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パンドラハーツ [Pandora Hearts] #7
Pandora Hearts, Vol. 7
The past holds everyone in its thrall, and Oz, Alice, Raven, Break, and their acquaintances are no exception, especially as recollections of the tragedy of Sablier elude even those who were present. Indeed, with his own body playing host to Jack Vessalius, the hero of Sablier, the likelihood of Oz escaping the past seems nigh impossible. But given a renewed lease on life by Elliot Nightray — the legitimate heir to the Nightray dukedom, of all people — Oz is eager to keep moving forward by learning all that he can about the events that came to pass all those years ago. To this end, he and his friends seek an audience with another of the four great dukes — Duke Rufus Barma. But it is not a glimpse into a hundredyear-old disaster that is revealed to them in the Duke’s presence, but rather one into Break’s lamentable, shockingly unforgettable past…
194 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 2008
26 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Jun Mochizuki
149 books908 followersJun Mochizuki (望月淳 Mochizuki Jun) is a Japanese comic artist (manga-ka), best known for the fantasy shounen series Pandora Hearts/パンドラハーツ.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 18, 2016
AH MORE QUESTIONS!!!! I HATE THIS SERIES!!!! I HATE IT!!!
*picks up next volume immediately*
*picks up next volume immediately*
January 30, 2015
"Before you turn into a dolly...I must make sure to pluck out your eyes! XD" No spoilers.
WELL THAT GOT DARK AND MORBID FAST.
I admit, I was kind of thrown off because after the events of volume 6, we finally get to see the stress lift off of our characters shoulder's for a moment, and see what they are like drunk. It's hilarious!!
And Oz develops! He sets new beliefs for himself.
In the process, his new path terrifies Gilbert, who is scared that Oz is changing and not him, who has been so obsessed with getting him back that he hasn't changed a bit.
And then, we go to meet Duke Rufus Barma, who knows all, and just might know more about the Tragedy of Sablier and Oz's sin then anyone else...AND THIS IS WHEN SHIT GETS REAL.
I'm not a really squeamish person...so when stuff started to happen to Break in this volume I felt really uncomfortable. We finally see his past, and I admit that I had to put this book down a few times because it was just so disturbing to say the least.
Thankfully, many comedic moments abound in the beginning, from Sharron introducing Alice to "...Bibles known as romance novels" and LOTS OF ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT between Oz and Alice.
So...after this I have to read the next one NOW because as absolutely CREEPY that was, I have to KNOW what happens next...but I also don't want to because my babies are suffering sooooo much now:(
WELL THAT GOT DARK AND MORBID FAST.
I admit, I was kind of thrown off because after the events of volume 6, we finally get to see the stress lift off of our characters shoulder's for a moment, and see what they are like drunk. It's hilarious!!
And Oz develops! He sets new beliefs for himself.
In the process, his new path terrifies Gilbert, who is scared that Oz is changing and not him, who has been so obsessed with getting him back that he hasn't changed a bit.
And then, we go to meet Duke Rufus Barma, who knows all, and just might know more about the Tragedy of Sablier and Oz's sin then anyone else...AND THIS IS WHEN SHIT GETS REAL.
I'm not a really squeamish person...so when stuff started to happen to Break in this volume I felt really uncomfortable. We finally see his past, and I admit that I had to put this book down a few times because it was just so disturbing to say the least.
Thankfully, many comedic moments abound in the beginning, from Sharron introducing Alice to "...Bibles known as romance novels" and LOTS OF ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT between Oz and Alice.
So...after this I have to read the next one NOW because as absolutely CREEPY that was, I have to KNOW what happens next...but I also don't want to because my babies are suffering sooooo much now:(
January 27, 2013
Why does Break's story have to be so awesome, yet sad, yet great, yet AKJLDJF
June 13, 2020
This vol started out cute comedy as always but by the end it was so dark! Break's backstory is so interesting too!!
March 3, 2024
Nic nie zrozumialem
March 4, 2017
Okay. I did not expect that to happen. Why do I care about this character? He's bad, but I WANT HIM TO LIVE. I need to know more about him.
