Manga Review: Hide and Seek, Volume 1, by Yaya Sakuragi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2013

Volumes: 3

Spoilers?: Not really

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shuji, a divorced single dad running a modest corner shop, has an easy-going attitude and an eye out for anything to break the boredom of his days. So when Saji, the serious, reserved pediatrician who's been coming into his store, suddenly declares that he’s gay and wants to take Shuji home, Shuji goes along with it out of simple curiosity. He thought they'd just mess around, have some fun, and that would be that. But he gets a lot more than he bargained for in this the story of opposites in love!

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

Review:

This is not quite what I expected, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. It was good, but I think I wanted more.

I like Shuji, and I did like him a lot from the first series, Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love. He’s still great. I like his nonchalance, his entertainment, although some of his ‘wanting to find entertainment’ got a little annoying. I’m not sure why. He seemed a little like an ass, though.

I still love his relationship with his daughter. She’s a cutie. I hope she shows up more later.

Shuji meets Saji, a pediatrician. He’s straight-faced but sweet, and I did like him quite a bit. I like how he doesn’t show a lot of emotion, even looks a little rude, but is actually really nice and tries to show that to people. I even feel a little bad for him, because I think that Shuji is going to hurt him. Shuji was even a little bit of a jerk by having a fling with him, when I think Saji would like an actual relationship.

There was more sexy stuff in this book than in the first series. I did like that. Their relationship is obviously going somewhere. I think mostly, though, is that I predict this series is going to go at a similar pace as the first one, and I don’t really want that. I don’t know, I’m a little iffy at how I feel about this series. I will probably pick up the next volume when I get the chance, though.

Manga Review: Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love, Volume 4, by Yaya Sakuragi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2013

Volumes: 4

Spoilers?: Vague for the ending.

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Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school student Ao has been dreaming about his longtime neighbor Ryomei, a priest at the local Shinto shrine. A little freaked out--and a lot excited--at the prospect of having a relationship with Ryomei, Ao gathers up his courage, confesses his feelings...and gets turned down flat. Luckily, Ao's not the kind to give up easily. Thanks to some creative persistence (and Ryomei's weakening resolve), he finally gets a kiss. But one single kiss won't satisfy him for long! Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences.

What Did I Love?:

• Surprisingly, my favorite characters were Shuji and Chii. I just found their interactions and relationship kind of adorable, and wanted more of them.
• I enjoyed the surprisingly openness of Ao, how unashamed he was of himself. There isn't enough of that, in books or in life.
• I did enjoy Ao and Ryo's relationship, as well.

Review:

This was a really sweet, nice ending to the series. I’m satisfied, and really glad that I picked it up.

Ao got his happy ending, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. Him and Ryo are really cute, and had some really cute, sweet times together in this volume. Ao and his family’s situation settled nicely, as well. His Grandma frustrated me a little, with how she wouldn’t be honest with or really talk to Ao, but oh well. I rather like his brother, Aka, and find his crush on Hako really cute. I wouldn’t have minded seeing them interact, actually.

I’m still a little unsure of and confused about Shunpei, but apparently he’s from another series of Sakuragi’s, so I guess that explains it? I would have liked to see Shuji and Chii again, but that’s alright. I liked what I got to see of them.

I think I might have liked to get to know the other characters and their relationships better, but the focus in the series was Ao and Ryo, and I’m happy with how that turned out. This was a very cute, sweet story, with a few sad, heartbreaking moments. I’m glad I picked it up.

I’m looking forward to reading Sakuragi’s other title, Hide and Seek, and will be keeping my eye out for any other SuBLime/any other yaoi publisher’s titles.

Manga Review: Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love, Volume 3, by Yaya Sakuragi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: February, 2013

Volumes: 4

Spoilers?: Some, minor.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school student Ao has been dreaming about his longtime neighbor Ryomei, a priest at the local Shinto shrine. A little freaked out--and a lot excited--at the prospect of having a relationship with Ryomei, Ao gathers up his courage, confesses his feelings...and gets turned down flat. Luckily, Ao's not the kind to give up easily. Thanks to some creative persistence (and Ryomei's weakening resolve), he finally gets a kiss. But one single kiss won't satisfy him for long! Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences.

Review:

This series is getting rather more enjoyable the more I read.

I felt really bad for Ao in this volume. The poor sweetie is just having a really hard time, not feeling like anyone really wants him. He needs to talk with his Grandma, and I really hope that happens in the next volume. When things work out between him and Ryo, he’s also going to need to talk with his mom. I would like to actually meet his mom, too, as she seems like she could be a really sweet lady, who just wants to be close to her sons. Plus, I’m sure things will work out, especially since I see something happening between Hako and Aka.

Ao and Ryo seems like things are finally going to be working out in the next volume, which I had no doubt of, but still. Ryo took way too long (although probably a reasonable amount of time, really). And I just felt so bad for Ao, feeling like neither his Grandma or Ryo wants him, and then when that date went so badly… His face when he’s upset just makes me want to cry along with him.

