Is ' goddess ' a romance novel?

No, ' goddess ' is not a traditional romance novel. Instead, it's a complex exploration of obsession with beauty that delves into the darker aspects of human nature.

What can I expect from Misima's writing style?

Misima's writing is engaging, immersive, and poetic, making it easy to become invested in the characters' lives and the story's narrative.

What themes does the novel explore?

The novel explores themes of beauty, obsession, and the human condition, making for a thought-provoking and haunting reading experience.

Are the characters in ' goddess ' relatable?

Yes, the characters in ' goddess ' are multi-dimensional and relatable, each bringing their own unique perspective to the story.

Is the novel's pace well-balanced?

Yes, the novel's pace is expertly balanced, with a narrative that's both suspenseful and engaging.

Is ' goddess ' suitable for all readers?

No, ' goddess ' may not be suitable for all readers due to its intense and overwhelming exploration of obsession with beauty.

What can I expect from the novel's conclusion?

The novel's conclusion may be open to interpretation, leaving some readers feeling unsatisfied.

Is Misima a new author?

No, Misima is an established author with a body of work that explores similar themes and ideas.

What inspired Misima to write ' goddess '?

Misima was inspired to write ' goddess ' by her own experiences and observations of the human condition, as well as her fascination with the complexities of beauty and obsession.

Beauty's Dark Allure: A Haunting Novel by Misima

A Complex Exploration of Obsession with Beauty

I'm really excited to share my thoughts on the novel 'goddess'. First off, I want to give a heads up to anyone who's new to the author's work and is planning to dive in with this book - it's not a romance novel. It's not some sappy story about a father's love for his daughter. Nope, this one's a complex, psychologically charged exploration of the darker side of obsession with beauty. The desire to possess someone, regardless of who they are to you.

Misima does an amazing job of weaving together the tangled web of passions that drive the main characters. I'm struggling to put my finger on the right words, but what I can say is that I'm both impressed and unsettled by the way the author handles the characters' personalities. The way he captures the nuances of their inner worlds is just incredible. It's that same Misima flair that I fell in love with when I first discovered his work.

I've got to say, I'm both impressed and unsettled by the way the story is told, especially when it comes to the main male character. Maybe it's because I'm a guy myself, but some scenes or moments give me a weird sense of being part of the family. But if I'm being honest, when I'm just starting to get on board with some of his ideas – including his concept of beauty in the world – he's already gone too far, making it impossible to go back to his family.

The guy's so caught up in building his own ideals from real people that he's lost the ability to critically look at the situation and himself. And what's most heartbreaking for his kids is that he's dead convinced he's doing the right thing. He's doing everything he can to make his daughter happy (even if he failed miserably with his wife due to a tragic accident that ruined all his hard work). I'm even a bit impressed by his obsession (though I wouldn't say I'd follow suit, or that I think it's natural or right) from a psychological standpoint.

His obsession with beauty and the desire to make an IDEAL out of a real person has literally replaced the meaning of life – not just for him, but for the people he thinks should be listening to every word he says and following every decision he makes. I mean, he thinks he knows what's best for them, how they should behave, and how to present themselves to the world so that happiness always shines above them. Theoretically, the setup sounds good, but in practice, it all falls apart due to the only valid argument I see – the guy doesn't care about the opinions of the people he's trying to make ideal. Do they want to be perfect or not.

I think Misima raises some heavy moral questions in the book - from people getting too caught up in their ideals to society demanding too much from individuals. Like, take the main character's daughter, for example. Sure, her dad set the bar high, but he's basically a metaphor for the society that expects a certain standard of behavior from beautiful people, just because they're lucky enough to be born with it.

But the main character would probably disagree with me on this one. See, his 'school of beauty' concept is all about how there's no such thing as an ugly person. You can turn any girl into a goddess with the right attention, care, and constant compliments, and just tell her every day that she's the best thing since sliced bread.

The way the father's obsession with beauty plays out in this story is both fascinating and disturbing. At first, he's not even aware of his daughter's existence, completely consumed as he is by his own visions of beauty. So, on the one hand, you have to admire his dedication to his daughter, calling her the most beautiful person he's ever seen. On the other hand, where was he when she was growing up? Why didn't he ever tell her how he felt before now?

