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I'll start off by stating that this is a review of the series, not of this one volume.

I’ve been out of the manga/anime scene for quite a long time now, but a friend recommended this one to me and I decided to give it a try. I’m so glad that I did. While Mars undeniably falls victim to a few of the classic romance manga cliches, I found it quite easy to overlook its flaws. Sure the "shy girl meets bad boy" dynamic is something that has been done before (horridly overdone, really), but it's what Soryo does with this dynamic that makes Mars such a special story that stands above the rest.

(view spoiler)[One of the biggest problems I’ve always had with mangas and animes (and other medias) is the treatment of rape, sexual harassment, and any other major traumas. It’s always used as something to push characters together, make someone more intriguing, or complicate matters—a plot device, basically. But it never conveys the actual emotional repercussions of such things. Mars never once falls victim to that. It treats trauma the way it should be treated, with the absolute respect and significance that it deserves. There are consequences. When something bad happens, the characters don’t deal with it and move on, they actually have to learn to carry their burdens. That in itself amazed me.
Regarding other reviewers who say that the protagonist, Kira, is too emotional, too timid, or cries too much, I'm sorry, but that's the reality of these things. Kira is a damaged person and she needs to be given time to allow her wounds to heal. Soryo never rushes her, and for that I have utter respect for her as a writer. (hide spoiler)]

In the end, I found that Mars was less of a romance story and more a story about people having to learn to live with the horrible things that had happened to them.

On a lighter note, the art—while rather 90’s-esque—is beautiful. Each page is treated with love and reverence.

So in short, if you’re looking for a beautifully told and rendered story, give Mars a go. I don’t think you’ll regret it.