Usual drill:

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” sometimes on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

If you want my reviews of manga and yaoi manga that I liked, click here. Other fandom recs are here. Or use the nav bar above.

new Age of Innocence, by ElasticPink []
Gin/Kira, R/NC-17, novella. Warnings: dub-con/noncon. Summary: The story of Kira, and to a lesser extent, Hinamori, Renji, and Shuuhei in between Shinigami school graduation and the Seiretei arc: his growth from naivety and happiness into what he is now, thanks to his Captain. GinxKira semi onesided yaoi.
Sequel: Age of Ignorance, Gin/Kira, R/NC-17, WIP. Summary: Sequel to Age of Innocence. Starts a year before SS Arc and through. How will Kira & Gin’s relationship fare when only one of them knows its ending? Also follows Hinamori, Hisagi, and Renji. GinxKira semionsided yaoi, other implics as well.

Again, the story isn’t perfect but this is Gin/Kira relationship as I actually wanted to see in a fic; besides, the flaws are quite overlookable, as for me: light epitithus, which I by now believe to be a norm in animanga fandoms rather than a deviation, a few errors here and there, Western way of writing names and general wobbly naming (when somebody is called by their first name vs last name). Easy to put up with when you see something else you’ve wanted for a while, right? Anyway, this story is written from Kira’s POV which is nice because it lets Gin remain reasonably mysterious. He’s also wonderfully fucked-up, as well he should be, and fucks with Kira’s head (as well as his body) in a very Gin way, as for me. He’s a malicious and cruel bastard but we can see some small glimpses of humanity in him, not unlike feeding dried persimmons to a dying Matsumoto in canon. This is why I liked characterisation in this story. Kira is quite delightfully whimpy and, well, fucked-up by Gin :) I am a bit apprehensive about how this story will end because Age of Innocence did have the sort of non-ending that I disliked but was willing to swallow ‘cos there was a sequel where there story was picked up. In any case, it’s an engaging reading as it is and I wish it not to putter out at the end.

Best Worst Day, by Mosh (or here) []
Renji/Ichigo, R, 5,300 words. Summary: Renji misunderstands the meaning of Valentine’s Day, which leads to revelation.

I enjoyed this story, especially the moment when Renji explained what he was doing and the date, lol :) And it was hot! But mostly I liked that what was happening was intriguing enough to keep my attention. I liked the way Mosh ended it, too.

Brown Leafed Vertigo, by foxflare #
Ensemble. Main pairing is Gin/Kira, with side plots including Aizen/Gin, Byakuya/Renji, Ikkaku/Nemu, Shuuhei/Yumichika, Kenpachi/Unohana, and one or two others; R, WIP, AU. Summary: Following the deaths of his parents, 15-year-old Kira Izuru is sent to Pure Souls Foster Home, and attends its sister institution, Seireitei Academy. Neither, he will learn, are aptly named. Warnings: Language, allusions to child abuse, eventual depictions of drug use, violence, and adolescent sexuality. Non-explicit, but hopefully realistic.

Now this is something I would never expect myself to like! As I said above, I want to see the universe explored most. This, though, is a “Muggle AU.” A foster home for talented children, run by Aizen. The younger generation of Shinigami are placed as students, the older as teachers and other school stuff, with a few exceptions/distortions, most notable of which are Gin and Kenpachi. Most of the characters (at least the students) have lots of fuck-up and bad things in their past (abuse, abandonment, death). It all reads as one big metaphor: of Bleach characters and their relationships, both those existing in canon and those willed into being by the author.

I’m reccing this story in a Bleach set but I’m not sure how much it really has to do with Bleach. Nor do I care, to be frank. I stumbled upon ch.14 through a newsletter, got intrigued, decided to start from the beginning and as a result, spent two days reading it like addicted. It’s just interesting. Are they Bleach Kira, Gin, Kenpachi, Yumichika, etc? They aren’t and yet they are, as usual with AUs of this kind. Thing is, I’ve been reading it and not able to put it away for these characters’ own charm and troubles. Which is an achievement in and of itself, as for me. There are only two small things I — can’t even say disliked — noted: a light epithitus by the hair colour and the [yet] absent Hitsugaya. The story is vivid and somehow very emotionally affecting. I’ve been stalking the author’s LJ hoping to see a new chapter but yes, patience is a virtue. Go give it a try though! There’s a lot written already.

