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Review Archive

To see a list of reviews in alphabetical order, please see our review index.

Review: The Aluria Chronicles

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 21, 2008

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Author: Calissa Leigh
Artist: Yishan Li
Publisher: Yaoi Press
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: March 2006

Synopsis: “Gin is falsely accused of murder and sacrificed to a demon. However, when the demon realizes his innocence, he takes pity and flies Gin to Aluria, a land of mystical creatures. But Gin is betrayed by a vampire named Kakale. And if things weren’t bad enough, Kakale casts a spell so that Gin looks like Kakale and Kakale looks like Gin. This is very bad for Gin considering Kakale is a wanted criminal…”

The Aluria Chronicles begins with the introduction of Gin, a pretty young slave boy who accidentally plays a key part in a man’s murder when trying to defend himself. Accused of the crime, he’s sacrificed to a demon as part of a larger scheme. But the demon takes pity on Gin, sensing his innocence, and instead whisks the sacrifice away to a land of mythical creatures.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Global Manga, Yaoi Press

Review: Black Sun Silver Moon (Vol. 06)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, September 18, 2008

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Manga-ka: Tomo Maeda
Publisher: Go!Comi
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “They say all good things must come to an end… but will this hold true for Shikimi, as well? The half-demon priest was making such good progress, but a fun-filled day in the falling snow turns deadly as his demon half takes over. Will Grey finally win their bet?”

With strange dreams and memories that never fade, Shikimi is starting to act more oddly than usual and he doesn’t seem keen on telling his friends why. After an early snowfall offers fun and frolic for Laz and Taki, it soon spells trouble for everyone when the darkness in Shikimi finally claws its way to the surface.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: GoComi

Review: Solfege

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, September 17, 2008

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Manga-ka: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: March 2007

Synopsis: “Kugayama is a gifted music teacher, but a man with little ambition or desire. Born to a wealthy and prominent family, Kugayama passes his days simply going through the motions and existing. When ex-student, Azuma Tanaka, requests his help in studying for a prestigious music school’s entrance exam, his budding youth and enthusiasm invoke a passion in Kugayama that he has never experienced before.”

Kugayama is a talented music teacher from a well-off family, but his life lacks passion and he lives each day without much thought about it. Then one day everything changes when a previous student of his returns, asking for his help in preparing for a music school’s entrance exam. He finds the student’s enthusiasm refreshing and inspiring, but the feelings budding between the two cause more than a disruption for their lessons.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Fumi Yoshinaga, June

Review: Metro Survive (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yuki Fujisawa
Publisher: Dr. Master
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: February 2008

Synopsis: “Mishima is your average pushover, working as a repairman for the Exopolis Tower, Tokyo’s largest high-rise business & entertainment building. He promises to come home to celebrate his son’s birthday, but he lets his boss saddle him with overtime. On train heading home, a massive earthquake strikes and collapses both Expolis and its underground train lines. Now Mishima is trapped deep underground with the other passengers of the train…”

Mishima lives a life that he’s less than proud of, constantly walked over by his boss like a soggy doormat and never able to emotionally provide for his family with his presence. After being kept late at work one night, despite a promise to be home for his son’s birthday, Mishima finds himself on the early morning subway train when a massive earthquake rocks the city of Tokyo. Now trapped almost 100 metres below the surface with those who survived from his subway car, it’s a matter of survival as they desperately try to find a way out.

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Categories: Reviews

Review: Genju no Seiza (Vol. 07)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 14, 2008

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Manga-ka: Matsuri Akino
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “Kamishina is the reincarnated ruler of Dhalashar. He can hear voices from beyond the grave, see visions and soothe ghosts… When Ohko tries to awaken a spirit known as the true king, the ends up causing a huge explosion, after which a mysterious boy appears from thin air…”

As if I didn’t find previous recent volumes of Genju no Seiza plot-heavy enough (in a good way, mind you), volume seven takes it even a step further. The true existence of Mayu, whom readers have long suspected is of some further significance to the story, is finally revealed and we learn about what led to how she is now. On top of that, various events from the past are catching up to the characters with some surprising connections. Throw in some time travel, a mysterious new boy who shows up, and two possible reincarnated Kings with the power to destroy the world, and you have yourself one wonderfully thick volume.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Tokyopop

Review: Treasure (Vol. 02)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Friday, September 12, 2008

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Author/Artist: Studio Kawaii
Publisher: Yaoi Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: July 2007

Synopsis:
“Alan longs for things to go back to the way they were between him and Patrick, but Patrick can’t forget that Alan had an affair with the former pirate captain. It doesn’t help that Alan has them on a mission to avenge Captain Begardoux’s death. That love that Alan still had for his lost captain is more than Patrick can bear. Especially when he gave up such a stellar naval career just to be with him.”

