Voices of Love

(aka Ai no Koe)
by Kanae Hazuki

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Why let men have all the fun?
This is a collection of five romantic, hot and sexy stories about modern women and the men they love. All of the stories depict romantic and physical relationships with nothing held back. The title story is about a relationship between young teacher Mika Tsukahara and Naokazu Kuga, and 18-year-old student at her school. Some say forbidden fruit is the sweetest! They're neighbors too, and can't control their attraction to each other. Love they neighbor! From LuvLuv with love!
Passionate manga for women!

Review
OK, that was the most embarrassing synopsis I've typed yet. I can't believe somebody wrote that. How cheesy. Anyway.

This is rated mature. It has a lot of sexuality in it. This is more josei manga that I was excited about. I didn't realize that it was five short stories that are one chapter long. I don't really like short stories because there's not much time to develop anything with the characters or their situations. And I think that is true here. You're just thrown into the middle of stories, where some conflict happens, then some sex, and then it's resolved. I guess if you're just looking for a quick porn thrill, this is just for you. But me, I tend to want more, especially if sex is involved, because I have a hard time believing that people who just met can really be in love. If the love doesn't feel real to me, then the sex feels fake, and I'm not excited by it. Apparently I'm the only woman who feels this way, though.

About the stories, there's the forbidden love with the student, the friends with benefits, the abused girlfriend, the middle-aged guy dating a young girl, and strangest of all, the girl who gets pimped out to the pimp's friends. All of these stories have a happy endings, just like they're supposed to. Yet, I didn't really get to know the characters, so I couldn't really feel happy that things had worked out for them. In fact, a lot of the stories felt really fake, like that kind of thing could never happen. The only one that felt real was Pictures of Us, the one where the middle-aged guy meets an 18-year-old girl. This kind of thing could really happen, and there wasn't anything too creepy or weird about the story. But I can't say that it was good enough to buy the book for.

I love erotica, but I just don't think I'm going to buy anymore one chapter short stories. A one-shot book, sure.

Final thought: Don't waste your money.

Platinum Garden: Vol. 1

by Maki Fujita

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
When Kazura is sent to live in Mizuki's house, she learns that she's really there to become his wife! Furious, Kazura tries to leave, but discovers that she was given as payment for her deceased grandfather's debts. But things aren't what they seem to be in this household -- Mizuki can call back people's souls, and Kazura wants him to bring back her grandfather!

Maki Fujita's shojo comedy is filled with delicious family secrets, dream high-school romance, and plenty of spirited fun.

Review
Another manga with a weird premise, but not one that I dislike, because it depends on what happens with it.

Understandably, Kazura is unhappy about being sold to the Magahara family, and this is compounded by the fact that she is to be Mizuki's fiancee, and that he's a real jerk. She takes it well though, and does her best. But she's not one to be cowed, and although some hitting does happen in this book, it's not often, and it's usually deserved (for once). What I thought was enjoyable to watch was Kazura and Mizuki fighting. It's weird, because I don't care for fighting, but these two just push each other's buttons so well, and are equally good at fighting that it's kinda fun to watch and see who wins.

As I kept reading, I found that some development does happen for both characters, and I started really caring about both of them. Mizuki is really sullen for a reason, and it's possible that only spunky Kazura can help him. (Only in books. This doesn't work in real life.)

In the final chapter, we see her finally going to school, as she's been kept in the house the whole time, and as usual, the girls are horrible bitches who misunderstand everything and see Mizuki as something that belongs to them. I know this generates conflict, but it's really cliche, and I've seen it before. Maybe only in Japan, I don't know because I've never been to school there, does this kind of thing happen. My real problem with it is there is never anybody who notices the girls fighting with each other and puts a stop to it. I mean, where are the teachers and parents? The kids are always left to figure it out themselves. It just doesn't ring true.

Also, the mysticism doesn't show up much here, but it probably will in future volumes. I'm not sure how I feel. It seems tacked on compared to the story so far, and I hope it's not used to drag out the romance part. I guess we'll see.

I know Tokyopop wants to do their 100% Authentic manga or whatever, but this means that they didn't translate the sound effects. Usually, this isn't a problem, but this manga seems to rely on sound cues for what happens in the next panel, leading to confusion for people who can't read Japanese. I am not one of these people, but I can empathize. The least they could have done was to put some translation in the gutter between panels, that way it wouldn't interfere with the artwork. Of course there's a fine line between censorship and comprehension, I just think they didn't try very hard with the comprehension part.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!

The Key to the Kingdom: Vol. 1

(aka Oukoku no Kagi)
by Kyoko Shitou

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
After the king and his eldest son die, the kingdom of Landor is left without a ruler. Asta -- last surviving member of the royal family -- stands in line for the throne. However, before he can claim it, he must fulfill a quest: find the legendary "Key to the Kingdom." Both ancient beasts and a variety of contenders -- including a princess, a dimwitted military captain, and a villainous aristocrat -- imperil his journey. Someone will find the Key, but will it be Asta?


Review
What the synopsis doesn't mention is that Asta is more interested in books than swords, and he actually doesn't want to be king. (What really bothers me is that his mother, the Queen, is still alive, but they didn't make her the regent, since Asta is still too young to rule. I know, I know, it gets in the way of the story the author wanted to do.)

