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Bakuman is a shonen series which articulately redefines the genre of shonen manga. It is a unification of several meaningful ideologies that taught me the following things:

- Nobody achieves great work with little efforts. Even the gifted ones slog through blood and sweat to get to where they are today.

- Work hard in silence and let success make the noise.

- Everyone needs a friend who is brutally honest, even if the truth may hurt.

- Your loudest competitors are your greatest source of learning.

... Storyline:

Following the adventures of two protagonists towards achieving their dream of being successful mangakas, the manga provides insightful information about the process of manga making without boring you to every detail. From the conceptualization of an idea to the actual implementation of the works, the story provides perceptive information on the process of manga making.

Thanks to Bakuman, I am now able to better appreciate the efforts behind every manga and anime I watched.

The flow of the story is appropriately set out, with 20 volumes spanning a story of over 10 years. It is very unlike your typical shonen manga where a day spent by the characters can span over several volumes. Pages are often filled with details and extensive dialogues, which gives readers a lot to digest. Hence, if you are looking a Bleach / Naruto / One Piece equivalent, then Bakuman is definitely not for you, since it is very story based and less expressive in terms of graphics.


Characters:

The interaction among the characters are kept at a practical, sense making level, with them straying between the lines of competitors and friends. The character development is gradual and it is only towards the end when you back-tracked to the much earlier volumes that one would realise how much they have grown.

However, I personally do not feel a personal sense of attachment to the characters and the only one that attracted me and cracked me up is Niizuma Eiji, the prodigy who happens to be portrayed as the main good-natured antagonist.

Art:

The art, though clean and easily discernable, is somewhat lacking in terms of expression. Due to the intensive blurbs of dialogues, it appears like more attention was paid to the words than the drawings. However, for an unusual manga which is substantially story-based with lesser focus on the graphics, I do not see this as a major problem.


Overall, Bakuman is not a manga which will keep you at the edge of your seat. It is something that takes time to digest and better read in a slower, leisurely pace.

The story is decent and easy to follow – it’s the typical murder mysteries set within an all-girls high school and how the protagonist, the school’s maths teacher goes around solving them and gathering the pieces of puzzles together while in danger of being the next target.

At the beginning, new characters are introduced at every few pages and it’s easy to get lost and confused. Nevertheless, the art style makes up for it as each character is distinctively drawn, although remembering their names can be baffling. However, given that the characters and their circumstances are intertwined with one another in some way, these ... characters are not redundant as they add to the bigger picture.

The murder mystery and methods of execution is somewhat easy to solve and this could be due to the fact that rather than focusing on the complexity of the murder methods, the author wanted to focus more on the dark side of the characters through the series of events that unfold.

Nevertheless, I believe that there could have been more depth in the development of the characters and the way they interact. Further, the hint of a teacher-student affair could have been more elaborated - I was a little disappointed that the relationship between Maejima (the male protagonist who is married) and one of his female students were brought across so placidly and ended way too abruptly. From the tone of their conversation and the way they interact, there is definitely something deeper between the both of them which I believe would have made the story more appealing if the author had dwelled more into developing their relationship. Without revealing any spoilers, it’s hard to describe the frustration one felt towards the end.

Further, the motive for murder wasn’t that compelling and I wasn’t convinced by both the victims and the culprits. Most of the characters failed to move me although I must say that after completing the series, I developed a love-hate relationship towards the male protagonist, who in some way is that typical gentleman cum jerk who destroy the lives of unlucky women albeit unintentionally.

Overall, this manga is still a good read, although I believe there are even better titles of the same genre out there.

A punch of fresh air within a cliché plot.

It is no secret that Kaichou Wa Maid Sama exploits an ordinary shoujo plot within the setting of a high school romance. The pitting of a strong headed girl against a mysterious cool boy (and the fact that the girl has a big secret to hide and only the boy knows about it) is no less common that even the mangaka herself did not bother defending that her works are entirely original.

The fact that it is based on an overused plot and yet is still received with alarming popularity is one that draws a great deal ... of controversy.

Nonetheless, what sets this manga apart from the incessant yield of shoujo mangas and have it climbing its way up the popular charts can be classified into the following factors:

Fast paced story:

It is no doubt that the story develops rapidly. The fact that the male protagonist took interest in the heroine at the beginning of the first chapter says a great deal about how less-wishy-washy this manga is going to be. Especially the first couple of volumes, readers find themselves prancing around with the characters as they embark on a series of dramas, fights and adventures.