In this second, and final, volume of Treasure, the newly appointed pirate captain, Alan Falconer, continues his quest to recover the treasure stolen by the murderous pirate, Van Holstein. He’s convinced his lover to leave the navy and join his crew, but trouble brews when a man who looks like the ship’s previous Captain appears and Alan’s feelings are undoubtedly stirred.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, Global Manga, Yaoi Press

Review: Tea For Two (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, September 11, 2008

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Manga-ka: Yaya Sakuragi
Publisher: BLU
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Clumsy Madoka Takumaru can’t seem to go a minute without breaking something. To teach him a little self-control, Takumaru’s sis forces him to help out the Tea Ceremony Club despite the hesitations of the club president, the graceful Kazuma Hasune. Compoased and cool, he is the exact opposite of the brash Takumaru. Will the two be able to bridge their differences, or will a potentially hot romance cool like iced tea?”

Tea For Two is the story of Madoka Takumaru, a clumsy teenage jock who has a problem with breaking things. Fed up with his lack of grace, his younger sister puts him under the tutelage of their school’s Tea Ceremony club president, Kazuma Hasune. Now it’s a matter of whether or not some tea and kimonos will be enough to calm Madoka’s bad habits or if something aside from good manners will form through their lessons.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: BLU, Boys' Love/Yaoi

Review: After School Nightmare (Vol. 08)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, September 9, 2008

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Manga-ka: Setona Mizushiro
Publisher: Go!Comi
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: August 2008

Synopsis: “A shocking confession clears the way for a mountain of new problems! Mashiro is finally willing to give Sou a chance, but can either of them forget Sou’s relationship with Ai? And when Kureha returns from vacation, her form in the dream world reflects an astonishing change…”

A dramatic love confession from Mashiro leaves Sou conflicted but eager to pursue, as more emotional problems work their way to the surface. While their battles of gender and forgiveness rage on, fellow student and often Mashiro-confidant, Kurosaki, deals with problems of his own as he wages a losing battle against his family’s wishes and his own sense of identity.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: GoComi

Review: Garden Dreams

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Monday, September 8, 2008

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Manga-ka: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: DMP
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: October 2007

Synopsis: “In a castle in a far-off western land, there once lived a baron with empty eyes, whose melancholy ways belied a love of beauty and song. A wondrous garden surrounded the baron’s home–a place of quiet splendor that served to remind him of his painful, untended memories. Could the songs of two bards bring dreams of a happier tomorrow? Or would they bring more loss than the baron might possibly bear?”

Garden Dreams begins by introducing readers to Farha, a young boy raised by Saud, a young man who found Farha as a child alone in the desert. The two travel the lands as bards, and have found themselves singing for a Baron in the lands to the West. But sadness in the Baron’s eyes reveals a painful past and a subdued yearning for a better future.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Fumi Yoshinaga, June

Review: Pathos (Vol. 01)

Posted by Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, September 7, 2008

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Manga-ka: Mika Sadahiro
Publisher: DMP/June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis:
“Ace has been raised in happiness by the beautiful young men King and J. To thank them, Ace adores them as older brothers and grows innocently attached to them. But as Ace grows, J becomes colder to him with each passing day. The truth is King and J are immortal vampires, and J has kept his distance because he may become unable to resist the scent of the fresh blood of the growing Ace.”

Pathos is the story of a unique family of three. After his parents are killed, Ace is taken in by their killers and raised as their younger brother. The two, King and J, are vampires, and it’s a lifestyle they’re unable to hide from the perceptive Ace, especially when the boy’s affections for J soon become anything but innocent.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Boys' Love/Yaoi, June