going into it i didn't know this was a prequel for the film Toxic Daughter, so there is a chance that my opinion would be slightly different had i watched said film. the way the book was written with 99% dialogue made it hard to connect with the story. i was confused the entire time and there was never any clarifications on pretty much anything. I've read prequels before getting to the main product but I have never been this lost. It wasn't necessarily entertaining either to make it worthwhile. I was intrigued for a bit but as I kept reading and slowly lost interest... the rape scene was so sudden and quite unnecessary truly.

tw/ rape
thank you netgalley and kodansha comics for the arc!

This creepy but so good!
I loved the art style and I cant wait for book two because, I really want to see her get revenge or at least follow her story line more.

Ummmmm well thanks Netgalley and publisher for giving me this “horror” short manga for free!

Notice how I put the quotation marks there as I literally think it was sorta trying to be a “Junji Ito” type of story. I mean, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised that he got inspiration from him.

Anyways it was way too short like I did feel they could’ve fleshed the story out then rushing it. I really wanted them to deep dive on Chis backstory on how she got invested in making bug decorations as her kink. Also ngl, I think the Yua and her “crush but dirtbag really” were pretty weak and useless characters. I just think it would’ve been better if it was Chi on her own and forget about adding more in.

Not particularly the best horror manga out there I’m afraid…..

This manga is a prequel to the movie "Toxic Daughter" which has already been released in Japan last year.

I feel like this is important to mention as the manga is quite short and it lacks a lot of backstory or overall plot.

The story follows 3 classmates, but the main character is definitely Chi who seems to be a disturbed young girl with a love for dead bugs. She also stopped coming to school and hence the other two classmates embark on a mission to get her to attend school again.
Of course, as with most of Shuzo Oshimi's works, things take a turn and the manga turns quite dark. (Trigger warnings for SA, dead animals)

It has a very similar vibe to Flowers and Evil and Happiness.

While I liked the premise (and love the art style), I just found the story too short. It would have been better as a manga series with multiple volumes like "Flowers of Evil" where we could have connected with the characters more and found out more about their motivations.
As such, the story ended too quickly and doesn't feel as satisfying as multiple volumes would be.

It serves well as a prologue though! Can't wait for the movie to come out in English.

What initially seems a mystery surrounding a young girl moves into darker themes. While the cover suggests that the book targets an older audience, the early chapters led me to believe it was aimed at a younger readership. However, at 186 pages, the story takes a significant turn into more serious themes.

Chi intrigues me. From the first ‘play date’, it’s clear that she senses something is up with one of the characters.

The story looks at friendship between two girls, rather than focusing on the concept of a ‘toxic daughter.’ This deeper look of their relationship from when they were younger adds a layer to the storyline, inviting readers to reflect on the impact of friendships.

I thought it was good. It left me wanting to know more about Chi. Why the bugs? What was happening with her parents? I would definitely pick up a volume 2.

A very unsettling read. I really enjoyed the dark narrative and the unexpected shocks. I’ll definitely have to seek out the companion film.

What a haunting tale. Chi is an obviously neglected child who is taken under the wing of her former friend and a horrid boy. This story was not at all like I expected it to be. It was a quick read and very scary just based off of how realistic some aspects are. TW physical and sexual abuse

Thanks netgalley for the ARC❤️. This manga was about 3 classmates. Primarily a girl named Chi who rarely attends school and has been labeled a freak. The other two are her friend from kindergarten and a boy in their class. It follows the two new friends attempt to get Chi back into school and socializing again. This was really creepy and lowkey disturbing but in an entertaining way. Warning for like blood and violence ofc but also SA warning. I really enjoyed the art style, and the cliffhanger chapter endings had me hooked. Chichan also reminds me of Soichi a bit even though they're kind of different. The ending all happened so so fast I damn near had whiplash the way things kept happening. A 3.5 star for me.

While I really loved the art style, just as I have with every Shuzo Oshimi book I've read, this time I unfortunately struggled to connect with the story as much. The main issue for me was its length, as it felt too short, which in turn left so much to be desired by the end. I wanted a clearer resolution for the characters, as well as a deeper backstory to better understand their motivations. The ending was quite disturbing, and I definitely didn’t expect it to take that direction so be mindful and check tw. All in all, it's a solid manga and quick read, but not among my favorites from Oshimi. I haven’t seen the movie, so maybe that plays a part in providing additional context.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan" is a prequel manga to the live action movie "Toxic Daughter," which was released last year in Japan. The serial chapters were collected and are set to be released here in English to a Western audience with this edition.

What a horrific story this was, and completely unexpected. I was not prepared for the darker elements of this manga, even with the cover illustration of a bloodied Chi-chan holding a pair of scissors with extreme prejudice. There's child abuse and abandonment, willful ignorance of an entire community, bullying, and rape. Violence, of course.

And that's a lot to pack in this story. My hat is off to the talent of Shuzo Oshimi, who gets so much horror and depravity in a slim volume. It's dark, it's disturbed, and I'm now going to be eagerly looking to find the live action movie.

