What do you think?
Rate this book
惡の華 [Aku no Hana]
Las flores del mal, vol. 9
Kasuga se siente confuso, no entiende bien lo que siente por Tokiwa porque es distinto a lo que sintió por Nakamura, pero Saeki ha sembrado la duda en su mente y ahora se lo está replanteando todo…
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2013
49 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Shuzo Oshimi
136 books1,052 followersShuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 30, 2022
Even if I raved quite a bit in the previous book, the story deserves to be appreciated now that it is almost over.
Aku No Hana is significantly more realistic than the vast majority of other manga. It takes the marginalised children and exposes them to the hard, cold truth of life and of being a marginalised child. It was difficult for me to maintain composure while reading this book because it resonated so deeply with me. My heart is racing as I recall this manga while writing this. Despite having read literally tonnes of wmanga in this genre, I have never before felt as like my throat is congested.
Aku No Hana is significantly more realistic than the vast majority of other manga. It takes the marginalised children and exposes them to the hard, cold truth of life and of being a marginalised child. It was difficult for me to maintain composure while reading this book because it resonated so deeply with me. My heart is racing as I recall this manga while writing this. Despite having read literally tonnes of wmanga in this genre, I have never before felt as like my throat is congested.
May 30, 2022
THIS IS MY FAVORITE VOLUME—KASUGA IS FINALLY HOME Y'ALL
Kasuga decided to crash all the remaining shadows of the evil in his heart and just bare his all to Tokiwa. Professing his love, Tokiwa was moved and expressed her mutual feelings for him.
Now that Kasuga finally felt the warmth of the sun on his skin after living like the dead for three years, even questioning if he has a right to be this ecstatic, he decided to face his fears and go back to Gunma... Let's see what doom awaits Kasuga in the penultimate volume of this phenomenal series.
Thinking about it now, Tokiwa is the pure version of Nakamura—and Kasuga had the goal of saving Nakamura before. This must also be the reason why he's ecstatic now that he's together with Tokiwa doing normal couple stuff, but I could be wrong seeing the illustrations from the last few pages of the book.
Kasuga decided to crash all the remaining shadows of the evil in his heart and just bare his all to Tokiwa. Professing his love, Tokiwa was moved and expressed her mutual feelings for him.
Now that Kasuga finally felt the warmth of the sun on his skin after living like the dead for three years, even questioning if he has a right to be this ecstatic, he decided to face his fears and go back to Gunma... Let's see what doom awaits Kasuga in the penultimate volume of this phenomenal series.
Thinking about it now, Tokiwa is the pure version of Nakamura—and Kasuga had the goal of saving Nakamura before. This must also be the reason why he's ecstatic now that he's together with Tokiwa doing normal couple stuff, but I could be wrong seeing the illustrations from the last few pages of the book.
November 27, 2025
Se vuelve a poner intenso e interesante.
4 star
SPOILERS
*
*
4 star
SPOILERS
*
*
April 17, 2022
I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.
Aya and Kasuga have really reached new peaks in their relationship. Aya has broken up with her boyfriend for Kasuga, who seems to see the "real her" because he knows she likes to read and wants to be a writer. Honestly, the focus on reading being a weird thing for these kids to be into is such a weird plot point, do Japanese teenagers hate reading or something? Anyway, this volume is a bit slower than the rest have been, it shows that Kasuga has once again found an obsession that will take over his life in the form of Aya writing a book about ghosts that Kasuga relates too from living in a small town like a ghost. The volume ends with Kasuga having to go back to his hometown after his grandfather falls suddenly sick. I wonder if he will run into someone related to Nakamura here, and this is where she will re-enter the series or if he'll see Kinoshita again, after her exploding at him earlier in the series. I hope whatever happens though, he doesn't abandon his progress for Nakamura.