July 28, 2014
4.5 chains
It's getting good, son.
Break's backstory, yo. I'm still confused about one thing, though: It's amazing how he's evolved as a heroic character after his past, and he's intriguing to watch.
Things just keeping getting mysteriouser and mysteriouser.
Also, everyone getting crunk is the best thang evah.
It's getting good, son.
Break's backstory, yo. I'm still confused about one thing, though: It's amazing how he's evolved as a heroic character after his past, and he's intriguing to watch.
Things just keeping getting mysteriouser and mysteriouser.
Also, everyone getting crunk is the best thang evah.
June 20, 2025
The ending freaked the hell out of me
January 23, 2022
BREAK BACKSTORY MY HEART
October 11, 2012
Yay for more background on Break! Oh Break, why are you so awesome?
(You know what else is awesome? Drunk!Gil.)
So, if I understand correctly, Break was originally a knight named Kevin something blah less awesome name than Xerxes Break (seriously, did he name himself that? Because that's hilarious), and he was supposed to defend this one family. Then, while he was away, something killed them all - possibly the tragedy of Sablier? Maybe. Anyway, so Break did the illegal-contractor thing and got bound to a chain, trying to find a way to gain the power to turn back time and save the family. Of course, since most chains have to eat human souls to gain power, Break just WANDERED THE STREETS FEEDING PEOPLE TO HIS CHAIN. 116 people, apparently. But it wasn't enough, and when his incuse had made a full cycle (time being a contractor was up), he still got pulled into the Abyss.
There, Break meets creepy Abyss!Alice, who seems to be pally with the Cheshire cat and also down with the Intention of the Abyss, which apparently turns humans into chains. I guess I could think of worse things to happen when you get dragged into the Abyss. Except then Alice is like, "Oh, also, I'm going to take your eyes out and give them to Cheshire." Exit Break's left eye, and now I get why he said earlier that Cheshire had it. Aaand . . . Break escaped? And there's little kid Vincent! Time is so weird in this series . . . Anyway, presumably at some point Break was able to make a second contract, this time with the Mad Hatter chain. I guess that's how he gets out of the Abyss again.
(Also, Lottie and Glen Baskerville and Jack Vessalius did stuff in the past. No Break in this part. Whatevs.)
So, you might think that the fact that Break, a.k.a. my favorite character, murdered 116 people awhile back would upset me. The truth? I am now firmer in my conviction that Break and Vincent need to hook up and be the world's most awesome crack pairing. This conviction was shaken in the last volume or two by the revelation that maaaybe Vincent is, or was, or both is and was, evil. But now, I'm like, okay, Vincent's a little messed up, but so is Break! That makes them perfect for each other, right? Right?
I swear I'm not this crazy normally. Pandora Hearts really brings it out in me.
(You know what else is awesome? Drunk!Gil.)
So, if I understand correctly, Break was originally a knight named Kevin something blah less awesome name than Xerxes Break (seriously, did he name himself that? Because that's hilarious), and he was supposed to defend this one family. Then, while he was away, something killed them all - possibly the tragedy of Sablier? Maybe. Anyway, so Break did the illegal-contractor thing and got bound to a chain, trying to find a way to gain the power to turn back time and save the family. Of course, since most chains have to eat human souls to gain power, Break just WANDERED THE STREETS FEEDING PEOPLE TO HIS CHAIN. 116 people, apparently. But it wasn't enough, and when his incuse had made a full cycle (time being a contractor was up), he still got pulled into the Abyss.
There, Break meets creepy Abyss!Alice, who seems to be pally with the Cheshire cat and also down with the Intention of the Abyss, which apparently turns humans into chains. I guess I could think of worse things to happen when you get dragged into the Abyss. Except then Alice is like, "Oh, also, I'm going to take your eyes out and give them to Cheshire." Exit Break's left eye, and now I get why he said earlier that Cheshire had it. Aaand . . . Break escaped? And there's little kid Vincent! Time is so weird in this series . . . Anyway, presumably at some point Break was able to make a second contract, this time with the Mad Hatter chain. I guess that's how he gets out of the Abyss again.