A very very interesting read. Art work and storyline wasn't bad. The character shows how life isn't easy at times even if growing up

I have mix feelings about this manga. Not sure horror is my cup of tea or at least this one in particular.
I am just confused with lack of backstory specially on Chi which in my opinion would have help to understand or try to understand her character.
Certain aspects just didn't make sense to me, as the story unfold.
The ending was so abrupt and grotesque, disturbing at maximum.

thanks to netgalley for allowing to read and share my honest opinion on this story

The art style and everything about this was honestly so good. The ending was really dark and uncomfortable, but I didn't expect THAT to happen.. omg

The story follows Kodai and Yua who want to help Chi to come back to school. Chi's fascination with death and bugs(?) leads them down a dark path. I honestly wish this was longer, that's my only complaint about this.

thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

i just recently got into reading manga, and it was my first horror manga - most likely not my last one. from the very first pages, i was drawn into the eerie atmosphere, and the story kept me hooked. i read it in one sitting and some moments were... intense, to say the least.

the story follows yua and koudai, friends who set out to rescue their troubled classmate, chi. however, they soon realize that the deeper they go, the more they become entangled in the ominous darkness surrounding her.

reading this manga was definitely an experience.
chi's unsettling fixation on death and her unpredictable actions made her a truly intriguing character, creating an air of mystery and tension. i wish there had been more to her story though, like what exactly made her the way she is.
koudai's a very unlikeable person. from the beggining, i didnt find his actions genuine. it seemed like he was trying too hard, as if he just wanted recognition from his parents rather than truly caring and wanting to help chi.

the author's storytelling really intrigued me - the way he captured the emotions of teenagers and explored the topics, such as mental health and the cruelty and judgment of society - was compelling. i'll definitely be checking out more of his work.

the art in the book is simple, making it easy to read, yet very expressive, which adds to the unsettling atmosphere.

i wish the story had been a little longer, maybe with more backstory of the characters, to understand them better, and the reasoning behind some of their decisions.

this manga was quite dark and intense, and i'd reccomend it to readers who enjoy heavy themes. just make sure to check the trigger warnings beforehand.


*thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics and the author - Shuzo Oshimi, for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Such a disturbing little horror manga. I enjoyed it but it did stop abruptly. I am hoping for more editions in the future so I can see what happens next.

A Haunting Glimpse into Teenage Turmoil

Within the first few pages I got immediately drawn into the unsettling atmosphere of Toxic Daughter: Chi-chan, where Shuzo Oshimi masterfully explores the fragility of adolescence. The story follows Yua as she reconnects with Chi, a childhood friend turned social outcast, whose eerie fascination with death and erratic behavior create an aura of mystery and unease. As Yua and her classmate attempt to "save" Chi, the lines between concern and obsession blur, pulling them into a psychological spiral. Oshimi’s storytelling is raw and intense, capturing the complexities of teenage emotions with haunting realism. The art mirrors the tension—expressive and deeply evocative, adding to the novel’s unsettling charm.

Rather than offering clear resolutions, the story lingers in the gray areas of human relationships, leaving readers both disturbed and intrigued. For those drawn to dark, introspective narratives, this manga delivers a gripping and unforgettable experience.

I loved this, there was such a sense of dread and so much tension. This is dark but so intriguing. Even though I didn't know much about their backgrounds, I still felt like I was starting to understand the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This Manga was all over the place for me. It doesn't really share too much back story on the character Chi and why she kills and collects bugs. Also why she is so freaky and off putting. It doesn't share what led up to why she is this way. I didn't like Koadi character at all, I mean he seemed like he really wanted to help Chi and get her back to school but he seemed like he wanted to appear more like a good son in front of his dad. Trigger Warning: This story does have a rape scene which I honestly didn't care for and it didn't make sense why it even happend to Yua in the first place.

Over it wad an okay Manga I wanted to read something different and out of my comfort zone
so when I saw that.this was horror Manga I wanted to try it out.

thanks to netgalley for allowing to read and share my honest opinion on this story

I make no secret of the fact that I love Shuzo Oshimi. He's writes the most psychologically stimulating manga available today, and Toxic Daughter is no different. I actually feel a little bit disappointed that he won't be the one continuing the story of Chi. Still, it is worth reading.

Thank you NetGalley, Shuzo Oshimi, and Kodansha for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Final Rating 4.0

Simple and to the point, and yet surprisingly powerful, the horror in the manga is less about shock factor and more about the cruelty of humanity in general.

Although a short one-shot, it covers a myriad of topics such as neglect, mental health, sexual assault, and how judgmental, yet off-handed society can be. The thing is, none of these topics seem cheaply done because they are all something that goes on in society today, making the events uncomfortable to read, only because they are all so familiar. This manga is supposed to be a precursor to a movie that I haven’t seen, but I found I didn’t need prior knowledge of the movie to understand this story. Honestly, it made me want to watch the movie to see what happened after.
This manga is quite dark, but I do recommend reading it if you’re okay with dark themes.

Thank you again, NetGalley, Shuzo Oshimi, and Kodansha for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.