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Posts Tagged Yen Press

Review: You’re So Cool (Vol. 01)


Manhwa-ga: YoungHee Lee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Everyone dreams about Seung-Ha, the perfect prince, the shining star of the school. Chasing after the perfect prince is definitely not easy. For Nan-Wo, Seung-Ha was just a dream – far, far, away. However, sometimes dreams exist to come true! But when Nan-wo’s dream comes true, it comes at an expensive price. Who knew the perfect prince was actually a big jerk?!”

Nan-Wo is a spunky, spirited, and ultimately extremely clumsy girl, who like everyone else at her school (girls, boys and teachers alike) has a huge crush on Seung-Ha. Attractive, athletic, smart and kind, Seung-Ha is seen as the perfect guy and no one could possibly for be good enough for him. Then one day he asks out Nan-Wo and everything gets turned upside down.

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Review: Very! Very! Sweet (Vol. 01)


Manhwa-ga: JiSang Shin & Geo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “A spoiled brat from a wealthy Japanese family, Tsuyoshi is unceremoniously shipped off to Kora by his strict grandfather who tells him the family secret – they’re Korean! Sparks fly when the resentful high schooler arrives at the airport and shares an impromptu cab ride with Be-Rei Kang, a plucky girl who happens to be his new neighbour. Will the two ever get past their differences? And will Tsuyoshi learn to accept his new identity?”

Tsuyoshi is a spoiled teen from Japan who is told by his grandfather that he’s a Korean descendant. To curve his spoiled ways and teach him some long-lost heritage, Tsuyoshi is sent away to live in Korea. Already there, is a Korean-born-and-raised Be-Rei Kang, a spunky teenage girl with an eye for money and a hundred and one ways to save it. These two teens meet when sharing a cab on the way home from the airport, only to discover they’re next door neighbours and classmates.

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Review: Kieli (Vol. 01)


Author: Yukako Kabei
Manga-ka: Shiori Teshirogi
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: April 2008

Synopsis: “…a race of immortal soldiers called “the Undying” fought a bloody way for their human creators. When the war ended, they were eradicated in the name of God… Eighty years later, an orphaned girl named Kieli questions if that God even exists. When Kieli runs into a young man named Harvery who can also see ghosts, Kieli thinks she’s finally found a friend among the living.”

Kieli is a young girl with the ability to see spirits of the dead. After the death of her Grandmother, her last living relative, Kieli is put into a boarding school where her only friend is an enthusiastic girl named Becca. Then one day she meets a boy named Harvey, who not only see ghosts like she can, but he’s also one of the legendary “Undying”.

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Review: Zombie Loan (Vol. 03)


Manga-ka: Peach-Pit
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis:
“Though Chika and Shito manage to extract the girls from the clutches of the Butterfly Killer’s fans, the case takes a shocking turn when an unexpected betrayal is revealed! With heavy hearts, the members of Z-loan close the case, but they still can’t shake the blues. So the Chancellor sponsors a group trip to the hot springs, which starts out all fun and games but ends with… a howl?!”

The story here in volume three of Zombie Loan picks up where volume two left readers off: Chika and Shito, adorned in maid girl outfits, find themselves cornered by the Butterfly Killer’s fans. While the men race to save them, and they all then chase the supposed target, the true Butterfly Killer ends up being one of their own.

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Review: Cynical Orange (Vol. 04)


Manhwa-ga: Yun JiUn
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Hye-Min gives Ma-Ha the cold shoulder after discovering how he broke up with Bora. But when Bora seeks her help to reunite with Ma-Ha , Hye-Min can’t say no to her friend. Things get even more complicated when Ma-Ha catches on…and reveals how he truly feels about Bora as well as what he thinks about Hye-Min!”

Cynical Orange is based around the complicated life of beautiful Hye-Min. She’s a lovely girl with a slight body and face which melts most boys’ hearts. In volume one she found out being quiet and polite was keeping the guy she was crushing on from liking her, and the gloves have been off ever since. Keeping the secret of her fiery and violent temper from her classmates, she goes so far as to almost kill someone in a single mad fury over a stolen kiss.