Aya and Kasuga have really reached new peaks in their relationship. Aya has broken up with her boyfriend for Kasuga, who seems to see the "real her" because he knows she likes to read and wants to be a writer. Honestly, the focus on reading being a weird thing for these kids to be into is such a weird plot point, do Japanese teenagers hate reading or something? Anyway, this volume is a bit slower than the rest have been, it shows that Kasuga has once again found an obsession that will take over his life in the form of Aya writing a book about ghosts that Kasuga relates too from living in a small town like a ghost. The volume ends with Kasuga having to go back to his hometown after his grandfather falls suddenly sick. I wonder if he will run into someone related to Nakamura here, and this is where she will re-enter the series or if he'll see Kinoshita again, after her exploding at him earlier in the series. I hope whatever happens though, he doesn't abandon his progress for Nakamura.
December 5, 2025
dude im scared about the upcoming plot😭
July 22, 2018
I started reading these books after I watched the anime. The anime was good, a little different from the original series, but it made me interested since it was incomplete.
Aku no Hana is a story that goes around Kasuga Takao. He’s a boy who loves reading books, particularly Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal. A girl at his school, Saeki Nanako, is his muse and he admires her from distance. One day, he forgets his copy of Les Fleurs du Mal in the classroom and runs back alone to pick it up. In the classroom, he finds not only his book, but Saeki’s gym uniform. On a mad impulse, he steals it. Now everyone knows that “some pervert” stole Saeki’s uniform, and Kasuga is dying with shame and guilt. Furthermore, the weird, creepy, and friendless girl of the class, Nakamura Sawa, sees him taking the uniform. Instead of revealing it was him, she recognizes his kindred deviant spirit and uses her knowledge to take control of his life.
This is a very dark story, but still fascinating. It messes up your brain a little bit, but it’s really worth reading.
I enjoyed reading this story so much that I’ve started reading other works of the same author. I recommend it to everyone who likes thrillers, mystery and drama.
Aku no Hana is a story that goes around Kasuga Takao. He’s a boy who loves reading books, particularly Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du Mal. A girl at his school, Saeki Nanako, is his muse and he admires her from distance. One day, he forgets his copy of Les Fleurs du Mal in the classroom and runs back alone to pick it up. In the classroom, he finds not only his book, but Saeki’s gym uniform. On a mad impulse, he steals it. Now everyone knows that “some pervert” stole Saeki’s uniform, and Kasuga is dying with shame and guilt. Furthermore, the weird, creepy, and friendless girl of the class, Nakamura Sawa, sees him taking the uniform. Instead of revealing it was him, she recognizes his kindred deviant spirit and uses her knowledge to take control of his life.
This is a very dark story, but still fascinating. It messes up your brain a little bit, but it’s really worth reading.
I enjoyed reading this story so much that I’ve started reading other works of the same author. I recommend it to everyone who likes thrillers, mystery and drama.
November 13, 2023
This volume marks the nadir of the series so far, and deserves only one star for the following plot development:
Takao gets Tokiwa to date him by bursting into her place of work, crying hysterically, and saying "I love you! Please go out with me!"
Never in the history of the universe would a girl go out with a guy who does this. Never. Ever. I can't take this comic seriously anymore.
Takao gets Tokiwa to date him by bursting into her place of work, crying hysterically, and saying "I love you! Please go out with me!"
Never in the history of the universe would a girl go out with a guy who does this. Never. Ever. I can't take this comic seriously anymore.
January 15, 2022
Excelente servicio, me hizo enojarme u llorar a la vez.
September 10, 2022
def my favourite volume. Perfect mix between realism and fantastical elements imo. VERY invested lmao
February 4, 2018
Snore. How incredibly boring this volume was. And Kasuga is one of the most boring characters I've ever "met." He has no personality and no worth. The scene where is shadow was telling him off, I thought "That is me saying everything I would say to this useless character."
