Kakegurui 3: Das Leben ist ein Spiel

賭ケグルイ / Kakegurui #3

by Homura Kawamoto, Toru Naomura (Illustrator), Jannik Eimen (Translator)

An der Hyakkaou-Privatakademie ist Glücksspiel Tradition, und sobald der Unterricht beendet ist, verwandelt sich die Schule in eine Spielhölle. Wer an den Spieltischen gewinnt, wird behandelt wie ein König, wer verliert, wird zum Sklaven. Yumeko Jabami ist neu an der Schule und beginnt schon an ihrem ersten Tag an der Hyakkaou, das gesamte System mit ihrem Zockerwahnsinn so sehr auf die Probe zu stellen, dass selbst die mächtigen Mitglieder des Schülerrats auf sie aufmerksam werden.

Genres: Manga, Drama, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Mystery, Comics, Shonen

244 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2015

Reviews

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am addicted. Midari San, you are cool and a badass. Oh my god, I love her. Although I shouldn't be surprised at this point, Yumeko never ceases to astonish me. What a daring move, Mary San. And Kirari San uff, when can we watch her play a game?👉👈💀

[Shawna Finnigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 3 is one of the weaker volumes in my opinion because of Midari. I am not a fan of her morbid oversexualization. I don’t think it’s really apropriate for a series that involves teenage characters. However, beyond Midari, this volume was still decent. Mary starts developing into a likeable character in this volume. Also, the research that the author put into the ESP cards and how he incorporated that research into this volume was done really well.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole manga is gay, and I love it.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midari Ikishima's mental health issues are the focus as she challenges protagonist Yumeko Jabami to a life-or-death game involving Zener cards for ESP detection and two fully- or partially- loaded pistols. As always, cheating is to be expected.

Amidst all the tension, the origin of Ikishima's eyepatch is revealed and Mary Saotome receives an offer from the all-powerful student council president.

I'm grateful that this volume backs off the fan service a bit and includes a complete story arc instead of ending on a cliffhanger.

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart was in my throat but Yumeko here gambled with her life against some crazy chick. Yeah, I love this manga now.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another great instalment in this very chaotic and tense series. There is a heavy focus on Ikishima’s mental health which can be potentially triggering for some (especially suicidal ideation).

I was also a little confused at times about the game - possibly the intricacies in this was a little too much for my small brain to comprehend!

The artwork is stunning as always and I love Yumeko Jabami <3

[livia · Rating 4 out of 5]

let's go lesbians

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't bring myself to give this series more than 3 stars, but I keep finding it incredibly (wait for it) compulsive.

But seriously, all these characters are in need of *intense* therapy.

[Pam Z (Pam's Shenanigans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily one of my top favorite manga of all time. It's fast-paced, psychological and mindblowing. I couldn't stop reading because of the cliffhangers!

Note: I just watched the first episode of the anime adaptation and omygod it's so good. It still lacks a bit of the whole craziness of the manga but it still captured the exhiliration brough about by gambling.

Ugh! Can't wait for the next chapter and episode!

[Rylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don’t know why I like Midari so much I just do

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 because Midari is annoying.

[Irene ➰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

This whole volume is focused on a single game and basically on a single character, Midari’s.
Despite this, I found the game super challenging and addicting, so it wasn’t in any way boring nor repetitive.
How the mind game was described is once again super detailed and well explained, it’s super easy to follow!

I took one star off for Midari’s character, she’s such a sick person and I’m not a fan of her behavior, despite being all fictional and used to extreme situations, this is too disturbing…

[victoria worm]

honestly the manga is a really big let down for me. i would go as far as to say this this is one of my fav animes yet i had to force myself to finish the past 3 vols. i still like the concept and the story but i feel as though it is more enjoyable watching it rather than reading the redundant and complicated rules for each gamble. i wish i could read more but i cant

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I do think the anime did a better job with going back and forth between the gamble and Mary being offered a place on the Student Council, I still liked how Kawamoto drew parallels in these events, and not necessarily with how they ended.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my fave manga

[tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

that card gun game was boring... the only parts i cared about were mary and momobami so 🚶‍♀️

[Casper Paaske · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting insight into an extreme character, that ultimately goes back to the poster character’s own psyche. All while raising the stakes for the gambling games.