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Review: Black God (Vol. 03)


Author: Dall-Young Lim
Manhwa-ga: Sung-Woo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Discovering that his new enemies are actually allies, Keita receives the guidance necessary to take on the evil behind the false alter-egos running rampant. But he must also revisit the painful memory of his mother’s disappearance when this new battles takes him and Kuro to his mother’s hometown of Okinawa. Will the strength gained from his new friends be enough to help him through this gruelling journey?”

In this volume of Black God, Akane is again the target of mysterious sources, out to capture her in relation to the sudden, unexplained deaths happening around the city. Two of those that Keita and his partner-of-sorts, Kuro, had fought against are now revealed as allies and are able to shed some light on the increasingly grave situation. Keita struggles to unravel the mystery behind his mother’s disappearance, people’s deaths and protect Akane all while trying to discover and understand more about his ability to aid Kuro in fights.

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Review: Freak (Vol. 03)


Author: Yi DongEun
Manhwa-ga: Yu Chung
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “When Tublerun overhears the reason for Verna’s desperate need for cash, he sets out for the North Pole to join GIA’s treasure hunt and win the prize money. But the hunt’s been rigged so that no one gets out alive! Even those who somehow manage to survive will have to contend with a bloodthirsty Chroma. Without Verna or Lorel to aid him, will Tublerun be able to make it out in one piece?”

After overhearing Verna’s need for money to help support a hospitalized friend, Tublerun runs away to join in a dangerous contest. Numerous people looking to win the monetary prize showed up for the competition, only to find themselves against seemingly undefeatable life forms. Without his friends there to support him, Tublerun finds himself petrified and reliant on the strangers around him, strangers who see each other as threats for the goal.

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Review: Heavenly Executioner Chiwoo (Vol. 04)


Author: HaNa Lee
Manhwa-ga: KangHo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Chiwoo trains with Ju-Ah to become a better mangnani. Ju-Ah promises Seol-Ha that despite Chiwoo’s struggles, he will become a great warrior in the end. Later, while Seol-Ha continues his search for Bi-Hyun, Chiwoo and his friends confront Yi-Yun to rescue Uncle Wol-Bek. Will both missions succeed? Or is there more trouble in store for these heroes?”

Most of volume four of Heavenly Executioner Chiwoo is a long fight scene and in that way, following what was happening was pretty easy. Dialogue from lead and background characters filled in a lot of gaps readers would have about the who, what, where and why of the story, in preparation for the action sequence that takes up ¾ of the book.

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Review: Bring It On! (Vol. 05)


Manga-ka: Baek HyeKyung
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008Synopsis: “As Mi-Ha and company get ready to celebrate Seung-Suh’s birthday, the birthday boy is confronted by a face from the past! Eun-Yang, with his celebrity good looks, is one sly fox, and he vows to break up Seung-Suh’s fledgling relationship with Mi-Ha in a week! But why is Eun-Yang out to get Seung-Suh?! The past takes a front seat and shocking secrets are revealed in the intense and exciting conclusion to Bring It On!”

The past returns when Eun-Yang appears in town, Sueng-Suh’s best friend from junior high and an important part of prior events. Mi-Ha is annoyed that’s never heard of Eun-Yang before and when Seung-Suh doesn’t elaborate, she tries to find out from the newcomer herself… only to start falling victim to Eun-Yang’s charm. Some risky emotional games are played in volume five of Bring It On.

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Review: Legend (Vol. 02)


Author: Kara Woo
Manhwa-ga: Kara Woo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “With the help of Eun-Gyo and No-Ah, the “princess” Nak-Rang escapes her captors. But just when they think they’re out of the woods, the high priest Ho-Dong stops them at the edge of the dried-up Mother Lake. There, a battle ensues… and a miracle occurs!”

Eun-Gyo, a schoolgirl travelled to this world from present day, and No-Ah, help the “princess” Nak-Rang escape from her captors. Free from the small town, whose inhabitants are under a spell that leaves them bound in children form, Nak-Rang has hopes of finally being able to grow into an adult. Suddenly under attack, the group must survive while at the same time discover the mystery of the Seven Blade sword.

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