When I ordered these books I did it for only two reasons - the artwork was absolutely gorgeous and I got a REALLY good deal for buying the whole series at once. And now, as I sit here typing this, having read all 10 volumes, I can safely say that this is one of the most bizarre series I've ever read...and it's not just because the main character is a hermaphrodite with serious gender issues.
As I finished each volume and then went online to find reviews for my blog, I was honestly surprised by all of the positive feedback. I was trying not to get spoilers, but I was also truly curious about what it was others saw in this story because I just wasn't seeing it. Yes, the artwork was delicate, and flowing, and everything a good shojo series should have...but was this REALLY a shojo series at all? There were elements of fantasy, horror, romance, etc. - it's like the story itself couldn't decide what it wanted to be, just like the main character couldn't decide which gender to accept. Confusion abounded, but I kept reading because the mystery had captured my interest - then at about the 4th or 5th volume I figured it out...and kept reading to confirm my suspicions (and to finish things up for my blog.)
In addition to the convoluted plot, I also found myself disliking the main character, who did nothing but whine, complain, and blame others for almost all 10 volumes. That got old fast and even the other characters couldn't save the story from my downward spiraling opinion. All in all - despite the unusual twist of an ending (that you may or may not see coming), I just didn't like what After School Nightmare had to offer.
Regardless, there are still plenty of teens that I think would relate to, and enjoy this series. So, if the story sounds like it might fill an empty/lacking niche in your library, why not give it a try?