Anyway, I wasn't really impressed by the story right away, especially with the "find the magical object" quest. But then, as the story went on, it got more interesting. It might have something to do with things like dragons, mysterious characters, and mysteries being introduced. Not that those things alone will make me like a story, but they can pique my interest.

I'm not sure what I think of the main character, Asta, yet. He's selfish and arrogant, but I wonder if this might change later on. It's just that he has no experience with the outside world yet. I hope he grows and matures as the series goes on.

It's really to early to say much about this series. I'm definitely going to have to pick up some more books when I get the chance.

Final thought: I'll pick up the next book.

Captive Hearts: Vol. 1

(aka Toraware no Minoue, *unsure, but definitely not "Captive Hearts")
by Matsuri Hino

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Carefree Megumi Kuroishi was living a life of luxury until the day a girl named Suzuka Kogami walked into his life. All of a sudden, Megumi finds himself kneeling at Suzuka's feet and prostrating himself like a servant! What Megumi doesn't know (until that very moment anyway) is that his family is cursed to follow the orders of the Kogami family.

Being carried around everywhere and having handsome Megumi act like a slave may seem ideal, but Suzuka just wishes he would stop. Can anything be done about Megumi's captive state? Or is Megumi doomed to see Suzuka as his master forever?

Review
This is an early work by Matsuri Hino, and it feels like it. It's not nearly as polished as her later works, which I wouldn't mind, if it was written well.

Basically, the idea is that Megumi and his family are servants of the Kogami family because a long time ago, a distant ancestor, who was a thief, stole the Kogami's dragon scroll. When he opened it, a dragon god appeared and cursed him and his descendants to forever serve the Kogamis.

So, now, whenever Megumi makes eye contact with Suzuka, the urge to "serve" her overwhelms him. I say "serve" because he acts more like a devoted fan or stalker rather than a servant, but whatever. Hilarity ensues. His father is very violent, and is constantly smacking him for not being respectful and intelligent. Hilarity ensues. Megumi acts like a stalker, but Suzuka forgives him. And hilarity ensues. In fact, the author implores us to forgive her for making it that way, blah, blah. Gee, why write it goofy if we just have to forgive you? Or wait, this is that false Japanese modesty isn't it? "This is a terrible gift, but please accept it anyway." To which we say, "No! It's the best ever!" Well, I don't forgive you.

The series actually does have good parts, when it's serious. Moments like when the characters are talking about their feelings, and so forth. But it's always interrupted, so the character don't get to talk much. Speaking of that, why do they like each other anyway? Part of the story is wondering if Megumi really likes Suzuka or is it because of the curse? Well, since his emotions are always different than his behavior when he is under the curse, it makes me think that his feelings are untouched by it, therefore, they must be real. So, the fact that he likes her must be real. That took me, what, a minute to realize? Are these characters too stupid to live?

Finally at the last chapter, they get to the heart of the story, that I would have thought of in the beginning: how to break the curse. I guess they're going to find a way, but it's very slow going, and Megumi doesn't help. Weird. I'd think he'd be the first in line. Of course, my thought was: have Suzuka order Megumi not to serve her (or her family) anymore. Tada! Curse broken!

I would have liked to see this done seriously. I'd probably like to see most things done seriously, to be honest. I think there would be a lot more to discover about the characters, and human nature if it was. What a shame.

Final thought: Meh, I'm not impressed.

Blood Alone: Vol. 1

by Masayuki Takano

Synopsis
There is none! So I wrote my own:
Misaki and Kuroe have an odd relationship. She's a vampire, yet he's the one who takes care of her. They live a seemingly normal life together, but when mysterious serial murders take place, only they can help the police find out who really did it.

Review
This series may have potential. I can only guess at why these two live together, which is probably that Kuroe feels some sort of responsibility towards Misaki since her family is dead. They're cute right now, as their relationship is like a brother-sister type, but I wonder how far this series will go. I just wonder because Misaki looks about twelve, though if I know the Japanese, they'll say she's fifteen or sixteen. I don't have a problem with young relationships, especially if they're not real people, but it still is a bit disturbing to me to see someone fall in love with someone who looks twelve.

There's probably more going on here, as Misaki is not the only vampire in the world, and there are evil spirits around. They help the police take care of a serial murderer, who escaped death by jumping to different bodies. Also, Kuroe has the ability to "see the truth" since the vampire who injured him also had that power.

But it's not all exciting adventures. A lot of the book just deals with slice-of-life events, like making breakfast, and taking care of Kuroe when he's sick.

The way that Infinity Studios put this book out is really nice. It has a dust jacket, and even a page in color; the paper is obviously high quality. It's nice to see a company treat its products so respectfully. The only odd part about it is there is no synopsis anywhere, so how is the potential buyer supposed to know if it's interesting or not? Hopefully not by reading it in the store, ugh, like manga cows.

In any case, it's quite an interesting series.

Final thought: I'll pick up the next book.

Suppli: Vol. 1

(aka Sapuri)
by Mari Okazaki

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
The skies are always clearer after a storm....