[Carlex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars

The fun continues. Some situations feel a bit forced, but given the wild initial premise… Well, that's what extreme gambling is all about, right?

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 2 out of 5]

2020 Read #581

This isn’t a horrible manga, but it just doesn’t really do anything for me, sad to say.

[Cappellaia Matta #bookblogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

È psicologicamente agghiacciante e ti mette in dubbio tutte le cose. Tra diabolici piani eosse azzardate, vi ritroverete sempre con il fiato in sospeso.

[Worm · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn't enjoy this volume as much as the last- it was still really good! I just don't think I particularly care for the "protagonist" lol. I get what Midari is saying about him- being a "pet" (I don't fully agree, but yeah he is predictable and easy for Yumeko to manipulate if she chooses to- which I don't really see her doing...he's just there). The invite for Mary was pretty interesting tho- and I'm excited to learn more about her motivations.

[poet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to this manga, I was able to enjoy a wonderful gamble!

[ire · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, the Big Debt Settlement Meeting is over and Mary has her status back, will she hold a grudge against her bullies? You bet your ass she will. But that's just how the academy works really, isn't it? I've actually ended up really liking Mary and I was kind of hoping she and Yumeko would team up together but I'm out of luck it seems!

This volume we get some interesting tidbits about Yumeko and she is definitely coming for the Student Council President....unfortunately on her way she gets cornered by the crazy Student Council Beautification chair woman. Ikishima. Which means it's time to play, and explain a new card game....but with a deadly twist. I genuinely feel like I could become quite the card shark thanks to this series. This is a seriously high stakes volume, and Suzui ends up featuring a lot which was interesting.

Meanwhile Mary has a cosy chat with the Student Council President, and refuses an interesting offer. I'm so intrigued by Mary, like I was prepared to hate her but now I'm rooting for her and I'm really curious to know more about her and see if she teams up with the others and see what her end game is!

Yumeko pulls off another brilliant and intelligent move. I love having the games and the cheats and strategy to each game explained. It's done so well and is a nice addition. The art is detailed and gorgeous and the characters get so ugly when they gamble, it's a brilliant touch.

The story is moving forward at a steady pace, we know the characters. We know how the academy works, and we're seeing some unrest from Mary. One might even say rebellion. Yumeko is quite determined to go up against the Student Council President and she's still a bit of a mystery. The volume builds up the tension and switches between the two scenes that while both incredibly tense, are tense for different reasons.

Will she accept the offer? Won't she? What happens if she doesn't? Will she win? Will she lose? Is she really going to die? The last volume proved that anything can happen and even our favourite won't always win, which set up a nice tension for this volume in particular. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat.

[Marianna Rainolter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un volume davvero adrenalinico perché infatti Yumeko vuole sfidare il consiglio studentesco ma è fermata dalla pazza Ikishima che la sfida ad un gioco dove si potrà rischiare la vita. Sukui, (povero) compagno di classe e alleato di Yumeko, sarà il mazziere della loro sfida ma la tensione del suo ruolo sarà di aiuto o di intralcio alla ragazza? Mary invece incontra la pericolosa presidentessa del consiglio e anche tramite i racconti di Ikishima scopriamo la sua pericolosità e il suo essere senza scrupoli e ciò mi porta a desiderare al più presto un confronto tra lei e la nostra Yumeko! Non c’è una pausa e quando tiri un sospiro ecco che succede qualcos’altro. La sfida è molto intensa e il personaggio di Ikishima è molto particolare e la sua contrapposizione con Yumeko diventa evidente man mano che la storia procede per quanto inizialmente le due sembrino molto simili. I disegni qui sono fantastici perché rappresentano bene la follia di Ikishima e mi piace molto come per Yumeko si passi da essere allegra e spensierata a mostrare anche lei con quel barlume di follia che ormai conosciamo bene e riusciamo anche ad apprezzare in qualche modo

