR. I really enjoyed getting to know them more, and the drawings were so beautiful that it was a dream to read. I read it in 2 short sittings, and I'll probably pick it up again one day.
I thought this had a way better handling of queer and female characters than the original book did. I actually docked BR a star because the sexist and homophobic tropes were very uncomfortable for me.
However, I found the book a little repetitive in places, as it goes over how the girls got to the lighthouse in BR several times.
Overall, I rate this book 4*.
This book goes into 2 couples (well not quite couples) present in BR. I really enjoyed getting to know them more, and the drawings were so beautiful that it was a dream to read. I read it in 2 short sittings, and I'll probably pick it up again one day.
I thought this had a way better handling of queer and female characters than the original book did. I actually docked BR a star because the sexist and homophobic tropes were very uncomfortable for me.
However, I found the book a little repetitive in places, as it goes over how the girls got to the lighthouse in BR several times.
Overall, I rate this book 4*.
February 23, 2021
I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I liked.
This is a manga and it’s the first I’ve ever read, and it did not disappoint.
It is two side stories in which the characters are the lighthouse girls form the book Battle Royale. I loved that one and I was really exited to see how this one would turn out.
The first story is about one of the girls who is in love worth another. Their friendship and their feelings. It was good, entreating but for most parts it seemed like an adaptation from the novel. It was good nonetheless, I gave it 4 stars.
The second story is about another girl from the lighthouse and more important a relationship she had outside the game. That story stole my heart and the reason I put 5 stars to this manga. Reading this one after knowing the fate of the characters was heartbreaking. And that final picture made me cry, something I didn’t expect.
If you liked the novel I strongly recommend this one, but I do not recommend reading this before the novel.
This is a manga and it’s the first I’ve ever read, and it did not disappoint.
It is two side stories in which the characters are the lighthouse girls form the book Battle Royale. I loved that one and I was really exited to see how this one would turn out.
The first story is about one of the girls who is in love worth another. Their friendship and their feelings. It was good, entreating but for most parts it seemed like an adaptation from the novel. It was good nonetheless, I gave it 4 stars.
The second story is about another girl from the lighthouse and more important a relationship she had outside the game. That story stole my heart and the reason I put 5 stars to this manga. Reading this one after knowing the fate of the characters was heartbreaking. And that final picture made me cry, something I didn’t expect.
If you liked the novel I strongly recommend this one, but I do not recommend reading this before the novel.
August 1, 2024
Episode One is a deeply intimate look into what it’s be like to live in the Republic of Greater East Asia as a lesbian woman. You know a totalitarian dictatorship will crush any hope of a homosexual relationship, but it doesn’t hurt any less when the story ends.
Admittedly, Episode Two isn’t as nearly as thought-provoking, but Chisato and Shinji’s relationship serves as a pleasant distraction from the horrors they’ll soon go through.
Overall, it was nice to have some semblance of a happy ending for Class 2-B. Can’t wait for Takami’s next novel!
Admittedly, Episode Two isn’t as nearly as thought-provoking, but Chisato and Shinji’s relationship serves as a pleasant distraction from the horrors they’ll soon go through.
Overall, it was nice to have some semblance of a happy ending for Class 2-B. Can’t wait for Takami’s next novel!
March 12, 2021
This surprised me by actually being two beautifully bittersweet love stories framed around the lighthouse scene from the original story rather than being an extended version of that scene in particular. It’s something Koushun Takami always wanted to add in to his original novel but apparently didn’t feel he could. It’s a great read!
October 9, 2022
Not enough avatar
July 29, 2023
While not having read the Manga and only having read the novel I still really enjoyed this Manga. It's an interesting spin off but feels a bit cut off too early. I would've loved to see more.
November 29, 2022
I thought I had read this, since it's the only Battle Royale manga my library owns, but considering none of it was familiar to me, I suppose I haven't.