After her boyfriend of several years dumps her, Minami realizes she's shut out everything else in her life. Now, at twenty-seven years old, ambitious Minami throws herself into her advertising job and experiences life -- and love -- for the first time.

From Mari Okazaki, the edgy, provocative author of Sweat & Honey, comes a tale of rediscovering love.

Review
I was excited when I found out about this josei manga. I'd hoped that it would be more mature and realistic, since it's for women, not girls.

Of course not, how silly of me to get my hopes up. It's always the same problems. We're supposed to like the main character, Minami (everyone calls her Fujii, though), because she's just lost her boyfriend, and is now lonely, and has no support system. It's a start, but I still don't know much about her, like what her hopes and dreams are, and honestly, it seems like she doesn't either. I don't know why she's sad about her boyfriend. He really wasn't that great of a guy, and as it turns out, he was cheating on her. I understand why though -- Fujii was rarely home to spend time with him, so he likely found someone else who would.

So, she has to put her life back together, and she starts making friends from work. It turns out one of her coworkers, Ishida, has had a crush on her for a long time. He's supposedly a potential love interest, but I don't like him at all. He's sullen, rude, thoughtless, and immature. Seriously, he tries to get her attention by blocking her way to the bathroom, saying nasty things to her, and trying to make her jealous by looking like he's interested in other women. I remember a guy doing that once to me, but that was when I was 15. What a loser, if Ishida is that immature.

Then there's another coworker, Ogiwara, who seems like the perfect guy. But he isn't. It's only hinted at in this volume, but he's seeing someone other than Fujii. To tell the truth, I did buy the next book, but stopped in the middle when the main character started doing what I thought were really stupid things.

I really don't know what this series is about. Maybe it's supposed to be slice-of-life, which I like, but it doesn't go anywhere, it just meanders as the main character can't figure out what she really wants out of life. Maybe it's supposed to be about the discovery. I guess I don't consider making bad decisions when you're twenty-seven, and being a workaholic so you don't have to think about where your life is going to be an interesting journey. I find it dull, irritating and trite. I want to yell at the main character for being such an idiot.

Final thought: I give up on this series.

The Queen's Knight: Vol. 1

by Kim Kang Won

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
During summer vacation to visit her mother in Germany, 15-year-old Yuna Lee falls off a cliff and is rescued by Rieno, an 18-year-old knight living in the magical land of Phantasma. He makes a deal with Yuna that if he saves her life, she must marry him and become his queen. Indebted to her knight in shining armor, Yuna is torn between her family and friends back home and life as Phantasma's Queen!

Review
Ugh, the synopsis is a bunch of lies. The series may be about that, but not this volume. Mostly this volume consists of a whiny girl who has trials and tribulations while going to high school. It may as well be a high-school drama, as the queen and knight thing only show up very rarely.

There's nothing to like about the heroine, in fact I found myself disliking her. She's a typical high-school girl: gets mad at the drop of a hat, punches anything that irritates her, not well-developed, has no redeeming qualities, nothing. I found myself wondering why a stupid girl like her would be chosen as a queen. Who would want her?

I couldn't stand reading this book. I was bored out of my mind. I don't care what happens next, even though it looks like the next book might actually have more of Phantasma in it.

Final thought: It's not interesting enough to continue.

100% Perfect Girl: Vol. 1

by Wann

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Jay Jin is a headstrong teenage rebel, determined to prove she's serious about making art. J. Max is the tall debonair foreigner, in Korea on business, with more -- much more -- to his background than he lets on. On the surface, it would seem as though Jay and J. have nothing in common... until a chance encounter in a hotel lobby sparks a mysterious attraction.

Will true love prove strong enough to overcome the language barrier, not to mention the thousands of miles separating two attractive people? Then there are the interventions of friends and family who think they know best... as well as a disastrous encounter with a spicy chicken kebab!

Review
It's a typical Cinderella-type story. Uber-rich, handsome, and single Prince Jarte disparages the concept of falling in love at first sight. He's never been interested enough in any woman to have a long-term relationship. Until he meets Jay. She's apparently the 100% perfect girl for him.

Except she doesn't seem to believe it. Oh, she likes him well enough, and they seem to have fun together, but she's all-too willing to let him go back to his country without her. It's not that she doesn't want to be with him, but she doesn't think she can have a hold over him or something. So he invites her to go with him, but she hesitates, even though he's willing to help her reach her lifelong goal of becoming a prominent artist.

Of course, it all turns bad when Jay starts thinking that he's paying attention to her, buying things for her, being nice to her, etc, for a "reason." I've always hated this "development," because it depends on the characters not talking to each other about their true motivations. Seriously, a five-minute conversation could clear everything up:

"Gee, are you buying me all this stuff to get in bed with me?"
"Hell, no! I'll prove it by not expecting sex from you."
"OK, great, thanks!"
Ta da!

But this isn't what happens, and after that the series takes a rather sudden turn, which I won't spoil here.

Jarte is a rather intense character; clearly he used to be devoted to his work, but after he meets Jay he's devoted to her, at the expense of everything else. I'm not really sure what he sees in Jay. She's cute and spunky, but that's about all I know about her.

The artwork is nice, and the author really likes lips. One thing I really can't stand, though, is her use of real pictures as backgrounds and settings. She tries to hide it, but I can tell, as it's quite jarring. I think it's OK to use real pictures as a reference, but please, don't just copy, paste, and touch-up.