Each chapter in essence models the concept how the hero, Usui Tamaki would save the heroine, Misaki from distress or danger as the latter’s brave endeavours into unfamiliar territories invites trouble. Despite the gimmicky model guilty of most shoujo manga, the wacky turn of events has that constant momentum to keep me entertained, as well as the enticing master-slave-relationship that eventually develops into romance.

While the romance aspect progresses at snail pace (the main characters have kissed umpteen times but still remain the placid relationship of school mates), what makes this manga an additive read is the little events of surprises that chain the big picture.

Even though recent chapters (after about Volume 11) have seen a slowdown in development and less humour as it moved towards a seemingly more sombre plot, it is still too early to dismiss this manga and I’m curious to see how the characters would work out for the benefit of themselves and readers alike.

Distinguished art work:

Although not exceptionally fantastic, the artwork and style is pretty decent – the characters are effortlessly distinguishable (i.e. one look at the drawings and you would know the artwork comes from this mangaka) with a satisfying level of attractiveness.

Here, the charisma of the characters is relayed more through their “personality” and “actions”, rather than how they “look like”.

The thing I appreciate about this mangaka is that there is individuality in her artwork that sets her works apart from her competitors (take for example the peculiar eye-brow frowns of Misaki).

Pleasant characters:

I would not say that any of the characters made it to my all-time favourite list but then again, such liking is very subjective. As far as concerned, the main characters are pretty likable. I enjoy the dynamics between Tamaki (the male protagonist) and Misaki (the heroine) as well as their interactions, and how frivolous Tamaki would act, especially when Misaki is angry just so the latter would get angrier.

There are of course certain aspects of the characters I find annoying. For one, Tamaki, despite his coolness, know-it-all, mysterious aura and charm, appears to be unsophisticated at times. Due to the “perfect” image that the mangaka bestowed upon him, there have hardly been any substantial progress in terms of his character development.

The same goes to Misaki – I don’t know why there are readers who think she is unique just because she is different from the heroines in other shoujo titles due to her strong headed nature. As far as I’m aware, in recent years (even way before the release of this manga), there has already been an influx of strong willed cum stubborn shoujo heroines. As a reader, it is difficult to like Misaki as she has the tendency to harden the atmosphere – this lady here is forever tense, always frowning and you just want to tell her to ‘come on, relax girl, you are walking in a shoujo manga frame’.

Yet, despite the flaws, the chemistry and unity these two characters displayed in the face of adversities is something I like seeing. Due to the very strong presence of these two leads, other side characters may appear forgettable or even redundant.


Overall:

Kaichou Wa Maid Sama is another demonstration of how an overused plot can prove to be an entertaining read if plot devices are used right. I would recommend this to any lovers of Shoujo titles or someone who is looking for a light-hearted read not involving brain cells.

One that leaves a great deal of fantasy for lovers of the Yaoi genre.

Story:

There is no better recipe than a combination of mafia+yaoi+romance+humor and this was what intrigued me to give this series a try.

When Takaba Akihito, a young ambitious freelance photographer, stepped onto the toes of dark and dangerous Asami Ryuuichi, the head of an influential Yakuza, he never thought it would change his life forever.

Akihito’s first sexual encounter was with Asami (poor fellow was basically adducted), and is a somewhat nasty and pure rape that corners around the likes of BDSM, punishment and submission. Yet, the fact that rape doesn’t immediately ... evolve into romance here adds a tinge of realism to the story and exhibits the insecurities the characters feel as they struggle to comprehend the realities of how they should feel as opposed to how they should act.

Throughout the series, I’m enticed by how Asami remains steadfast in his domineering and hardcore attitude towards Akihito to the stage of claiming him to be his possession. Also, the gradual transition of how Akihito eventually comes to terms with his feelings for Asami after a couple of life-changing events is convincing and makes it more compelling for readers to empathize with the characters.

Here, their outburst of emotions, anger and feelings are mainly let out through a series of sex and body thrusting exploits as they struggle to come to terms with each other.

That said, despite the overwhelming splatter of sex scenes, there is a gratifying degree of thought and depth in the storyline itself. Apart from dwelling into the struggles of romance between the same gender and dangers of the Yakuza world, the mangaka places a great deal of effort into developing the characters and giving life and depth to them – these were all that set this series apart from other Yaoi titles and make it a fulfilling read.


Characters:

The male protagonists are appealing in their own ways, with distinct personalities and charms. They are not just here to f*ck, but each has a story to tell, dark pasts they are struggling to forget as well as weaknesses they are trying to overcome.

