Manga Review: Croquis by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Blu

Release Date: 2012

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. RightStuf.

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RightStuf Synopsis:

Croquis features story and art by Hinako Takanaga the creator of A Capable Man and You Will Fall in Love.
Nagi has been noticing the stare of a particular student at his part-time modeling job at an art school. Kaji seems friendly enough, but Nagi is afraid to let him know his biggest secret - Nagi is a fledgling drag queen and is saving up for some big changes! Will Kaji accept Nagi for who he is or will Nagi be snubbed once again?
From the creator of You Will Fall in Love and Liberty Liberty!, comes this cute and romantic story where acceptance can mean being yourself.

Review:

The first half of this volume features one main couple, and it includes a little bit of crossdressing. It's cute, though a little dramatic, and the art style is definitely not her best.

The rest of the volume is one-shots. They're okay, but nothing stand-out. This is clearly a volume featuring her earlier work, so the art isn't as good, the stories are just okay; not as steamy as her other stuff, either. No real smut at all, actually.

Ehh.

Manga Review: A Capable Man by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Blu

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. RightStuf.

Add on Goodreads.

RightStuf Synopsis:

A Capable Man features story and art by Hinako Takanaga.
Shingo has always liked guys who are exceptional. His best friend, Koji, is the smartest, fastest, and hottest guy in school. But what Shingo doesn't know is that Koji has worked hard to be so exceptional - and he's doing it to impress Shingo! Why? He's in love with Shingo of course! But all is about to be revealed, because when Shingo's just-as-impressive cousin comes into town, Koji realizes he'll have to confess everything or risk losing his one true love forever...

Review:

Because of how much I love Awkward Silence, I keep trying Takanaga's other series; the one I can get ahold of, at least. The Tyrant Falls in Love is basically impossible to find at this point, so I've given up on that one, even though it's the one everyone apparently loves.

The first couple chapters feature two childhood friends, and when one grows a little jealous during a conversation, quickly grow into more. It gets pretty steamy pretty quickly, too. No complaints here.

The rest are one-shot stories, one with chefs, another with a couple that might be making a step forward in their relationship. They're all pretty fun, but don't stand out too much. The steamy scenes are pretty good, and definitely aren't lacking in this one.

This was an easy, fun yaoi one-shot volume. Definitely an earlier work of Takanaga's, but better than some of her others.