Final Thought: I'll get the next book to see what happens.

Dokebi Bride: Vol. 1

by Marley

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Born into a shaman family, Sunbi has inherited the power to see and communicate with spirits just like her grandmother, a notable shaman and savior of the fishing village in the South Sea. Long shielded from the reality of her power, she finally learns the secret of her mother's death, and why grandmother was never able to leave their village. Enter Sunbi's eerie world in this mind-boggling psychological thriller.



Review
This is a refreshing series. It doesn't have to have cool art or hip, unusual layouts. It's simple but interesting.

This first book gives us insight into Sunbi's life with her grandmother, and how close they were. It shows how Sunbi has similar powers to her grandmother, and as she grows older how it continues to isolate her from other villagers. But tragedy strikes, and she must move away from the village, to live with her father, whom we get the feeling that he cares about her, but is leery of her, too.

It must be difficult to live with powers like seeing dokebi (spirits) that no one else can, seeing gods, and sensing people's hidden emotions. The people in her village are extremely critical, and constantly gossip about Sunbi. As a result, we see a curious, energetic child change into a sullen, suspicious teenager. That said, though, I rather like Sunbi, as I can identify with her. She's quiet, but not afraid to speak her mind. I can understand how she would become cynical with people whispering behind her back, and not being able to make friends.

I think the true story starts in the next book, as this book is mostly an explanation of their powers, and Sunbi's background. I'm really curious to see where this series goes.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!

The Good Witch of the West: Vol. 1

(aka Nishi no Yoki Majo)
Story by Noriko Ogiwara
Art by Haruhiko Momokawa

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Fifteen-year-old Firiel lives in the remote highlands with her father, a recluse obsessed with astronomy. Yet, life is more than pleasant for Firiel -- her father's servants adore her, his kindly apprentice Rune is her best friend, and she's about to attend the Count's ball! But as Firiel prepares for the gala, she discovers her past is more complicated than she had thought -- and she may be the heir to the throne! Unaware of the danger that faces her and all she loves, Firiel begins a courageous quest for the truth.

In this unique, evocative Cinderella story, heritage and destiny converge to change a young girl's life forever!

Review
I didn't really like this book at first, but after I reread it, it grew on me. It is a typical fairy tale story, full of things like fate and magic.

The main character, Firiel, thinks she's a country girl, but soon discovers that she actually has a royal lineage. The way the book reads, though, it seems like she's someone who could change the world, or end it, depending on which interpretation you believe. It's not her being chased down, though, it's her father and his apprentice, for their heretical astrological work.

It's really hard to say much, because there's many little threads that may go somewhere, but they don't go very far yet. It's an interesting beginning, though, it's made me more interested in reading the novel. I've read Ogiwara's books before, and I love her work.

Firiel is likable enough, I suppose, though she's a bit too spunky for my taste. Heroines always have to be, I suppose, to keep their cheerful innocence after really bad things happen to them. Cliche.

Rune is okay, too. He seems to have some dark secret in his past that even he can't remember. That and he's really good with numbers, but not a savant. That's extremely unusual, I think.

I don't mind the art in the book, but sometimes, the panels are so dark, it's really hard to tell what's going on in them. I have to stare at it, just to make it out. I don't know whose fault that is, but it makes the book harder to read. I remember, too, the first time I read it, events jumped between panels in such a way that I got confused about what happened. It doesn't always flow easily, which is unfortunate.

Final thought: I think I'd rather read the novel.

Real/Fake Princess: Vol. 1

by I-Huan

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
This story begins in the Sung (Song) Dynasty, ancient China. The country is in great chaos due to the infamous Jin Kang Rebellion. Fearing the possible destruction that might come as a result, Concubine Liu tearfully entrusts the care of her baby daughter, Princess Yi Fu, to a common citizen named Tang Hui. Tang Hui immediately escapes with the princess to the South. And so, Princess Yi Fu's whereabouts become a mystery....


Review
The synopsis just gives the background of the story. In fact, the book is really about Zhi Li and her attempt to restore her title as Princess Yi Fu.

It doesn't really start out as her attempt, though. It is her caretaker, Hui, who initiates everything. He feels very loyal to his duty that the concubine entrusted him with, so he takes Zhi Li to the "seeker" Wu Zhong Lu, to prove her claim.

Meanwhile, Zhi Li wants none of this. She is happy being a country girl, helping Hui, her "brother" the doctor. She also secretly has feelings for him, which will influence her in the story.

Zhi Li is an annoying character at times, but unlike Misty-rain in Land of Silver Rain, she at least is sympathetic, and has a good heart. She is only stubborn because events in her life are completely out of her control, and she cannot have what she really wants. When she puts her mind to it, she can be a very hard worker, and can learn very quickly. Of course, she's not really doing it for herself, she does it for Hui, which shows that she's not selfish and cares for people other than herself.

Zhong Lu seems rude at first. He has a boring job, finding lost royal family members, of which the people who come to him, claiming they are one, are always lying, mostly for money or their own personal gain. I can see how this would make him cynical to Zhi Li's claim. He takes her in, and teaches her etiquette and manners because she has better proof than most.

