From the back cover: Shurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne'er-do-well ruler to … [Read more...] about The Story of Saiunkoku 2 by Kairi Yura and Sai Yukino: B+
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Let’s Get Visual: The Verklempt-Makers
MICHELLE: It's time for another installment of Let's Get Visual, the monthly column in which MJ and I attempt to better understand the visual aspects of manga! This month we're looking at scenes that have impacted us emotionally. Personally, I had always assumed that a sympathetic reaction to an emotional scene was due purely to my empathy for the characters and whatever they … [Read more...] about Let’s Get Visual: The Verklempt-Makers
Banana Fish 11-13 by Akimi Yoshida: A-
When last we left off, Ash was attempting to escape from a mental institution where the plan is to make him a Banana Fish test subject. Pages of escapey goodness ensue, and Ash has just gotten outside when he realizes that Max and Ibe have been caught trying to help him and has to go back in to save their troublesome butts (awesomely, the background in one panel during this … [Read more...] about Banana Fish 11-13 by Akimi Yoshida: A-
Tidbits: Catching Up with Shojo Beat
New and recent Shojo Beat releases are piling up, which means it's time for another Tidbits column! In this installment, you'll find reviews of three newer series—volume three of Dengeki Daisy, plus volumes five and six of Honey Hunt and Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You—while two old favorites, Ouran High School Host Club and Skip Beat!, bring up the rear! Dengeki Daisy 3 by … [Read more...] about Tidbits: Catching Up with Shojo Beat
One Piece 32-45 by Eiichiro Oda: A
Tired of tackling the epic One Piece in three-volume chunks, I decided to do something new and review the entirety of the Water Seven arc—comprising volumes 32 through 45—at once. If you've never read the series, this isn't the place to start, but man, is it ever worth waiting for! Typically, the drama in One Piece comes from some sort of ongoing conflict the crew discovers … [Read more...] about One Piece 32-45 by Eiichiro Oda: A