*Review contains spoilers*

Story 8/10
It took me a while to write this review after reading the manga because it provoked so many clashing thoughts and emotions, that I had to take some time to think about it and sort it all out before putting anything into words. But here I go:
While reading this, I kept thinking this story seemed like a combination of Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Your Name and Saw...meaning, similar narratives are out there. However, this story felt fresh and unique because of the logistics of the game (using cards to easily identify type of game and difficulty) and types of relationships and alliances explored. This story managed to keep me glued to the pages and desperate to know what would happen next. There was never a dull or boring moment. I have to commend the mangaka for such creative games and intricate story. I really enjoyed to see how all the side stories and characters intertwined. Moreover, this is a story that makes you reflect on and think about many deep concepts, such as the meaning/value of life and/or reasons why you live, without becoming redundant or repetitive. I also loved how much you can relate and identify with the characters and their pain (I don't think I could ever get over the 7 of hearts arc).

The only reason I am not giving this section a 10 is due to the final 2 chapters, specially the ending (although I know liking the ending or not is a matter of taste and approach used to interpret the story). Basically, the whole Borderland was a place created in people's minds in light of experiencing a near death experience. I can't say the ending was unsatisfactory, but the explanation given to the Borderland I found a bit disappointing and not fulfilling. It didn't really make sense to me that the Borderland was just in people's mind and that coming out of it, they remembered nothing about what happened but did feel connected to those they became close with while in the Borderland (and also had the same injuries they got while being in the Borderland when they came back to their 'original world')...so the Borderland was a collective phenomenon created and terminated by who? who came up with this games concept? had the "players" who died in the Borderland actually passed away before even entering the games? did the "players" that died in the games even have a chance or where they doomed to die due to their meteor related injuries? did the games actually represent the "players'" fight to keep living in the "original world"? does people dying in the same game represent people dying due similar circumstances/injuries sustained in the meteor clash? And why even torture Arisu into thinking he was responsible of his friends' deaths if it was a meteor? I felt this ending left more questions than answers.

Yes! the Borderland can be taken as a figurative language, which would allow readers to focus on what it represents and how those people that go through a collective traumatic experience feel connected to each other. But then that would mean the book was mostly a parallel universe for the whole time, which I don't know that I feel too comfortable with after spending 62+ chapters reading about such a detailed and structured place. Obviously the author did it, but I don't think it is realistic for a character, unexpectedly and with such short notice (because none of the characters were even aware of them being struck by a meteor or pieces of it) could have created or imagined such an out of the ordinary place as the Borderland or come up with so many specific and complicated back stories for so many people. Honestly, I would have been happier with one of the Queen of Hearts explanations than the Borderland being a product of a catastrophe. Now, if you decide to see the Borderland as a figure of speech, the mangaka did an excellent job in creating a place you hang on in, battling between life and death and having a place where people can reflect on their life and the things they have done thus far...a place where you face yourself and your reality.

Another thing I think hurt the story a little was the frequent occurrence of non-realistic things even for a dystopian world. For example, Agni getting shot multiple times and not dying, not even because of a hemorrhage. The K of Spades having his neck broken and still remaining alive for a bit when that should be a fatal wound. Nigari being burnt, brutally hit and shot and still being alive...that guy at the church who shut himself in the mouth and still was alive and asking to be killed. This was some superhuman thing that could not even be passed off as a result of high adrenaline amount.

Art 8/10
In all honesty, initially, I hated the drawings. It felt very much like I was reading a Marvel comic and not manga (although I think Mangas are actually Japanese comics). It could also be that for this genre of manga the drawings are usually like this and I am not used to this type of drawings because of mostly reading shoujo. However, as the story progressed I stopped noticing the drawings and was mostly invested in the developments. I have to say though that character's both facial expressions and body language really conveyed character's emotions and reactions to events.

Characters 9/10
To me, this is an area where the manga excels. I very much liked the diversity of characters and what they each contributed to the story. You had very noble people, like Arisu or Momoka or Chouta but then you had quite the oposite, with psychopaths such as the winners of the J of Hearts, who wanted to remain in the Borderland to continue killing human beings. There was a ton of character development, specially in Arisu, Chishiya and Agni. It was great to see how the author provided solid back story to most of the characters.
Strongest characters:
-Karube. I loved Karube and I am sure if he had survived until the end many things would have turned out differently, even for Arisu himself. I really felt he was the backbone for their group and biggest support for Arisu and Chouta. I felt he was very resourceful and courageous enough to do what needed to be done to survive.
-Chishiya. Even though he was extremely condescending, I think he was a really clever character and smart enough to not allow himself to be swayed by his emotions. He was selfish and didn't really care for anyone else more than himself until the very end, but in a place like the Borderland, who could blame him?
-Agni. I have to say I hated Agni's guts until he met Doudou and showed to be capable of actually caring for someone else and act accordingly.
Weakest characters:
-Chouta. I found Chouta mostly annoying and a big cry baby.
-Usagi. Apart from bringing Arisu back from the hole he was in when his friends passed away and when the Queen of Hearts drudged him, I don't see anything important she contributed to the story. Usagi felt more like means to an end, which was to support Arisu through the process when he was alone (obviously anyone would need support to get through this, but she didn't really do anything too remarkable).
Worthy mentions:
-Arisu. I think Arisu really represented resilience and really liked how he was able to pull through and come back strongly after every blow.
-Niragi. Oh man, this was a very very very mean and cruel guy. However, I liked his roles because he represented a real group of people that doesn't matter what happens to them, remain being the same person despite how much life tells them to act differently. Unfortunately for him, he remained true to his character throughout the whole manga.
-Doudou. OK, so this character doesn't really get too many relevant scenes. Yet, I feel his emotions were one of the most realistics when finding yourself in this unknown and dangerous place. Doudou tried to use deceiving tactics to survive but couldn't do it for long because that was not who he was. He was very dependant on other people to survive. He was terrified for the most of the time and really showed his potential to fight back when a person he really cared about was in danger. I think Doudou represents people both in real life and the parallel world of the Borderland.

Enjoyment 8/10
I kept interested in the whole manga most of the time. There were a few chapters, specially towards the end, focussed in Arisu, that I thought could have been used for something else, such as covering how other games were cleared. Again, I have to commend the mangaka for such meticulous and ingenious world and games he created in this manga.

Overall 8/10
This is a truly enjoyable read, specially if you like things that keep you at the edge of your seat. I would recommend it to people.

*Side note: I came across this manga due to the Netflix show because I didn't want to wait for a year or more to see what would happen. I would say the show, at least the first season, remains 75-80% true to the manga.