Manga / Yaoi

Deux | www.deux-press.com

author Shiuko Kano also wrote the following yaoi manga titles: Affair, Tough Love Baby and Kiss All the Boys

Put into Manga/Graphic Novel Bookbox (US Only)
forum post here - http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/20/445483

off into the wild . . .

I'm taking this book from k00kaburra's Manga bookbox. Will have to see if it exceeds my angst-quotient - I can take a fair amount but it depends on how it's handled. Many thanks!

Later: The first chapter opens promisingly, with a scar-faced man holding a gun and another man showing his tattoo-covered torso, with the caption "Men are made of lies." The dramatic opening shifts into some near-slapstick as a bunch of goombahs (or whatever the yakuza equivalent is) squabble among themselves. Then we're introduced to the two main characters, Aoi (the fellow with the scar), who has apparently saved the boss's life, and Yuji, the underboss (the guy with the tattoos), who's just out of prison. They mainly exchange glances, with silent thoughts along the lines of "Something about him... gets to me". But if longing glances aren't enough, there IS some hot-and-heavy action - between the boss and one of his underlings. As the boss pounds away at the cute, bespectacled guy, we learn that the boss is thinking about Aoi all the time, that Spectacles is jealous, and that they both know that Aoi saved the boss's life accidentally - but the boss apparently doesn't care. [He also doesn't care when another of his men walks into the room to deliver a message; it must take some self-control to keep going under the circumstances {wry grin}.]

After that scene I was convinced that the boss was going to do something nasty to our hero, but the story takes its time, presenting other characters, past relationships, more flirty or outright seductive behavior between the two leads (but which remains inconclusive), and more very explicit sex between yet more characters. I admit I didn't want to follow all the power plays and maneuvering that was going on, but it's clear that there are several factions and most if not all of them are Not At All Nice. [There's an attempt to separate the "good" organized-crime folk from the "bad" organized-crime folk, but it's a bit iffy.] As the volume ends, there are plans afoot to make a snuff film, so things look serious for at least one character...

There's a section at the end with little character-descriptions of the main players, a very helpful feature that I wish I'd found before I finished the story {wry grin}.

I added this book to AKSarah's manga/graphic-novel bookbox, which is on its way to BCer Skylerdragon in Missouri. Enjoy!

Im not into slash stuff. But this is certainly entertaining. I havent decided whether I will keep this one out or not.

Well, this turned out to be a pretty good story after all. Im not much into male slash but I was able to stomach this stuff because I think there is an interesting tension forming and the setting and characters are generating a lot of complexities. I am not so much into violent anime, but this one spares me the blood and guts for the most part. The sexual scenes are dramatic and graphically illustrated with blurring and strategic framing cutting out the really naughty bits. Still there is plenty to satisfy the perverse and homoerotic readers.

Apparently this is a three book series. I doubt I will pick up and read the other books in the trilogy. Not my favorite style of manga.

I really, really liked the bit by the author at the end though. She explains how she got the idea for the story and the whole culture behind the story. Love that aspect and think all mangas and anime deserve such presentation and devotion from their creators. I may not like the content of this one, but I am certainly interested in seeing if Shiuko Kano made anything that is more in my preference.

I think I will return this to the book box because I haven't the slightest idea where I could release it in the wild safe from minors.

Forwarded on in the Anything Goes Manga BookBox by AKSarah.

Part of the manga bookbox.

Passed to azuki.

Picked this up from the manga box. I am not much into Yaoi or Yakuza, so not sure why I want to read this...

Not sure I like this one. I can't quite get all the characters and their backgrounds straight (no pun intended). Especially some of those guys having sex... are they going to be part of the plot or just some character's irrelevant partner? : /

This will be going into the manga bookbox.

Putting into AlterEgoZoe's box.

This book enjoyed a brief stop in San Jose, California before continuing its travels in AlterEgoZoe's Manga bookbox!

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I'm not much of a yaoi fan so I skipped right over this one :-p

Taken out of my Manga/Manhwa bookbox

It was ok.

Went into Nimrodiel's manga box

taking from manga bookbox

i read this a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it overall. it feels a little dated, but the main character, who got promoted through a misunderstanding, is sympathetic and his attraction to his boss drives the plot forward. apparently it's part of a trilogy, and this is a case where i wouldn't mind reading more, but i'm also not really going to go out of my way to track them down.

passed this along to a yaoi fan in case he/she might want to check out bookcrossing