I’m really wondering what’s going on/going to happen with Shunpei. I still love Shuji and Chii, they are such a cute father/daughter pair. They’re still very much my favorite. I just smile every time they show up.

I am rather excited to read the next volume, as I’m looking forward to seeing how the story is going to wrap up.

Manga Review: Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love, Volume 2, by Yaya Sakuragi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November, 2012

Volumes: 4

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for Mature audiences. Irritated by his own carnal impulses, Ryomei rejects Ao. But how will Ao react when he finds out Ryomei may have a marriage arrangement in the works? And what will Ryomei do when another boy who looks just like Ao appears on the scene? There’s a lot more to come in this crazy series of not-so-unrequited love!

Review:

I’m rather surprised that this is turning out to be a series where the main couple doesn’t actually get together until near the end of the series. That’s so rare in yaoi (at least as far as I’ve read, which is admittedly not much).

I’m pretty sure that being gay is not as openly accepted in Japan as it is here, so I’m doing my best not to be too bothered by the people’s reactions when Ao states his feelings. It’s also partly why I enjoy his blatant, straight-face statements, too, because most people don’t go around telling everyone.

I really felt for Ao in this volume, because of what happened with Ryo. It was a little heartbreaking, seeing his reaction and understanding how he was feeling. The poor guy.

At this point I’m really just waiting for Ryo to just accept it, but I do understand why he’s denying it so much. Also, I like the extra chapter at the back, and how it kind of gives a little more insight/background to Ryo. I’m also still hoping for more sexy stuff.

I’m enjoying the other characters a lot, too, surprisingly. Shuji is probably my favorite, how he pushes Ryo and listens to Ao, and just his general personality. His daughter, Chii, is adorable, too, and I love their relationship. They’re quite possibly my favorite characters/relationship in this series thus far. (Also, Shuji looks like Kento from Kimi ni Todoke, doesn’t he? Shaggy hair and droopy eyes?)

There’s a whole group of characters and their interactions with each other, like Ryo’s family, and I love that. They all just seem so warm and friendly and close; it’s sweet.

We met Aka, Ao’s twin brother, who is going to be causing problems. I’m still expecting something to happen with Shunpei, Ao’s friend, but am starting to wonder if maybe nothing will. 

I’m looking forward to the next book, to seeing where the story progresses from here.

Manga Review: Bond of Dreams, Bond of Love, Volume 1, by Yaya Sakuragi

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August, 2012

Volumes: 4

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school student Ao has been dreaming about his longtime neighbor Ryomei, a priest at the local Shinto shrine. A little freaked out--and a lot excited--at the prospect of having a relationship with Ryomei, Ao gathers up his courage, confesses his feelings...and gets turned down flat. Luckily, Ao's not the kind to give up easily. Thanks to some creative persistence (and Ryomei's weakening resolve), he finally gets a kiss. But one single kiss won't satisfy him for long!

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

Review:

This series has been on my eye for quite a while now, mainly because the covers are so adorable. So when the price dropped for the series, I took the chance given. And now I’m a little surprised by this first book, as it’s rather not what I was expecting.

Firstly, I was worried about the art. Because while it does look nice on the covers, it also seemed like it could be a lot rougher inside. I’m happy to say that it’s not, and that it is still rather nice. Long, sharp chins, a little rougher at times, but definitely not bad to look at.

Second, there isn’t much sex. There was really only one scene near the beginning, and a smaller one in the middle that didn’t go past kissing. I was very surprised by this, and I can’t deny that I was hoping for a little more. I have no doubt that more is coming, though.

I rather liked, and was very surprised by, how open the characters are with each other about sex. Like, Ao has a wet dream and he’s not very embarrassed by it, and talks about it with his friends. There’s talk of masturbating and gay sex rather openly, with no shame, between the characters, and that was refreshing.

Saying that, though—the main couple has not really decided what to do about their attraction, mainly because Ryo is in denial about having any feelings for Ao and gets a little freaked out by it. This was another thing I was surprised by: Ao is very open about his feelings. He decides how he feels and goes right out with it, directly to Ryo, to do something about it.

Which I think is my main surprise. Most of the yaoi I read feature a very similar formula, and this one is not really following it. It’s a little refreshing, and it’s a little odd. I’m not quite sure how I feel about it yet, but am definitely looking forward to finding out.

I’m overall not too sure how I feel about Ao. He’s entertaining and I like his straightforwardness, and he was an adorable little kid, but he’s not quite as cute as I was expecting. Ryo is a little rough and defensive, but is also sweet and has an obvious soft spot for Ao.

We meet quite a few other characters, too. There’s Ryo's family, who all seem very sweet. There’s his friend Shu, who enjoys being entertained, and who seems like he’ll be fun to get to know. Then Ao has two best friends, one a little oblivious and the other smart and with a possible interest in Ao. And his Grandma, who owns a pub, and seems sweet. 

I’m looking forward to seeing how the story progresses, given how the romantic couple hasn’t even gotten together yet, and the cliffhanger ending.