(Also, Lottie and Glen Baskerville and Jack Vessalius did stuff in the past. No Break in this part. Whatevs.)
So, you might think that the fact that Break, a.k.a. my favorite character, murdered 116 people awhile back would upset me. The truth? I am now firmer in my conviction that Break and Vincent need to hook up and be the world's most awesome crack pairing. This conviction was shaken in the last volume or two by the revelation that maaaybe Vincent is, or was, or both is and was, evil. But now, I'm like, okay, Vincent's a little messed up, but so is Break! That makes them perfect for each other, right? Right?
I swear I'm not this crazy normally. Pandora Hearts really brings it out in me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2020
bless oscar for bringing fake juice real alcohol
the gil angst is killing me in this arc tho My Baby So Bad
the gil angst is killing me in this arc tho My Baby So Bad
June 21, 2023
One thing Mochizuki is going to do is just when you think you got some answers, make you ask more and more questions. There are layers and layers to this and I have no idea how active the fandom would have been at the time but I know I would have loved reading theories early into the morning.
November 20, 2018
Jaaaackkk!!! Omg i really like this character
June 30, 2021
Inte min favorit även fast vi fick reda på några intressanta saker så fanns det inget som hoppade ut som speciellt bra eller intressant som sög in mig i bocken.
July 30, 2021
I hope there's a bit more of the Nightrays and Baskervilles in the next volumes
June 18, 2025
What in the world…????
I’M SHOOK
I’M SHOOK
Read
June 21, 2025mochijun i’m so sorry but it is so difficult getting through these books
December 26, 2021
Sigue siendo un poco lio leer este manga, muchos nombres, muchos personajes iguales que te lian, tienes que estar muy atento a la trama porque si no, te pierdes. Aun así he disfrutado este tomo porque se han revelado un par de cosas.
October 25, 2012
"Knowledge is, in short, power!! To know is the greatest joy!!!"
This volume is all about truth, whether in feelings, or information. It's about the destruction of the illusions we treasure.
As a result, we see sides of characters that were only hints in previous volumes. Oz makes some powerful resolutions that end up causing more trouble for Gil than might be expected.
Because, you see, he's Oz's servant. And what does a servant do when he's no longer needed?
Alice also realizes some things. Far from being a "romance" in the typical sense, her relationship with Oz has begun to deepen into a strong and amazing friendship. It's an honest relationship, nothing hidden, and in the context of this story, that's the most inspiring thing I've seen so far. I hope it ties in to Lady Sharon's advice to Oz at the beginning of volume #1 to keep his friends close.
It's also a direct contrast to Jack and Glen's friendship, which starts out as something beneficial to both (at least that's how it appears at this point). Needless to say, it doesn't end well.
But the real star of this (in spite of the gorgeous Jack) is once again Break. We learn a lot about Break in this volume. Why? Because the Duke they go to see to get more information is Rufus Barma, and he's all about getting the truth by whatever means necessary. But the truth he wants isn't from Oz or Alice. It's from Break's past. His dark, despicable past, all done for a cause that seemed noble at the time. My heart ached so badly for him as I saw the reason for all his previous advice reveal itself. I also got to see why honesty with yourself is so important to him. In spite of what he did, he's still my favorite character.
Other highlights in this volume:
* Jack is gorgeous! I swear, every time he shows up, I want to scan the images and put them on my wall. I don't because my husband will make fun of me, as well he should. But there's so many good images of Jack in this issue, including the cover, that I'm sorely tempted to at least make a desktop for my own viewing pleasure. I don't think that's too outrageous, is it?
* Sharon explaining romance to Alice using romance novels. It brought back a lot of memories of when I was sixteen and I devoured romantic illusions like they were cotton candy. Made me smile.
* I must mention this, but it's a spoiler, so...
* The information about some of the workings of the Abyss that the Intention gives Break.
* Alice and Duke Barma. Best. Speech. Ever.
If I say anything more there will definitely be spoilers. So, that's it for now. Will review volume #8 soon.
This volume is all about truth, whether in feelings, or information. It's about the destruction of the illusions we treasure.
