Manga Review: Ao Haru Ride, Volume 13, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2020

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 12.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Futaba Yoshioka has encountered her first love again in high school, but he seems different from the boy she once knew. The hearts of Futaba and Kou have aligned, but are more of their friends pairing off? The journey of youth concludes.

 

Review:

 

The final volume, so we get to see everything conclude. Futaba and Kou are finally an actual couple, so they get to settle into that sweetness together. There's some unsureness between them, but they get to sort that out rather nicely. There are several really sweet scenes between them in this final volume.

We also get to see Murao and Kominato settle things between them. They're kind of the opposite couple to Futaba and Kou, but I like them, too. Murao was a really good side character.

We get a surprise conclusion with Kou's older brother, and then we also get a side story for Strobe Edge that I wasn't expecting. It's been so long since I read that one, though, that I might need to re-read it at some point.

This was a really good end to this series, and I'm really happy with how it all wrapped up. Now I'm looking forward to getting more into Love Me, Love Me Not.

Manga Review: Juni Taisen: Zodiac War, Volume 4, by Akira Akatsuki, Nisiosin and Hikaru Nakamura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2019

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Twelve fighters enter, one fighter leaves—who will win the 12th Zodiac War?

Every 12 years, 12 fighters take the form of the Chinese zodiac and engage in a battle royale. With their strength and mysterious powers, they fight to the death and the sole survivor is granted the ultimate prize—any wish.

With most of Rabbit’s zombie army out of the way, only one thing stands between Ox and Tiger and taking down Rabbit for good—Monkey. Her sheer strength and power, once disciplined in life, are completely unhinged in death, making her far and away the strongest fighter! With only four fighters and one zombie remaining, who will come out victorious? Don’t miss the thrilling, unexpected conclusion to the twelfth Zodiac War!

Review:

We reach the end of the zodiac war, and finally find out who is left at the end of this massacre. It is, of course, not quite what you would expect from the beginning of the series. Once you find out who it is and what their true power is, though, it makes sense, and it makes sense why it was kept secret this whole time.

There were a couple of interesting characters along the way of this series. The relationship between the Tiger and the Ox ended up being particularly odd in its sweetness, honestly. But there were a couple of others, too, that I almost wished hadn't died, like the twins.

After all of that build-up, though, I'm a bit disappointed that we don't find out what the winner wants his wish for. It seems like there was a lot of build up for that, especially the further the series went, and then we're left with an “I'll think about it”, basically. I guess there's a whole sequel novel about his decision, though? So I suppose, in that ideal, that it makes sense the fighting would take up the first story line.

This was an interesting story. Not something I would normally read, especially with so much gore, but I'm glad I stuck around. I wanted to know who won this crazy battle royale, and it was an interesting conclusion.

Manga Review: Barakamon, Volume 18, by Satsuki Yoshino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: August 2019

Volumes: 18 (+1).

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 17. 18+1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

It's been a year since Handa arrived on the island, and a lot has changed for the residents of Nanatsutake Village. Hiroshi's in Tokyo, Miwa and her friends have graduation on their minds, and Naru and her classmates are going into their second year of elementary school. With everyone looking to the future, the time to say goodbye approaches in the final volume of Barakamon.

Review:

Everyone's moving on, accepting where they'll be as their lives move forward, in this final volume.

Tama and Miwa are settling into their new school and a new routine. Also as upperclassmen, when Tama's little brother doesn't want to hang around them. Tama is getting closer to her mangaka dreams, and Miwa is resolute in her goals to reopen her family shop. Naru and the kids are in a new year, only their school is having less and less new kids every year, and that's something they have to deal with. And Sensei is still learning how to be a good sensei.

Naru makes some important steps forward with her father in this volume, and they're starting to grow a real relationship. Similarly, Miwa and her father have to come to a related agreement. The father/daughter relationships in this series are quite important, and I really like how they end up.

This was a really sweet conclusion to the series. It all ends rather easy and sweet, with a lot of fun along the way.

Manga Review: Anonymous Noise, Volume 18, by Ryoko Fukuyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2020

Volumes: 18.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 17.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love!

Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven’t played out the way anyone expected…

With Yuzu back in Japan, In No Hurry’s yearlong hiatus is over! As the band sets out with excitement and trepidation to perform on Rock Horizon’s largest stage, how will Yuzu reconcile his past with his present? There’s no turning back once everyone’s secrets are laid bare!

Review:

Everything is leading up to Rock Horizon, where both bands are playing, the stage they've been waiting for. Finally it's here, and it's awesome for all of them.

