This will be a spoiler-free review. Citrus by Saburouta is a yuri manga that comes out once every two months (the 18th of every odd number month, ie, the most recent chapter 17 came out on July 18). It is a psuedo-incest series because the two main characters are step-sisters. But don't be scared by the word "incest," because they did not even know each other before they became sisters; they are basically strangers. As of the latest chapter, nothing too graphic happens (like sex), despite the provocative cover picture. On the contrary, it is very pure in a way.
Story: 8
The story isn't that
...
great, nor is it very new. The summary is given in the description. It is just a slice of life depicting the romantic struggles of the two main characters, and other things that happen in their daily lives. Of course there are plot conveniences at times, and the story moves too quickly sometimes, but the events offer the characters major opportunities to show themselves off. There are multiple story arcs that go by in a flash (with the exception of the latest 2), but I assure you that a LOT happens in each one. A drawback is that it gets slightly repetitive, but is still interesting nonetheless. I'd say that this aspect of the manga is its weakest point.
Art: 10
Even for a yuri manga, the art is probably the best I've ever seen. This is surely the strongest point of the series. Saburouta puts a lot of detail into each of her drawings, whether it is because she has more time (two months) to work on it or not. If you see Mei's hair, then that alone will probably make you like her work. There is no denying that her art style is extremely captivating. Personally, I only gave Citrus a try because I was drawn by the art. If not for the amazing outer appearance, Citrus probably wouldn't be as great as it is. However, this is not to say that the series is solely dependent on its art.
Characters: 9
At first glance, the characters seem to be very plain and flat, without much depth. This is not true. They are actually more complex than they look, and develop.
There are two types of "bad" characters to me. The first is one who is just so terrible and cringe worthy that they do not develop, and even if they do, they're still unintentionally frustrating, not because they play the role of a villain who is meant to be hated. The second is the type who's dislikable but for good reason, and even if everyone hates her, she is still a good character.
Mei, the younger sibling, is the second type. Upon first glance, all she has are her beauty and status as the "model student," even holding the position of student council president as a first year in high school. Other than that, she is a rude and uncaring person. But she has good reason to be the way she is. She makes progress as a human being and eventually becomes likable, a contrast to many of her uncalled-for actions. In the first chapter, she unintentionally changes Yuzu and brings out the best of the latter's character. Obviously, Mei's character isn't that shallow. Her main problem is miscommunication. She never expresses herself, so no one knows what she's thinking. The reader, for sure, never does. Maybe not even the author. Mei's mysterious nature is strangely attractive as you start to wonder what her true feelings are at any one time.
Yuzu is the typical nice character that everyone is already in love with. She's cute and stylish (breaking school rules because it's a conservative academy), not to mention she has a great personality. At first, I didn't think much of Yuzu. She was too normal and not noteworthy; I've seen her character a million times before. Yet, I started to really like her to the point where she's one of my favorites. Why? Well, it's hard to explain, but Yuzu is very innocent. As a girl who has never had a boyfriend before, she is in love with the idea of love. She also wants to fit in, so that makes her even more interested in romance. But because of her lack of experience, it is also easier for her to fall for the person who gets to her first, obviously Mei. Complete amateurs like Yuzu are more prone to liking the same gender because they have no experience; what is normal and what isn't? Other than this, Yuzu is very loyal and considerate. (Slight spoiler) She loves Mei as both family and as a significant other. Her inner struggle and confusion due to her forbidden feelings are very realistic. Even if Mei shows no interest in her, Yuzu will always support her because she is just that type of person.
The differences between the main two make for interesting interactions. After all, opposites attract. Other characters include:
Taniguchi Harumi (nicknamed Harumin), Yuzu's best friend who gets in trouble with her all the time. You can say that she is the reason why Yuzu doesn't completely hate her new school.
Momokino Himeko: Mei's childhood friend and also the student council vice-president.
Mizusawa Matsuri: Yuzu's childhood friend who is slightly younger.
Tachibana Sara: A girl Mei meets later (chapter 13), on their school trip.
Tachibana Nina: Sara's younger sister.
To avoid spoilers, I will not say anything else about them, but they are very unique and contribute to an interesting story.
Enjoyment: 10
At first, I simply thought this manga was okay. Until I got to chapter 3. From there, I caught up to the most recent chapter at the time (13) because of the cliffhangers every chapter. Citrus readers are most likely masochists, even if they don't know it. Every chapter is agonizing to read, yet each one is so good. When you catch up, you'll hate yourself because then you'll have to wait two months for the next one to come. It is painful, despicably so. Despite all the drama, Citrus offers a pleasant reading experience. If you're a masochist, you will love it. I mentioned this earlier, but a lot happens. If you skip one chapter, then you'll probably be extremely confused. In ~35 pages, Saburouta manages to make enough things happen, then makes you want the next chapter a few minutes later. Citrus has its cute moments that make you want to squeal, but also has insanely dramatic events that make you want to scream in a corner. Enjoyment also comes from the realisticness of this series. It doesn't sugarcoat things; if it did, Yuzu and Mei would happily be together. The issues that this manga raises are very much real and will make you imagine what it would be like for someone to be in Yuzu or Mei's position, especially in the more conservative setting of Japan where homosexuality is looked down upon.
Overall: 9
Personally, Citrus is a 10 in my mind because most of what influences my scores comes from personal enjoyment, but I recognize that it has its flaws. However, its strong points are many when compared to its weak points. The story isn't bad, the art is superb, and the characters are very likable and realistic. This combination will make for an enjoyable reading experience. It's a shame that this manga is not very known (probably because it's a yuri romance) but I'd say that even compared to any manga, Citrus deserves more popularity. As a yuri series, I am convinced that it is one of, if not the best out there. If you are into yuri, then you need to try this. If you're unsure about going into the genre, I highly recommend it. In any case, Citrus will prove to be an interesting read.
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Jul 20, 2015
This will be a spoiler-free review. Citrus by Saburouta is a yuri manga that comes out once every two months (the 18th of every odd number month, ie, the most recent chapter 17 came out on July 18). It is a psuedo-incest series because the two main characters are step-sisters. But don't be scared by the word "incest," because they did not even know each other before they became sisters; they are basically strangers. As of the latest chapter, nothing too graphic happens (like sex), despite the provocative cover picture. On the contrary, it is very pure in a way.
Story: 8 The story isn't that ... |
