Manga Review: Sweet Rein, Volume 3, by Sakura Tsukuba

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2014

Volumes: 3

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sad at the thought of spending Christmas alone, Kurumi Sagara goes out for a walk. While she's crossing the street, a boy bumps into her, and a rein suddenly appears that binds them together. The overjoyed boy tells her she's his master and that she's a Santa Claus. Kurumi dismisses him as a crazy person, but then he transforms into a reindeer?!

Review:

I’m pretty sure this is the final volume of this series, but it really didn’t feel like it.

There were some more episodic chapters, but we also met a new character, Alto. Alto is sweet, but also a little sad. We got to see the black reindeer again, and I rather like her and her Santa. They’re odd, a little cynical, but I like them.

There was a chapter where Kaito is in heat, and so attracts all the women to him, and I found that rather funny. I really like him and Kurumi, though. I think they’re cute together, and I just think that Kaito is adorable.

I wanted some kind of resolution for the characters, for at least the romance, but instead the volume just kind of ended. I really believe this is the last volume, so that made me confused. Still, this was a really cute series. It was sweet and kindhearted and full of Christmas. I enjoyed it.

There was an extra story at the end, one featuring a character from Tsukuba’s Penguin Revolution series. I haven’t read any of it, but I thought the story was cute. I kind of hope VIZ publishes another series by Tsukuba, because I rather enjoyed her artwork and characters in this one, and her other series that have been translated look really cute, but I don’t think any of them were ever finished.

Manga Review: Sweet Rein, Volume 2, by Sakura Tsukuba

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2014

Volumes: 3

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sad at the thought of spending Christmas alone, Kurumi Sagara goes out for a walk. While she's crossing the street, a boy bumps into her, and a rein suddenly appears that binds them together. The overjoyed boy tells her she's his master and that she's a Santa Claus. Kurumi dismisses him as a crazy person, but then he transforms into a reindeer?!

Kurumi and Kaito have remained together for a year, but a Dark Santa appears, intent on breaking the two apart. Kurumi and Kaito's rein is severed, and the Dark Santa takes control of Kaito. Can Kurumi manage to get Kaito back, even when she’s still unsure if he's truly happy as her servant?

Review:

This is really just a cute, light-hearted shojo series, full of Christmas, with lots of good-hearted moments.

Kaito is adorable, and his devotion to Kurumi is so sweet. Kurumi is a nice heroine, and I do enjoy reading about her.

Another reindeer-santa pair makes some trouble for Kaito and Kurumi, there are a few episodic Christmas chapters, and at one point Kurumi gets sick and Kaito worries and is generally adorable as he helps her. It also seems like three years have passed since the series started, but instead no time has actually changed in the timeline, but the authors commenting on this makes it more laughable than anything else.

The other main plot in this volume was that a family member of Kaito found his santa. Rihito does not want to be a reindeer, and his santa doesn’t really want anything to do with it either, but they slowly get used to it. And, weirdly enough for me, I felt quite a bit of yaoi vibes between them. I’m not usually one to really see the yaoi thing between characters when there isn’t actually anything, but I saw it here. I’m not sure if anything will come of it, though probably not, but still. I saw it. But even without it, I liked their storyline.

Then there was an extra story at the end, an earlier story of Tsukaba’s I think, and it was cute.

I’m rather enjoying this series, and how cute it is. The next volume is the last, and I look forward to seeing how it all wraps up.

Manga Review: Sweet Rein, Volume 1, by Sakura Tsukuba

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: November 5th, 2013

Volumes: 3

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A magical romance from the creator of Land of the BlindfoldedSad at the thought of spending Christmas alone, Kurumi Sagara goes out for a walk. While she’s crossing the street, a boy bumps into her, and a rein suddenly appears that binds them together. The overjoyed boy tells her she’s his master and that she’s a Santa Claus. Kurumi dismisses him as a crazy person, but then he transforms into a reindeer?!

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

Review:

This series is about a Santa Claus and her Reindeer. You see, a reindeer, able to go back and forth between human and animal, is destined to work every Christmas with their very own Santa Claus, if they ever find them. And they know because, as soon as they touch, a ribbon forms between the two, attaching them to each other. No one else can see it, and it doesn’t get in the way, but it’s there, can be pulled on, and their bond lets the reindeer always know when Santa needs them.

Kurumi bumps into a boy one day, Kaito, and from there, Kaito follows her around, insisting she’s his Santa Claus. She’s reluctant, but she goes along with it. Most reindeer only meet up during Christmas, don’t see each other during the rest of the year, but Kaito stays around, and he insists that he loves Kurumi, who he calls Master.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I started this, as I’d really only browsed the synopsis. But it was really cute, very sweet. Only the first chapter is on Christmas, the other two are during the summer, which I suppose means that it is not strictly  a Christmas story, but has a very apparent Christmas undertone. I like Kurumi, she seems like a nice girl, a little lonely because her father, her only real relative, is always away working. I love Kaito. He’s such a sweetheart, and his devotion, adoration, and general happiness for Kurumi is so sweet. Kaito has a rather big family, most of which are also reindeers, and I really like them, too. It seems like it’ll be good for Kurumi, to be around such a close, happy family, and I’m hoping to get to know each member better in future volumes.

This was a very sweet beginning to the series. The romance is apparent, although Kurumi is reluctant, and they’re going to have to work through some problems. I’m looking forward to that developing, though. I’m also looking forward to more family time, with both Kurumi’s and Kaito’s family.

There was also a short story at the end, featuring a vampire and a little girl. It was cute, very sweet, although left me a little confused as to what the two’s relationship would be like later in their life. 

Also, it seems like there’s going to be a rather long wait before the next volume comes out? Like, not until April? That’s weird, right? That seems like a really long time, when it’s already complete in Japan. Maybe there’s more to it than I know of, though? 

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!

Wishlist Thursday[29]: Sweet Rein, Volume 1, by Sakura Tsukuba

Sweet Rein Volume 1 by Sakura Tsukuba

Genre: Shojo

Publisher: VIZ Media (Shojo Beat)

Publish Date: November 5^th, 2013

Volumes: 3

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A magical romance from the creator of Land of the BlindfoldedSad at the thought of spending Christmas alone, Kurumi Sagara goes out for a walk. While she’s crossing the street, a boy bumps into her, and a rein suddenly appears that binds them together. The overjoyed boy tells her she’s his master and that she’s a Santa Claus. Kurumi dismisses him as a crazy person, but then he transforms into a reindeer?!

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

Why?:

Again, with the VIZ thing.

But aside from that, this just looks really cute. It’s a short series, and that’s nice, it’s Christmas-y, and a good time for that. The art looks nice, and familiar, and I wasn't sure why till I looked at the synopsis. I've never read anything of hers, but I have seen some of her other series and wanted to read them.

Overall, this should be cute. I’m excited for it. (I’m always excited, though, aren’t I?) 

Happy Halloween! (And welcome to the horrors of Christmas come early?)