Malav

What a brilliant grand finale to this arc. The build-up with Vegapunk’s speech was done so well, and it kept me hooked the entire time. The moments involving Luffy and Bonney were especially emotional and added a lot of weight to the conclusion. Everything came together beautifully, and the ending felt very satisfying. This arc had a great balance of emotion, storytelling, and hype. I really enjoyed this read. It made me cheer and cry at the same time, which is always a sign of great writing.

This has to be one of the best arcs in One Piece for me.

This arc continues to feel very fresh. I like how different it is from Wano, especially with the futuristic setting and pacing. Seeing more of CP0 was interesting, and Luffy calling Lucci “pigeon guy” had me laughing out loud at 2 am. I’m pretty sure I woke up my neighbours 😭

Overall, a really enjoyable volume that feels like it’s building towards something big.

A wonderful end to the Egghead arc and a lovely start to Elbaf. The transition felt smooth, and the moment we reached the new place, the scale and locations were immediately impressive. There’s a strong sense that something much bigger is about to unfold, and I genuinely don’t know where the story is heading next, which makes it even more exciting.

This catch-up journey has been incredibly fun. I’ll be reading the volumes as they release now, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

This was incredibly well written. I didn’t expect the story to get this emotional, and it really caught me off guard. Kuma’s backstory was heartbreaking. Everything about it just builds up so well, and by the end, it hits really hard. I genuinely felt a lot while reading this. It made me emotional in a way that felt earned. Oda did it again. My volume is soaked and my heart is racing. This is peak writing.

This felt like a short but important detour from Egghead. It focuses more on what’s happening in the rest of the world, and there are some really big reveals and growing threats. I like how it doesn’t feel jarring at all. Everything flows naturally, and it feels like the story is expanding rather than shifting away. A lot of things have been set up here, and it definitely builds anticipation for what’s coming next.

This arc continues to deliver. Even as it moves towards wrapping up, it doesn’t slow down and keeps the momentum going. The pacing and writing are really strong. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop and ended up finishing it in one sitting, which has been the case for most of these volumes. There are some really satisfying moments here, especially seeing Luffy step in and take action. That punch was pure joy. Overall, this arc is turning out to be amazing, and I’m having a great time reading it.

This is cinema. Nothing short of it. What a lovely reveal, and it was handled so well. Everything about it felt earned, and the way it was presented made it even more impactful. This has to be one of the most iconic fights in manga, in my opinion. I was hooked from start to finish and didn’t want to stop reading.

The artwork was amazing as always. Some of the panels in this volume are genuinely unforgettable.

This one felt like an appetizer for what’s coming next. A lot of reveals and world-building, and it really builds hype for the future. I really liked Momo’s growth. Seeing him stand up and fight for Wano was great. He’s come a long way, and it feels earned. We also get some interesting reveals about Wano itself and hints at bigger things in the world, which made this volume very exciting to read. Overall, a strong follow-up that wraps things up nicely while setting up what’s next.

A perfect end to Wano and a really strong beginning for what’s coming next. It wraps things up nicely while also opening up a lot of new threads. I have always loved this in-between time between arcs. Getting updates from different parts of the world makes everything feel bigger and more connected. The energy of the new arc already feels very different from Wano, which is refreshing and exciting.

Overall, this felt like a great transition volume that does both jobs really well.

This one had so many really strong moments. It feels like the arc is not just about the fights anymore, but also about the characters and what they’re going through. I loved getting more insight into Zoro. It added another layer to his character and made everything he’s doing in Wano feel even more meaningful. Sanji’s struggle with his family name was also done really well. It feels like he’s still fighting that part of himself, and it makes his character more interesting. Oda really understands how to write character dynamics. Even in the middle of a huge war, these moments still land. This arc continues to feel very easy and enjoyable to read, everything just flows really well.

Also, the fact that I finished this at 2:30 am and still want to keep reading says everything 😭

A solid volume that really sets up the final phase of the arc. It feels like everything is now moving towards the end, and the focus is getting tighter. Really liked the moments with Robin and Brook. We don’t get to see them together often, so it stood out a lot. Their dynamic was fun and felt different from the usual fights. Robin’s moment was definitely the highlight. That form was insanely cool and a bit terrifying as well. I can’t lie… I’d probably just stand there and accept my fate 😭

Overall, this felt like strong setup for what’s coming next, with some really memorable character moments.

This volume really feels like the proper start of the final battle. Everything is now in full motion, and it feels like there’s no more waiting around. The pacing is strong, and every chapter pushes things forward. The Ace and Yamato flashback added a nice emotional touch in the middle of all the chaos. It helped ground everything and made the story feel more connected. The artwork was beautiful as always. The double page spreads especially stood out, and reading them in the paperback format made it so much more satisfying. I am really glad I waited to read it like this instead of digitally.

This feels like the real beginning of the war in this arc. Everything that was built up before finally starts moving. The alliance coming together, the energy of the raid, and the scale of what’s about to happen all come through really well. Yamato’s introduction was a big surprise, and she immediately stands out. There’s something about her that gives strong Straw Hat vibes, which makes her really interesting. This volume doesn’t try to do too much emotionally, but it sets the stage perfectly for the chaos that’s about to unfold.

