Art: 7.5Plot: 7
Characters: 8
Sex: 7
This one is just 'too much'. It's your typical 'admiration turns to romance' set during the samurai era, but the complications are rather indulgent. The main character, who looks very feminine, was raped by his uncle as a child. The memory is suppressed, but years later when his childhood friend/hero makes an advance on him, the memory springs up again and causes him to cut off the guy's arm. Yeah, samurai lovers are dangerous. Anyway, after this the seme leaves because of the arm thing, and he is picked up by a group of robbers.
The seme reenters the main character's life when he is ordered to rob his house, but instead gives a map of the robber group's hideouts to the main character's friend. He is ready to give himself up to the law, as he never really wanted to be a robber in the first place.
Then, as he is leaving to go plead guilty, the main character chases him down and offers him a short sword, saying 'do as you wish', with the implication that the seme can cut off his arm in revenge. But since 'an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind', the seme takes these words to mean something sexual, and cuts down the middle of the main character's clothing.
Then he says this:
"I'm already at my limit." Please never fall for this line. It's friggin' ridiculous. Blue balls or not, a companion is not required and saying something like this is a big fat lie.
Anyway, the sex is all right but kind of 'ehhh' after all that drama leading up to it. It isn't explicit, which is tasteful for this manga. But it's also more comical than most, so... possibly a point off.
The art is pretty nice but not quite as polished as I've come to expect.
The characters, unlike you'd guess from the plot summary, are actually really good. Their motives are defined, personalities make sense, and all that good stuff. I like the main character's hotheadedness and his kindness, he makes for a well-rounded uke (not like that).
All in all, 29.5/40.
Recommendation: If you like the samurai love. Or stubborn ukes.
Great review! I like how you stick a little advice in there too!
ReplyDeleteI actually liked this story. For me drama really gets me going, however sometimes it can be too much and is really a pain. That's when I stop reading, but for this it wasn't the case. I haven't read it in a long time and my memory of it may not be good, but it was still an enjoyable read. As for him cutting off his arm-I suppose the story really wouldn't have progressed that much without it. That's just my opinion though. Great review!
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