Manga Review: Daytime Shooting Star, Volume 8, by Mika Yamamori

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2020

Volumes: 12 + Extra

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Clueless country girl Suzume moves to Tokyo and finds her heart caught between two men!

After arriving in Tokyo to live with her uncle, Suzume collapses in a nearby park where she had once seen a shooting star during the day. A handsome stranger brings her to her new home and tells her they’ll meet again. Suzume starts her first day at her new high school sitting next to a boy who blushes furiously at her touch. And her homeroom teacher is none other than the handsome stranger!

Suzume has moved to Tokyo and is living with her uncle. Mr. Shishio’s change of heart causes Suzume to shut herself up in her room. When Suzume's mother returns to their hometown for a brief stay, Suzume makes the sudden decision to return home. But Yuyuka and Suzume's other Tokyo friends are determined to bring her back.

 

Review:

 

Recovering from the breakup, Suzume needs to get away. Coincidentally, her mom is back home, and so she gets to go back home for a little while. It's nostalgic and sweet, her getting to see her old friends and be back at her old home. But her new friends miss her, and Uncle Yukichi is worried about her, and her new home wants her back after a point.

Despite my feelings about Shishio at this point, and all the brewing things between Suzume and Mamura (which I thought was done with!), I really like how all of this is handled. Suzume needed to step back, and she needed to see her mom, and she gets to take that time away and do that. And when she gets back to school, she's stronger for it.

I think I'm still for Shishio in the romance, but I do love Mamura. And getting to see his family again was really fun. I like Mamura, I just don't know if I like him as much for Suzume. But, honestly, I'm a little conflicted about it at this point.

Why'd Shishio have to go and ruin it?

Manga Review: An Incurable Case of Love, Volume 4, by Maki Enjoji

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2020

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: Light.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 Nurse Nanase has striven to once again meet the prince of her dreams, so how is it he’s become such an aggravating doctor?!

After witnessing a handsome and charming young doctor save a stranger’s life five years ago, Nanase Sakura trained to become a nurse. But when she meets the doctor again and they start working together, she finds Kairi Tendo to be nothing like the man she imagined him to be!

At long last, the Dark Lord has been defeated! Wait—it can’t be that easy!

Nanase became a nurse to chase after Dr. Kairi Tendo. Nanase hears that Kairi has requested to study abroad. She is shocked by the news and tells him she doesn’t want to be apart, but Kairi’s response makes her uneasy!

 

Review:

 

Sakura is suddenly confronted with Tendo's past, which he at first refuses to say anything about. When he's given an opportunity he's waited for, though, she has to find the reason why, and she has to decide whether to let him go or not.

Maybe because this isn't the final volume, the story decides to follow the cheesy “surprise! It was all for nothing, because the choice was taken away from them for him to stay” thing. It's really annoying to me when this plot point is pulled. It's kind of unnecessary to me, because they could have gone through his past without him suddenly moving far away.

I really want to like this series more than I do, I think. I've enjoyed Enjoji's series in the past, and maybe it's Tendo? But I'm just not hitting it off with this couple, or this story, or something, as much as I have in the past. I really want to, though, I'm really trying.

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 26, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2020

Volumes: 33+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 25. 27.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

After unleashing their powers to save Yona, the Four Dragons lose consciousness and collapse! Su-won and the Kohka army arrive to participate in a summit with Xing, but Priest Gobi’s anti-war faction members attack Princess Kouren! Can the nation of Xing achieve peace with all this infighting threatening its foundation?

Review:

 

After that very intense cliffhanger, the volume continues into battle. It's still intense, but that last moment is a little hard to compete with.

Yona is still going strong, fighting along with Kouren as much as she can. When Su-Won shows up, it's truly a moment to appreciate. He definitely knows how to stay diplomatic and how to handle people, and I can respect that. It's a little hard to tell what he intends with Yona in the end, and now with the dragons, but he's separating himself from it to an extend, very clearly.

After all of that, we finally get a confrontation between Yona and Hak. Man, this series got intense and progressive very suddenly!

I will admit I didn't expect it to happen like this, but oh man am I excited to see what happens in the next volume. I cannot wait.

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.

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

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: Snow White with the Red Hair, Volume 7, by Sorata Akiduki

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 22.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Shirayuki is an herbalist famous for her naturally bright-red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! The prince from the neighboring kingdom, Zen, rescues her from her plight, and thus begins their love story.