The fact that he's ignored her for so long is just the tip of the iceberg. As I've said before, his fixation on beauty leads him to overlook the most important thing about his daughter - her as a person. All he cares about is her physical appearance. Some might argue that he also taught her about etiquette and had her read 'proper' books. And that's true, but it's all just surface-level stuff. To him, it's just a facade, because deep down, he doesn't really care about his daughter as a person. He doesn't care about her thoughts, feelings, or desires.

From the father's perspective, all of this is just unnecessary clutter and noise. His daughter should just listen to him and do what he says, because he knows best.

I'd like to dive deeper into the emotional aspect of the book without spoiling the plot. I promise to stay within the book's annotation, which you can find on the cover. By the way, I'm really enjoying the new series that Misima is releasing, and I'll try to get my hands on all the collections and works that come out in this format.

But I won't give away too much – no spoilers, I promise!

I've already said enough about Sugo, the heroine's dad, so I'll just reference what I've already written about him. To be honest, I often saw him more as a representation of societal norms rather than a real person. His expectations created this sense of tension and the slow breakdown of a person trying to live up to these impossible standards that just keep getting higher and higher.

It's a war that's already been lost, to be frank. And people have a tendency to age. Physical beauty fades, and it's something that can't be reversed. So, what do you do when you're faced with this reality? How do you deal with the fact that your hard work over the years is essentially nothing? I mean, people aren't gods, despite the ironic title of this book, and death comes for us all eventually. So does old age. Even the wealthiest and most influential people on the planet will eventually grow old and lose their youthful glow. And we're talking about the daughter of a well-off man, but not necessarily someone who's incredibly successful or wealthy.

I also want to say a few words about the girl who's become the latest 'project' for this guy.

My daughter Akane is also her father's project, carrying his complexes and ideals. To be honest, I'm still not sure if she's a victim in the family or if she's a happy girl despite her dad's quirks. It's all pretty complicated and strange. And as a guy, I'm not even sure I can fully understand her perspective on the situation she's in.

When she talked to one of her suitors, I caught a glimpse of a sad thought - that she doesn't have anyone to talk to in the family. Her mom is too caught up in her own grief, which has ruined her life, and as for her dad... well, that's a whole other story.

But I'm inclined to think that despite having everything she needs, Akane is an unhappy person. Material things and opportunities can never replace the feeling of being unnecessary in your own family. Understanding that your dad sees you as an object, not a person, and that he wants you to conform to certain standards... that's a tough pill to swallow.

Yeah, I've finally made up my mind - I think she's not a happy person, but a victim. Just because the cell is gold-plated, it doesn't change the fact that it is. And it's really obvious here how often she's stripped of her independence or the right to choose even in the smallest things. I'll just give you one example - she dresses the way her dad thinks is right.

I'm not saying he forbids her from wearing revealing or tacky outfits. He basically doesn't let her dress herself.

So, despite Sugo thinking he's some kind of creator of beauty (or her guardian, if you prefer), in reality, he's just destroying his daughter. Something similar already happened to his wife, but she 'got lucky' and after the disaster, he backed off because she's no longer useful to him. Now it's his daughter's turn, and he's considering her potential.

And to top it all off, there's the unhappy woman who's Sugo's wife and our heroine's mother. A once beautiful and young woman, she had a daughter and ended up in... a tough spot (I'll call it that). After that, her old life was over. In my opinion, the character is only there to highlight Sugo's obsession. His wife just underscores the fact that he doesn't need people; he needs ideals. And he crafts those ideals out of his family, without caring about them as people.

Anyway, that's just my two cents.

I'd like to wrap up this review with the thought that the romance turned out to be incredibly poetic and colorful. I haven't had that much enjoyment from reading in a long time. And at the same time, I've never been so invested in an otherwise decent character (I'm talking about Shuugo. He's not a villain, not a sadist – he genuinely wants to do better. But in his own way. His problem is that he's a self-absorbed egotist who can't see other people), who's actually the main antagonist of the story.

What's more, this is all done so subtly that you're left questioning your own interpretation of the text.

The ending... The ending was left open, but I've grown accustomed to Mishi's style, so I don't have much to add.

I think the book is a masterpiece, and I'd be happy to recommend it to anyone!