Manga Review: Strobe Edge, Volume 10, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 9.

Re-readable?: Yes.

Goodreads Synopsis:

What is love, anyway? Ninako Kinoshita's friends tell her it's one thing, but Ninako wonders what this mysterious feeling really is. When she meets Ren Ichinose, the handsome, enigmatic guy that all the girls worship; her life takes an unexpected turn. With just a few words and a smile, he changes her world...Ninako loves Ren, but seeing Ando get hurt while protecting her makes her feel sad and confused - to the point where she turns Ren down when he confesses his love for her! Has Ninako lost her chance with Ren? Or will they find a way to be together?

What Will I Miss?:

• I will absolutely miss the way Sakisaka tells a story; the perfect mix of humor and serious and thoughtful--I love it. It's one of my very favorite thing about this series, how funny it is that it has me grinning, but also how thoughtful it can be, how certain scenes can really stick with you (like Ren's breakup scene), and how perfect the romance builds and how the characters exchange glances and touches. I just love it.
• I will miss the art. It's kind of charming, particularly how Ninako is drawn, but also just really pretty.
• The characters. I grew really close to all of them, and they all made me feel a lot of things. I will miss them a lot.

Review:

This was a fantastic ending to a fantastic series. I absolutely love it.

At first, the confession doesn’t quite go where I wanted it to, didn’t stay quite as intense as I wanted it to. But then Ninako has a realization, and she goes after Ren. And then there’s a big, crying, messy confession, and it’s just kind of perfect. It’s very Ninako. And Ren gets it, and he loves her. And I love them. And just… Yes.

I’m not going to spoil too much, but it was just great. I love it. (This is going to be like a mantra in this review, I can already tell.)

Then we got to see the two on an actual date, and see how actually perfect they really are together. I honestly just love how similar they are. They feel and think alike, even if they show it in different ways. And when they finally talk about it, after they’ve misunderstood, I like how easily, how quickly, their entire thought-process changes. The realization they have of “oh, that’s what they were thinking”, and their entire thought on what happened changes.

There was also a short story featuring Manabu, who I have previously stated was a favorite of mine. He’s just such an adorable, fun, sweetheart. And this story really proves that. I loved getting inside his head. For some reason, I didn’t think this was going to be a Happily Ever After for him, but I was still a little upset at the ending. There are obviously good things in store for him, but I think I just wanted to see it happen. I wanted to see him truly happy. 

This was a perfect ending to the series, and I completely love it. This series is definitely a favorite of mine, I would give it five stars overall, and it’s one that I could happily reread. I really hope that VIZ picks up another series by Sakisaka in the future, because I really want to read more of her stuff.

Manga Review: Strobe Edge, Volume 9, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March, 2014

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

What is love, anyway? Ninako Kinoshita’s friends tell her it’s one thing, but Ninako wonders what this mysterious feeling really is. When she meets Ren Ichinose, the handsome, enigmatic guy that all the girls worship, her life takes an unexpected turn. With just a few words and a smile, he changes her world...

Ren decides to tell Ninako his feelings for her after the Sports Festival, but he’s afraid she may have already moved on! Meanwhile, Ando and his ex, Mao, keep crossing paths… How will Ando react when he hears her shocking revelation?

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

Review:

I love this series. Ohmygod, do I love this series. I just want to fangirl all over the place for that ending, especially.

First, I’m going to start with something minor. Ando and Mao. I love Ando, and I feel a little bad for him. I’m happy with how things came out with Mao, and I feel a little bad for her, even if I don’t think she went the right direction. I still just want Ando to be happy, though. And I feel bad for him. The poor guy just wants Ninako to like him, and it is just not happening.

And Ninako is just so conflicted. She feels bad for Ando, she wants to be with Ren, she doesn’t think Ren feels that way for her, she’s just now starting to really talk with her friends again. She’s just going through so much. But she’s handling it pretty well, mostly.

Ninako is really a great heroine. She’s optimistic, and a little naïve, upbeat even as she struggles, trying to think of others. I really do like her.

Now, the big things. Ninako and Ren. Ohmygod ohmygod. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I also just want to fangirl all over the place. It’s heating up between them, Ren being more upfront, Ninako trying not to. And that ending… oh man, that ending. I am absolutely not going to spoil it, but for one I think the scene was done beautifully. It’s arranged so fast and perfectly, their reactions and the emotions, and I just… I mean, I’ve already re-read that scene like three times, and it has me grinning and fluttering like crazy just thinking about it.

