Even though I've enjoyed the earlier volumes of Kaze Hikaru, it is these three volumes—which expertly combine romance, humor, character development, and historical events (with exciting bits of foreshadowing)—that have secured my undying love for the series. We begin in the summer of 1864. The Shinsengumi is waiting for the Bakufu government to take a stand regarding … [Read more...] about Kaze Hikaru 6-8 by Taeko Watanabe: A-
Gender Hijinks
Ouran High School Host Club 13 by Bisco Hatori: B
Feelings. That’s entirely what this volume is about. First, you’ve got Haruhi taking a love quiz and finally realizing that what she feels for Tamaki isn’t just admiration of his many good qualities, but actually love. Not that she’s ready to deal with that just yet, so she resolves to take his advice and start accumulating more life experience. Next, Hikaru informs Tamaki that … [Read more...] about Ouran High School Host Club 13 by Bisco Hatori: B
Ouran High School Host Club 12 by Bisco Hatori: B+
From the back cover: Hikaru and Kaoru's fight over Haruhi is taking its toll on Hunny and Mori, who are trying to watch over the estranged twins. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Tamaki, Kyoya starts looking for Tamaki's mother in France. Review: Three plot threads are simultaneously underway in this volume, though they converge nicely by the end. In the first, Kyoya is using the … [Read more...] about Ouran High School Host Club 12 by Bisco Hatori: B+
Oh! My Brother 1 by Ken Saito: B-
Masago Kamoguchi is a normal girl: normal looks, normal grades, and normal athletic ability. But normal isn’t good enough for Masago when she’s constantly being compared to her older brother, Shiro, who is smart, good-looking, popular, and someone who draws people to him wherever he goes. As the story begins, Shiro is leading the student council in preparations for the school’s … [Read more...] about Oh! My Brother 1 by Ken Saito: B-
Kaze Hikaru 3-5 by Taeko Watanabe: A-
Tominaga Sei, a teenaged girl who has assumed the male identity of Kamiya Seizaburo in order to join the Mibu-Roshi and avenge the deaths of her brother and father, has achieved her revenge. As volume three begins, her mentor and unrequited love, Okita Soji, is urging her to leave because she has accomplished her task, but Sei doesn't want to go and demands acceptance as a man. … [Read more...] about Kaze Hikaru 3-5 by Taeko Watanabe: A-