And then Nino gets to declare her decision between Yuzu and Momo. It definitely felt like the story was leaning toward one more than the other, and I thought I knew who it was going to be, and I was wrong.

At first I was quite upset about this. While I really like them both, and both of them with Nino, even, I was leaning more toward the other one. By the time I got to the end of the volume, though, I'd warmed up to it. I can't deny their relationship is good, and that they've both grown a lot individually in order to be more stable together.

It still makes me sad for the other one, though.

Aside from the conflict there, this was a really good conclusion to the series. It's very sweet and thoughtful and heartwarming and strong. It wraps things up in a really sweet way, all the way to the last page.

I'm quite happy with this series, all the way through. Now I might watch the anime, in order to hear the real bands playing.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Love in Limbo, Volume 2, by Haji

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2019

Volumes: 2.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A poignant story of love and atonement in the afterworld.

Calen, the new reaper in Limbo, develops feelings for his purehearted caretaker, Makoto. But can love flourish in a place where even existence can be fleeting?

New reaper Calen has spent many a peaceful day with his friend and lover Makoto, protecting the people of Limbo. But one day, the time for Makoto’s father, Seishin, to be reincarnated comes. With him gone, the power sustaining Makoto—who is nothing more than an animated clay doll—will cease to exist. With his precious love’s dissolution looming, will Calen find a solution or be forced to watch as his lover returns to dust?

Review:

Calen and Makoto are settling in comfortably together, despite knowing the potential future ending, up until they're given a due date. This forces Calen to go on an adventure, on a mission to find the solution for Makoto's problem.

This reveals an interesting issue that the underworld has been ignoring/hiding, and that Calen gets to help with in the future. It's an interesting solution for Makoto, too; it's a bit odd but makes sense.

Aside from the serious matters in this volume, it was still a lot of fun. The characters are fun, including the side characters. I like the chemistry between our main couple, and there's some nice steamy scenes mixed in, as well. This was a really nice little series, with a nice ending, not rushed at all. Just sweet and steamy, with a nice afterlife plot thrown in.

Manga Review: Love in Focus, Volume 3, by Yoko Nogiri

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: July 2019

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Love In Focus manga volume 3 features story and art by Yoko Nogiri, the creator of That Wolf-Boy Is Mine! Mako has lost someone dear to her, and she clings to her love of photography as a relic of the close relationship she once had… Luckily, her childhood best friend Kei encouraged her to join their high school's prestigious photo club. With nothing to lose, Mako grabs her camera and a fresh take on life - plus a mysterious new muse! Everything's coming into focus in this latest volume!

Review:

Mako doesn't know how she feels, so she tries to give Kei a try. He's a sweetheart, but it's not a surprise how this turns out. It gives Mako the chance to really understand her own feelings, though, particularly regarding Mitsuru, now that he's pulling away from her so that Kei can have her.

It's a bittersweet volume, really. Poor Kei, really, as he tries because of his feelings for her. He's really a sweet guy, too. Mitsuru is, too, though. They're both really great, and neither causes much drama between themselves or for the household. But no real bromance here.

I like how this all plays out. Despite the mix of feelings, it's all handled really sweet and relatively maturely, too. No big drama, but good and honest communication, instead. And the ending itself is really nice, too.

I definitely preferred this series to her previous one, and I'm really quite happy with how it all played out.

Manga Review: The Water Dragon's Bride, Volume 11, by Rei Toma

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2019

Volumes: 11.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A modern-day girl gets whisked away to a strange land where she is sacrificed to a water dragon god!

In the blink of an eye, a modern-day girl named Asahi is whisked away from her warm and happy home and stranded in a strange and mysterious world where she meets a water dragon god!

Facing the gravity of his impending demise, the water dragon god vows that he will send Asahi back to her world before all his power disappears. As Asahi struggles to find a way to stay with him, she can’t deny that the day when they must part is coming. Is it truly the end for these two star-crossed lovers?

Review:

The Water Dragon God is dying, because of his relationship with Asahi, and he has the option of eating her to save himself. He's formed too many human emotions, too much of an attachment, though, to be willing to do that.

This series wraps up in a way that I definitely didn't expect. Most stories will discover a crazy solution at the last second, like he'd become human with her or something. That's not what happens here. Instead, we get to see the series all over again, only from the Water Dragon God's perspective, with new insight for how things happened and leading to this new ending.

I actually really appreciate how this worked out. And it definitely makes me want to re-read the series with these new realizations.

I feel a little bad for how Subaru fell so far in the background, given how much I loved him in the beginning. On the other side, I'm really happy with where Asahi is at the end of the series, and I'm glad we get to see her family again.