The next volume is the last one, and I am so, so excited for it. It is going to be amazing. I cannot wait.

Manga Review: Strobe Edge, Volume 8, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January, 2014

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A heartwarming story about first love that’s one of the most hotly anticipated new shojo series among U.S. fans.What is love, anyway? Ninako Kinoshita’s friends tell her it’s one thing, but Ninako wonders what this mysterious feeling really is. When she meets Ren Ichinose, the handsome, enigmatic guy that all the girls worship, her life takes an unexpected turn. With just a few words and a smile, he changes her world...

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

Review:

This is a fantastic series, really. I’m pretty sure it’s one of my favorites at this point, and one that I could re-read really easily (and have, for some scenes, already). I’m going to try to keep my fangirling to a smaller amount than previously, though. To read more fangirling, check out my previous reviews.

There a lot of decisions made in this volume, for a few characters. Ninako decides to do something, then is influenced not to. Ren decides to go for it. Ninako talks to Ando, and I feel so bad for the poor guy. He’s so sweet, but he’s just not it for Ninako, sadly.

I’m really enjoying the moments between Ninako and Ren. There’s a lot of eye-gazing between them. It’s sweet, and simmering, and so obvious that something is going to happen soon… I can’t wait. Plus, I’m thinking Ren might actually do something soon, and that’ll be exciting. Oh, and seeing Ren be more clumsy around Ninako is really funny, but also really good for the relationship; it’s letting her get to know a deeper part of him.

There’s some talk of Ren and Ando’s relationship in this volume. It’s obvious that there’s some distance between them, and I do think they need to talk, get back to being closer friends. But I do still think they’re kind of best friends. They get along so well, even if they do fight and compete. They’re really open with each other. And I think that, whatever happens at the end, they’re going to work it out.

Ninako also meets a new character in this volume, Toda. He doesn’t really have much to do with the mess that Ninako’s going through, and so he plays a really good part for her, someone for her to confide in. And I liked seeing him encourage and help her, and freak out when she cries. (But I just find it hilarious/adorable when a girl cries, and any guy around her freak out.) She really needed someone to push her to do what she needed, and she’s still conflicted, but she’s maturing over her issues. I like that.

The girl from Ren and Ando’s past is messing stuff up. I don’t really like her at this point, but I’m mostly waiting to see what she’s really up to, and what her reasoning is. Right now, she’s just ruining everything. 

Once again, this was a great volume. I’m loving this series. And I’m really excited to read the next one, see what all the misconceptions lead to.

Manga Review: Strobe Edge, Volume 7, by Io Sakisaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November, 2013

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A heartwarming story about first love that’s one of the most hotly anticipated new shojo series among U.S. fans.What is love, anyway? Ninako Kinoshita’s friends tell her it’s one thing, but Ninako wonders what this mysterious feeling really is. When she meets Ren Ichinose, the handsome, enigmatic guy that all the girls worship, her life takes an unexpected turn. With just a few words and a smile, he changes her world...

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

Review:

It’s been a few months since I last read a volume of Strobe Edge, and it reminded me how much I enjoy this series. This series is adorable, and hilarious, and cute, and sweet, and thoughtful, all at the same time. Moving from one to the other seamlessly, and I love it. I was grinning and laughing the entire time while reading this volume, it’s so freakin’ good.

Ninako and Ren’s relationship is still simmering. Neither of them thinking the other feels the same, but hanging out and talking mostly normally. There’s a lot of looks exchanged, though, and Ninako’s feelings are really starting to bubble over. I’m excited to see when they finally tell each other, and who does it first. I’m betting on Ninako, but Ren finally being upfront about it would be a nice change (and I do think he’s getting there).

I am really surprised by how much I’m liking Ren. Ando wasn’t in this volume much, and Ren might even be moving ahead in my mind. Ren is really maturing, and it’s really showing in how he’s reacting after the breakup.

There was also a lot of drama between Sayuri and Daiki in this volume. I wasn’t expecting it, and it was a bit angsty at one point, but it turned out really well. Those two are seriously adorable together. Daiki gets so happy when he sees her, it’s so sweet. I love them, seriously. And it seems like we might get to see some of the other minor-ish characters getting attention next, and I’m looking forward to that. Also, some real drama for Ren and Ninako (and probably Ando), oooh. 

This is probably one of my favorite series at this point, especially given how happy I get while reading it. I’m seriously loving it, and am really, really excited to get the next volumes.