Ugh. And I can wager a guess as to what is going to happen next... he's going to go back to Gunma and run into Nakamura and lose his useless mind again and then he'll be all torn between her and Tokiwa. I already can't stand it... yet I'm going to read it -_-
Ugh. And I can wager a guess as to what is going to happen next... he's going to go back to Gunma and run into Nakamura and lose his useless mind again and then he'll be all torn between her and Tokiwa. I already can't stand it... yet I'm going to read it -_-
November 30, 2019
I’m really enjoying this new side of Kasuga. He’s actually sympathetic and relatable now even after all of the horrible and bizarre things he did when he was younger. It’s interesting to see such a gross character getting such a major redemption and turn around. He’s much more brave and confrontational now, he doesn’t run from his problems anymore. I hope he keeps this new attitude up.
November 3, 2015
These volumes are such fast reads that each time I get caught up to the releases I feel sad I have to wait for more! Yet again, my favorite volume yet. I'm beyond excited to see what happens next. The big come back!
September 1, 2014
Okey-dokey, sh*t is GOING DOWN. But seriously, this kid is so effete, how does he keep getting girls... I mean really...
November 22, 2017
This manga series is the deepest exploration of psychological development of an adolescent that I have read in a comic format. Shuzo Oshimi deserves praise for how he has structured Kasuga's journey throughout this series.
Volume 9 picks up from where we were previously. The new girl that has been introduced is an aspiring writer and she is developing more of a personality. It seems Kasuga is finally aware of his feelings and how he should act upon them. I don't want to give away too much because part of the enjoyment in reading Flowers of Evil is to see how the characters grow and develop.
Oshimi's art also deserves high praise. He is capable of expressing emotion on characters faces and his ability to progress the story with the use of silent panels is impressive.
Volume 9 picks up from where we were previously. The new girl that has been introduced is an aspiring writer and she is developing more of a personality. It seems Kasuga is finally aware of his feelings and how he should act upon them. I don't want to give away too much because part of the enjoyment in reading Flowers of Evil is to see how the characters grow and develop.
Oshimi's art also deserves high praise. He is capable of expressing emotion on characters faces and his ability to progress the story with the use of silent panels is impressive.
May 2, 2025
One of the biggest turning points in this volume is Kasuga’s decision to stop living passively. After Saeki (his brief middle school girlfriend) confronts him in the previous volume and bluntly questions whether he’s simply using Tokiwa as a substitute for Nakamura, he is consumed with new guilt and questions. Their exchange also prompts Kasuga to reflect deeply, eventually realizing that he harbors more than platonic feelings for Tokiwa.
Shuzo Oshimi crafts a stirring emotional exchange between the teens, and the second half of the volume is surprisingly calm and collected, showcasing typical days spent by the protagonists. I found this to be a welcome shift, or perhaps, it’s just the calm before another destructive storm in Kasuga’s life.
Shuzo Oshimi crafts a stirring emotional exchange between the teens, and the second half of the volume is surprisingly calm and collected, showcasing typical days spent by the protagonists. I found this to be a welcome shift, or perhaps, it’s just the calm before another destructive storm in Kasuga’s life.
May 20, 2021
"Eso es sólo tu pensamiento egoísta. Tú sólo eres dependiente de esa novela, tú sólo quieres eso para confortarte, siempre has sido dependiente. En los libros, en Saeki, en Nakamura y ahora otra vez. Tú eres dependiente de Tokiwa y su novela. ¡Eso no es verdad! Yo... Oh, ¿en serio? Ni siquiera sabes por qué Nakamura te empujó. Nakamura estaba viendo algo diferente, tú no podías ayudarla. ¡Es tu culpa! ¡Destruyes todo lo que tocas! Nakamura, Saeki, tu padre, tu madre, ¡tú los destrozaste! ¡Tú no deberías existir, tú sólo traes desgracia! Yo... ¿QUIÉN SOY YO, AH?, JA, JA, JA, JA".
Reseña en el último tomo.
Reseña en el último tomo.