I like how the mangaka portrays their personalities – you have Akihito, the stubborn, juvenile and yet thoughtful man coupled with the much matured, cool and composed Asami that sometimes appears sadistic and over-protective of Akihito.

The contrast between the characters is what made their interactions interesting and I like how through a series of events and adversities, they develop in terms of personality and come out stronger than they were yesterday.

Art:

I cannot complain anything about the artwork as I was awed at how beautifully the characters are drawn. The main characters are captivating you wish they were real in life, and their appearance perfectly match their personalities.

The sex scenes are drawn rather steamily and explicitly with a light tinge of bondage and sadism. There have been more than 40 chapters released so far and amusingly, NONE of the sex scenes appear repetitive – I wonder where the mangaka got her imagination from.


Overall:
Captivating storyline and substantial plot progress, checked.
Fantastic artwork, checked.
Promising character development, checked.

This series is essentially an all-in package readers would expect from a Yaoi title.

Unless you belong to the orthodox old school of thought, and are someone who obediently shuns anything so-called immorally mind-blowing which your school’s discipline master and mama would disapprove, this series is definitely worth the go.

Inside every man resides a woman – this may sound weird but such is the case when it comes to Otomen.

Story:

It is a story revolving around a high school student, Asuka Masamune who leads a double life – the first being a charming, chivalrous and masculine president of the Kendo club and the second being his true self, that is, a boy that likes everything girlish and excels in everything (from cooking to sewing to baking) a woman does. Yet he is forced to hide his true self in an effort to meet society’s expectations of how real men should act like.

Nonetheless, ... that all changes when one day he saves a female classmate from bullies in school and fell in love with her at the first sight. Unfortunately (and fortunately), the girl is not all about hearts and flowers.

The story itself is commendable, with a gratifying degree of originality. So far, I have hardly come across another manga that explores the concept of boys being portrayed in a feminine way while at the same time still manages to retain that mannish nature. I like how the mangaka draws readers into this genre in a light hearted way without appearing to be trying too hard to please. Throughout the series, I could feel the pure joy and satisfaction the mangaka derived from drawing this manga.

Characters:

When it comes to the male protagonist, Asuka Masamune, it is sort of a love-hate relationship with him i.e. I love him and hate him at the same time (although love makes up the majority in this case).

I love the fact that he stands out noticeably as the gentle, loving, meticulous and affable hero. His strong sense of masculinity, confidence and steadfast perseverance in standing up for his beliefs and protecting his love ones balances his overall image. As a female, it’s difficult not to like him and to a certain extent he reminds me of Kim Jaejoong of the TVXQ fame (i.e. k-pop shippers will know what I’m talking about here).

However at times, Asuka’s totally-too-good-to-be-true good-nature potentially irk readers off, especially in times when you wish he could have been ruder on his attitude and put himself before others. It’s like, this nice chap is forever so patient and affectionate and has never once exploded with anger. While such attributes are admirable and makes a perfect recipe for a manga hero, a pleasant chap like him is likely to be friend zoned by his female counterparts in real life.

The female protagonist however sort of lacked character and personality to bring out her tomboyish image (which is what she is portrayed to be). It felt like the mangaka tried not to put too much focus on the female e protagonist as the limelight of the series is supposed to be on the hero and exploring the realities and challenges young Otomen face in today’s society. (i.e. basically Otomen refers to men who have feminine interests and hobbies but are not necessarily gays).

The supporting characters are also rather likeable – you have Otomens of all sort – a boy who is passionate about make-up and cosmetics, another who is obsessed with flowers and a delusional shortie that is constantly coming up with ideas to change himself and attract girls. Overall, they provide a solid support for the main characters and comic relief to the series.

Art:

The art work is clean and crisp – the lines are neatly defined and greyish shadings are kept to the minimum so as to convey the bright positive image of the manga. The characters are nicely drawn and I love the mangaka’s portrayal of Asuka (the male protagonist)’s boyish charm and chivalry. I especially adore the contrast between how his face blushes and his eyes lit up warmly when he sees something cute / fluffy as opposed to the manly aura his eyes and posture exudes in the face of danger and adversities.

The little details – such as the decorations, bentos, pastries and cakes are deliciously illustrated that even in black and white, the desserts and food look yummy and you wished it would just popped out of the manga and turned into real food.

Overall:

Although certain chapters may seem repetitive, the underlying message in Otomen is clear – be yourself because no one else can. Accept yourself for who you are and make the best out of your attributes such that they become your greatest assets and strengths.