As much as I enjoy that we spend a little time with each student in Battle Royale , it's only a small glimpse into their lives. So I enjoyed how this manga gave a little more backstory to a couple of the lighthouse girls (probably my favourites in the source material tbh) and some of the other characters in the story. I also really liked the art in this; the characters looked like actual teenagers instead of the fully-grown adults in the manga. I would love to get to know a lot of the Battle Royale characters a lot better like this!
As much as I enjoy that we spend a little time with each student in Battle Royale , it's only a small glimpse into their lives. So I enjoyed how this manga gave a little more backstory to a couple of the lighthouse girls (probably my favourites in the source material tbh) and some of the other characters in the story. I also really liked the art in this; the characters looked like actual teenagers instead of the fully-grown adults in the manga. I would love to get to know a lot of the Battle Royale characters a lot better like this!
December 17, 2017
This coda to Battle Royale is not a necessary read since the fate of all the characters are known to anyone like me who has read the manga, but these are still nice little tales about friendship and love featuring some of the side characters from the lighthouse. Mostly it serves to remind me that I should read the original novel that I bought years and years ago.
January 20, 2018
"We share our hope"
I'm glad Koushun Takami published these amazing episodes and scenes about some of the characters that we weren't able to meet very well before they saw their deaths.
This is such an awesome manga!!!
I must admit it's the first manga I read and I simply loved it!!!
I'm glad Koushun Takami published these amazing episodes and scenes about some of the characters that we weren't able to meet very well before they saw their deaths.
This is such an awesome manga!!!
I must admit it's the first manga I read and I simply loved it!!!
September 17, 2015
Full review at No Flying, No Tights: http://noflyingnotights.com/2015/03/0...
June 19, 2021
Eu não sabia o que estava esperando deste mangá. Quero dizer, considerando que esta é uma história extra do universo, roteirizada pelo próprio autor do livro, eu já imaginava que teríamos um bom desenvolvimento de personagens (e cenas gráficas de violência). Só que, por ser protagonizado pelas meninas do Farol, de fato eu não imaginava para onde ele iria nos levar. Nunca fui fascinado por este núcleo no livro (e no filme), então era curiosidade que movia... E foi por esta razão que não entrei preparado para esta leitura.
Dividido em duas histórias, Angel's Border vai 'brincar' bastante com o presente, o futuro e o passado. Ao mesmo tempo que vamos conhecendo a vida de algumas da meninas no período anterior ao Programa, seus laços de amizades, amores e o que as fez permanecerem juntas durante o Battle Royale, a todo tempo somos lembrados do que acabou acontecendo – e é doloroso ver o quanto a vida de todas foram desperdiçadas em nome do sadismo de um governo totalitário e brutal, que monta chacinas anuais em nome de 'provar o seu ponto'.
E sabe o que é mais cruel? Eu comecei o mangá não me importando com elas, mas terminei com o coração despedaçado. Pois ver os seus sentimentos, as suas dúvidas, as suas paixões (que nem de perto foram abordadas no romance original) as humanizou e as trouxe para mais perto do leitor. E, ao final, quando percebemos que nada daquilo faz diferença no arranjo da história, que todas estão fadadas a um destino impiedoso, é algo que revolta e que nos sacode.
Enfim, eu esperava sanguinolencia e fui 'presenteado' com reflexões e melancolia. Koushun Takami, este filho da mãe.
Dividido em duas histórias, Angel's Border vai 'brincar' bastante com o presente, o futuro e o passado. Ao mesmo tempo que vamos conhecendo a vida de algumas da meninas no período anterior ao Programa, seus laços de amizades, amores e o que as fez permanecerem juntas durante o Battle Royale, a todo tempo somos lembrados do que acabou acontecendo – e é doloroso ver o quanto a vida de todas foram desperdiçadas em nome do sadismo de um governo totalitário e brutal, que monta chacinas anuais em nome de 'provar o seu ponto'.
E sabe o que é mais cruel? Eu comecei o mangá não me importando com elas, mas terminei com o coração despedaçado. Pois ver os seus sentimentos, as suas dúvidas, as suas paixões (que nem de perto foram abordadas no romance original) as humanizou e as trouxe para mais perto do leitor. E, ao final, quando percebemos que nada daquilo faz diferença no arranjo da história, que todas estão fadadas a um destino impiedoso, é algo que revolta e que nos sacode.