This volume felt a bit slower compared to the previous ones, but it still had some incredible moments. The double page panels were absolutely amazing, especially the ones with the samurai fighting Kaido. That part felt really special, like everything they’ve been through led to this exact moment. It doesn’t hit as hard as the last few volumes, but it still carries a lot of weight and sets things up nicely.

This volume was insane. It starts off heavy with Oden’s story and just keeps building emotionally. The whole reveal of why he was dancing, his sacrifice, and everything that followed was heartbreaking. I wasn’t expecting it to hit that hard Then the Kanjuro reveal completely shocked me. I genuinely did not see it coming, especially after trusting him the whole time. That moment on the boat during the storm made it even more intense. And just when everything feels like it’s falling apart, Luffy, Kid, and Law show up. That ending was pure hype and completely flipped the mood.

Finished this volume and this one felt really nice to read. The pacing continues to feel smooth this arc. It doesn’t feel rushed or messy anymore, everything just flows naturally. The transition into Oden’s backstory is handled really well, it feels like the story is slowing down in a good way to focus on something important. I also loved seeing young Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. They were so cute that I kept staring at them whenever they appeared. Their expressions were just adorable.

The pacing feels even better now for this arc. Everything is coming together so nicely, the buildup, the training, the chaos with Big Mom, it’s all just really enjoyable to read. It doesn’t feel overwhelming anymore, it feels intentional. I forgot how funny this manga can be. The whole prison sequence had me laughing out loud, especially with Big Mom and Luffy. At the same time, it still carries emotional weight from earlier moments, which makes the balance even better.

But what really got me wasn’t even the story itself. It was what Oda wrote in the SBS at the end. Someone asked him something and he just said, “Live your life as you see fit. And that goes for all of you! Have a great life.” That hit me way harder than I expected. I almost cried reading that.

It just feels really nice to be reading One Piece like this again. Like I have found something I lost.

Started this right after the chaos of the previous one, and it already feels way better. The pacing is noticeably cleaner. It’s still a lot, but it doesn’t feel like it’s fighting me anymore. Everything feels more focused now. Instead of jumping all over the place, it feels like the story is actually building towards something. The whole setup for the big day is done really well, you can feel the tension slowly increasing. I also liked how things are starting to connect. Characters and plotlines that felt a bit scattered before are beginning to make more sense together.

Overall, this was a much smoother read. Still busy, but in a way that feels intentional rather than overwhelming.

Starting One Piece from the Wano Arc and I forgot how much is happening at once. It’s honestly a bit overwhelming. The constant jumping between places and characters can get pretty jarring, like my brain is trying to keep up with five conversations at the same time. At a few points I genuinely felt a bit of a headache just trying to follow the panels.

But at the same time… it feels really good to be back.

Reading the physical volume makes a big difference. Even with all the chaos, you can feel the story moving forward, and that’s what kept me going.

The Luffy vs Kaido build-up and that first fight still hits hard. Kaido one-shotting Luffy is just insane. It’s one of those moments where you really feel the gap. Some of the double spreads during this part were genuinely beautiful, like you just pause and take it in. And then others… way too much going on, almost to the point where it takes you out of the moment.

So yeah, mixed feelings.

There’s a lot to like, especially the scale and the ambition, but the paneling can make it harder to enjoy than it should be. Still, I’m glad I’m reading it again like this.

I bought this book in Leeds in 2024, and for the longest time it just sat there stuck at the start, it was like some unfinished promise I kept avoiding. I almost gave up on it so many times, but somehow I came back to it… and now I have actually finished it. That alone feels like a small victory.

What surprised me the most is how much my experience with this book changed while reading it, or maybe how much I changed. At first, it felt slow and honestly a bit frustrating. The pacing really threw me off, chapters would jump across so many important moments without letting anything breathe, and more than once I felt pulled out of the story thinking why not just sit with this a little longer?

And yet I kept going, and somewhere along the way I got hooked, not by the structure but by the characters.

Rika and Manako’s relationship completely pulled me in. It’s dynamic, unsettling, and weirdly magnetic. I found myself fascinated by Manako in the same way her so called victims were, and every time the story leaned into that tension I was locked in. It’s uncomfortable to admit, but I understood the pull. Rika on the other hand felt very close to me. The way she thinks, doubts herself, and tries to navigate something she believes she can control. I kept telling myself I would never fall for this, but I also knew that was not true.

Some of my favourite moments were actually the quieter ones, Rika exploring food, learning, being given tasks. I even ended up making my own list of dishes from the book, like some personal side quest I want to come back to one day.

The list of characters is small, which really helps, everyone gets their space and still ties back nicely to Rika. Manako stands out the most, easily the most interesting character but also the most toxic. The feeling of disgust I got from her at times was very real.

The ending was interesting. It felt slow at first, but maybe that was the point. Like the end of a meal, you are not rushing anymore, you are just sitting there letting everything settle. And just when you think it’s over, the author leaves you with a small dessert. I won’t spoil it, but it worked for me.

Looking back now, I don’t think this was ever a bad book. It was just a book I was not ready for before. And now that I have finished it, I feel satisfied.