Finally rid of the Claw of the Sea, Shirayuki and company return to Clarines—just in time for Palace Exhibition Day, the one day the palace is open to the public. But as Zen, bedecked in fancy garb, performs his princely duties, Shirayuki realizes how wide the gap between them truly is.

 

Review:

 

Now that all the chaos of being kidnapped and then kidnapped from the kidnapping has concluded, things finally start to calm down for the group. Shirayuki gets a surprise reunion, which is actually really sweet. And then they get to go back home, back to their somewhat normal routine.

Shirayuki has gathered a nice group of friends now, including pirates and prince Raj. And, of course, she always has Zen there for her.

There's some nice easy chapters for most of this volume. They finally get to have the banquet, and they get to go home. Shirayuki is reminded, though, that Zen is a real prince, and that's a much higher status than her, and yet she wants to stay by his side. They get to have a conversation about their relationship regarding that, and unsurprisingly, it's all very sweet and mature. Because this couple definitely has that mature, pushing each other to be better and loving each other for it, kind of relationship. It's really nice to see that growing, too.

Manga Review: Ao Haru Ride, Volume 12, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2020

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 11. 13.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Futaba Yoshioka has encountered her first love again in high school, but he seems different from the boy she once knew. Kou no longer wants to hold back how he feels about Futaba. He’s determined to keep trying as long as he has even a sliver of a chance with her. Meanwhile, Futaba has decided to be more honest in her relationship with Toma, but is her heart still in it?

 

Review:

 

I definitely thought that this triangle was going to take longer to resolve than this.

In the first part of the volume, Kou finally gets to find some closure with Narumi. She was avoiding it, but he definitely wanted it to help them both move on. And given how honest each of the characters tends to be with themselves and then each other, I suppose it's not surprising how quickly it moves from there.

There's a bit of a surprising, and dramatic, event afterward, but it all ends rather heartwarming and sweet. It's sad for some of the characters, but they all take it rather well. I think it affects everyone in a certain, but good, way.

The next volume is the last, but I think it'll mostly be fluff, and tying up the rest of the loose ends. This volume had a really nice conclusion for the main couple, so far.

Manga Review: Not Your Idol, Volume 1, by Aoi Makino

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 2 (Hiatus)

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis

 

After that day, she stopped being a girl.

In the wake of an assault, Nina Kamiyama, a former idol in the group Pure Club, shuns her femininity and starts dressing as a boy. At high school she keeps to herself, but fellow student Hikaru Horiuchi realizes who she is. What secrets is she keeping? The shocking drama starts.

 

Review:

 

I was thoroughly warned of the subject matter in this series, which both made me curious and wary. With this kind of topic, it can be tricky to handle it. And I don't know that I've seen too many great ways in manga, so I was definitely interested. I needed to be in the right mind set, though.

Nina was a very popular idol, but one day when she was attacked, she stepped away from it all and didn't quite know how to recover.

There's definitely some petty drama being started here, with some jealous high school girls. There's also the suspense of knowing that Nina had a stalker, and that person might still be out there watching her, waiting to attack again. When a popular boy at school starts paying attention to Nina, and even supports her in her actions against sexual harassment on a couple of other girls, suspicion starts to form.

I'm intrigued by this series. It's handling harassment in an okay way so far, and then that cliffhanger has me curious for where it's going next. I'm also intrigued by how Nina is dealing with her femininity. From being an idol, in very short and frilly clothes, to dressing in pants and long sleeves and short hair, is a big difference. It touches on how these changes affected her, whether she likes them and how it might have affected the attack and how she feels about all of it. I definitely think there's more to see in all of this, though.

I'm intrigued, and I want to know more. This series is apparently on hiatus, though, so I'm not sure how much more or where we'll be leaving off in the next volume.

Manga Review: Daytime Shooting Star, Volume 7, by Mika Yamamori

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2020

Volumes: 12 (+Extra)

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Suzume has moved to Tokyo and is living with her uncle. Suzume and Mr. Shishio take a trip together for the first time. But something weighs heavily on Mr. Shishio’s mind. Meanwhile, Suzume’s worried about being caught on a romantic outing with her teacher.