Enfim, eu esperava sanguinolencia e fui 'presenteado' com reflexões e melancolia. Koushun Takami, este filho da mãe.
April 11, 2023
"Battle Royale: Angels' Border" is a must-read for fans of the original Battle Royale novel. This book is a collection of short stories that take place within the same universe as the original story, offering new insights into the characters and events that shaped the world of Battle Royale.
What sets "Angels' Border" apart from other tie-in novels is its incredible attention to detail and its commitment to staying true to the original source material. The stories are written with the same level of intensity and emotional depth as the original novel, and each one offers something unique to the overall narrative.
One standout story is "The Devil's Cane," which follows the exploits of a former Battle Royale winner who has become a hitman for hire. The story is both thrilling and heartbreaking, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the aftermath of the game.
Another standout story is "The New Boy," which explores the experiences of a student who is transferred to a school that is known for its harsh disciplinary measures. This story is particularly poignant given the current state of the education system, and it's a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding.
Overall, "Battle Royale: Angels' Border" is a fantastic addition to the Battle Royale canon. It's a must-read for fans of the series, and it's a great way to dive deeper into the world that Koushun Takami has created. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to explore the darker side of human nature and the consequences of unchecked power.
What sets "Angels' Border" apart from other tie-in novels is its incredible attention to detail and its commitment to staying true to the original source material. The stories are written with the same level of intensity and emotional depth as the original novel, and each one offers something unique to the overall narrative.
One standout story is "The Devil's Cane," which follows the exploits of a former Battle Royale winner who has become a hitman for hire. The story is both thrilling and heartbreaking, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into the aftermath of the game.
Another standout story is "The New Boy," which explores the experiences of a student who is transferred to a school that is known for its harsh disciplinary measures. This story is particularly poignant given the current state of the education system, and it's a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding.
Overall, "Battle Royale: Angels' Border" is a fantastic addition to the Battle Royale canon. It's a must-read for fans of the series, and it's a great way to dive deeper into the world that Koushun Takami has created. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to explore the darker side of human nature and the consequences of unchecked power.
May 13, 2019
This is a pair of side stories related to the Battle Royale central story. Importantly, it is NOT a jumping-on point for the overall story. You kind of need to read the central story first. Then, if you read this volume, you will have your emotions pulled painfully to the surface, because this volume explains a couple of "why" things from the main story. Like some other readers, I am not sure why these stories were not included in the main manga. Technically, the material in Angels' Border is less brutally violent than some of the sequences in the main story, but since you need to have read that story for this one to make sense, I would still not hand this book to a younger reader. I mean, it teaches you to care about characters who are, in fact, brutalized in the main story, and even though you find out more about their lives in this one, that doesn't make it a sweet, fluffy story.
I do wish that an American manga publisher would get the rights to republish the complete manga series, though. It's been out of print for several years now.
I do wish that an American manga publisher would get the rights to republish the complete manga series, though. It's been out of print for several years now.
December 11, 2025
★★★★☆
This companion piece felt like slipping through a hidden door in the Battle Royale universe — quieter, more intimate, and heartbreakingly focused on the girls trapped in their own corner of the nightmare. Angels’ Border trades the explosive chaos of the main story for emotional tension and fragile alliances, and honestly, that shift in tone absolutely worked for me. The girls’ perspectives are tender, raw, and achingly human, offering a glimpse of vulnerability that the original novel rarely slowed down long enough to show. I found myself unexpectedly moved.
The artwork is soft but expressive, contrasting beautifully with the bleakness of their situation. While it doesn’t have the breadth or brutality of the main story — hence the missing star — it delivers a poignant, beautifully crafted side narrative that lingers in the heart. It’s a delicate tragedy tucked inside a violent world, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to see the humanity behind the horror.