As the story goes on, there is a lot of bickering and battles of will. Zhi Li does not want to be the princess, but discovers that she and Hui will be put to death if she discovered lying. Zhong Lu is does not like his job as the seeker for royal family members, and sees Zhi Li as his ticket back to the battlefield.

This story has some potential, and I'm curious to see if Zhi Li can really make it, and become Princess Yi Fu.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!

Emma: Vol. 1

by Kaoru Mori

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
An upstairs gentleman and a downstairs servant share a secret love.

The saga begins. In Victorian England, a young girl named Emma is rescued from a life of destitution and raised to become a proper British maid. When she meets William, the eldest son of a wealthy family, their love seems destined. But in this world, even matters of the heart are ruled by class distinctions.

Review
I'm not sure there's much to say about this volume. Everything flows about how you would expect that it would. A chance enounter between William and Emma gives rise to a secret affection. I hesitate to say love, because they don't know each other well enough yet. All I would predict is that they're attracted to each other and would like to get to know each other. Anyway, there is clearly trouble ahead, even without the class distinctions. William's father is clearly set in his ways (the old fuddy-duddy ways), and already has plans for whom William will marry. William, on the other hand, while he seems to have his own mind, is not really the type to stand up for himself. He just lets people do and say things about him. Perhaps that's how a "proper gentleman" acts.

Emma is less developed. We learn that she was taken in, and turned into a maid, but that's about it. She silently observes things around her, so it's really hard to know exactly what she's thinking. That's rather unfortunate, seeing as she's the main character. I hope this trend doesn't continue.

The artwork is pretty nice. I was put off by the character designs at first. It's the faces. But I'm not complaining; it did grow on me. Supposedly Emma is supposed to be beautiful and gets a lot of marriage proposals. I just don't believe it. I think she's rather plain, myself. Of course, I don't care for maids or glasses, either.

Regardless, this could be interesting to see where it goes. It's too early to judge right now.

Final thought: I'll pick up the next book.

MeruPuri: Vol.1

by Matsuri Hino

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
All high school freshman Airi Hoshina ever wanted was to someday live in a cozy home with a loving husband, and find joy in the little things in life. As a result, she makes it her daily mission to get to school on time because school legend has it that the longer one's non-tardy streak is, the better boyfriend on will find. But just when her daily routine is working like clockwork, an occurrence of fairytale proportions threatens to disrupt her grand plan.

One the way to school one morning, Airi loses her mirror -- one that had been passed down to her through generations -- and suddenly finds herself in a bizarre situation. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Aram, a little boy from a magical kingdom, to have emerged from the mirror in the short time it took her to track it down!

Review
This is not a serious series at all. That didn't bother me, though. I found that if I just let go and let it play itself out, it's actually pretty charming.

The story begins with Aram's brother, Jeile, casting a curse on him, to the point where Aram has to escape, and comes out through Airi's mirror. She takes him in, he's a cute little kid, after all, only to discover that he grows older at night. Apparently the curse was supposed to render him old and his magic ineffectual. One might question why a brother would do this, but then, the story doesn't really make much sense if you think about it too much anyway. They hate each other, that's all there is to it.

One thought does enter my mind: Airi treats Aram like a child when he is one, such as bathing with him, and sleeping in the same bed, but when he's a teenager, she doesn't continue to treat him that way -- she treats him like a teenager, with all the same hormones, etc. She even goes to the point of getting embarrassed about certain situations. I personally don't get this. Regardless of what he's like on the outside, his maturity is still that of a child. Whatever. Of course, funny things are supposed to happen when Aram becomes a teenager, though the hitting people just doesn't do it for me. I'm sorry, physical violence is just not funny. Fortunately, there isn't a whole lot of it.

Silly hijinks ensue, and more characters are introduced, leading to a reverse harem. None of it is terribly serious though. I suppose more will be explained in later volumes. And at four volumes, it's pretty short for a series. Enough to make me pick up the rest just to see. It's cute, just let go and have fun, I think.

Personally, I love the artist's artwork. I think it's very gorgeous, and I plan to read more of her series. I have started Vampire Knight, but sorry, it won't be featured here. (It's too popular.)

Final thought: I'll get the next book to see what happens.

Land of Silver Rain: Vol. 1

by Mira Lee

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Abandoned in a cabbage patch as a baby, Misty-Rain is saved from certain death by a witch who brings her up as her own. Far from the company of humans, she is raised as one of the Dokebi, a magical race from Korean myth. Among them she is happy and content, until one day she loses the trust of her protector, causing the enchantment that had keep the secret of her true identity to be broken. She is case out to the world of her birth and must find her place among her own kind. Land of Silver Rain is a captivating tale of love that is often regarded as a classic.

Review
I really wanted to like this book. It has an interesting premise and some of the characters are really likable. Unfortunately the main character, Misty-Rain, is incredibly annoying. She's mean, bitchy, selfish, and thoughtless. She can be sweet when everything goes well for her, but when they don't (which is often, and will be more often later in the series), she is horrid. She takes revenge on others without thinking about the consequences, she lies instead of telling the truth at a prudent time, and she has a short fuse, and gets ridiculously angry over the littlest things. Even after she has lost the trust of her protector, Sirius (prince of the unicorn dokebi), the only person who'll be friendly to her, is constantly rebuffed, yelled at and has things thrown at him. I don't get why he keeps coming back. Probably something to do with the "fates" that he ran into. Blah.