I'm really happy with how this series wraps up. It's a pleasant surprise that leaves me very pleased.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Escape Journey, Volume 3, by Ogeretsu Tanaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2019

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Naoto and Taichi’s turbulent high school love crashed and burned, but a reunion in college puts love back in the air.

Naoto and Taichi’s first try at love during their high school days crashed and burned. Years later the two unexpectedly reunite on their first day of college. Tumultuous love often burns hot, and the glowing embers of their previous relationship reignite into a second try at love.

Nao is hurting over his relationship with Taichi, and his new friend Nishina wants to help—but he ends up confessing his own feelings in the process! When two men are in love, the world can be a very callous place, and even friends and family sometimes hurt the ones they love. Can a couple like Taichi and Nao ever find true happiness?

Review:

I had some issues with the first volume, and then I skipped the second, and then I get to see how it all wraps up in this volume.

I definitely wish that this series handled the more serious issues a bit better, as there are some sketchy ways the plot points are handled. Especially because it's really steamy and hot for quite a bit of it, and I do like that.

This series might be a good guilty pleasure, to be fair. I have a hard time letting myself fully even like it for that, though.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: After Hours, Volume 3, by Yuhta Nishio

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Media

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 3.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

There’s always something going on at night. Sooner or later, you’ll find your scene.

Emi Asahina is 24, unemployed and not really sure what she wants to do with her life. When a friend invites her to a dance club, Emi doesn’t expect much. But what she finds will change her world!

Emi, Kei and their friends have successfully planned the rave of their dreams, and the experience has filled Emi with an electric need to keep striving. But will Emi’s newfound focus and determination falter when Kei, her mentor and girlfriend, goes AWOL?

Review:

All of Emi and Kei's hard work is finally coming to a conclusion as the night is nearing. Their rave has some issues and a lot of work to be dealt with before it comes, and then it's finally here. And after their big party, what next?

I was happy with where they went after their big event. Kei had some family issues to deal with, which caused her and Emi to finally decide what to do with their relationship—whether it's real and they want to keep going or not.

I like how it all plays out. The rave is a new experience for Emi, and is a goal for them to work toward again. And they get to see whether they want to face that future together or not; none of it is too dramatic or life-ending, either, which I appreciate. They handle things relatively calmly and with patience, and it works for them that way.

This was a fun little yuri series. I appreciated that it handled the yuri aspect maturely, and had a real plot beside it, a sweeter take on yuri that we've started seeing more of.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: The Young Master's Revenge, Volume 4, by Meca Tanaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Love’s revenge can be sweet.

When Leo was a young boy, he had his pride torn to shreds by Tenma, a girl from a wealthy background who was always getting him into trouble. Now, years after his father’s successful clothing business has made him the heir to a fortune, he searches out Tenma to enact a dastardly plan—he’ll get his revenge by making her fall in love with him!

Leo has been trying to get the down-to-earth Tenma to fall in love with him, but she’s remained immune to his advances. The Rose King and President Tojo are meddling to stop Leo and Tenma from becoming a couple, and it’s up to Tenma to set things right.

Review:

The final volume of the series, meaning that Leo has to undo all of his messy revenge tactics in order to actually be with Tenma, since he's given her such a misguided impression of his intentions and feelings.

This couple is actually pretty cute. Tenma doesn't quite know how to deal with her feelings or what they mean, and Leo has to readjust his thought of his feelings, because he's so used to trying to be cruel instead of sweet. But when they finally figure it out, it's pretty dang cute.

This didn't feel rushed at all, and I even like the time skip at the end. It felt pretty fitting and really sweet. This was a really fun, sweet shojo series to read, and I'm really glad I followed it to the end.

Manga Review: Behind the Scenes!!, Volume 7, by Bisco Hatori

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2019

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ranmaru Kurisu comes from a family of hardy, rough-and-tumble fisherfolk and he sticks out at home like a delicate, artistic sore thumb. It’s given him a raging inferiority complex and a permanently pessimistic outlook. Now that he’s in college, he’s hoping to find a sense of belonging. But after a whole life of being left out, does he even know how to fit in?!

The Art Squad has always felt like home to its members, but as their chief’s final year winds down, doubts being to assail them all. Tomu worries he has no talent, Ruka decides to quit the club early to live up to family expectations, Izumi’s amnesia finally starts to get to him, and Maasa plans to give up zombies in order to find a man. Now it’s up to Ranmaru, the newest and most neurotic club member, to save the spirit of Art Squad!

Review:

I really liked where this series went in the previous volume, and for most of this volume. Ranmaru took a drastic turn for the better, finally gained some confidence and some courage. He pushed Goda to get back into his real passion, and along the way several of the other characters finally discovered what they wanted to do.