Byakuya: He or she? by Greenzaku #
Gen with a hint of Byakuya/Renji, PG, short. Summary: Yachiru has a burning question for Renji. What’s his captain’s sex?

Yachiru asks Renji if his captain is a boy or a girl. Why? Because he comes to the Shinigami Women’s Association meetings and that makes her wonder. Renji’s trying to answer Yachiru’s bizarre questions and counteract her circular logic, and especially the ending of the fic made me laugh out loud. I don’t think the writing is flawless (especially the author’s complex relationship with semicolons) but the sheer fun compensates any flaws I could have found.

Counting Clouds, by Sophia Prester (or here) []
Gen: Zaraki, Yachiru, G, short. Summary: She can even remember how many clouds were in the sky: Twenty things about Zaraki and Yachiru. Spoilers through recent chapters of the manga.

I have a huge soft spot for gen stories about Ken-chan and Yachiru. This one scratches the itch nicely. Oops, mixed metaphor. Sorry! But it’s a charming “20 facts about” kind of story, with a nice counterpoint of Zaraki’s and Yachiru’s POVs.

“Fingertips have memories, mine can’t forget the curves of your body!” by Neo (hydr0phobia) []
Renji/Ikkaku, R, short. Summary: This would be a dare. This would also be my April Fool’s Day gag. This would also be the sequel to the inebriated sex I will never, ever write. EVER. GOD WHY.

Very amusing. The fic shows us a most awkward morning after, not only after that but also after a drunken evening, apparently. Made me laugh with a few lines. “Doggy style” Lol I also liked the contrast in their reaction: Renji’s agitation and Ikkaku’s laid-back-ness, if it’s even a word.

new First Contact, Touched, Caresses, by peppermint quartz #
Three long R (NC-17ish) WIPs. Main pairing: Aizen/Gin, lots of other pairings, on screen and implied. Warnings for mindfuck, violence, dub-con and non-con, explicit slash and het, power games, more violence, BDSM. In other words, not fluffy (although weirdly romantic); proceed with caution.

A friend of mine once shared a very nice metaphor with me. We were talking fic and in particular some long co-written HP WIP and I was puzzling cum lamenting that while written quite brilliantly, it almost didn’t have anything to do with HP. She said about the authors, “Oh, they went on a journey together.”

You all have read fics like this. It’s usually a very long story, often WIP but can be finished too, usually written over a long stretch of time, think a year or a few years. When you begin reading this story, you recognise the canon settings and characters. You follow and follow and follow and some place in the middle or closer to the end, it strikes you suddenly: whoa! This Snape (Hikaru, Roy, Boromir, Aizen, insert name here) has nothing to do with canon Snape (Hikaru, Roy, Boromir, Aizen, insert name here). Canon!A (B, C, etc) would never do anything like this/react like this/say something like this. And it’s not just this one character. That one, and their friend, and the other one… they all have undergone some persona change, or upgrade. You think: WTF? It’s really out of character for A (B, C, etc) to be doing this. You try to pinpoint when the characters lost their resemblance to their canon selves and their selves reflected at the beginning of the story, but…

You never noticed when it happened. Because it wasn’t a single instance. It’s probably that the authors’ perspective, their view of characters, were gradually shifting, bit by tiny bit, while they were developing them, while they were creating lots of circumstances for the characters to act in, and so on. Bit by tiny bit. And you were following, step by small step. They spent so much time thinking about their beloved character(s), acting them out and listening to them speak in their heads, that in the end, who acts in their stories are their very own Snape (Hikaru, Roy, Boromir, insert name here) that a reader who’s familiar “only” with canon would be hard pressed to recognise.

