Secretary's Job Review

Secretary’s Job  

Author: Miki Araya

Publisher: June Manga/DMP

American release date: July 24, 2012

Format/Genre/Length: Manga/Yaoi/200 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: 19+

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Takase is well-known at the company he works for—he’s not only cute and adorable, but he has the ability to take anyone he works with a success! And now his boss has given him a challenge. The president wishes Takase to work with his slacker son, Toshiaka. Is Takase up to the challenge?

Synopsis:

Secretary’s Job: Honjou is surprised to learn he’s been given a secretary. After all,, he’s a low level employee in his father’s company. But he accepts Takase with his usual indifference, although the rest of his department is delighted to have Takase working with them. Takase finds that Honjou is not interested in working, but he doesn’t give up and inspires Honjou to actually make an effort.

When a colleague’s stay in the hospital is extended, Takase volunteers Honjou to take his place at a business golf meeting over the weekend, to Honjou’s dismay. When Honjou criticizes Takase, the younger man breaks into tears, engendering the sympathy of the department and driving Honjou to accept the golf date.

Takase continues to spur Honjou on to greater and greater efforts. One day he realizes that Honjou doesn’t eat very well, so the next day he brings him a box lunch that he’s made himself. Touched, Honjou gives Takase thanks—with a kiss! Why did he just do that? Honjou has no idea!

As they begin to grow closer, Takase realizes, to his horror, that Honjou needs to find someone he can marry and have a child with, so he asks to be removed from his assignment, which leads to more trouble than he bargained for. Is there any way for Takase and Honjou to be more than colleagues? Will love find a way?

I’ll Make You My Prisoner:  Monma has a great deal of charm, which goes a long way toward making him successful. And he isn’t shy about using that charm to get his way. When a co-worker, Takada, confides that the secretary she had eyes for took no interest in her, Monma’s competitive spirit takes that as a challenge, so they make a bet. If Monma can’t get into this guy’s pants, he owes Takada an expensive dinner.

Figuring that his job will be easy, Monma targets his prey, Setoguchi, and “runs” into him. The guy is very cute and just as clueless as Takada said, and Monma finds himself forgetting what he was going to do. He starts to spend more and more time with Setoguchi, taking him to different places, wining and dining him. At one point, he gets the other man drunk and into his bed! But something  has changed, and Monma is suddenly unsure he can go through with the bet because of it.

Falling in Love With You: Tokuno is a very popular student. All the girls love him and are more than willing to lend him their notes. Tokuno is very stuck on himself. So when he notices another student, Kanbe, garnering their attention, he doesn’t like it. He’s determined to make them not like Kanbe as much as him, so he sets out to find out something that will ruin his reputation. In order to do this, he gets as close to him as he can. But then he discovers that Kanbe is more than just a great guy. Can he go through with his master plan?

Jealousy 1 and 2: Takase, Honjou, Monma and Setoguchi return in these mini stories about jealousy.

Commentary:

I really loved the development of the characters in this, and their storyline, co-workers to friends to lovers. It wasn’t insta-love on anyone’s part, and it felt natural. Each of these stories has a similar central theme, but the characters are all unique. I like stories where characters start out as less than stellar people but end up redeeming themselves through their actions.

This is a really good book, one I would gladly re-read. The artwork is good, the guys are good looking, the romance element is strong, and the sex is hot. What more do you want from a yaoi?  I give this book an enthusiastic thumbs up and look forward to reading it again.

The Conqueror's Chalice Review

The Conqueror’s Chalice  

Author: Souya Himaware

Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing

American release date: February 29, 2012

Format/Genre/Length: Manga/Yaoi/219 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Older Teen, 16+

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Prince Masoo and his brother Aoto are the eleventh and twelfth children of their father, the king, and as such not likely to advance inside their own country, having too many siblings ahead of them. So Masoo invades the neighboring country of Tou and defeats its ruler. Afterward, all of the defeated king’s wives and children commit suicide rather than live under his rule—all except for one, whom Masoo saves—Prince Kisame. He takes the young boy under his wing, in an uncharacteristic move, and decides to raise him to be the best man he can be. Even if that means that when Kisame grows up, he might kill him and take back his country.

Synopsis:

Even Aoto is surprised at the relationship between Masoo and Kisame, at the way Masoo makes time for him, for he has never known his brother to be interested in, or show any concern for, a child. Masoo insists that Kisame receive the best education, and has Aoto train him in the ways of the sword, claiming he does not wish to be surrounded by fools. When Kisame wakens in the middle of the night from a bad dream, Masoo permits the child to sleep with him, even kicking out a woman he’d been bedding to make room for Kisame. He teaches him that grown men don’t cry, nothing gets solved by crying, so he must find other way to deal with his tears.

From the beginning, Kisame’s devout desire has always been to receive a cup of wine from his lord’s hand. But he has always been too young…

As Kisame matures, he becomes a very attractive young man—and although he is not of age yet, Masoo invites him to his chambers and offers him a chalice of wine. Of course Kisame accepts. Once he is under the alcohol’s influence, Masoo makes his move. He claims Kisame for his bed, telling him that now he is and shall be his toy. Thus their physical relationship begins, despite Kisame’s protestations that he does not wish it to be so. But he is helpless against Masoo’s insistence.

However, there are still forces that are determined to rid the country of its conqueror, and to see the usurped prince back upon the throne. Once that occurs, what will happen between Kisame and Masoo? Will he take revenge on the man who has treated him as a mere toy? Or does the truth lie somewhere else?

Commentary:

This was a really great story of ancient China, I absolutely loved it! Masoo is handsome and arrogant, and he is very self-centered. But there is more to him than that, and he cannot entirely be blamed for the way he is; it’s how he was raised. His relationship with his brother Aoto and with Kisame show that he is also human, a multi-layered character. Kisame does not understand him, and yet he goes to him, because he is forced to. But is that the whole truth? Or does something more lie underneath?

I could have kept reading this story if it had continued. I think  anyone that loves yaoi will enjoy this tale, and find the ending satisfactory. I enjoyed the artwork. Kisame is pretty and Masoo is very handsome. I’d like to see more from this author.

Ouran High School Host Club Volume 11 Review

Ouran High School is about to hold its first sports festival! Tamaki and Kyoya are on opposing teams, a highly unusual situation. Which one will prevail? And what effect will it have on their friendship. Kyoya is the strategist, while Tamaki operates on sheer emotion. Will Kyoya over think the situation, or has he pegged his friend perfectly? But what other forces are in play that might have a hand in what is happening?

Hikaru and Kaoru are also on opposite teams, which makes them uncomfortable with keeping secrets from one another. But there’s more to their estrangement then that, if only they could put their finger on what that something is. Or is it someone?

By the time the first half of the festival is over, Tamaki’s Red Team has proven itself to be its own worst enemy, and it seems that the White Team will handily take the day. Is there any way to turn things around?

When it comes down to the relay race, Tamaki and Kyoya make a private wager between themselves—if Tamaki wins, he gets a free year-round use of Kyoya’s kotatsu passport, but if Kyoya emerges triumphant, then Tamaki  has to greet customers the following week wearing only a fundoshi.

The Host Club is wearing kilts—all except Tamaki, who’s in his fundoshi and complaining about it (although the customers certainly aren’t). Haruhi buys him a superball to keep him occupied; it works a little too well, leading to the discovery of a mischievous tanuki whose behavior becomes a bit extreme.

The class trip is coming up, and the destination is France. Tamaki doesn’t let on to the others, but he confides in Kyoya that he isn’t going. Meanwhile, the twins are discovering new things about themselves.

In a bonus story, we get a look at Hunny’s brother, Chika as he fights against his attraction to cute cuddly animals.

There’s a lot going on in this volume, and we get some real indepth looks into the characters and their motivations, although Haruhi’s appearances are rather minimal. It’s more about the relationship between Tamaki and Kyoya, and Hikaru and Kaoru.  The sports festival stories are enjoyable and fun. In one episode, Ranka and Misuzu and Mei make a brief appearance.  I wish there’d been a host club in my high school. How much fun would that have been?

Another great volume of Host Club, can’t wait to see more!

Winter Demon Volume 2 Review

Winter Demon, Volume 2  

Author:  Yamila Abraham

Distributor:  Yaoi Press

American release date:  2007

Format/Genre:  Manga/Yaoi

Publisher/Industry Age Rating:  Mature

Overall Personal Rating:  ★★★★

Similar series or titles to check out:   9th Sleep

According to Priest Shidan, Hakuin's touch is purifying to Fuyu, and that being the case, there must be some redemptive qualities to be found in the Demon.  And although Hakuin has not forgotten or forgiven his rape by the demon a year ago, he is willing to forgive him, once he feels he is worthy of such forgiveness.  In the meantime, he's leading the Winter Demon around by the nose in order to get him to do good.

Synopsis:

They travel to another village to seek medical aid for a young girl named Kyoko.  Along the way Hakuin speculates that since she has no one, perhaps he should marry her - which thought is most displeasing to Fuyu, especially when Hakuin denies that he and the demon are lovers.  Reaching the village, they learn that the healer they seek, Lord Zengosaku,  only serves the nobles.  They go to the castle anyway, and when they meet the healer, he explains that his only patient is the very ill young son of the lord.  But when he sees Fuyu, he gets an idea.  The boy desires to see magic.  Perhaps if Fuyu will perform for him - in disguise, of course, lest he frighten the boy - he will help to heal the girl.  Although Fuyu is less than enthusiastic over this idea, Hakuin accepts the offer.  The healer says he will heal the girl over three sessions, and Fuyu is to give three magic shows. Hakuin chooses to share a room with Fuyu, and when the demon shows signs of wishing to depart, Hakuin begs him prettily, for his sake - and then grants him permission to brush his hair!  Not quite what the demon has in mind, but it's all he's getting.  For now.

That night, as they sleep - Hakuin lying contentedly in the confused demon's arms - Ratsu the Fire Demon momentarily appears, and Fuyu realizes that the demon whip needs fixing, but he purposely does not tell Hakuin.

Each performance is more demeaning than the one before, and Fuyu is more than fed up.  Only his feelings for Hakuin keep him in check.  But sometimes, even so, he gets a bit out of hand - and his own reactions to those times confuse him greatly.  He doesn't mean to hurt the monk, and yet he seems to keep doing that.  Finally, for the last performance, he is requested to appear in Samurai armor, which gives the demon an idea, and a way to get the heck out of Dodge.

As we return to our epilogue, Figaru, we find that Figaru and Ichiro are doing very well in their newly discovered blissful honeymoon existence.   Priest Shidan accidentally interrupts a lovemaking session, wishing to send Figaru to the market.  Ichiro must go with him, lest the demon frighten the villagers.  They start to taunt Ichiro, until they see who he is with, and he begins to gain a grudging respect he never had before.  Ichiro runs across Matsuyo, a young girl who is a distant relative, whom he hasn't seen in quite a while. When he mentions her to Priest Shidan, the priests asks didn't Ichiro propose to her two years before - and a can of worms is unexpectedly opened, to Figaru's dismay.  Although it kills him to do so, he encourages Ichiro to court and wed the girl.  Without his Iover, the incubus is growing ill.  He has to do something about his needs, but what he does isn't pleasant, and the priest is horrified at what he discovers.  As is Ichiro.

A second chapter of Winter Demon finds Fuyu and Hakuin traveling to a village where the demon whip can be repaired, when they receive a request to help another village.  Fuyu is adamantly opposed, feeling it is imperative they get the weapon fixed as soon as possible, but Hakuin agrees, so they end up spending the night.  Fuyu then tries to soothe some of Hakuin's fears of intimacy.  Can he make it all better?  Or at least start to?

 Commentary:

As I had hoped, the artist was changed from the first volume, and while the artwork is not up to Japanese standards, it is better than the first book. The relationship between Fuyu and Hakuin is developing, but at Hakuin's pace.  Naturally he has reservations, and is quite conflicted.  On the one hand, this is the same demon who brutally raped him before and thought nothing of it - on the other hand, under Hakuin's purifying touch, this same demon has begun to change into something softer and nicer, one that appeals to Hakuin.  Yet naturally his body remembers, and it's hard not to fear the demon's touch.  Which only makes their relationship that much more realistic to me, and it has me actually rooting for Fuyu, cause I think he just needs the chance to be good, and to divest himself of some of his less charming ways.  Which only goes to show, as Anne Frank reminded us - there is good in everyone.  And I have just one thing to say about Fuyu - he is totally whipped!

Ichiro broke my heart, though, when he left his demon, and it was hard to watch Figaru react as he did, even if a bit understandable.  All I can hope is that he will return to his incubus in the future, otherwise he is a very cruel boy.

The artwork is getting better, the story is as good as always, and I find myself caught up in the characters.  For me, the characters are what makes the story.  Plot is important yes, but only as devices to bring out what is inside them.  In this, Winter Demon succeeds admirably.  There is a cute one panel bonus story at the end which is sure to produce a smile.  And glancing ahead, I already know that Figaru and Fuyu are going to meet - what fun!  This second volume is even better than the first, I anticipate the third eagerly.

Yamila Abraham gives us a unique world of demons and monks, throws them together in a cooking pot, and then lets us taste what comes out.  Yummy!

Before you read this, read Winter Demon 1, then try Wild Rock.

Blue Sheep Reverie, Volume 1 Review

Blue Sheep Reverie, Volume 1  

Author:  Makoto Tateno

Publisher:  Digital Manga Publishing

American release date:  December 30, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Emanga/Yaoi/192 pages (also available in paperback)

Publisher/Industry Age Rating:  Mature/Adult Content

Overall Personal Rating:  A-

Similar series or titles to check out:  Yellow, Hero Heel

Searching for the killer of his beloved Maria and hoping to solve the mystery of her death, Kai Kouda seeks out Lahti Bara, known leader of the Sarte group, one of two groups who control the city with no name.  He auditions to be his bodyguard by attempting to "kill" him, and ends up being shot for his efforts - but not before he sees the ring on Lahti's finger - the same blue stone which adorned the ring that Maria always wore!  Kai wakens to find himself in the Satre home, being cared for by the head of the kitchen - now he's right in the thick of things!

 Synopsis:

When Judd introduces himself to Kai as Lahti's bodyguard, Kai figures that he isn't needed - but that isn't necessarily the case, as Lahti is actually calling for Kai.  On the way to the boss, Judd gives the kid some background about the rivalry between the Sarte group and the Mynah group, and Kai learns that Lahti's nickname is  "Steel Lahti" - and he is one of the "four kings" of Sarte.  Kai is given a test - if he survives being attacked by four of Lahti's men, he's in - and he makes it!

Kai had met Maria two years before, when she wandered into his town.  She was a doctor, and helped to treat the wounded, including Kai.  They'd fallen in love, but one day Kai had come home to discover her dead body - and he'd vowed not to rest until he found the person or persons responsible for her death!  Even now, every time he thinks about her, he gets an ache in his head . . .  He wonders if Lahti is the one that killed her, as he has her ring - he must get a closer look at it!  Which becomes even more possible when he learns that Lahti is gay!

Kai is sent on his first escort mission to protect Lahti.  The Sarte computers have picked up some strange signals, and they have tracked down where the transmissions seem to be coming from.  As they near the building in question, Kai's head begins to ache again, and just in time, he notices the wrecking ball that has mysteriously begun to operate itself, and pushes Lahti to safety!  It seems that this has become a common phenomenon lately - machines going haywire!   Kai gets into it with some strange thugs, and when one overpowers him, it's Lahti to the rescue, which is when Kai notices that Lahti's eyes are the same blue as Maria's.  Lahti makes Kai his personal bodyguard, keeping him by his side and training him - a rather unprecedented move for him, as he's never felt the need for one before.

When Kai expresses anxiety over Lahti's safety, his boss offers to let him sleep in his room - in his bed.    Meanwhile the members of Mynah are plotting with a mysterious woman named Bihaan to overthrow Sarte, according to plans which she has already put into action.  After making love, as Lahti sleeps, Kai attempts to get a closer look at his ring.  But Lahti catches him - and proves to him that it isn't the one he seeks, he knows no Maria - and now his trust in Kai is destroyed!

Kai has learned what he sought to know, but for some reason, he finds he has no wish to leave, despite Lahti refusing to have anything to do with him.  The machinations of Mynah continue.  Another monkeywrench is thrown into the game by the arrival of an old childhood friend of Kai's - a girl named Sada - who only wishes to take him back with her!  Kai is confused, and Lahti is colder than ever.  What is a guy to do?

 

 Commentary:

Another great Makoto Tateno selection, in a similar vein to other of her works.  What's a bit different for this boys love genre is the main character Kai having a love for a woman.  That is just something you don't generally find in a yaoi, so it set me to wondering.  I won't reveal my speculations or whether they were correct or not, you'll have to make your own.  Tateno is great at setting up this sort of relationship - where her protags ride a rollercoaster of emotions that run the gamut from love to distrust to hate to eveything else in between.  You never know where they are going to stand in relation to one another; all you can do is watch helplessly and hope that everything works out for the best, cause of course you're rooting for the lovers to stay in love and end up with their well-deserved HEA.  Naturally, that isn't going to happen in the first volume, or what's the point in continuing?  There are some interesting parameters being set up here, which should lead to more discord and confusion in future volumes.

When Lahti shakes off Kai and enters dangerous Mynah territory alone, old truths will be revealed, as well as old ghosts, and Kai will have to decide what - and who - is important to him, and resolve these feelings for Lahti which refuse to go away; this was something he hadn't bargained for, not at all.  There is a certain resemblance between the characters in various of Tateno's works, but it isn't a bad thing, it just means she has her own recognizable style.  I enjoyed reading the first volume and look forward to more of the same from this most excellent mangaka.