— Theo
This companion piece felt like slipping through a hidden door in the Battle Royale universe — quieter, more intimate, and heartbreakingly focused on the girls trapped in their own corner of the nightmare. Angels’ Border trades the explosive chaos of the main story for emotional tension and fragile alliances, and honestly, that shift in tone absolutely worked for me. The girls’ perspectives are tender, raw, and achingly human, offering a glimpse of vulnerability that the original novel rarely slowed down long enough to show. I found myself unexpectedly moved.
The artwork is soft but expressive, contrasting beautifully with the bleakness of their situation. While it doesn’t have the breadth or brutality of the main story — hence the missing star — it delivers a poignant, beautifully crafted side narrative that lingers in the heart. It’s a delicate tragedy tucked inside a violent world, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to see the humanity behind the horror.
— Theo
January 8, 2026
First off I’d like to say I enjoyed the book and I’m glad I read it, however as the entire franchise was fully created by Japanese people I’d expect the manga to have a more authentic feel and look, it seemed as if creation team wanted an excuse to elongate the story of Battle Royale. The art felt rushed and lackluster, the stories were too short and didn’t give a good enough grasp of the actual emotion occurring on the island. Mimura & Chisato’s story was my favorite due to the heightened emotion and parallels of the island and them at home, it showed how much is truly missing from the depth of the world and adds a layer of empathy to the pre existing battle royale story. Also thought it was lame how Haruka’s story was considered “not normal” instead of directly labeling it Gay, the attempt to be woke was so poorly done because how are you afraid to go more into depth about the sexuality to create a deeper feel for the emotions?
February 6, 2020
I practically devoured Battle Royale the first time I read it. I was, however, disappointed by the portrayal of most of the female students as well as the soul notably queer character. This being the case, I was thrilled to discover this installment, especially with the promise of a women-centered narrative and a WLW character. From the way the book was promoted, I assumed that Haruka's feelings about Yukie would be main focus, but I was severely disappointed when I realized this was not the case. (Initially, the term "queer-baiting" came to mind, as the content that concerned the two was brief and extremely vague.) I still adore Takami's work and appreciated the perspective that Angel's Border had to offer, but I'm not sure that it filled any niche untouched by the first volume.
July 23, 2025
0.5
O que um grupo só de meninas pensa enquanto está num experimento onde todo mundo vai morrer? como meninos são bonitos --'
Não contribuiu em nada com a história originial, não me fez ter o mínimo de apego pelos personagens,... fora que é extremamente problemático vc querer comparar o comportamento de um abus@dor com o abraço de uma amiga. Eu enteria essa preocupação se a personagem pensasse que o abraço dela poderia ser um gatilho pra amiga que foi vítima, mas ele foi meramente uma desculpa pra ela esconder o fato de que ela pensava que o amor que ela sentia pela amiga era algo sujo, imoral e de acordo com ela *pervertido*… meu ranço do final do livro passou, pra dar lugar a raiva que eu tô sentindo por esse mangá 🤬
O que um grupo só de meninas pensa enquanto está num experimento onde todo mundo vai morrer? como meninos são bonitos --'
Não contribuiu em nada com a história originial, não me fez ter o mínimo de apego pelos personagens,... fora que é extremamente problemático vc querer comparar o comportamento de um abus@dor com o abraço de uma amiga. Eu enteria essa preocupação se a personagem pensasse que o abraço dela poderia ser um gatilho pra amiga que foi vítima, mas ele foi meramente uma desculpa pra ela esconder o fato de que ela pensava que o amor que ela sentia pela amiga era algo sujo, imoral e de acordo com ela *pervertido*… meu ranço do final do livro passou, pra dar lugar a raiva que eu tô sentindo por esse mangá 🤬
August 19, 2025
Two very enjoyable manga one-shots giving us a closer look at the background of some of the students from Battle Royale. Both are bittersweet in their own way, as one could expect knowing the fate of the characters. Each interweaves scenes of the events at the lighthouse with scenes from before the game in slightly different ways, and it was very neat to see the varied art styles of the two stories.