As a result, we see sides of characters that were only hints in previous volumes. Oz makes some powerful resolutions that end up causing more trouble for Gil than might be expected.
Because, you see, he's Oz's servant. And what does a servant do when he's no longer needed?
Alice also realizes some things. Far from being a "romance" in the typical sense, her relationship with Oz has begun to deepen into a strong and amazing friendship. It's an honest relationship, nothing hidden, and in the context of this story, that's the most inspiring thing I've seen so far. I hope it ties in to Lady Sharon's advice to Oz at the beginning of volume #1 to keep his friends close.
It's also a direct contrast to Jack and Glen's friendship, which starts out as something beneficial to both (at least that's how it appears at this point). Needless to say, it doesn't end well.
But the real star of this (in spite of the gorgeous Jack) is once again Break. We learn a lot about Break in this volume. Why? Because the Duke they go to see to get more information is Rufus Barma, and he's all about getting the truth by whatever means necessary. But the truth he wants isn't from Oz or Alice. It's from Break's past. His dark, despicable past, all done for a cause that seemed noble at the time. My heart ached so badly for him as I saw the reason for all his previous advice reveal itself. I also got to see why honesty with yourself is so important to him. In spite of what he did, he's still my favorite character.
Other highlights in this volume:
* Jack is gorgeous! I swear, every time he shows up, I want to scan the images and put them on my wall. I don't because my husband will make fun of me, as well he should. But there's so many good images of Jack in this issue, including the cover, that I'm sorely tempted to at least make a desktop for my own viewing pleasure. I don't think that's too outrageous, is it?
* Sharon explaining romance to Alice using romance novels. It brought back a lot of memories of when I was sixteen and I devoured romantic illusions like they were cotton candy. Made me smile.
* I must mention this, but it's a spoiler, so...
* The information about some of the workings of the Abyss that the Intention gives Break.
* Alice and Duke Barma. Best. Speech. Ever.
If I say anything more there will definitely be spoilers. So, that's it for now. Will review volume #8 soon.
June 15, 2023
Pinche Oz tu siempre me entendiste pt. 2 y que buen amigo es el Elliot ocupo un amigo así. El pasado de Break si me sorprendió un poco, no recordaba que fuera tan tragico.
July 11, 2016
Lovely art as always. The story is really picking up now. :) Such a great volume and series. I loved the bit where oz & Elliot were discussing the holy knight & Leo spoiled it for both of them. And break is beyond awesome.
August 6, 2015
tan confuso que me aburre.
November 15, 2015
XERXEEEES! ommioddio quanti scleri. *^*
February 16, 2021
One of my favourite volumes so far, I hope it gets even better
April 23, 2022
While I like the backstory we get here, Duke Barma was honestly ridiculous until the end.
October 8, 2025
Review for complete series
I'd like to start by saying that with my two decades of manga reading, Pandora Hearts has recently earned its way to being one of the best manga series I've ever read - and to think I almost didn't pick it up!
There's actually a bit of a story to it: Pandora Hearts was being released around the time I knew I would be moving overseas. At the time, I had no idea how moving to the other side of the world would affect my manga buying. Also at that time, I was working at a comic store with staff discounts at my disposal and I never had to worry too much about picking up whatever I fancied. When I first saw Pandora Hearts, I thought the art looked beautiful and this just might be a really good manga. It also struck me as a manga series that could go on for quite a while [which was a reasonably accurate assumption as 24 volumes is not a length I could commit to lightly]. Not knowing how I'd get my hands on manga or how long this series would be let me to putting it back on the shelf. And I confess, it was filled with quite a bit of regret.
When I finally did move overseas - a family friend had a good bye gift. The shape was easy to discern: it was undoubtably a manga volume. While thankful for receiving a gift, I was also nervous: having worked in a comic store, I knew for sure: I either already own it or am not interested in it. In addition, the friend in question doesn't know the first thing about manga. To my surprise, it was the first volume of Pandora Hearts which was probably the single only volume she could have taken from the shelf that wasn't already in my possession and did interest me. How she managed to pick out that one I don't know, but it's a coincidence I feel thankful for and, in some cheesy way, made me feel like it was just meant to be that I read Pandora Hearts after all.