January 7, 2023
Buffff l'escena de l'ombra del Kasugo expressant tots els pensaments intrusius i tòxics sobre ell mateix, pell de gallina!!! És cert que és una persona molt dependent, influenciable i fins i tot dèbil. No sé si empatitzar-hi o no. L'esceneta a la cafeteria amb la Tokiwa m'ha tallat la respiració, no m'esperava per res del món la resposta d'ella!!! En aquest volum comencem a veure la llum al final del túnel, hi ha esperances de final feliç ❤️ Tremenda la metàfora s'aixafar la flor amb l'ull per expressar que està en procés de recuperació "Aunque la herida se cure, la cicatriz seguirá allí"
October 14, 2024
I’m growing to be fond of the story as it progresses, how the flower of evil personifies itself in Kasuga, how it’s so determined by his surroundings and the people. The slight crevice that is the flower’s eyelid mirroring and foreshadowing the despair he’s about to encounter. It really shows the cracks in his new ‘regular’ person, memoirs of the past returning simply to taunt and scold him, Saeki’s reintroduction as the catalyst for his resurfacing trauma and perhaps the unfolding of the pandemonium from the mental turmoil his brain would be experiencing. Thrilling!!
February 7, 2022
The art for this one seems much better than usual. There's less dialogue but the story hits hard even with just glimpses of time. I expected things to stay platonic between them but it seems he hasn't learned his lesson about infatuation. He loves the idea of these girls, not the girls themselves. This is a tough lesson but hopefully one he'll learn before he hurts someone again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
4/5
And now onto the last two volumes.
I'm really liking how the author decided to handle Kasuga's high school life and especially how the story evolved in the lst chapters.
In the next volume Kasuga will definitely have to face something from his past before wrapping up the story, so next volume could be the peak of the storyline.
And now onto the last two volumes.
I'm really liking how the author decided to handle Kasuga's high school life and especially how the story evolved in the lst chapters.
In the next volume Kasuga will definitely have to face something from his past before wrapping up the story, so next volume could be the peak of the storyline.
January 5, 2024
La verdad, es un manga excelente. Tuve la suerte de poder leerlo como un adulto, ya pasada la adolescencia, lo que me permitió apreciarlo con mayor profundidad desde una "distancia segura".
Trama entretenida, personajes profundos y bien diferenciados y cierto grado de identificación. Una de mis mejores lecturas del año pasado.
Es un manga que no dejo de recomendar.
Trama entretenida, personajes profundos y bien diferenciados y cierto grado de identificación. Una de mis mejores lecturas del año pasado.
Es un manga que no dejo de recomendar.
March 10, 2025
Uma das obras mais impactantes que já li, a existência contra a não existência, o que ser e o que não ser.
A revolta, o caos, a paixão e o medo adolescente.
Facilmente um dos melhores mangás que já li na minha vida, comecei a ler esperando absolutamente nada e terminei lendo uma das melhores obras que já vi.
A revolta, o caos, a paixão e o medo adolescente.
Facilmente um dos melhores mangás que já li na minha vida, comecei a ler esperando absolutamente nada e terminei lendo uma das melhores obras que já vi.
September 26, 2025
It was fine felt like a weird slice of life. When he confessed I got second hand embarrassment but he didn’t change that much he’s only dating that girl because she likes books and she looks like nakamura and I still don’t like takao but that’s fine I want to what will happen when that go back. 6.9/10
June 14, 2022
He's living what I've always wanted to live, and it makes me cry because I can understand his feelings and why he's happy
Lucky guy
I don't know what would I do without books in my life
I feel like I've experience the thing that I always wanted to
Lucky guy
I don't know what would I do without books in my life
I feel like I've experience the thing that I always wanted to
March 1, 2018
Boy lets go of his hate/darkness and admits his love. Family problems will send the boy back to his home town. Will this be a setback?
March 16, 2018
男主角這NTR也太快，比佐伯的不甘心還要猛
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2018
I like this part after the middle school mess.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews