Manga Review: Twittering Birds Never Fly, Volume 1, by Kou Yoneda

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: June

Release Date: 2014

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. June Manga.

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

 Yashiro is the young leader of Shinseikai and the president of the Shinseikai Enterprise, but like so many powerful men, he leads a double life as a deviant and a masochist. Chikara Doumeki comes to work as a bodyguard for him and, although Yashiro had decided that he would never lay a hand on his own men, he finds there's something about Doumeki that he can't resist. Yashiro makes advances toward Doumeki, but Doumeki has mysterious reasons for denying.

Yashiro, who abuses his power just to abuse himself, and Doumeki, who faithfully obeys his every command, begin the tumultuous affair of two men with songs in their hearts and no wings to fly.

 

Review:

 

Yashiro is in charge of this chain of yakuza, and while he's stoic and strict, he's also a masochist and likes toying with people. When Doumeki comes to work for him as a bodyguard, Yashiro starts playing with him, taunting to see if he can do things with him, which mainly ends up being in the exhibitionist sense.

I've liked some of the things I've read by Kou Yoneda in the past, so I was really hoping to like this. But yakuza type stories aren't really to my interest. And then, the way that the characters all seem to stay distant and never show any emotions, doesn't really do anything for me. I'm a little intrigued in where this is going, but I'm not connected with it at all so far.

Manga Review: Given, Volume 3, by Natsuki Kizu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2020

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music—and to one another—always brings them back together again.

Uenoyama realizes he’s in love with Mafuyu and steals a kiss from him backstage at their first live performance. But now he’s even more confused—he hasn’t shared his feelings with Mafuyu and has no idea how Mafuyu feels about him. In contrast to their naive romance, Haruki has been harboring a secret desire for bandmate Akihiko, who’s already entangled in an intense, conflicted relationship with someone else.

Review:

 

Now that their first concert is over with, they get to deal with the aftermath. Uenoyama gets to recover from his confession and then how to proceed with his feelings for Mafuyu. This actually comes in the form of a surprise for him, since Mafuyu is so honest about his feelings.

I think it's cute how they consider the other bandmates' feelings, but that's all rather easily handled. It was pretty obvious to everyone where that was heading.

We finally get some real backstory for Haruki regarding his feelings, and then Akihiko with his roommate. I was actually a little surprised with the ending of the volume, though I really shouldn't have been. It makes sense.

It's a little sad, but it makes sense.

I'm interested to see where the side characters' stories are going from here, but I'm still 100% in this for Mafuyu. He's the sweetest, best boy, and I seriously just love him so much.

Manga Review: Given, Volume 2, by Natsuki Kizu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2020

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music—and to each other—always brings them back together again.

As the band races toward their first live concert, Mafuyu struggles to write lyrics for their new song but can’t find the words to express the emotions burning within him. Meanwhile, Uenoyama hears rumors about Mafuyu’s past and is bewildered by his own feelings. The tension builds until the night of the show, when the band explodes into a raging, life-changing performance.

 

Review:

This volume reaches the penultimate moment in the anime—the concert.

The pacing is a little different in the manga versus the anime, so we're introduced to the two band mates slower, only given some insight into Kaji and his roommate in this volume. But we've also been getting more information regarding Mafuyu's past in this version. So while we're anxiously waiting to see the performance, we have some ideas.

I will admit that the anime hits hard, particularly because you get to hear the music and Mafuyu's voice. It's a little unclear how much of this he's planned ahead of time, but it's obvious where the song is coming from. It's also clear that Mafuyu finally feels like he can express what he's been feeling, and can try to move forward.

Mafuyu's struggle here is intense, and it's heartbreaking.

And then there's where the volume ends, which is adorable. Uenoyama realizes just how important of a moment that was for Mafuyu, though not quite what an impact he's made.

I'm pretty sure the next volume will go further than the manga did, and I am extremely excited to read more. I am utterly in love with this series at this point.

Manga Review: Jealousy, Volume 1, by Scarlet Beriko

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2020

Volumes: 4+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

The prequel to the popular yakuza rom-com Fourth Generation Head: Tatsuyuki Oyamato!

A yakuza head finds himself ensnared in the unwavering attentions of a sometimes impetuous but always cunning schemer. If being yakuza doesn’t get him killed, his new lover just might!

Uichi Rogi is in a bind, both literally and figuratively, when he meets Akitora Oyamato, the yakuza head who’s come to collect a debt from Uichi’s lover. Instantly smitten, Uichi schemes dubious and often dangerous ways of getting closer to the man, but his lies come at a heavy price—one he may regret having to pay for Akitora’s affections.

 

Review:

 

This is a spin-off of the one-shot Fourth Generation Head, featuring the stoic bodyguard of the yakuza with his little daughter.

I will say I'm intrigued by these two characters, and I find his daughter to be quite smart and cute. But most of this volume centers on Uichi and his past, what led to him being where he is today. Once upon a time, he was a young man, who had a hard time really connecting with people and feeling emotions, and he grasped onto the yakuza head at the time. He does several questionable things in order to get closer to him, leading him to very odd and sticky situations.

Uichi's obsession with the yakuza head is definitely dangerous and unhealthy. I'm curious where it's going, but I'm also very wary. Mostly, though, I would like to know more about his present situation, and I'm not sure when we'll get that.

Same as with the previous story, though, I tend to like the characters and relationships, more than the main, yakuza plot line.

Manga Review: Secret XXX by Meguru Hinohara

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2020

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Shohei’s just trying to find love in a pet shop, so why are all these bunnies making it so difficult?

Shohei loves bunnies! He loves them so much he’s even taken to volunteering at a local pet shop. Store owner Mito is as sweet and kind as the fuzzy critters he cares for, and it’s not long before Shohei finds himself wanting to cuddle with him as much as the bunnies! But Shohei is hiding a dangerous secret, one that makes this dream an unlikely reality.

 

Review:

 

Even though Shohei appears to be allergic to bunnies, he's started volunteering at a bunny pet shop, where coincidentally, there's also this really cute guy who runs it. When Shohei accidentally over exposes himself to the bunnies, his secret is revealed, and his real relationship with Mito starts.

This was a really cute one-shot. The full volume is taken up with the main couple, which I appreciate, but we also get to meet the main characters for the spin-off series. Shohei is inexperienced, but he's sweet and has good intentions, and he wants to take care of Mito. Mito is a little older and more mature, but he's also got some surprises for Shohei. In the end, they were kind of like a newlywed couple, including some drama with Shohei's parents. It was all really cute, though, with some very hot steamy scenes, as well.

I'm definitely going to pick up the spin-off.

Manga Review: Given, Volume 1, by Natsuki Kizu

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February 2020

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

 

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music—and to each other—always brings them back together again.

Ritsuka Uenoyama is bored with it all—with school, with his basketball club, and even with his one true passion: playing guitar. That is, until the day he finds his favorite hidden napping spot occupied by a strange boy cradling a broken-stringed guitar. At first, Uenoyama is nonplussed by Mafuyu Sato and his slightly odd behavior, but when, on a whim, he asks Mafuyu to sing, the power of that song pierces him to the core.

 

Review:

 

I've heard so much about this series, I was actually wary of not liking it. My fears were in vain, because I was hooked almost immediately.

Uenoyama likes to nap during breaks in school, and when he goes to the stairway one day, he finds Mafuyu. Mafuyu is also sleeping, only he's holding a guitar with a broken string. When he tells Mafuyu that the guitar isn't ruined and can be fixed it sets off a tidal wave of changes for them both.

Mafuyu is a precious boy, and I only ever want good things to come to him from now on.

Anyway. I hadn't watched the anime when I read this volume, and have since finished the anime. The pacing is quite a bit different—we're given a lot more of an idea of what Mafuyu is going through here, whereas it took a lot longer in the anime. We also haven't been given as much information about their bandmates at this point. It hits a little differently, but it's still intense and it's still the same story.

I feel so strongly for Mafuyu, and I really just want good things for him. I understand why Uenoyama has a hard time saying no to him. And I feel for the fact that Mafuyu clearly has so much to say and is going through so many things, and yet doesn't know how to express any of it.

I feel very strongly for these characters, already, and I just badly need more.

Manga Review: Storm Flower by Runa Konjiki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: June/DMP.

Release Date: 2012.

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sagano and Hazime Itirou face off at school and in their private lives, where traditions such as flower arranging and tea ceremony carry heavy responsibilities. With the weight of these things and the accompanying dark emotions, love can only com

Review:

This volume follows a boy, scarred from an experience with a woman, and how he slowly overcomes that with someone new in his life.

This was actually pretty good. I appreciated that we got a full story for one couple here, that the main character actually had some serious issues to overcome and got some focus on it. I thought it was portrayed pretty well, actually, and the artwork was pretty good.

Overall a fine one-shot yaoi volume.

Manga Review: Author's Pet by Deathco Cotorino

Rating (Out of 5): ~2

Publisher: June/DMP

Release Date: 2008

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school student Yuta bumps into a man outside the train station, injuring him. The man's name is Tsubaki Nishijima, occupation novelist. In exchange for crippling his arm, Tsubaki demands Yuta work like a slave every day!

Review:

This volume has several stories in it. The title story is a couple chapters, and it stars a guy who starts ghost writing for an author when he's at fault for the guy getting hurt and unable to write himself. This is a bit dramatic but just okay, as the author ends up taking advantage of the guy, with a rude, cocky attitude.

None of these stories really stood out for me, and the one that did wasn't very good. I didn't really like any of the characters, the story wasn't very well written, and the artwork wasn't very good; it was all a bit one-dimensional.

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: Return of the Prince by Junko

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: June

Release Date: 2018.

Volumes: 1.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. June Manga.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At his sister's wedding, Satake Kou is reunited with his cousin Fumihiro, who used to be dumb and fat as a child. Now that Fumihiro has transformed into a charismatic prince, Kou is undeniably self-conscious, but has no idea of Fumihiro's high regard toward him since they were little. Fumihiro's admiration has turned into something entirely different now. How will Kou respond to Fumihiro's feelings? Adachi has been friends with Ritsu since they were children. Suddenly, Ritsu starts acting completely different, and the reason for that change seems to be Ritsu's new sempai, a troublesome guy. Adachi slowly realizes that he feels more than just friendship towards Ritsu... but is it too late?

Review:

Seeing this was by Junko, I wanted to pick it up. Not having read any of their yaoi stuff, I was curious. The art was good, as expected. The story was okay.

The first story featured a cousin romance, which I wasn't too keen on. Honestly, none of it was too memorable. I think it was a fun read, but nothing stood out. Decent stories, but nothing more than a kiss in any of the one-shots. That doesn't surprise me too much, either, though, now that I think about it.

Mostly just meh.

Manga Review: Finder: Target in Sight, Volume 1, by Ayano Yamane

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2017.

Volumes: 10+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Pain and pleasure collide when a sophisticated underworld boss crosses paths with a naive photographer hell-bent on bringing him down!

This deluxe edition includes never-before-released material as well as a double-sided color insert and special cover treatment! Photographer Takaba Akihito takes on a risky assignment trying to document the illegal activities of the Japanese underworld. When he captures its leader—the handsome, enigmatic Asami Ryuichi—in the crosshairs of his viewfinder, Takaba’s world is changed forever.

Freelance photographer Akihito Takaba is captured by the very subject he’s been stalking in his viewfinder—the handsome and enigmatic crime lord Asami Ryuichi! The older man ravages him, both body and mind. Does this mean the end for the naive photographer, or will he live to shoot another day?

Review:

I'd heard the excitement over this series being re-licensed, but I didn't look into it. The plot line didn't seem like my kind of thing, and I fell behind with it.

But when I realized Ayano Yamane, of Crimson Spell, was the mangaka of it, I was immediately interested and decided to pick it up during a sale.

This first volume definitely makes me think that this was only supposed to be a one-shot story at first. We meet the main characters, a photographer and a mobster. It's definitely a hot chapter, too, as Yamane is good at. But then quite a bit of the volume features other one-shots. Most of them are okay, nothing too stand-out, but good and hot stories.

I'm curious where the story will go next. There's definite plot options to go with, but since it felt rather one-shot-like in this volume, and I know it's a longer series, I'm curious how far it'll go and where.