If other shoujo titles are about wacky romance, laughter and tears, then Otomen is a notch sweeter – it’s about smiles and sweet moments.

If you are expecting hard core romance or intense drama, then Otomen is not for you. However, if you don’t mind a toffee-like taste of sweetness albeit slightly placid pace of story, Otomen definitely does you justice.

Overall, Otomen is a sweet, light hearted read that leaves readers with the feeling of a light spring breeze. It makes a good company if you want to spend a lazy quiet afternoon in the comfort of your room with tea and cookies.

With a tremendously enhancing selection of Yaoi titles out there, Aishuu is one that could be easily overlooked or forgotten due to the very much predictable turn of events.

Story :

This manga recycles an ordinary plot – basically, it talks about two men who carried a torch for each other since school days but were separated. Years later, their paths cross again just that this time round, one is a high-profile celebrity actor while the other still leads a stagnant life as an undergraduate. Then the whole ordeal of a homosexual relationship and struggles begin

Characters:

Here, you have a strong headed and self-indulgent egoist coupled ... with a soft-spoken, tender-natured submissive. There is nothing special about this couple combination that makes the manga stands out from the huge pool of Yaoi titles out there.

It felt like there could have been a more detailed insight into the characters in terms of their progression as the main protagonists. Overall, they came across as being immature and two-dimensional i.e. the struggle which they went through in order to come to terms with their homosexual relationship in this judgemental society is not entirely convincing. It appears like they ended up together a little too abruptly and the lack of a substantial setback / change of events more or less anti-climaxed the whole story.

Artwork:

The art work is the standard Yaoi art – fine-looking men with well defined abs and jaw lines. I believe it is a given that the artwork in Yaoi titles must be fantastic to keep readers in their reverie hence, the art work portrayed here sufficiently meets this requirement (it is not entirely incredible or mind blowing).

As and when a few smutty moments are whacked in but they are mediocre at best given that the intensiveness did not manage to grip my heart.

Overall:

On the whole, Aishuu doesn’t seem to entail readers with any sense of attachment to and empathy with the characters. The emotions portrayed were too raw and insufficient to put readers on an emotional roller coaster ride. Hence, if you don’t mind an one-hour read with no aftermath of emotions or thoughts, this manga is worth a go.

A manga which could have the potential to be a brilliant piece but unfortunately…

Story:

The manga mainly centers around the plot of a pessimistic artiste manager, Kyouko who in a bid to save her failing career finds herself accepting the challenge of recruiting a stage performer, Riku into the entertainment industry and taking care of him in the capacity of his manager. Its starts off with the skeptical-no-idea-why-but-I’m-so-unlucky woman meets cold-and-callous-no-idea-why-but-I’m-naturally-impatient guy.

However all that said, the entertainment industry is a mere veil that brings the two main characters together. The challenges and dark side of the entertainment field is NOT explored in detail and issues ... of career conflicts are kept within the minimal. Readers won’t find themselves struggling with the characters with career decisions (because they are hardly any, except the fact of whether should the heroine being in the capacity of an artiste manger fall in love with a rising male celeb).

Basically, the entertainment industry is loosely focused here and I felt that the mangaka could have strengthened the bond between the characters and instil growth in them by dwelling into the realities of the entertainment industry.

Characters:

The thing that disappoints me much is really the lack of character development. It was like towards the end of the story, the main characters hardly change – except for the little fact that they realize how much they like each other and got together, in terms of personality and growth, it felt as though they barely graduated from where they were at Chapter 1. I wished the mangaka could have invested more efforts in developing the characters though a more thorough, well-though chain of events.

Further, even as I re-read certain chapters just to find out why, I absolutely couldn’t find a logical reason as to why the male protagonist fell in love with the heroine – basically she appears to be your normal girl-next-door slapped with tons of inferior complexes and a pessimistic outlook towards life. Although she did have her brave moments, it felt as though her complexes and lack of confidence overshadowed her strengths. Yes, it is believable to have men falling for women who are weak and needs protection due to the masculine nature of the former. However though I just can’t understand why someone would fall for someone who is always doodling with self-doubts and playing the self-blaming game.

Artwork:

The artwork is pretty fine. The main characters are decently drawn and pleasing to the eyes, although at times I felt that they lack a diversity of emotions, especially the eyes part. In a sense, there is a limited variety of emotions i.e. like only one expression for “crying”, one expression for “happy” and one expression for “angry”.

