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Mar 5, 2012
what distiguishes this from your usual shoujo are the characters' well developed personalities and the way their thoughts and actions are portrayed
though its easy to understand, follow and anticipate their actions, the outcome is still not predictable throughout the story - and that makes it special
because somehow, by perfectly portraying the ambigous signals in a might-be-love relationship, this manga has captured the awkwardness of love like no other - it's so easy to relate to the feelings of the main character going back and forth with their decisions, torn wether to ... or not... and what if... all those insecurities are conveyed so vividly,
...
i felt drawn right into the stories and kept reading from start till finish in what felt like a short time (especially the second story, which also deals with the question love or friendship in a unprecedented way - at least for manga, as far as i know)
i definitely recommend this to anyone who's up for a little romance and the up (and down side) is: you can finish it within an hour, so it's a good read while taking a break e.g.
the arts good, not extraordinary, not bad either... i didn't really pay it much attention, since i was caught up in the story ^^"
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 5, 2012
first of all, this is one of those manga which grow, getting better as the story evolves. it starts off light-hearted and somewhat silly, but as the story comes along, more serious topics are woven in,(e.g. discrimination, selfsacrificing, keeping up appearances) important characters are added and it gets more complex. though it does have a few flaws, overall enjoyment was good, i found myself laughing quite a few times even while rereading.
now in more detail:
it's light shounen ai, (they kiss and express their love for each other, nothing more), but a tiny bit more obvious than silver diamond, the authors other major work.
the comedy is
...
of mostly of the slapstick kind and relies on silly answers as well as the main characters being (incredibly) slow on the uptake or acting contrary to what's expected of them considering their position.
it didn't really bother me, but it's worth criticizing that sometimes commonplaces/ stereotypes which didn't fit into the medieval world as the setting were used for jokes (such as reference to an all girls high)
Story:
in the beginning i had the impression the artist wasn't really sure where he wanted the story to go, resulting in some slight inconsistencies before it does kick off (like characters knowing about things without an explanation why they would or demons (/blood) not knowing about some things it'd be more sensible if he did)
it consists of one main story line and a couple short stories, mainly backflashes on some of the characters pasts, more or less integrated into the main story (about rapunzel and wild, blood, ishuca, ishucas grandmother and the demon kaiser)
the storyline seems rather simple at first, a classical adventure plot: boy meets demon, they go on a journey, meet all kind of people and get involved in their business, get caught up in stuff happening due to what took place in the past and as they try to deal with it, others they met start to get drawn into it all too - resulting in a more and more complex interaction, since even people of the same factions (temple vs. demons) have different motives and each work on their own goal.
in my opinion, this is what makes this overall a good, interesting manga and what kept me reading despite any other shortcomings!
i really like how it's not just good vs bad and you can't clearly tell for everyone from the beginning who is - or might be in the future - on whose side
Characters:
there are the main two pairs of demon x boy, (Blood and Ishuca, Rapunzel and Wild) both based on the concept 'cunning, adult' (demon) vs. 'cute, innocent, strongwilled' (boy) which at first seems flat and cliché, since it's commonly used in yaoi/shounen ai. though they do grow throughout their adventures, this basic concept is never abandoned, perhaps because it's needed for a lot of the comedy interjected every now and then
however, as the story progresses, other characters appear, with a more complex personality which develops as well (e.g. the monk Sellghi), thus adding to the story and making it far better than with just the main characters
Art:
the quality varies throughout the manga, most times it's welldrawn, occasionally the bodys feel a bit misproportioned (too large hand/ feet), so i rated it down to a six
as i said, overall i enjoyed it quite a bit and i'm still looking forward to every release - naturally i recommend reading if this review got you a bit interested and you like fantasy/ adventure stories and don't mind shounen ai
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 16, 2011
Shite Okeba is compiled of four short stories, and a rather good read. If you prefer fluffy romances, this might not be your thing, since all four aren't really the dreamy type of story. (Well, the first and third hold a kind of cuteness though) They're the kind that pulls you in, makes you think and maybe even cry, while watching and considering the characters feelings.
Story: 8
The plotlines were rather typical for shoujo, but very well done in how they unfold.
Here a short summary of the four stories:
(caution, mild spoilers maybe)
Shite okeba yokatta yo & The Realization of happiness
A university student is
...
hung up on her high school love, and thanks to a class meeting, she gets to meet the guy again.
After school kiss
A plain, serious girl is approached by a popular younger guy in her high school and has to deal with the envy of others.
Tell me you love me
A high schooler doubts wether the university student she's in a relationship with really has feelings for her, due to his seemingly cold attitude
My friend's boyfriend (1&2)
The heroine watches her childhood friend and secret long-time-love fall for her best friend, struggling wether to get between them, as tragedy strikes...
Art:
The art is well done, though nothing special, so i gave it a 7.
Character: 8
All characters were consistent in their acting, it was easy to see their feelings and reasons and follow their struggles. Despite the difficulty one shots pose to character creations, they didn't seem flat or stereotypic. (thumbs up!)
All in all, i quite enjoyed it and i'd recommend it to anyone who has a little time on their hands and likes good but simple romance. (simple as in typical plotlines, with the last story being an exception) ;)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 25, 2011
first off: this is my first time writing a review, so i can only hope it'll be useful to you. I'll also be happy to receive feedback!
STORY
the storyline was well thought-out, without any gaps or sudden developments which would make it hard to follow.
Overall it has a more mature feel to it than usual shoujo manga (more josei-ish), there's none of that childish lighthartedness, first-love-heartbeat feeling, none of those typical standard-happenings (like tripping and accidentally kissing), so if you're a sucker for those, this is probably not your thing.
A big plus in my opion is, it's about a relationship and how they
...
fare going through good and bad stuff - not about the obstacles to overcome to get together (i've read one too many of those stories, i guess)
I really liked that it doesn't get too 'angsty', though tamako (the heroine) is really insecure at times, it's still limited because the characters are on the whole rather composed people. however, their feelings still get across very well and they're easy to relate to, especially since the reader gets to peek into the male leads perspective every now and then, too. That's what i liked a lot, it made their actions seem reasonable and i think it helped me to dive more into the plot and relate myself to the characters and the situation they're in. (e.g. i have no interest in surfing, but i found myself wanting to try it out after i got a little further into the story)
Sadly, the ending is a little abrupt, it would've been better if it had been just a chapter longer. Except for that, the length is just perfect, matching the pace of the story.
ART
the artwork is good, a little rough at times and not too detailed, but i liked it. Simple but nicely done. fitting for the characters, in my opinion.
CHARACTER
the heroine is a normal, hardworking, good girl, but still not the typical stereotype shoujo-girl, because she's actually strong at heart, and while she does have insecurities and troubles with her feelings, her actions aren't over the top.
the male lead is serious, down-to-earth and mostly thinks things through before acting. He's caring and very sweet at times, but appears cold and insensitive at other times, partly because he IS a little dense and oblivious to whats emotionally going on between or with others.
I really liked how the characters had their own distinctive traits and always behaved accordingly, never out of character. it makes it much more realistic, having you think 'hey, there really could be someone like that in this world'
ENJOYMENT
so, i can say I pretty much enjoyed reading this, and it kept me on it, so i actually finished it in one go. It's just perfect if you've got an hour or two, since it's not too long.
OVERALL - good
i prefer realistic plotlines, so my rating might be a little biased, actually... but if you happen to be the same, i definitely recommend this! ;) all the same if you just want to go for something different for once.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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