Manga Review: The Devil's Secret by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: 801 Media/DMP

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. RightStuf.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Father Mauro lived a peaceful life in a small town ministering to his community. That is, until he found a wounded demon (?) in the bushes of the church garden. While Raoul looks like a demon, complete with horns and a tail, he doesn’t act like the typical demon. Playful? Yes! Mischievous? Yes! Outright evil? Well… that depends on the definition. Does seducing men of the cloth count as evil – especially if they like it?

Review:

This is more middle-road Takanaga. Not as good as her current stuff, but better than her early-early stuff. The artwork is getting better, the characters are better written; more steamy scenes, which is always a plus.

The first two chapters feature a priest and a devil. Pretty light-hearted and cute. Next we have a student romance, then a winter romance, all one-shots. A couple of pretty cute boy characters, and a few with some pretty good smut featured.

All in all, not a bad yaoi one-shot volume. I'll keep it.

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.

Add on Goodreads 

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.

Manga Review: Awkward Silence, Volume 6, by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2018

Volumes: 6.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A shy boy gets a chance at love.

Final Volume!

Satoru Tono is too shy to speak to classmate Keigo Tamiya. Instead he fills his sketchbook with drawings of the boy he likes. But perhaps Keigo has noticed him too...?

It is time for college entrance exams and Satoru takes on the challenge. Will he get accepted to the most competitive art school in the country and become a college student alongside Keigo?! And what will happen to their plans of living together after graduation...?

Review:

Now that they're graduating, they have exciting things to consider. Exams for university to take, and Tamiya is moving out on his own. This brings up the topic of living together, and while Satoru hadn't considered this before, he's instantly excited.

Seeing them overcome some issues along the way, and how it resolves rather well for them, is very sweet. They get to live together, Satoru's parents give them some rules, and they get to be adults in college and living on their own.

At the end of the volume are some chapters in the future, and it's nice to see the couple ten years in the future, and still very cute and loving. It's also nice to see Satoru's parents still happy together and doting on their kids. They're all very cute.

This was a really good series, a favorite yaoi series of mine. The conclusion is really sweet, without being too cheesy, with some hot scenes thrown in. It's a happy conclusion to such a cute series.

Manga Review: Awkward Silence, Volume 5, by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 9, 2016

Volumes: 5+

Spoilers?: Light.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Satoru Tono is too shy to speak to classmate Keigo Tamiya. Instead he fills his sketchbook with drawings of the boy he likes. But perhaps Keigo has noticed him too...?

Keigo surprises Satoru with a three-day trip to Karuizawa, but when the couple returns home, Satoru’s mother sees them kissing goodbye. Now that his parents know about their relationship, what will happen to Keigo and Satoru’s romance?

Review:

It’s been over a year since the last volume, I think, but I’m still just as in love with this series.

First, the main pair go on a trip during vacation, knowing that the school year will be getting very busy for them. They’re interrupted by the second pair, of course. And when they get home, they’re seen kissing by Satoru’s mother.

I love Satoru’s parents, seriously. They’re so cute and lovey dovey, and Satoru and Keigo are so similar. So cute!

The second half of the volume includes some drama, as Satoru starts an art course, getting prepared for university after high school, and gets hit on by an older student. Then Keigo joins cram school next door, and we find out that Satoru’s tutor is having troubles with his boyfriend. It all turns out rather sweet, really.

Mostly, I’m in this for Satoru and Keigo, and they’re very cute and steamy in this volume. I just love them, and am always happy for a new volume, even if they’re far between.

Manga Review: Love Round!! by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Deux Press/Aurora Publishing

Release Date: 2009

Spoilers?: No.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two Knockouts In Love!

Pretty boy Kaoru Komatsuna is self-conscious about his feminine good looks and his cute, but girly, name. Handsome school boxing champ Junya Kubo just happens to pick up Kaoru's notebook and proceeds to make fun of his strange name. Kaoru gets angry and knocks down the champ. This inspires Kubo to desperately try to convince Kaoru into becoming a boxer. After doing his best to resist him, Kaoru finds himself falling for the relentless knockout, Kubo. This yaoi comedy packs a punch!

Review:

I picked this up solely because of Awkward Silence.  And even though this wasn’t that great, I will get more, because I love her.

This is about two boxers who fall in love, only one of them gets embarrassed easily and then gets violent.  Still, the other one continues trying and is devoted. 

It was a cute enough story, and some of it was quite funny.  The characters were okay.  The artwork is definitely her earlier work, and not nearly as nice, but more average.  It just didn’t stand out to me, mostly.  It was just okay.

Manga Review: Liberty Liberty! by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Blu (Tokyopop)

Release Date: 2009

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. .

Add on Goodreads 

RightStuf Synopsis:

After fleeing Tokyo trying to escape a personal crisis, hapless Itaru winds up drunk and passed out on a neighborhood trash heap. His misery is documented by prickly cameraman Kouki, who works for a local cable station, and soon the two end up roommates and co-workers. But with a company full of quirky characters, including a perky, winsome crossdresser, and their own personalities to contend with, will Itaru and Kouki ever truly understand one another? Story and art by Hinako Takanaga.

Review:

This was just a pretty average story. The artwork is not as great as Awkward Silence, though all right.

This one is about a photographer who ends up taking in a stray—a guy who has no place left to go, and ends up staying with the photographer. He ends up working for their cable company, then getting a job of his own, and stays as a roommate. The photographer has a female friends who was nice, and pushy enough for them.

The romance is very slow here, especially since the photographer doesn’t think he has any interest in men. But I liked the stray, and I really felt for him at one point. The plot is slow, and the romance is just starting to develop when the book ends.

Overall, it was okay. The storyline and characters didn’t really grab me, but it was a nice book. I hope to pick up more of Takanaga’s previous books, and I hope some of them are better.

Manga Review: Awkward Silence, Volume 4, by Hinako Takanaga

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 10th, 2013

Volumes: 4+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf!

Wishlist Thursday.

Volume 1. Previous Volume.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Too shy for love.

Satoru Tono is too shy to speak to classmate Keigo Tamiya. Instead he fills his sketchbook with drawings of the boy he likes. But perhaps Keigo has noticed him too...?

Yuji Sagara and Takahito Kagami have been on one date together, but Yuji isn't prepared to start a relationship with a guy who lives in a completely different world than he does. Takahito is being groomed to take his father's elite place in politics, and now it's rumored he'll even go to university abroad!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences.

Review:

This is such a cute series. It’s adorable, sweet, cute, hot. I love it.

There was a lot of focus on Yuji and Kagami this volume, and they finally got their kind of happy ending, for the moment. I like them and all, they’re fun to watch, I liked seeing Yuji accept his feelings and Kagami’s and how he’s so embarrassed and defensive about it all. But they’re just not as good as Satoru and Tamiya to me. That’s probably only because I love them so much, but I really just want more of them. I want the volume to focus on them, all the time. I just want more, okay?

They did have some focus at the end, and aside from that, there was this really cute confession under a tree superstition that was just really funny. I like how both couples get along so well, their interactions are so funny.

I really like this series, it just makes me smile. And it sucks that it’s going to be a while until the next volume comes out, possibly a long while since I don’t think the next volume is even out in Japan, and I don’t know when it will be. I hope soon. Until then, I’m probably going to have to pick up another yaoi title, possibly from SuBLime, and there are several that have caught my eye, so it won't be hard to do that.