It was all going so well into a really sweet conclusion, even if some of the romances weren't quite perfect.

I had mixed feelings about where the main romance was going already, and then a curve-ball gets thrown in at the last second. I don't want to spoil how it ends, but I don't appreciate how the main romance concluded. I don't care for that pairing, and honestly don't feel it was necessary. I was perfectly happy with them having a normal relationship, not a romantic one. Basically every other part of the story was great and concluded in a sweet and fun way, and I like how it all wrapped up, even with the jump forward in time. Just that one part that leaves me a little wicked out.

Aside from that, this was a really fun series, and I liked the theme of it, and the characters. I do wish we got a little more with the side characters. And I really hope we get to see whatever Bisco Hatori releases next.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, Volume 6, by Megumi Morino

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

This funny and heartrending romantic manga set in modern Tokyo is not the fairy tale you remember! This time, Prince Charming is a teenage janitor, and this Sleeping Beauty's curse is a supernatural, gender-bending dream that threatens to pull them both into a deeper and deeper slumber…

SWEET DREAMS

After a hectic summer, Shizu and her mother welcome a calm autumn in their home. Every day, Shizu grows more certain of herself, but after meeting the living daughter of one of her ghosts, she realizes it all comes at a price. The spirits within her know they are existing on borrowed time, and no one is more worried than Shizu. As a newfound loneliness creeps into her heart, she finds out the hard way that there is plenty to gain in letting go…

Review:

The last bit of closure for the series is the ghosts inhabiting Shizu's body. They need closure in order to move on, and Shizu and Tetsu decide to find it. Haru is the biggest surprise, both sad and sweet. Shizu forms a friendship with his daughter in the search, though.

Shizu gets to continue discovering herself. Finding out who she is and what she likes, and what she wants. I really like these kinds of plot lines/characters to begin with, and it's nice to see Shizu figuring these things out. She's getting out there and making friendships, going after what she wants, and growing her relationship with Tetsu along the way.

The ending for this series was really sweet. It wrapped up all of the loose threads, including Shizu's relationship with her father and Tetsu's mother's status. Some a little open, but on the way to getting better, I think.

This was a really sweet series, and I'm glad I followed it.

Manga Review: Astra Lost in Space, Volume 5, by Kenta Shinohara

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2018

Volumes: 5.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Can eight teenagers find their way home from 5,000 light-years away?

It’s the year 2063, and interstellar space travel has become the norm. Eight students from Caird High School and one child set out on a routine planet camp excursion. While there, the students are mysteriously transported 5,000 light-years away to the middle of nowhere! Will they ever make it back home?!

Conspiracies begin to unravel as the truth behind the Astra crew members’ circumstances start to come to light. And when the crew reaches their last pit stop, Galem, the saboteur is revealed! Don’t miss the shocking conclusion in this final volume!

Review:

In the first half of this volume, we discover what happened with Earth and what planet the kids are from. Then we discover who is behind the murder attempts, and why. It's honestly a pretty interesting back story regarding Charce and Aries. And in the second half of the book, we get back to their home and confront their attempted murderers.

I enjoyed what I read of this series. The ending is a bit much, but I didn't really expect any different. I liked the twists it threw in, the whole conspiracies and idea behind Earth and the clones. I liked a few of the characters, though I didn't grow quite close enough to any of them by the end. But still, this was a fun sci-fi series.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Kiss Him, Not Me!, Volume 14, by Junko

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 14.

Spoilers?: No.

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Volume: 1. 13.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kae here for one last huzzah! I went all the way to Shiga to tell Mutsumi-senpai he's the only one for me! There, we ended up spending the night together in a hotel, and ... !!! Well, let's just say things would have gone a little differently if it was one of my BL ships!

And remember how Mutsumi-senpai is graduating this year? He suggested that we spend time making as many memories as we can, but also says his dream college is all the way in Kyoto...

Aaahh, what do I do?! I don't want him to give up on his dream! Will we find our happy ending, or is that the sort of thing that only happens in doujinshi?

Review:

This series wrapped up rather sweetly. The last hurdle for Kae and Mutsumi is graduation, as college can be a big change. It causes some worry for a brief period, as they're also starting to deal with intimacy between them at the same time.

The epilogue featured a big time skip at the end, and I wasn't terribly surprised. This is a bit of a stereotypical series, so it made sense for it to use this theme as well. I think it worked relatively well, though, and that Kae's fluctuating weight ended up being a running thing.

I enjoyed this series overall. It had good and bad moments, but I think it used its humor to the best of its ability to make it work. It was a fun read.