[Ester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un nuevo tomo espectacular donde Yumeko vuelve a demostrar su gran habilidad para el juego. En este tomo, Yumeko debe enfrentarse a un nuevo miembro del consejo de estudiantes donde su propia vida será la apuesta del juego.
Por su parte, Mary, que ya no es una Mike, es llamada por la presidenta del Consejo que la invita a unirse a este. ¿Aceptará?
Dibujo espectacular y todo muy intenso. Me ha encantado.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are more twists in the plot than you can shake a stick at. It's sometimes exaggerated, but that's what keeps the ball rolling - meaning it keeps me reading and enjoying every second of it. Strong, independent women rule the cast, so feminists are welcome. That is, if you don't mind the boobs. And the short dresses. Hardly anything is sexualized, though, if you ignore that one character who enjoys the games a bit too much. Hmm, there might be two of them, in fact. But other than that, it's solid, progressive, female-empowering storytelling through and through. The men - the very few who are present - are usually portayed as weak and easy to manipulate.

Beautification captain Midari challenges Yumeko to a card guessing game combined with her favorite game - Russian Roulette. Yumeko imposes a few conditions advantageous for her like having Suzui deal cards and playing only 3 rounds. Still, the game is a dangerous one. Yumeko's mind tricks confuse Midari, but when the latter puts 6 bullets in her gun, nothing is certain any more. Though Midari wavers under Yumeko's manipulation, her sheer madness and the excitement for playing this dangerous game keep her confident.

The first two rounds are nothing compared to the third when Midari throws the game. She willingly puts her life in Yumeko's hands to feel some sick pleasure. It turns out that Yumeko also gets her card matches wrong intentionally, ending the game in a draw just like she predicted in the beginning. Midari confesses that she has been seeking someone like Yumeko for a long while, thinking them alike. She embraces the idea of dying by Yumeko's hand. Sadly, the latter feels nothing but contempt for Midari whose sole purpose is to die

The council president Momobami offers Mari to join the student council. Mari refuses because the council's treatment of Pets is inhumane. She felt this on her own skin.

[Christopher Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third volume of Kakegurui, Yumeko's "Deal With the Devil" takes an even more twisted turn when she and Ryota are kidnapped by the sadomasochistic Midari. The "pirate-looking bitch" demands that Yumeko play a high-stakes game combining ESP cards and loaded revolvers, with Ryota (not useless for once) serving as dealer. This installment offers the most condensed plot so far, focusing on the game and its nutty players (there's a subplot where Kirari offers Mary a spot on the Student Council, which mostly shows Mary committing to her alliance with Yumeko). Here, we get more insight into Midari, who previously seemed like a thrill-obsessed nutcase but now seems like a horribly broken death-seeker. It's hard to sympathize with such an extreme character, but after exploring her backstory (as an overachiever who struggled to fit in, and whose insecurity was exploited by Kirari, in an encounter culminating in grisly mutilation), readers can at least understand why she's so obsessed with "the ultimate thrill" and desperate to find someone who understands her. Yumeko seems to be that person, and she certainly shares Midari's recklessness; but she's also resourceful, pragmatic and knows how to outsmart opponents in even the most rigged game (with Ryota's help, in a generally clever twist). In the end, it turns out that Yumeko, our ostensible heroine, is the craziest character of all; but her simple desire to gamble, if not exactly moral, makes her easy to root for against her rivals, who are too wrapped in schemes, neuroses and commitment to the Academy's toxic power structure. If you enjoyed the previous volumes in the series, you should love this.

[. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 3 focuses primarily on Midari, who lusts after Yumeko due to the belief that Yumeko will help her satisfy her death wish. (Of course, Yumeko refuses to do such a thing, which only makes Midari more crazy for her.) Midari thinks of Yumeko as her soulmate, but ... that’s not quite right ... is it?

I’m enjoying seeing Yumeko slowly work her way through the interesting cast of characters on the student council. Half the fun comes from the fact that this is a totally unrealistic setting with the most ridiculously unrealistic characters. The “good” protagonist in a gambling addict with something of a moral compass. This series is downright wild, and some will be put off by that, for certain. But I’m just enjoying the ride.

[Luc ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
This is one of my absolute favourite manga series, and this volume was amazing, as expected. I love the art style of the series so much, and I think it fits the story so well, going from super clean and cute, to more a more messy style, more of a horror vibe. I love the characters and their relationships, which develop even more in this volume. The gambling match in this volume is one of my favourites, as I find Ikishima such an interesting character, and her motivations are so different from any other character in the series. I can't wait to continue on :)