I must say the artwork is extremely beautiful, and I just love to look at it. I wish it hadn't been marred by weird, goofy, cartoony faces (at funny moments). In fact, I wish this story had been a lot more serious, like the synopsis makes it sound. As it is, with the main character hard to identify with, and harder to like, I'm not sure it's worth it. I'm curious what happens, but afraid that Misty-Rain won't be any more likable, and that Sirius will keep doting on her, even though she doesn't deserve it.

Maybe my real problem is that I feel lied to. I went in expecting one thing, and got something completely different. Like I said, the synopsis is interesting, and cover is so beautiful, I just thought it was going to be something deep and wonderful. I'm disappointed.

One good thing about this book is that the publisher left a few pages in color. For translated graphic novels, that is extremely rare. I have to say that I really appreciate that, and I wish other publishers would do the same. Colored pages turned black-and-white usually doesn't look good at all. I know it's expensive, though.

Final thought: Maybe I'll get more, if I can get a deal.

Sensual Phrase: Vol. 1

(aka Kaikan Phrase)
by Mayu Shinjo

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
As a budding poet and lyricist, Aine is determined to make it big in show business. On her way to an audition one fateful day, she absentmindedly steps into the street and barely avoids getting struck by an oncoming vehicle.

Not only is the cute teenager lucky to be alive, but her brush with death turns out to be a date with destiny. The driver of the car just happens to be Sakuya, the charismatic and fabulously handsome lead singer for a band called Lucifer.

In short order, Sakuya and his crew compose a song using Aine's lyrics. The tune proves popular with the band's fans and Sakuya decides he wants a relationship, both professional and personal, with Aine.

But does Sakuya actually care for Aine, or is she just another sexual conquest for him? And more importantly: has the nascent wordsmith finally struck gold in the world of pop music, or has she simply sold her soul to the devil?

Review
I should warn you that this series is rated M, for good reason. It is erotica.

Now, as for the boy-band music part of this series, I don't care at all. That kind of thing has never interested me, so I probably read as much as I need to know, and I not pay much attention anymore. Even the author's side notes bore me to death, as she talks about this band and that band, and they're Japanese, so I don't even know who they are.

Obviously, the interesting characters are Aine and Sakuya, and their developing relationship. As erotica, I think it works quite well; I like how the author uses Sakuya to "tease" Aine, in an attempt to get more sensual lyrics from her. This way, the sexual tension is created, but doesn't feel forced or weird. Unfortunately, depending on what happens in the next book this will either get tedious by its forced continuation, or it will be resolved and the author will have to think of something else to keep the story going.

I think Aine is the typical Japanese heroine who, while she has to think about sex to write these lyrics, as soon as things start heating up, she starts stammering, blushing, and acting shy. It seems like an odd disconnect, to me. Is this some weird Japanese thing in which Japanese women are supposed to be asexual? I've seen something similar in hentai. Personally, I've never experienced anything quite like it here in the US. It could be some cultural difference.

Sakuya is the typical male protagonist -- he's perfect, good-looking, knows exactly what to do, is obviously very experienced when it comes to women, you get the idea.

I'm not quite sure what to make of this book. It's interesting enough to keep reading. I like erotica, and I like that the characters are actually people, rather than two bodies thrown together. I guess that's what porn is. It's a long series, though. How much will the author be able to keep up the tension? I guess we'll see.

Final thought: I'll pick up the next book.

Bride of the Water God: Vol. 1

by Mi-Kyung Yun

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
When Soah's impoverished, desperate village decides to sacrifice her to the Water God Habaek to end a long drought, they believe that drowning one beautiful girl will save their entire community and bring much-needed rain. Not only is Soah surprised to be rescued by the Water God -- instead of killed -- she never imagined she'd be a welcomed guest in Habaek's magical kingdom, where an exciting new life awaits her! Most surprising, however, is the Water God himself ... and how very different he is from the monster Soah imagined.

Review
I picked this up because I love stories like this. However, it's not how I would have done it.

It begins with Soah being sacrificed, and yet she shows little emotion. It's clear what she thinks of the other villagers, but as for herself, she doesn't seem too worried. When she comes to Suguk (where Habaek lives) and meets the god and others who live there, she is likewise emotionless. In fact this girl has so few emotions, I really have no idea what she thinks about anything.

The water god has a huge secret -- he's a child by day, but an adult by night. Soah, unfortunately doesn't know this. He gives no reason for why he keeps this from her. He's pretty cold and stand-offish, and not much screentime is given to him, to develop his character. He's got another secret too -- this is not the first human bride he's been given, and no one knows where the others are. I expect some revelation about this, and probably his motivations too, but for now, the author wishes to keep it a secret. It probably won't be nearly as interesting as it's built up to be, though.

I don't really know what to think here. The artwork is gorgeous (though I have some quibbles with it, but that's not really my place to talk about it.), but for some reason, she decides to make the characters Super Deformed at times, and I think it really clashes with the seriousness of the story. The pacing has a quite languid, almost dreamy quality. Unfortunately, this leads to a confusing quality, as I'm not always sure who's talking, or what exactly is going on at what time, and I find myself stopping and re-reading just to make sure.