Fast forward to 2023, I finally found the time to read this 24 volume series and am absolutely delighted. My original observation remains: the art is absolutely stunning. With the exception of a oneshot debut work, it's hard to believe that this is quite close to being a beginner's work - you'd not believe it just looking at the first volume's art.
My other thoughts are largely around how hard it is to praise a story you think is so thoroughly good as this one is. It's not really a plot you can explain to someone, it's a story you have to read for yourself as even the latest volumes will throw some surprises at you. But I think, besides the art, what really contributes a lot to this work are the characters. Oz might be our main character, but we have a large cast and they are all lovingly created. There's hardly a character you won't be able to like in one way or another, even the most broken of them. It's quite a feat to create a story that makes you care and worry about almost every character's fate.
And worry you can indeed: it has light and beautiful moments, but it is essentially a dark tale and you'll constantly worry whether the characters will make it through. Needless to say, there are losses throughout the story. There are plenty of twists and turns, things that will surprise and shock you.
I will also add that the plot is complex and not always easy to follow. Some characters have multiple names - this becomes even more difficult for some characters who also have multiple personalities who also have multiple names. Not everything in the plot made entire sense to me - it's hard to say whether they were plot holes, not explained well enough or I was simply missing something - a reread might answer that. But regardless, when these moments arose, I decided to just go with the flow and it didn't disrupt my reading experience at all.
Besides a bit of confusion here and there, I can't fault this series with anything. The pacing is well done, the 24 volumes were neither too long nor too short [something I often complain about] and it wrapped up nicely. For such a dark read, there's also a lot of soft story telling which just concludes this with a very wholesome ending. There is close to no romance but I wasn't missing it [and I'm a big romance reader] - the friendships and bonds between the characters were absolutely beautiful even without much romance thrown in.
I'm glad I did read this series and it is definitely going down as one of my favourites. Highly recommended.
April 12, 2021
I guess that the real tragedy of Sablier is that people got killed and we still don’t have a real answer of who was behind the massacre. Jack says he had to kill his own best friend, Glen Baskerville, and he doesn’t believe himself a hero. Yet, history has told us differently.
So, to get real answers, our trio goes to the remaining dukedom, meaning, they meet with the peculiar Duke Rufus Barma, someone who sees information as a weapon. Now, after fighting against his illusion, he forces Break to say his truth to the others: his real name was Kevin and he worked as a knight, but some anonymous guys killed the people he was supposed to protect, therefore he became an illegal contractor in order to change the past, though this meant to stain his hands with more blood he could bare.
When his contract is about to end, he’s pulled into the weird dimension where a pure white Alice greets him. She’s not stable and she lives among other Chains, one of them being Chesire the Cat. She brutally takes his left eye to give it to Chesire.
On top of that, we see a young, covered in blood and unstable Vincent talking to Alice, as if they were enemies. Apparently, Vincent was always mean to her and that hopelessness makes Alice even more reckless. But, what does this mean? Do Alice and the Abyss are the same?
Now, what I really loved about this volume was the “drunk scene” that happened right after they got home from the Academy. Those scenes where we see Gilbert tearing up because of Oz were the best. I just love them sooooo much! I want them to be happily ever after!
This volume contains Retrace 27 – 30.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6
So, to get real answers, our trio goes to the remaining dukedom, meaning, they meet with the peculiar Duke Rufus Barma, someone who sees information as a weapon. Now, after fighting against his illusion, he forces Break to say his truth to the others: his real name was Kevin and he worked as a knight, but some anonymous guys killed the people he was supposed to protect, therefore he became an illegal contractor in order to change the past, though this meant to stain his hands with more blood he could bare.
When his contract is about to end, he’s pulled into the weird dimension where a pure white Alice greets him. She’s not stable and she lives among other Chains, one of them being Chesire the Cat. She brutally takes his left eye to give it to Chesire.
