Manga Review: Yukarism, Volume 4, by Chika Shiomi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Volumes: 4

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Seemingly afflicted by Yumurasaki’s fatal illness of the past, Yukari begins to get very sick in the present day… Meanwhile, Mahoro vows to kill Satomi before he can kill Yukari (as she believes he had killed Yumurasaki in the past)! Are these three fated to repeat their tragic connection?

Review:

I would definitely have loved more of this series, but it still ended very well.

We finally figure out what really happened in their past lives, and we see how it’s culminating in the present. It comes to a head, how their past selves are taking over their present. It takes a different turn than I expected, for one character in particular. But it gives their pasts a final end, a way to move on in the present.

I really just wanted Yukari and Mahoro to have a happy ending, and I’m really happy with how it happened. It was sweet and not too much, not too sappy, not rushed. It was perfect.

I loved this series. It was a surprising delight, and I’m so happy to have it. I really hope that VIZ picks up more of Shiomi’s other series, because I want more.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Yukarism, Volume 3, by Chika Shiomi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Volumes: 4

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Yukari, Satomi and Mahoro are all influenced by their past life personalities and begin to lose control over their present-day behavior. While Mahoro wonders about Yukari’s true feelings for her, Yukari realizes exactly who Mahoro and Satomi were in the past! Meanwhile, Yukari’s journeys to the old days are becoming more and more dangerous…

Review:

How is this series so good already? That seemed very fast. But I love it.

Yukari is trying to figure out who is who from his past to his present. He’s slowly getting to know both of them better, which means he’s getting more attached to them as well. We’re getting to know their past selves with him, which also makes him grow more attached to their present selves. He keeps passing out in his present time, leaving Mahoro and Satomi to freak out. Leaving them also to revert to their past selves, feeling unexplained hatred for each other and black-outs.

His going back to the present is starting to affect him in a bad way, though, as is where we end. The cliffhanger is bad, and I really want to have the next one already.

The mystery of what happens has me interested, but I love the romance most. Mahoro is already clearly in like with him, and as Yukari grows closer to her, he starts feeling the attraction as well. Plus there’s their feelings from the past starting to affect him as well. There’s one scene in particular that is just so cute! I love them together already.

I am really loving this series already. The next volume is the last and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Manga Review: Yukarism, Volume 2, by Chika Shiomi

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: Not really.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Yukari Kobayakawa, an accomplished author at the age of 17, writes with amazingly accurate details about historical Japan. It turns out he has the ability to travel back in time…to his past life as a renowned courtesan in the Edo period! As he goes back and forth between the past and present, he unravels the karmic relationship he has with his beautiful classmate Mahoro Tachibana…

Review:

I was surprised with this volume. While I enjoyed the previous one, this one was even better. It had me all caught up and excited in the action.

Yukari continues going to his past self, trying to figure out what the connection to his present is. He lets Satomi stay with him, take care of the house in place of his aunt.

Yukari is pretty much just along for the ride, entertained by life and the people around him, practically trying to take a back seat and let it all happen. But he’s getting more genuinely interested in the people around him, even while not realizing. He seems to be interested in Mahoro, the feelings slowly developing for him. They’re developing much faster for Mahoro, though.

Unbeknownst to Yukari, Mahoro and Satomi are having flashbacks, almost black-outs while their past selves take over. This is surprising for them, and for each other, as they have lingering hatred and betrayals. I was surprised with the twist thrown in about their identities, and the apparent betrayal hinted at from their pasts. I also love it, and am so excited about it.

This volume surprised me and really pulled me in, as I was hoping it would. And now I’m super excited to get the next volume.