Reviews

The Drops of God 1 by Shu Okimoto, Tadashi Agi

kenlaan's review

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4.0

Pretty fun read!

Shinzuku Kanzaki is the son of a recently-deceased renowned wine critic, who forcefully trained Shinzuku as a boy to develop his senses of taste and smell in order to be a perfect wine critic himself. Shinzuku rejected the path and has never tasted wine before (working instead as a salesman selling beer for an alcohol company) and was estranged from his father, but his father's will requires that he win a wine-tasting competition with his father's apprentice, Issei Tomine, a young respected wine critic in his own right. Shinzuku initially rejects the idea, but is pulled into the contest nonetheless.

This is painstakingly researched - all the wines, winemakers, labels, etc. are real - and surprisingly interesting, even for someone who doesn't care much for wine.

I am being mercilessly reductive in comparing the two, but I would describe this like a restrained, staid, Food Wars, where instead of food orgasms and people's clothes exploding, the wine gives Shinzuku lovely visions that reflect the wine's taste.

I read this on Comixology Unlimited.

coldprintcoffee's review against another edition

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4.0

I would never have known what an amazing manga this is if I had not picked up the book on a quick trip to the library - it was on a whim. So far there are not too many unmanageable characters, I enjoy the juxtaposition of Tanazaki and his rival with a few hark-backs to classic archetypes, and the wine snobbery is delicious to gnaw on. On top of that, I want to read it again if only for the valuable wine knowledge within this story. Simply put, fantastic.

sensorglitch's review against another edition

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Loved this book, it is definitely mature manga.

katieg4's review

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informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

siriuslysirius's review against another edition

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4.0

What a fun manga. This also confirms to me that there’s a manga for literally everything - any job, any hobby, game, sport. Everything. Haha

This book also did a great job describing terms used by the wine and whisk(e)y industry (I’m a whisk(e)y geek and casual wine fan), such as ‘terroir’. I understand the term, but this book explained it in a fun and easily understandable way.

lets_get_books's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.0

recorderkfk's review against another edition

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emotional informative tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

wetdryvac's review against another edition

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3.0

I really, really wanted to like this more. However, manufactured social conflict is seriously not my bag. Great art, a couple characters I liked a lot, and I just couldn't stick with it.

youmi's review against another edition

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got bored ngl

literarysloth's review against another edition

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adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Not terrible, I just don’t care enough about the story to continue.