It would definitely have been better if there have been an array of expressions for the same type of emotions. It felt like something was missing (especially the male protagonist – he was illustrated rather charmingly but for some reason, it felt as though he lacked soul and hence, it seemed like there was a distance between him and myself as the reader).

The mangaka also has the habit of embellishing her art in intense situations by switching the characters into their chibi versions. The style is relatively extreme – you either like it or hate it. For me, I couldn’t bring myself to appreciate her style of turning something that was solemn a while ago into comedic chibis. I felt it sort of anti-climaxed the whole situation.

Overall :

It was on the whole a mediocre read. There are many parts in the series which the mangaka could have utilized and delved more into but didn’t.

The saying ‘never judge a book (manga) by its cover’ is like a spot-on adage when it comes to Hapi Mari.

The series starts off with an overused plot: poor-girl-marries-rich-stranger-to-pay-off-father’s-debts and whether there could be true love in a marriage that was built upon a monetary mutually beneficial arrangement.

Story:

Despite the cliched plot and smutty moments (which to my surprise wasn’t that overwhelming), the story itself actually has depth and I was somewhat amazed at how the concept of marriage is exemplified here.

The mangaka adopts a realistic approach towards illustrating the challenges young couples struggle with in today’s society. Chapters are often slapped ... with small bickering, huge fights, jealousy over an ex-flame, making up and then fights and making up again. Yet it is though these bits and parcels of encounters that the main characters know each other better, establish and strengthen that romantic connection that was absent at the beginning.

Within the context of Hapi Mari, conflicts are often made intricate because of differences in values, priorities and statuses between the couple. What make it appealing is how the characters, from diverse upbringings and backgrounds search for ways to balance that chemical equation to keep the marriage going. As the story goes, what turns out to be a superficial marriage-on-paper pact evolves into something that ties the main characters together beyond ways they could ever imagine.

Characters:

What I like about this series is the sensible practical approach the characters take when faced with issues and conflicts. It’s nothing you get from shoujo titles where the hero goes beyond being an impossible romantic and does things to protect the heroine that readers know will never happen in reality.

Here in Hapi Mari, the hero, Hokuto, is one ego-centric character who despite all the glamour and success, is a guy with many flaws and a dark past. As the story develops, his flaws amplified but yet at the same time, he builds up that warm compassionate side of him and breaks that cold exterior because of influences from the heroine.

The heroine, Chiwa, whisked in with that strong tough girl image who doesn’t tolerate nonsense from guys. But as the story progresses, she becomes more and more vulnerable and often relies on Hokuto to save her from distress. Despite that, I have no complaints with the shedding off of her tough girl image – I believe it is the mangaka’s way of sending the message that even the strongest woman becomes the most susceptible when it comes to love.

As well as the saying of opposite attracts goes, when these two people from different worlds meet, it creates a chemistry that bounds them together. The characters are by no means perfect and yet they still portray that level of maturity that is simply relatable.

Coupled with the issues they face in life (and when I mean issues, they are SERIOUS-PRACTICAL –I-MEAN-REAL-SH*T-ISSUES and not your high school child-like conflicts), these makes the series one that strike a balance between being entertaining and sensible at the same time.

Art:

The artwork is clean and crisp. The characters are decently drawn with a pleasing level of attractiveness. Although readers won’t be able to find gorgeous bishonens with dreamy eyes here, the artwork is fine enough to not deter readers from the series.

Like what previous reviewers have pointed out, the artwork on the manga cover definitely doesn’t do justice to the artwork and the appearances of the characters inside.


Overall:

Within josei-romance genre, Hapi Mari has done a decently good job that satisfies readers into buying the story. Well at least for me, I was pretty entertained throughout the chapters and not once did I consider dropping the manga.

This is definitely not a manga with cheap smut (which was the initial impression I got judging the cover) and shallow story development. It stands on its own the pride and hard work of the mangaka. Overall a very entertaining and fulfilling read.

Synopsis:
Haruhi, the female protagonist (who is a common girl from a poor family) enters the grand upper class Ouran High School on a scholarship. One day, lost in the school, she wanders into the high school’s male host club and accidentally knocks over an expensive vase. As a deal to repay her debt, she was recruited to join the host club under the pretence of a male. No one in the school knows her true gender identity except for the members of the host club and there, it all marks the start of this uproarious journey.

Story:
Great – or perhaps, close to perfect. The ... concept of a host club within a high school setting provides the stage for comedy and looking at children of a higher upbringing from a different perspective.

The creator did a splendid job in mixing and mashing the main characters whom each possesses distinct qualities and traits that complement one another. I found myself loving all 7 members of the host club.

Here, you have a seemingly frivolous narcissistic leader of the host club Tamaki Suoh, backed up by the cold scheming grinning Kyouya Ootori then coupled with the bad-ass entertaining Hitachiin twins (who in some aspects remind me of the Weasley twins from the Harry Potter fame), the quiet, thoughtful Takashi (who remains silent in most part of the manga and yet, you still somehow feel his presence – kudos to the mangaka on this, I wonder how she did it) and finally, the cute devilish Hunny senpai, the oldest of the group who however looks and acts like a six-year old.

Then in comes the innocent down-to-earth female protagonist, Haruhi, the commoner who possesses the endearing character of observing the upper class society with a pinch of salt. What I like about the female protagonist is that she is neither the damsel in distress nor the typical loud and furious heroine that wants to make known her entrance everyone she goes. Instead, she is the thoughtful girl that observes the happenings around her from a quiet perspective and intervenes only at the appropriate time. In a way, her low-profile and good natured demeanour complements that boisterous over-the-top antics of the male members in the host club.

The only reason why I ranked the story “close to perfect” instead of perfect is probably due to the lack of continuity in most chapters. Almost each chapter (at least up to the first 40-ish chapters) has its own story independent of one another and they revolve around the problems of the host club’s guests and how the hosts club helps solve the problems. It kind of shifts the limelight away from the main characters. That said though, they are sufficient to keep you entertained.

Art:
The art is rather flowery, with the dialogues and insertions crammed among the drawings. It got me a while to adjust to it as each chapter has a load of information to absorb – compared to other shoujo titles I have read, each chapter in OHSHC took me a longer time to complete due to the intense amount of dialogues and insertions.

Nevertheless, the art work visibly improves throughout the series and what make the characters attractive are the witty dialogues. The comical aspect is hilarious and at times, I found myself laughing out at the most impromptu moments.

Overall:
Overall, this entertaining manga definitely makes for my favourite top 3 shoujo titles! It sends out a strong positive message about friendship, love ties and learning how to laugh at life while learning it.

This manga is a classic example of a promising plot with amiable characters gone wrong in the hands of unsophisticated imagination.

Story:

The manga starts off with a pleasant introduction of the female protagonist, Kana Takachiho, a normal teenage girl leading her normal school and home lives. As predictable as it could get, her life was turned upside down when she was injured in an accident, saved by a pureblood vampire , Aki, (who was introduced as her childhood friend) and obtain immortality as a result of him sucking her blood. However in exchange of immortality, the female protagonist belongs to a “possession” of the pure ... blood vampire who sucks her blood every now and then.

In addition, a werewolf bishonen was introduced into the story and the trio sets off in an adventure in search of the 7 stigmas (also loosely referred to as the 7 sins/desires in the Christianity Bible) as part of a quest to revive another childhood friend (supposedly another attractive pure blood vampire) from his inexplicable comatose.

Then, just think Twilight – as expected, the pureblood vampire and werewolf fell in love with the female protagonist. While Kana (the female protagonist) is not as annoying as Bella of the Twilight fame, what made this manga intolerable was the subsequent weak development of the storyline and loose focus on irrelevant events.

While not entirely original, I always believe that even an unoriginal plot can prove to be an entertaining read if executed aptly. Although the first couple of chapters were engaging and made sense, with the passing of time, it seems as though the author has lost focus on what she was supposed to be doing and as a reader, I find myself going around in circles with the characters, pondering in puzzlement at the brow-frowning turn of events. While reading the subsequent chapters, my mind was often bombarded with tons of “WTHs” and “WTFs” and then I realized, it’s time to stop for a while.

Normally when I read manga, I don’t expect the heroes/heroines to be perfect. They can come with flaws but the important thing is that with each chapter there must be some sort of progress / development in the plot or the characters. Sadly, here, there has hardly been any substantial development after Volume 3. What’s the use of throwing in scenes of handsome-vampire-sucking-girl’s-blood from various positions when there is no point in doing that? (it seems like a deliberate act just to fulfil the raging hormones of fan girls).

Art:

Despite the weak development in the storyline, the art is fantastic, as expected of Aya Shouoto. Perhaps the only redeeming factor that kept me from dropping the manga (until now) is the artwork that is so handsomely executed.

Having read other works of Aya Shouoto, this manga gotta be one of her worst.