Personally, I don't like mysteries, but if they are used well, I can like the suspense they give a story. But mysteries for no reason, especially when the main character can just come straight out and demand answers? I hate that. Sure, that's not "in her character" to do that. The problem with that defense is I think that most people wouldn't just sit around and not wonder about: the god they've been married to, who this weird guy who shows up at night is, why nothing is explained to her, and why he treats her so callously. I don't think they would tolerate that kind of treatment without explanation. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they would. Maybe we're supposed to identify with Soah by being just as confused as she is. Okay, I can buy that, except, I have questions that she's not asking. And that bothers me.

It's not bad, despite what I've said. I really am curious about what's going to happen. Maybe things will get resolved and questions will be answered. If that's true, this series has some potential. If not, it fails.

Final thought: I'll pick up the next book to see what happens.

Mars: Vol. 1

by Fuyumi Souryou (Soryo)

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Kira and Rei might as well be from different planets. She's a shy art student, afraid of boys and hated by her classmates. He's a rebellious motorcycle racer with girls dropping left and right just to talk to him. Their lives become intertwined when Kira asks Rei to model for her and, to everyone's surprise, he agrees. As these two battle their personal demons and the pressures of their classmates, they learn to not only love each other, but themselves.

Review
The synopsis is a bit misleading, I think. I don't think they're from different planets at all (har har, get the Mars reference?). They're both outcasts, or maybe more like oddballs who don't really fit into the world they find themselves in. Rei might be more popular, but it's clear that the women who want to date him just want him for his looks or his coolness, not because of who he really is. In fact, they seem to belong together, because neither is really what you'd discern from the outside, and only they seem to have the courage to see each other as they truly are.

I personally found this volume to be very intriguing. There's very little in the way of action, but yet it still holds your attention fast. I instantly liked both characters right away, and I love to seem them interacting with each other. When they're together, it's like nothing else matters, and they don't talk about superficial things, their conversations are always deep and insightful. I love that.

Of course, nothing can be perfect, and there will be obstacles to overcome. In this volume they have to deal with a rather bitchy girl who thinks that Rei should be hers, since she's been waiting the longest. She even goes as far as to want to inflict physical violence on Kira. In a way, I felt bad for her, but couldn't help thinking that she was wasting her energy being mad at the wrong person. (I tend to feel the same about women who blame the "other woman" for their spouse cheating, but I digress.)

I also think that this series is very refreshing. I didn't really encounter the types of cliches that I usually encounter in romance series, and the characters, as strange as they are, felt more real to me than even some people in real life. I can wholeheartedly believe in characters such as these. They're fascinating, the story is great, and I can't wait to see where it goes.

Final thought: I have to get the whole series!

Tail of the Moon: Vol. 1

(aka Tsuki no Shippo)
by Rinko Ueda

Synopsis(from the back of the book)
Usagi is the granddaughter of the leader of prestigious ninja village, but she's such a klutz that she's never made it out of the kiddie class. Frustrated with Usagi's lack of progress, her grandfather sends her to marry Lord Hanzo and have lots of ninja babies. But the lord has no interest in her or her childbearing potential!

The path to love is never easy and Usagi has some unexpected competition. It seems that another ninja clan wants to welcome Lord Hanzo into the family and they've sent the beautiful and talented Yuri to win herself a wedding. Usagi won't be daunted by her rival's looks and skills, but will Lord Hanzo's secret feelings for and off-limits princess be enough to send her away in despair?

Review
I picked this title up when I read a review that didn't like it. Funny thing is, the stuff that they didn't like, I do. I usually don't care for ninja stories, as they tend to be cliche, but this one really isn't.

I said I don't like goofy comedy, but for some reason, this one didn't bother me at all. Maybe it's because the goofiness isn't about hitting people, but is situational. The synopsis is actually a really good summary of what happens in the book. What they don't tell you though is how hardworking, genuine, and cute Usagi is. Sure, she's a klutz, and is always making mistakes and slacking off in her ninja studies, but when it really matters to her, she makes a real effort. She can be a bit naive, though, which can get her into trouble sometimes, but it's too cute to be very serious trouble. She's also not worthless, as surprisingly enough, she's an excellent herbalist. Perhaps it's just my opinion, but it seems like even if she couldn't pass her ninja qualification, it wouldn't matter because she'd be far more valuable for her medicinal skills. But oh well.

The "marry and have babies" premise is silly, sure, but I think it works. Usagi likes Hanzo instantly, though it's a bit sad to see him reject her over and over. Still, he seems to have his good moments too, perhaps a hint of things to come. There's competition, in the form of rivals and past lovers (for both Usagi and Hanzo), but based on the author's comments in the side panels, I don't think there's much to worry about. I don't think this is spoiler material -- the two main characters always get together in romances.

I definitely think this manga has a great start, and some genuine laugh out loud moments.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!

