I used to be very fond of Love*Com but after a disappointing eleventh volume, my ardor cooled and the volumes have been piling up. For most of these two volumes, I was happy again, but when Risa's grandfather is introduced at the end of volume thirteen, it all goes rapidly downhill. Volume twelve begins with the gang awaiting Ôtani's exam results and Risa trying to decide … [Read more...] about Love*Com 12-13 by Aya Nakahara: B
Shojo Beat
High School Debut 11 by Kazune Kawahara: B+
From the back cover: Haruna becomes worried when she sees Yoh hanging out with an unattractive classmate. (Yoh does seem to have strange taste in women, after all...) She has good reason for feeling uneasy—it looks like this girl really does want to sabotage their relationship! Review: The main reason I love High School Debut is that it skewers some of the typical shojo … [Read more...] about High School Debut 11 by Kazune Kawahara: B+
Black Bird 1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji: B-
Misao Harada has always been able to see spirits, but when she turns sixteen, things suddenly get a lot worse. Kyo Usui, her childhood friend and first love, returns after a ten-year absence just in time to inform her that she is “the bride of prophecy,” and that now that she is sixteen, all sorts of demons are going to want to drink her blood, eat her flesh, and/or marry … [Read more...] about Black Bird 1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji: B-
Crimson Hero 11 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
The Crimson High girls’ volleyball team has made it to the third round of the Newcomers’ Tournament and is facing its first serious challenge. Things are going well and they win the first set, but when the opposing team intentionally wounds Crimson High’s star setter, there’s no one who can fill in. Instead, the Crimson High girls rearrange their strategy to protect their … [Read more...] about Crimson Hero 11 by Mitsuba Takanashi: B
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You 1 by Karuho Shiina: A-
Sawako Kuronuma doesn’t mean to terrify her classmates. In fact, she wants nothing more than to befriend them, but her resemblance to a character from a horror movie combined with her reserved demeanor keeps them at bay. Everyone, that is, except for a cheerful boy named Kazehaya, who is friendly to all and known to look out for those who don’t quite fit in. When Sawako … [Read more...] about Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You 1 by Karuho Shiina: A-