It’s most visible in long-time co-authorships but doesn’t happen only then. I count several oldbie writers in the Harry Potter fandom whose stories, if you look at the mass of them, show you the same thing. You probably love those stories and those extremely writer-personalised versions of character A (B, C, etc) if you have been following those writers’ paths for a long time or if you like smooth writing more than canon characterisation. But I doubt a newcomer who’s into canon characterisation could get into them if they started with one of the later stories. As a side note, this journey syndrome usually happens to those who a) can write well and b) who write the same pairings or universe for a long time.

So now when I encounter it, I always say in my head, “Ah, this one went on a journey.” It’s a long journey. What’s happening during it is naturally brighter and more important than what’s happening at home, isn’t it? So they somehow lose touch, in some ways, with the home base aka canon.

This is IMO what happens in the stories I’m going to rec, too. That doesn’t make them any less addicting though :) Do try them!

It’s a huge universe centred around Gin and Aizen and their romance of the centuries, well, something of the centuries. It begins long before the major canon arcs, when Gin is in the Shinigami Academy — actually, even before that, when Aizen was considerably younger — but you learn that last bit from side stories.

The main arc consists of three long WIPs that tell basically the same story from three points of view (further POV): Aizen’s, Gin’s, and later on, Kira’s. Here are the links, with summaries:

First Contact: I will not say the words you crave. I will not break the spell you cast over me. Aizen x Gin. Companion piece to ‘Touched’. Aizen’s POV.

Touched: If anyone should ask why I loved you, it is because you are you, and I am I. Gin x Aizen. Companion Piece to First Contact. Gin’s POV.

Caresses: Kira had his choices, but the decision was made for him without his knowledge - by a certain Ichimaru Gin. Kira’s POV.

I accidentally read the Kira’s POV story first and this is what I strongly suggest you do, too, if you want to give it a try, because of two things. Firstly, if to arrange these stories from the least informed POV to the most informed, Kira is, of course, the most clueless of the protagonists. He’s a latecomer in the universe; Aizen and Gin’s story has been going on for ages before that. Also, he’s sweet and naive. You won’t spoil the other two stories if you read his POV first simply because Kira knows only a small piece of what’s going on on the large scale. If you read Aizen’s POV first… well, he’s a mastermind and the most mysterious figure here, so the other two stories will lose lots of their enigmas, at least in what concerns characters and their motivations, if not actions. Some of the actions would be completely puzzling though ‘cos they are explained in detail in Gin’s part. This is why I suggest you begin with Kira, go on to Gin, and then to Aizen, if you are willing to stay with them for so long.

This is what I wrote in my rec of the Kira’s POV story Caresses when I’d read it: This story is addicting! I spent a day following it. Because first things first, I like this Kira: how easily he gets confused and swayed, his inner voice, his bursts of strength and insight, and some innate goodness in him that shines through despite all his fumblings and the not-so-good things he does. I believe the author wrote a very attractive and bright character in him, and I dearly hope that he has a chance to change something in Gin. In any case, even if I can’t say I liked everything in the writing and even though some details left me less than persuaded (say, other countries’ soul societies, thankfully only mentioned, and other small things from Shinigami everyday life), I enjoyed the story. I’m not sure I’ll return to it if the updates are slow but I might.

After reading Gin’s POV story, my reaction was much more emotional and frankly flaily: Oh my god. Oh. My. God. Poor, poor Kira! Poor sweet Kira!

There’s such a tempest in my head now. I still don’t like Aizen. Nope, not even this Aizen, even though I admit he’s magnificent. I think I could change my mind about him if Kubo Tite took a sharp turn and made him a very-well-hidden hero who did it all to save Soul Society from [this and that, my mind refuses to supply scenarios at the moment]. In other words, if he turned out to be “Snape.” Although I doubt that will happen. But I digress. I don’t like Aizen. But somehow I like Gin, and I simply love this Kira. So now I’m sort of tearing myself in two: I’m totally addicted to the story but I’m afraid of the direction it will go. So I’m all flaily and whimpery and all.

