Bittersweet Blossoms Reviews

Blackberry Honey was the first ebi-hime VN I read, and ever since I've been hooked on every single yuri VN they've maid (ha). So of course, the moment I could, I made sure to pick up Bittersweet Blossoms, and it certainly didn't disappoint. The story takes place many years after our first journey to Bly in Blackberry Honey, leaving us in a post WW1 world, a tragedy that affects nearly every character in the story and looms over them. It really works as the core of the emotional narrative and I certainly teared up. Despite some gloom naturally coming from this, it's the overcoming of grief, and moving forward from grief through love that really shines in Bittersweet Blossoms. Even though this is a sequel to Blackberry Honey, don't expect to see Lori or Taohua- they're off being gay somewhere and their story is complete. The music is lovely in this, I'm in love with the original Blackberry Honey soundtrack and this is just as enjoyable. I couldn't help but get emotional when the 'Blackberry Honey' theme started playing in one of the more emotional songs. Regarding Constance, I know I wasn't the only one who felt a bit disheartened by how things ended with her in Blackberry Honey. I was really happy to see her returned, and though there was some worry expressed in the notes, I'm happy to say I really enjoyed this conclusion to her story. Patience gets to get her happy ending, a girl very similar in many ways (though perhaps not quite as rude as Constance in her heyday), thanks to Constance's support and that's really lovely. Seeing her wax about her own lost love (which by the way, hearing her say she loved Lori certainly made me giggle), and how she managed, and keeps on living, it's bittersweet...but even something bittersweet has sweetness, as they say. As another reviewer said, my heart goes out to you, Ebi-hime, for everything you had to endure to bring this game to life. For what it's worth, I'm extremely happy I got to experience such a wonderful story and I'll continue buying every yuri VN you produce for the foreseeable future. 10/10, more maids please.

A lovely visual novel, and a lovely sequel to Blackberry Honey. The emotional themes are quite strong in this one, and I love the atmosphere of the once opulent setting slowing falling into disrepair. It's quite melancholic. Enough to make me tear up just listening to the (wonderful!) soundtrack during certain scenes which lean into this mood. It's also nice to see some loose ends from the first novel wrapped up here. And, of course, the main pairing's relationship is wonderfully compelling!

Blackberry Honey has been one of my first visual novels, and I rather appreciated it as an entertaining and spicy yuri visual novel. So buying Bittersweet Blossoms was a no brainer. ebi-hime has been clear that it does not feature any +18 content, so I expected it to be rather different from Bittersweet Blossoms even if it is a sequel. Wasn't wrong on the guess. Bittersweet Blossoms is a totally different experience, and one you would be crudely mistaken not to give a chance. While Blackberry Honey is a candid and steamy love between a clumsy dismissed maid and an exotic lady ladykiller maid in an ultimately fun and mostly happy piece, Bittersweet Blossoms is a much safer, possibly politically incorrect love story between two mourners after WWI. The story takes place 70 years after Blackberry Honey, and after a war which left countless holes in the heart and countless relatives in the graves. As you would guess in this setup, the piece is much more down to earth, mature and cruel. It still has goofy moments (and those are pleasant !), but also hurts sometimes like a truck. Dot, a lady of modest upbringing (the game does have some common points with Blackberry Honey eh !), leaves the house to try to get a job to support herself and her mother. Hired as a maid in the Bly manor, she is soon exposed to a "rich" family in dire financial situation, and as a result a diaspora of absolutely-normal-and-well-meaning characters. Haha just kidding they got a screw loose, as this era of history might leave you. And serve a disabled mistress with a rather terrible attitude. Although the game is set after Blackberry Honey, it is self sufficient and you don't necessarily need to have done the former, although the experience will naturally be better playing both. Visually and musically charming (and it wasn't easy to achieve it seems !), solid story wise and generous in feelings, Bittersweet Blossoms is one of the rare pieces which require me a high level of pickiness to find anything to complain about. That it is a bit short (I'm a slow reader with a moderate attention span, don't mind the hours), if anything. It embroiders a shining tapestry from drab, difficult subjects, with brio. Now that you have read all that yapping which would humble one character of Bittersweet Blossoms, you are probably wondering why I wrote at some point "possibly politically incorrect". Well, Bittersweet Blossoms got some messages, and I have been both amazed and caught off guard by how blunt they are. "Possibly" because there is always a chance I totally missed their point. There is some slippery cliché but it fortunately doesn't go very far, and more importantly, what I would consider platitudes but merely aren't these days. Platitudes in my brain which might cross some souls, should I warn, but which I am glad to read from time to time. What constitutes much less a platitude than a formidable tale, however, is that ultimately Bittersweet Blossoms is an humbling demonstration that within what seems to be a neverending tempest, diamonds can be born when you don't give up and keep walki... ♥♥♥♥ no I didn't write that AAAAAAAH ! I don't know if Bittersweet Blossoms will meet its audience or have the success of Blackberry Honey, but it conquered me with flying colors. [b]I warmly recommend it.[/b]

God I loved this story so much. 10/10 Easy recommendation to pick up, especially if you're already a fan of Ebi's works. The writing on this one is just perfect and I love the characters. Particulary Constance. Easily the best character of the game oh my gosh!! Not to mention the setting! I love having the story against the backdrop of the end of WW1 and the inesecapable grief that affects -and connects- everyone, regardless of their backgrounds. It is a sort of sequel to Blackberry Honey but if you're expecting to see a return of our favourite couple you'll be dissapointed on that end. Their narrative came to a fitting end already and while it would have been nice to see them again this story is about a different couple blundering their way through love instead. To Ebi-hime, I'm really sorry to hear about how much of a struggle it was to finish making this game and my condolonces to you for your friend. Despite all the trouble you had I'm really happy you stuck with it and ended up finishing this project because I really do think it shines. I wish it could have been easier for you but at the very least the final product was worth it and I'm happy to have been able to play it! It would have been a shame for this to have ended up tucked away and never brought to life. And regarding your concerns about the art styles, for me personally at least I was so engrossed in the narative and the characters I wouldn't have even noticed any inconsitency without your mention