On top of that, we see a young, covered in blood and unstable Vincent talking to Alice, as if they were enemies. Apparently, Vincent was always mean to her and that hopelessness makes Alice even more reckless. But, what does this mean? Do Alice and the Abyss are the same?
Now, what I really loved about this volume was the “drunk scene” that happened right after they got home from the Academy. Those scenes where we see Gilbert tearing up because of Oz were the best. I just love them sooooo much! I want them to be happily ever after!
This volume contains Retrace 27 – 30.
PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6
June 28, 2022
Wow a lot happened in this volume. At least the mystery of the watch has finally been solved. The melody was created by Jack and Glen who were best friends....until Glen did a complete 180 and wanted to kill everyone in sight for some unknown reason. I don't think he had any ill intent since he said he didn't want to kill Jack. I feel like someone was either controlling him somehow or something else happened that angered him (possibly?).
As for Break, like, his past is so dark. And his real name is Kevin? (Really, Kevin? Sorry, no offense to anyone named Kevin but I figured he'd have a cooler name than that...) But I guess it makes sense his name is so ordinary since he was a human. I honestly don't believe Alice could be so cruel as to pluck Break's eye out like that. I think it may be a darker version of her or something like that or Alice really did something so cruel and she just forgot it all. I also find it disturbing how not only did Break lose one eye but his eye was given to the Chesire Cat. Like wow. That's just...plain cruel.
As for Break, like, his past is so dark. And his real name is Kevin? (Really, Kevin? Sorry, no offense to anyone named Kevin but I figured he'd have a cooler name than that...) But I guess it makes sense his name is so ordinary since he was a human. I honestly don't believe Alice could be so cruel as to pluck Break's eye out like that. I think it may be a darker version of her or something like that or Alice really did something so cruel and she just forgot it all. I also find it disturbing how not only did Break lose one eye but his eye was given to the Chesire Cat. Like wow. That's just...plain cruel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2021
xerxes’s story literally broke my heart, i wasn’t ready for that and im not ready to know what will happen 😭
•••
heres some quotes because jun’s writing is just sooooo beautiful 🥺 :
“No matter what happens, I’ll seek the truth so I can be myself.”
“I will continue to seek out the reason why I was born. So I can continue to be who I am. If fear comes with that search, then so be it!”
“Ignorance breeds fear, but the converse may be true, too. To know can also breed fear from within.”
“You’ve already managed to take a step forward. It’s up to you what happens after.”
“People who don’t value their own lives have no right to protect others!”
“People can only become stronger through the feeling of fear.”
“Don’t try to excuse yourself by saying you’re doing it for someone else’s sake.”
“Someone once said ‘That place is engulfed in darkness’ however that does in no way mean that there was never any light.”
•••
heres some quotes because jun’s writing is just sooooo beautiful 🥺 :
“No matter what happens, I’ll seek the truth so I can be myself.”
“I will continue to seek out the reason why I was born. So I can continue to be who I am. If fear comes with that search, then so be it!”
“Ignorance breeds fear, but the converse may be true, too. To know can also breed fear from within.”
“You’ve already managed to take a step forward. It’s up to you what happens after.”
“People who don’t value their own lives have no right to protect others!”
“People can only become stronger through the feeling of fear.”
“Don’t try to excuse yourself by saying you’re doing it for someone else’s sake.”
“Someone once said ‘That place is engulfed in darkness’ however that does in no way mean that there was never any light.”
July 13, 2017
Once we finish the school arc and another encounter with the Baskervilles, Oz and company meet the final family of Great Dukes of the realm in the form of Duke Barma. Barma is an eccentric and and information broker, much the same as Langdale Pike from Arthur Conan-Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series. But Barma's intentions are not towards the mysteriously returned Oz Vessalius, but instead a different member of Pandora. When the truth is revealed about the character's past, a number of additional mysteries arise.
It's an interesting volume, but the Barma portions get a bit silly at times and, for now, we don't have the full web to put the pieces together. It has some interesting possibilities though.
It's an interesting volume, but the Barma portions get a bit silly at times and, for now, we don't have the full web to put the pieces together. It has some interesting possibilities though.
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