I enjoyed both, but the first was a bit flat and uneventful, only really adding to Haruka's character and a little bit on Yukie. The second told its own well-contained story that concluded before the game, but still had some impact on the characters in it and further developed the world of Battle Royale. Rated separately, I'd give the stories a 3/5 and 5/5 respectively.
I enjoyed both, but the first was a bit flat and uneventful, only really adding to Haruka's character and a little bit on Yukie. The second told its own well-contained story that concluded before the game, but still had some impact on the characters in it and further developed the world of Battle Royale. Rated separately, I'd give the stories a 3/5 and 5/5 respectively.
June 5, 2018
So...
I picked this up at the library and wasn't given any indication that this wasn't a complete story. Apparently, this is a side story to a series (that sounds amazing), but this is just like an excerpt with no beginning or end. We are with the 'Lighthouse Girls' for a bit, then jump around in time and location, occasionally getting back to them....and then it feels like a different book and we never go back. The end. WTF?
It read pretty quickly and, what was odd, is that there is the original script in the back (front) for the whole book - it helped explain a few things that were a little unclear in the manga.
I picked this up at the library and wasn't given any indication that this wasn't a complete story. Apparently, this is a side story to a series (that sounds amazing), but this is just like an excerpt with no beginning or end. We are with the 'Lighthouse Girls' for a bit, then jump around in time and location, occasionally getting back to them....and then it feels like a different book and we never go back. The end. WTF?
It read pretty quickly and, what was odd, is that there is the original script in the back (front) for the whole book - it helped explain a few things that were a little unclear in the manga.
February 23, 2021
The lighthouse scene was my favourite scene of the entire Battle Royale novel so when I found out about this manga, I just HAD to read it.
I loved finding out more about a couple of the Lighthouse girls and felt it really added to my understanding of their part in Battle Royale and fleshed out their characters more. I really liked Takami's inclusion of an LGBT character and her feelings about her sexuality within her culture.
My only criticism is that I would have liked a more in-depth view of the Lighthouse scene but that is probably my fault for expecting something from the manga that it was not supposed to be.
I loved finding out more about a couple of the Lighthouse girls and felt it really added to my understanding of their part in Battle Royale and fleshed out their characters more. I really liked Takami's inclusion of an LGBT character and her feelings about her sexuality within her culture.
My only criticism is that I would have liked a more in-depth view of the Lighthouse scene but that is probably my fault for expecting something from the manga that it was not supposed to be.
August 26, 2022
I love context ❤️ The idea of purging minors of their sins by forcing them to participate in psychological ware fare will never not sound wrong - and this short collection only reminds us of their humanity that was stripped from them at the hands of their teachers, law makers, and everyone who was supposed to keep them safe. As these kids were backed into a corner and forced to participate, I am reminded of a quote from the films director and screenwriter who doesn’t fault them, “(Because) it is never the children who precipitate tragedy, but always the adults.”
August 11, 2017
this was an okay read. although i'm familiar with the concept of Battle Royale, i'd probably enjoy this more if i've read the novel. ohwell. the storytelling is non-linear and i both liked and disliked it. i generally like non-linear storytelling -- the flashbacks, the time stamps, the narrations. however, the characters just didn't stick well to me. i didn't feel for them especially the second story.
December 26, 2020
Im more familiar with the film adaptation than the original/manga so the first big thing I noticed was the difference in setting. The fictionalised dystopia makes it feel even more like speculative than the version of the story I’m familiar with. As for the content of the title, it’s very dialogue heavy which can drag at times but it’s generally well written & adds new depth to what I previously would’ve considered quite minor characters. Definitely recommended for fans of the film.
January 20, 2021
Absolutely loved this! The 2 mini stories worked well in the manga format and I felt like they really expanded on a couple of points from the original book, without feeling out of place. Both stories were charming yet also heartbreaking knowing the plot of the original book. I really loved the relationship between Haruka and Yukio, and Haruka in general I just wanted to give a hug! Shinji and Chisato story I also really loved despite at first thinking I wouldn't, especially considering the strength of the first story. My only complaint is that it wasn't longer!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews