Review 136: Ark of the Prince

Art: 7
Plot: 5
Characters: 6
Sex: 6

This one was way confusing. It starts in a fantasy world, where the prince, Louis, is 'betrayed' and imprisoned by his closest advisor/guard, Armand. But then he learns that Armand only did this to save him... or something. But then the world literally crumbles around them, and when Louis finally wakes up, it is in a futuristic hospital. He then learns that the fantasy land that was all of his memories was only a gaming device, used to submerge people in said fantasy land. But a crisis brought the game down, and so most of his memories were 'deleted'. When he returns to 'real life', he has no actual memories except for Armand, who returns to him as a real person. He and Armand make peace with the eternal confusion this will bring.

Okay, so it goes without saying that the plot was full of confusion. I have no idea what parts of it mean, so I didn't even list them in the summary. The characters didn't make much sense as a result, and there wasn't any sex depicted. The art wasn't even that great - there were many points where details weren't drawn to save time... pretty obviously, too. Sometimes there are even just silhouettes where fully-drawn characters are expected.

Overall, a 24/40.

Recommendation: No. Just no.

Review 135: Amai Jouken

Art: 8.5
Plot: 8
Characters: 8
Sex: 8

When Hisaya gets let go from his old job - and his abusive relationship - he has nowhere to go. That's when Munekazu randomly picks him up and takes him back to his apartment. Munekazu demands nothing except that Hisaya work at his French restaurant. After a while, however, Hisaya grows to love Munekazu and battles with his fear of the unknown - what does Munekazu want of him, anyway? Luckily, they resolve these troubles in the end, and sexytimes commence.

The art is very nice in this one - I especially like that Munekazu is dripping wet during at least 60% of the story. Thought that was a nice touch.

The plot is done well despite being so simple, and the characters are pretty nice, too. Hisaya's troubled nature is interesting and not too over-the-top, while Munekazu is very sweet.

The sex is pretty darn good. Especially the shower scene.

Overall, 32.5/40.

Recommendation: If you like dramatic 'does he love me? Oh, heavens!' type deals.

Review 134: Akanai Tobira

Art: 7.5
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
Sex: 8

This one is... really different. The uke has an unrequited infatuation with the seme, who he ends up working for and living with (they work from home). The uke has these pheromones that attract all sorts of weirdos, but strangely they don't work on the seme, who is a self-proclaimed 'straight'. Despite this, whenever the seme gets irritated by the blushing, easily-ashamed uke, he gets in the mood to do 'homo stuff'. Okaaaaay.

The art is all right, the plot is really weird but kinda interesting, the characters are oddly likable, and the sex is... well... pretty good, actually.

Overall, a 30.5/40.

Recommendation: If you like blushing ukes... who are way more shameless than most.

Review 133: Aitsu to Ore

Art: 8
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
Sex: 6

This has such memorable lines as, "So since I'm your father's mistress's son, you think you can do whatever you want with me!?" and "give yourself to me totally." Yeah, this has a variety of shorter stories all involving convoluted family trees and borderline incest, with the theme of troubled lives and naive ukes getting disillusioned by cruel older semes. Yeah.

So basically, the art is fine, the plots are complicated and dissatisfying, the characters are regrettable, and the sex - when there is any that isn't forced - is not very good.

Overall, a 27/40.

Recommendation: Nope.

Review 132: Ai no DNA

Art: 8
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
Sex: 7

Hmm... another difficult one to judge. It's a little weird because the seme and uke are 'brothers' (the seme is from the father's first wife, and the second wife brings a child from a different man, so they aren't blood-related)... even if they're not blood-related, the fact that they start from a brotherly relationship is kinda creepy. Despite this, the art is pretty good, the plot is pretty interesting, and the characters are believable. The sex, if you are comfortable enough with the idea that they're not really brothers, is all right. But still... a little bit putting off.

The plot revolves around two guys born on the same day (different years) who share an odd 'bond' such that the older guy feels all the physical pain the younger feels, and the younger guy feels all the physical pleasure the older guy feels. This is a fascinating dynamic, if only if was used with two people not in the same mishmash of a family.

Overall, a 30/40.

Recommendation: If you like flustered, angry ukes.

Review 131: 1999 Shanghai

Art: 5
Plot: 9
Characters: 8.5
Sex: 7

This one is an odd mash-up of good and bad. We've got the typical mafia story with lovers from opposing 'families', only it's a much slower-paced story than most of its type. This adds to the tension and makes it a lot more enjoyable than usual, but regrettably it is brought down by its older style of art (in my opinion). The expressions aren't clear enough, and sometimes I got really confused with who was who since a lot of them look the same.

So yeah, Dawu is a low-ranking guy in one gang while Xiaoxue is a prized assassin in its rival gang. They meet without knowing each other's backgrounds, but they soon discover their inherent incompatibility during a gang fight. But despite that, they have steamy, forbidden sex anyway.

Art's awful, plot is oddly fun, characters are very likable, and the sex is not quite up to par.

Overall, a 29.5/40.

Recommendation: If you like mafia yaoi.

Review 130: Take Over Zone

Art: 9
Plot: 9
Characters: 8.5
Sex: 7

Another difficult one to judge, although this one I liked in spite of that. This stars a guy who used to be a great runner but quit the Track Club due to molestation by his coach. Then in high-school he gets inspired to join a new Track Club, where he meets a serene but cold upperclassman who doesn't seem to like him much. But their relationship grows closer until he discovers that the upperclassman actually likes him... a lot. Thankfully, the upperclassman is truly a kind-hearted person, and he doesn't rush the guy. This yaoi has a lot of Track Club action - as in running relays and all that - as well as many cute romantic scenes.

The art is very nice - I loved the different looks for all the club members, and the expressions and emotions were done well.

The plot, as said above, was pleasing and adequately exciting.

The characters are very likable and diverse, which makes for a more enjoyable story overall. The main character and upperclassman-guy are my favorites. Very good.

The sex never technically occurs, unless you count the flashback to the molestation - which I don't. For once, such a thing is treated with the seriousness it deserves, and it does not strive to seem pleasurable.

All in all, 33.5/40. Not bad!

Recommendation: If you like sports-oriented yaoi.

Review 129: Zettai Meirei

Art: 7
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
Sex: 6

This one was another 'whaaaat?' story. Basically, in the ancient times a Shinto priest creates a magical sword that transforms into a warrior with immense power. Said warrior obeys only the priest and fights demons. Sadly, the only bit of plot we get to see in this story is when the Emperor demands the sword for display in his palace. The priest, despairing, has a one-night stand with the warrior he created, telling him he loves him. Then when the Emperor demands the warrior to join him, he refuses, taking the priest to somewhere far away where they can be together forever. Okaaaaay.

The art is all right, but not breathtaking. The plot (see above) is below mediocre. The characters aren't well-defined at all, and the sex is brief and uninspired.

Overall, a sad 26/40.

Recommendation: Nah.

Review 128: Kouun no Rihatsushi

Art: 9
Plot: 9
Characters: 9
Sex: 9

This one is so cute! In a creative twist, the seme - Tsukasa - starts out as a nobody with a sheet of hair over his eyes, and he encounters the uke - Nachi - in a small town barbershop. Nachi cuts his hair, revealing the gorgeous face underneath and suddenly the transformed man is propositioned by modeling agencies and film directors. He skyrockets into the world of live-action dramas, scoring a lead role in a romance. Despite his success, he keeps going back to the small barbershop to see the barber, both unaware that their feelings are mutual. But after Tsukasa saves Nachi from an annoying slime of an ex, the confessions arise and sexytimes commence.

The art is quite nice, and Nachi has the coolest hairstyle and clothes. Somehow Tsukasa is also really cool-looking, even though I don't usually like the short, spiky-haired type. The expressions are spot-on and the sex is tastefully depicted.

The plot is actually very imaginative, and I dunno why I like it so much. I suppose that's a good thing, so I won't question it. See above.

Tsukasa and Nachi are excellent characters and extremely likable. Their motivations are legitimate and they are so much deeper than most of the stereotypes seen in yaoi. I especially love the side of Nachi we see during the first sex scene - hilarious ("Hope I don't embarrass myself - I haven't done this in a while."). Even the minor characters of the two grandpas are worthy of recognition. Nicely done.

The sex is superb - understandably awkward and realistic for once, but at the same time steamy and entertaining. There's even humor in there somewhere. What skill!

Overall, a 36/40.

Recommendation: If you like cute stories, or just nicely matched couples.

Review 127: Kondo Koso Honki

Art: 7.5
Plot: 6
Characters: 6
Sex: 5

This was a highly unappealing story. We have the classic unrequited love between childhood friends - gag - with the addition of the cold-exterior seme archetype, with the result of an annoyingly helpless tone throughout the story. The guy on the right is the uke, and he gives up on his seme only to go home with one of the seme's coworkers, who he has been warned about. Said coworker drugs him and ties him up to rape him, but miraculously the cold-hearted seme shows up and 'rescues' the uke... only he doesn't untie him. Instead, he decides to sex him up in the exact manner of the rapist. Which is somehow meant to be different and sexy, despite the fact that the uke is drugged and tied up. I hope I speak for many of us when I say... WTF?

Art is a tad sub-par, plot is obviously horrid, and characters have little motivation and are tossed around by the terrible excuse for a plot. The sex is basically rape, only with that 'this is supposed to be sexy' overtone which disturbs me. No Money, anyone?

Overall, a 19.5/40. Ouch.

Recommendation: Not worth your time.

Review 126: Roman Gousha

Art: 7
Plot: 6

Characters: 8

Sex: 8

All right, so this was a weird one. A married man in 1919 can't support his sick wife and his children, so he goes to the nearest city and lands a job as a servant to a company executive. His master, however, rapes him on the first night he stays there. The married man realizes that this is part of his job, but as he learns to bear the atrocities for the sake of his family, he also uncovers the dark past of his master... and begins to care for him.
Then his wife dies, and he returns to take care of his children. Years later, the executive turns up and more-or-less asks if he can be part of that family because he loves the man. Their awkward past is kinda sorta reconciled, and the family moves into the city with the executive.

Right, so the plot is already strange, so the different art style seemed almost expected. It isn't bad, per se, but the executive man always looks way too soft in the face. The married man is very pretty, though... which as a downside made him look prettier than his wife. Awkwaaaard.

The characters were all right. They had noticeable motivations and weren't as confined to archetypes as most. But they certainly weren't elaborately designed, either. They escape dreadful and rise to adequate during the story, at the very least.

The sex is difficult to judge. I'm not sure whether to count the rape(s?) or not, but I'll just say that the one or two times it is consensual - unsure how many to count, again - it's decent. Not fireworks, but decent.

All in all, 29/40. Hmm.

Recommendation: Erm... if you like abusive relationships that turn sweet?

Review 125: Taiyou no Kikoushi

Art: 9
Plot: 7

Characters: 7

Sex: 7

This one, despite its glorious art, is your standard fanfiction-quality yaoi. It's the usual 'absurdly-wealthy-foreigner-loses-way-and-insists-on-staying-with-poor-host-guy' type deal, with the slightly unorthodox use of the long, flowy golden hair and gold jewelry all over said foreigner. The host is, of course, a pushover and a 'normal' guy. Don't expect anything surprising to happen in this one.

As I've said, the plot leaves much to be desired - such as, I dunno, a plot? - and is generally unbelievable. The idea that a foreigner with that much money would 'lose' his bodyguards is inconceivable, and it isn't reconciled later in the story, either (such as with an admission that he had lost them on purpose, for instance).

The characters are also lackluster. The foreigner is a selfish, spoiled child who generates little sympathy from the reader, especially since he's a type found often in yaoi - and always the wealthy heir, too. The main character is more likable, but his choices and motivations don't make sense, particularly when he lets a complete stranger sex him up. I mean, he seemed to be pretty stubborn up until that point... it was a rather abrupt shift.

The sex itself, speaking of which, was all right but didn't have enough inspiration. There seemed to be little reason for the main character to cooperate, making it more of a lazy-rape. Not sure what that term means, but I bet it'd apply to this.

All in all, 30/40. That feels like too high a score...

Recommendation: Read if you appreciate the spoiled-heir type. Or some such nonsense.