Manga Review: A Strange and Mystifying Story, Volume 1, by Tsuta Suzuki

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2017

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Akio Yamane’s bloodline is cursed! Will his hot guardian deity break the curse…or merely his heart in the process?

Akio Yamane falls terminally ill, presumably from his family’s curse. Remembering his grandfather’s final words about their family protector, he follows the old man's instructions out of desperation and accidentally summons a god who promises to cure him—albeit in a rather odd and intimate manner!

Akio Yamane’s bloodline is cursed! Or at least that’s what his relatives would have people think. Now feverish and delusional from a terminal illness, Akio accidentally summons his family’s guardian deity. Little did he know this sinfully hot god would appear naked, sporting ears and a tail. Wait until Akio finds out the unconventional and rather intimate manner his protector plans on using to cure him!

Review:

Akio loses his last close family member, and is left alone with a supposed curse that kills his family off early in life. He's trying to get on in his normal life again, but he very quickly falls ill without a cure. Then he discovers who his grandfather left behind to watch over him—a demon named Setsu.

Setsu saves Akio by eating the demonic sludge in his body. It's honestly a rather odd and graphic detail. It's definitely being used to initiate some sexy times, but seeing Setsu suck up this black worm-like sludge is a little off-putting sometimes.

Aside from that, this was okay. Akio has it in his mind that Setsu is forcing him into this relationship and he must hate it, so he fights it and complains for a while. But since his close friends are surprisingly open about gay relationships, he's pushed to accept his real feelings rather quickly. Maybe a little rushed near the end.

After the main story, there were a couple of one-shots that were cute. Mainly I'm curious where the main couple is going from here. I feel like we might get to really know them more after this start to their relationship.

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: Punch Up!, Volume 1, by Shiuko Kano

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2012

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Architect Motoharu Maki is hanging out at the construction site ogling a particular hunky, well-toned construction worker when he is unexpectedly reunited with his lost cat, Shinobu. The reunion is all thanks to Kouta Ohki, a foul-mouthed young ironworker who found and cared for the lost cat. Unfortunately for Kouta, this act of kindness led to his eviction! When Motoharu agrees to take in young Kouta, will he be able to tame this feisty stray? Includes a bonus Play Boy Blues side story.

Review:

Maki is working when he discovers his long lost cat, and finds out he comes with a stray man as well. He accepts this, and they starts to grow comfortable living together, until doubtful thoughts are planted to make him reconsider.

This was just meh. The artwork is okay, not great. I didn't really get much from the characters, the romance, or the plot, honestly. I really wanted to like this, but I couldn't feel much for it in the end. I want to want to continue this series, as the volumes look so good, but I doubt I'm going to.

Manga Review: Crimson Spell, Volume 6, by Ayano Yamane

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2019

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A cursed prince turns into a raging demon whose lust can only be calmed by the skillful hands of one powerful sorcerer!

Prince Vald is struck by a curse that turns him into a demon! He seeks out a powerful sorcerer named Halvir to help break the curse, and the two go on an epic journey full of danger—and lust—in search of clues to break the young prince’s curse!

Vald finally discovers the one responsible for placing the curse upon his sword, Yug Verlind, and it’s none other than court mage Limris?! Shocked and confused, Vald is then faced with his greatest threat yet as the immensely powerful sorcerer Asterdol wrenches his soul out of his body. His demon half, now in complete control, goes on a rampage, and Vald faces the real possibility of losing his soul forever!

Review:

It has been such a long time since the previous volume, and I expect it will be again till the next one, so that it's very easy to forget the intricacies of the plot and characters in this series. However, it is very easy to fall back into the main relationship.

Despite it being so long, jumping back in and being reminded of the struggles that Vald is facing was pretty fun. And now made more complicated, as the two sides of himself are forced apart in a much more literal way.

Of course, this leads to some pretty steamy scenes here, unintentional on the villains part. Both sides of Vald want Halvir, so it's no surprise that he's able to have his way with him. Still, it doesn't look like things are getting less complicated any time soon.

I'd definitely forgotten where the plot was at in this series, though I was surprised how easy it was to get back into it; I was excited to get a new volume nonetheless. And I will still definitely be picking up the next one, whenever it gets released.