Red River: Vol. 1

(aka Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori, Heaven is Nearby the Red River)
by Chie Shinohara

Synopsis (from the back of the book)
Yuri, a pretty Japanese girl, is ecstatic after passing her college entrance exam and having her first kiss with her childhood friend-turned boyfriend. However, her luck soon changes. She starts to notice that water becomes agitated whenever she goes near it. One night, hands appear out of a puddle on the street and drag her into the water! Transported to an ancient village in the Middle East, she is then capture by armed troops and taken to the Queen's Palace for a human sacrifice. Adventure and good-looking boys fill this great first volume!

Disclaimer
I have read more than one volume of this series, in fact, I have all 23 (of 28) that have been released to date. You should not take this as a ringing endorsement of the series, as I believe it has serious flaws. Even so, it is captivating enough to continue reading. As such, it is hard to focus solely on the first book, as I have knowledge of future events, which impact what little information the first book gives you. I shall attempt to do my best. Also, the series crams a lot of events into its books, so it's very difficult to judge the series by the first book.

Review
I found this series rather randomly. I was looking at some pictures of anime and manga online, and I came across a picture from this series (though they called it Anatolia Story, which is not the true title). The artwork is very gorgeous, and it attracted me to it immediately. After much struggle finding the first book (they didn't want to have volume one in stock, for some reason) I was not let down. Again, it is a girl-transported-to-another-world premise. I understand why the author did this, but it doesn't excuse that fact.

Anyhow, once Yuri is transported to Hattusa of the Hittite Empire, things really pick up. She becomes the concubine (in name only) of third prince Kail, who protects her from the queen who wants to sacrifice her so she can put her son on the throne. All this time, however, she's really only thinking of getting back home, and does anything to forward that goal, even if it means she's impetuous or impulsive. Of course, this gets her, or other people, into trouble. This is rather unfortunate, as I can't relate to a character like that at all, although I do admit that there is one point in the book where she has great strength of character, and says some pretty impressive things, a foreshadowing of her character if you will.

The events are tight and fast-paced, in fact, little time is given to introspection, a flaw that becomes apparent later in the series. Still, it's a very exciting book, it just sucks you in, and even I admit that after I read the first book, I tried to get as many as possible, and read through them just as quickly. I can't say why, but this series is so engrossing. I don't know if it's the historical events, or suspense, or just a desire to see what happens next.

I should say that this book and the series can be quite erotic at times, something which I'm not sorry about at all. I do like it, but perhaps I'd advise you not to get too focused on it, or expect too much of it. Then perhaps you won't be disappointed like I was, because this series likes to tease.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!

From Far Away: Vol.1

(aka Kanatakara)
by Kyoko Hikawa

Synopsis (from the back of the book)
On her way home from school one day, Noriko is unexpectedly plunged into a strange and extraordinary fantasy world. Her troubles compound exponentially when she is rescued and befriended by a handsome young man by the name of Izark.

He may be brave and courageous, but inside Izark lurks the darkest evil imaginable. And according to an ancient prophecy, Noriko possesses the power to unleash that evil. Now, inexorably bound together, these two unlikely allies must navigate a world both wondrous and hostile.

Review

"Oh, god," I was thinking when I read the synopsis. I picked it up finally, after several passes in the bookstore. Usually stories that begin this way are predictable, and I figured I'd give the first volume a try, just to see.

I was pleasantly surprised. It does have the girl-transported-to-another-world premise – which has been done to death – but at least the heroine, Noriko, isn't annoying, selfish, or whiny. In fact, while she does feel sorry for herself at first, she quickly picks herself up, and throws herself into the strange situation she's been thrust into. She's determined not to be a burden, and she tries her best to learn the language quickly. I have to say that I admire that, and to have a heroine be so decisive is refreshing.

The hero, Izark, is typically reticent and abrupt, but he does do the right thing by saving Noriko from pursuers in the beginning, and after some hesitation, he takes care of her since she is so obviously lost. It's clear that he doesn't really want to, and calls her "the awakening," someone that many others are searching for. He seems to have special abilities, and his own problems though we don't know what they are yet, and his character seems likely to be developed over the course of the series.

As for the story, many threads are being laid down at this point, and will likely lead somewhere, though we are as confused as Noriko is at this point. One thing I didn't expect was how politics-heavy it would be. Many different countries and people are introduced, and they all have their own agendas with each other and the awakening.

One thing that I found interesting about the book was how Noriko didn't understand their language and vice-versa. It's definitely more realistic this way, and keeps her in the dark about what's really going on, and who she is. I have to comment that the mangaka did try to make it easy for the audience to understand which language is being spoken, which I appreciate.

The final chapter leaves us with a cliffhanger, as most books do.

Final thought: I have to get the next book!

Introduction to this blog

I've decided after long last to write reviews. I've seen and read a lot of things, so I hope that I can help people find good things, especially manga, to read.

I may not always post about manga, but I'll try.

Of course, no reviewer can have the exact same opinion as you, because I'll probably like different things than you. Personally, romance is my favorite genre, but I really like anything with a good story. I don't like cliches, moe, goofy comedy, or contrived situations, so take my reviews with this in mind.

Finally, about the "obscurity." There's always reviews for common and well-liked manga, and I'm tired of seeing obscure manga getting passed over, especially because some of it is really good. So don't expect to see popular things here very often.

Let's read some manga!