Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 11, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: May 24, 2016

Volumes: 11.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Efforts to reunite the members of Ayakashi Hall take an unexpected, tragic turn when one of their number falls in the battle. The death of a close friend serves to strengthen the remaining throwbacks' resolve to prevent the grim outcome relayed by their future selves, even if it means exposing the dark truth of one of their most trusted allies...

Review:

I am quite satisfied with this conclusion.

There is scheming, and death, and violence, and reveals of truth. Friendship comes to save the day, as does love. It’s a mix of all of these things, and I think it’s concludes quite well, I’m happy to say.

The surprising part, to me, was that we get a big history on Mikoto and Shimon, and find out who exactly is behind all this and why. It started sweet, and then turned very sad and draining. I honestly don’t remember Shimon at all, but I can ignore that.

But the truth is revealed to them all. We see how important everyone is to each other, and what Kagerou intended all along. Mikoto and Banri have formed a sweet friendship.

The final chapter, skipping forward to show us where everyone is after it all, is very sweet and very satisfying. It’s delightful to see how everything worked out, including for their other selves.

This was a much larger volume than normal, and it needed to be. I’m really happy with how this series ended, and it is definitely worth reading.

Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 10, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4
Publisher: Yen Press
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Volumes: 11.
Spoilers?: Light.
Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.
Volume: 1. 9. 11.

Goodreads Synopsis:

The threat of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons has driven the residents of Ayakashi Hall to take refuge at their family homes--whether they'd like to or not. But when they're apart, the situation seems even more hopeless, and one by one the group reassembles at the place that brought them together. Whatever the future holds, they will face it with a united front!

Review:

This volume includes the group getting separated, seeing what their families want to do with them to keep them “safe”, and then reuniting again. It’s satisfying to see them stand up for themselves, and to see which characters pair up with each other so quickly or reluctantly.
Roromiya and Watanuki are so sweet and I just love them loving each other. Zange is a sweet guy, even if he tries to hide it, and I love all the bromance between the guys. Then there’s Nobara and Sorinozuka, who really have the most open relationship, but it is a real friendship.
Most of them get out relatively easily, but they have to form a rescue mission to get Soushi out. This, of course, shows the new start to Soushi and Ririchiyo’s relationship. They just break my heart every time—they’re been thrown together and torn apart way too many times, it hurts so bad. And now they’re finally back together, and they’re so cute and heartbreakingly sweet.
This leads to the cliffhanger, which sounds rather horrible. The next volume is the last, and I seriously can’t wait to see how it all ends, and I just hope that it’s good. I don’t think I can stand any more heartbreak with these characters, seriously.

Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 9, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: November 2015

Volumes: 11.

Spoilers?: Some.

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

Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At first, the residents of Ayakashi Hall are baffled by the discovery of a time capsule containing letters in their own handwriting, apparently from their future selves. But Natsume's ability to see beyond confirms the truth, and he is overwhelmed by the future he glimpses. The others aren't sure they want to know the full extent of what is to come when it has so obviously rattled Natsume and their later selves. Even with that knowledge, what can they do differently to face the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?!

Review:

The first half of this volume continues the interludes. While I would have liked more main story, I do love everything in this series. There’s an adorable chapter about Ririchiyo and Soushi, where they’re separated for a short while and how they handle it. But the one that stands out is about Natsume and his past, what he went through as a kid and how he came to have the attitude he has now.

After that, we get back to normal setting and time. And this time, we’re thrown back to the original time, before everyone died. I don’t know if I believe it’ll stay there, but it appears that things are going different now that they’ve received those letters. Things have changed, and I’m not sure if it’s good or not, because now they’re being separated.

Everything is different, and I don’t know if I like it. We’re heading into the final arc and it’s only going to get worse, I feel, until the end. 

I seriously cannot wait.

Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 8, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: July 21, 2015

Volumes: 11.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Add on Goodreads 

RightStuf Synopsis:

Mikoto Inugami's friendship with Watanuki has alerted Zange to the fox's plot to repeat the Night Parade, which claimed so many supernatural lives over twenty years ago. The residents of Ayakashi Hall rush to confront their enemy, but time is not on their side. Inugami's plan is not to initiate the Parade in this incarnation, but to revisit the past!

Review:

Why doesn’t this series have color pages?  Huh, Yen Press?  Why?

The last forty percent of this book is all extras.  And the way the real chapters ends just makes me want to cry a little.  Ugh, how can you do this to me?  Every time?

Watanuki’s terrible friend who started all this terribleness, Mikoto, is bringing up even more trouble.  Which means that Watanuki brings in the gang to fix things, not knowing what that really means.  There’s a fight, but they have a plan to try to fix things, thus ending this middle arc, and into the last one.

There’s a truly heartbreaking scene with Ririchiyo and Soushi, though.  Soushi just doesn’t understand Ririchiyo’s feelings, and it’s crushing, the way he loves her and wants her to love him now, but she’s still attached to the past him.  She’s just going to have to see the him now, though, goddamnit.  My heart is just breaking and crying for them.

We also got to see some cuteness between Watanuki and Roromiya, and I’ve missed them.  There was even a sweet scene between Sorinozuka and Nobara, and Roromiya and Kagerou, and even with Zange.  The entire group has a lot of moments between them and I just love each and every one of them so much.

The humor in this series really is ace, and all the extras show that.  The way everyone gets along and each of their characteristics.  I must say, though, that getting to know the new Soushi really brings him in contrast to the old one.  I love them both so much.

I am always eagerly anticipating a new volume of this series.  And I hope that Yen licenses something else by Fujiwara, I would love to read anything else she’s done, even if it was left unfinished.  I just love everything about this series so much that I want more.

Manga Review: Inu x Boku SS, Volume 7, by Cocoa Fujiwara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Yen Press

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Volumes: 11

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ririchiyo has decided to make a fresh start, removing the blinders from her eyes and releasing Soushi from his contract. From now on, she has resolved to treat this incarnation of Soushi as his own person and to mourn the loss of the man she loved in a previous life. The change has given Ririchiyo a clear perspective, but Soushi's heart remains clouded. Playing the part of his former self for Ririchiyo's sake was an act--what will happen when Soushi's true feelings come to light...? 

Review:

This series just kills me. It makes me want to cry and rage and cry some more. I don’t understand how it can make me feel so many things at once, over and over again, every time.

We finally get to find out what Soushi is going through, whether he remembers or not. And I won’t dare spoil it, but it hurts so much. I just feel so terrible for him, and I want to hug and cry for him because of it.

That’s all I should say on that subject, lest I break and spoil everything.

Aside from that, we get more of Watanuki and Roromiya. We find out more about what Watanuki’s horrible friend is up to. There are a lot of scenes with the group who remember the past talking, and I just like their friendship. The humor is still amazing; I love the comic strips and extras. Even while dying inside, I laugh at every one of them. This group of characters is amazing, and I love every one of them. Everything in this series is done beautifully.

Even waiting three months for each volume is too long, but nevertheless I am on edge for the next one.