 

Review:

 

Suzume is attempting to connect better with Shishio, but Shishio is being reminded of the fact that he's older and he's her teacher. There's a lot of complications because of that, pressures, and a confrontation that we expected to happen at some point. It's not surprising how it goes, but it is rough. And how Shishio responds to it doesn't help anything.

I'm frustrated by this series at this point. It gives us like a tiny piece of progress, and then throws it all away in a second. I understand the drama of it, and I even understand the necessity of real possible issues. But it's still frustrating, and while I've been rooting for Shishio and Suzume, Shishio is starting get on my nerves a little bit with how he's handling these things.

I still feel like there's a definite main couple option here, but it keeps throwing these surprises at me that make me doubt it. I'm never quite sure where it's going next.

Manga Review: Ao Haru Ride, Volume 11, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2020

Volumes: 13.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 10. 12.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Futaba Yoshioka has encountered her first love again in high school, but he seems different from the boy she once knew. With the help of his friends, Kou lets go of painful memories from his past. Futaba wants to get closer to Toma, but she ends up spending time with Kou.

 

Review:

 

Futaba and Kikuchi have been very good about talking to each other up to this point, about being honest about their feelings, especially with Kou involved. They come upon a road bump in this volume, when Futaba ends up following Kou to his old hometown.

It's important to Kou that he revisit his old home, form new memories and perspective of it. Having Futaba there is important, and helpful with that, even if he didn't intend it at the beginning. But Kou is still very clearly intending on winning her back, so he doesn't protest.

There's another scare with Futaba here, where she gets followed and lost. She wants Kikuchi to help her, because she's trying so hard for it to be him for her.

In the midst of all of that, we get some history on when Kominato started liking Murao, a brief history of them knowing each other. It's quite cute. After getting to know them a bit more, they seem like an odd couple. But I'm rooting for them regardless.

There's only two volumes left, so I imagine big things are coming next.

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 25, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2020

Volumes: 33+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 24. 26.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

 

Review:

 

In a lot of ways, this was the volume we've all been waiting for.

Yona stakes her claim, and she doesn't back down. It's an important moment between her and Su-Won, but it's also just a tasting. There's still a lot of tension there, that I assume will be confronted at some point. There's a very different kind of tension brewing between Yona and Hak, which is also being put off till a later date.

And then the dragons. There's a lot of other things going on with the war coming, and underhanded attacks regarding it, and the contrast between the two princesses of Xing and Yona, and even with Riri. But the dragons. There's such a monumental big scene with them as the volume ends, and I can't contain myself. I've been wondering if something like this could happen, or what it would mean, and it's beautiful and stunning, and it makes me so happy.

This volume and the previous ones had very important moments in them. There's a lot of major plots being addressed, and I imagine it's only going to continue into the next volume, especially with that cliffhanger. I seriously cannot wait for it.

I've had to re-read the end of this volume like a handful of times, it just makes me so giddy.

Manga Review: Love Me, Love Me Not, Volume 2, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 12.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

 

Goodreads Synopsos:

 

Love and friendship have become quite complicated for these four friends. Yuna has fallen in love with Rio, but he has feelings for Akari that he’s never been able to express. While Yuna keeps his secret, Akari makes a move on the person she’s interested in.

 

Review:

 

As tensions increase in the Rio and Akari household, Yuna struggles with how to deal with her own feelings. As is typical with Sakisaka (which I still appreciate), she doesn't hold them back for long though. This could complicate things, but Yuna uses it as a way to be open and honest, and to move forward as both of their friends. Akari is a bit oblivious about it, though, as she's trying to only be Yuna's friend and Rio's sister.

Then there's Kazuomi. He's everyone's friend at this point, and seems pretty oblivious to all of the drama bubbling up. He's just a good guy, and I like him.

I think I'm only slowly following this series because I'm not sure where it's going yet. Even though they're only four characters, there are a couple of different ways these relationships could go still. I'm not sure which one I really want, either. But I like all of the characters, how well-rounded they're all becoming, and the friendships that are forming between each of them.

Manga Review: Yona of the Dawn, Volume 24, by Mizuho Kusanagi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2020

Volumes: 32+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 23. 25.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

A red-haired princess loses her family and her kingdom… Now she must rise and fight for her throne!

Princess Yona lives an ideal life as the only princess of her kingdom. Doted on by her father, the king, and protected by her faithful guard Hak, she cherishes the time spent with the man she loves, Su-won. But everything changes on her 16th birthday when tragedy strikes her family!

Review:

 

Yona and Hak are doing what they can to stop, or at least stall, the impending war. They attempt to see Su-Won, but that confrontation might be for a later time still. Instead, we get a surprise reunion with Min-Su, a surprise supporter of Yona.

Similar to Tae-Jun, who also appears in this volume, Min-Su seems to be a surprise companion for Yona. Someone who she knew before, whether good or bad, who Yona ends up influencing in bigger ways than expected.

Yona and Hak separate in this volume, off to do what they can to stall and negotiate this thing. But! Also! Surprise Yona and Hak Development! Ah!

Also! That ending! Cliffhanger!

I can't say any more about this volume, because it's all spoilers. But this was a surprisingly huge volume in progress and plot, and I'm so excited to read the next one, I cannot wait.

Manga Review: An Incurable Case of Love, Volume 3, by Maki Enjoji

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2020

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: Yes.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nurse Nanase has striven to once again meet the prince of her dreams, so how is it he’s become such an aggravating doctor?!

After witnessing a handsome and charming young doctor saving a stranger’s life five years ago, Nanase Sakura trained to become a nurse. But when she meets the doctor again and they start working together, she finds Kairi Tendo to be nothing like the man she imagined him to be!

The mean Dark Lord has turned into a kindly knight! It’s like a dream come true! Is this really happening?!!

Nanase became a nurse to chase after Dr. Kairi Tendo. To keep herself safe from a former patient who is stalking her, she stays with Kairi and pretends to be his lover! But the stalker becomes furious and attacks! As she loses consciousness, she reveals to Kairi how she feels!

Review:

 

In Nanase's terror, and while practically delirious after being attacked, she confesses to Tendo. This starts a change potentially in the good between them. But then it doesn't quite seem that Tendo feels the same for Nanase, or even really understands what a relationship is.

This is a bit of a confusing step to me. Tendo agrees, but then almost seems asexual in his feelings for Nanase, and his interest in being romantic with her. It's very odd. Near the end of the volume, he seems to be feeling more for her, though, and he definitely gets jealous easily.

I could definitely see how some people might see some problematic themes in these series, but I also think that it's okay to feel these things. Nanase feels very strongly for Tendo, and she's stuck by that. But she's also stuck by her want to be a nurse, whether it started because of him or not. Whether this might be seen as a guilty pleasure or not, I'm enjoying this.

Manga Review: Snow White with the Red Hair, Volume 6, by Sorata Akiduki

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2020

Volumes: 22.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A romantic retelling of a classic fairy tale about a beautiful herbalist and a lovestruck prince.

Shirayuki is an herbalist famous for her naturally bright-red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! The prince from the neighboring kingdom, Zen, rescues her from her plight, and thus begins their love story.

The banquet in Tanbarun arrives, and Shirayuki and Obi are dressed to impress. But it’s not all frills and lace, as Zen learns those aiming to kidnap Shirayuki have pinpointed her location. Against his brother Izana’s wishes, Zen rides for Tanbarun! But will he reach Shirayuki before danger strikes?

Review:

Everything seems to be going well, the banquet is coming up. I was clearly underestimating the importance of this guy coming after Shirayuki, because he shows up, and things go down real fast.

Zen has to make an important decision for himself and his standing when he realizes how in danger Shirayuki is. And when Shirayuki is put in such a difficult place, all by herself, she has to be strong and not let herself get upset. Since they got together so quickly, it makes sense that other important plots had to be thrown at them. But also, I think this also proves how strong as characters, and as a couple, they are. They're very strong on their own, and knowing that they have each other only pushes them to be better and stronger, knowing they can lean on each other but also do better for each other.

Near the end, when Shirayuki realizes what Zen did for her, knowing what it means for him as a prince, is so perfect. It's strong and sweet, and it means so much.

There's quite a lot happening in this volume. There also appears to be a bit of a harem forming, which I'm intrigued but also confused by. Zen and Shirayuki don't need that kind of drama.

This was a very dramatic change for me, cause while I was enjoying this series before, now I'm all in. I want the next one now, I'm ready to get caught up.