There’s lots of mindfuck in these stories. They are themselves mindfuck of sorts. A young Gin, already ruthless but still pretty powerless and scared, decides to sell out his arse to a powerful Shinigami to get protection for himself and his best and only friend, Matsumoto Rangiku. He chooses Aizen-fukutaichou in whom he sees something other people overlook behind his congenial smiling façade. It soon turns out that he might have bitten off more than he could chew. On the other hand, he might be strong enough to swallow it and maybe even bite off some more. The story begins and develops as a train wreck, morbidly fascinating as such things usually are. More and more people get sucked into it, and OMG, it’s impossible to put away, for real. I don’t want to spoil it but later on, while keeping the train wreck aspect, it sort of gains another dimension, another perspective that makes it all look very different.

Of course I didn’t like everything in these stories. Two things I didn’t like were the other countries’ Soul Societies (IMO it’s developing canon too far, at least it read this way to me, even if it wasn’t illogical per se) and things to do with WW2. IMO in that case, the author was too visible through Gin. The placement of captains and vice-captains during and before the “Turn back the Pendulum” arc are wrong in a few instances but that might be because at the point when it was written, we didn’t know the precise details of who was the captain of which squad, so I overlooked it. There are also a few anachronistic details or — how do you call it when it’s not only a wrong placement of an event in time but also in culture? Say, surely very Japanese-based Soul Society of some 50-70 years ago wasn’t as obsessed with flossing as the modern-day America? But those are a few small details in a very long fic, so I didn’t mind them. I did like it that the author made the Gotei 13 Squads have clear specialisation, following the 12th, 2th, and 4th that we know from canon.

There are a lot more stories in this universe, and while I only like the three above (well, I like two of them better than the third, to be truthful: Kira’s and Gin’s), they cast light on some things in the main story line.

Over All Things, I Will Remember You, Kissing You
1) Aizen/Gin, Ichigo. PG-13, angst, shortish. The first in the Over All Things series. Summary: But over all things brooding slept, the quiet sense of something lost. Post-war. Ichigo is an observer in a relationship he never thought to be privy to, and he’s not sure what he thinks of it.
2) Aizen/Gin. PG-13, short. Summary: The second in the Over All Things series, written in Aizen’s point of view. All about Aizen’s thoughts and feelings after he enters the auditorium, knowing he will never walk away from his other.
3) Aizen/Gin. PG-13, short. Summary: The third in the Over All Things series, written from Gin’s perspective as he waits for judgment. Gin mulls over his fears and his memories, both fading away as the man he loved waits outside.

This series of connected oneshots can be read as the ending of the Aizen/Gin story. Be warned it’s a huge tearjerker. Too emo and too “far away on that journey” for me so I didn’t like them.

Not About You
Urahara/Ichigo, R, novella. Summary: Set a week after the events of Over All Things. Ichigo and Urahara find themselves drawn together, but neither is certain of the other.

Follows the oneshots above (and the main story arc) chronologically, set after the end of Aizen/Gin story. I didn’t like it but there were several speeches delivered by Urahara that cast light on Aizen’s history and explain a lot in his character and the events of the main arc.

Return
OFC het mostly, R, novella. Summary: Someone returns to Soul Society after a long absence. Some characters’ lives are turned upside down. Featuring Byakuya, Kyoraku, Ikkaku, Aizen, Gin and OC, among others. Rated M after reconsideration. A/N: My first OC-centric fic that featured AiGin, but doesn’t fit with the current First Contact/Touched timelines anymore.

A sort of AU to First Contact/Touched/Caresses where one of the arc’s secondary characters plays a major part. I found it seriously annoying. Yeah, I know I could have skipped this one but I didn’t. It’s not that Kai Mizuki’s a Mary-Sue. She’s no author’s insert and the author isn’t stupid to make her all-powerful. But [white on white further]: she’s Aizen’s favourite creation, lover cum assassin cum pupil until he finds a better one in Gin; she’s Yamamoto’s great-grand niece and sort of adopted daughter of Ukitake, Kyouraku, and Komamura; she’s taken in her squad and protected by Unohana; she hooks up with Byakuya after Hisana’s death, and in the end, she hooks up with Ikkaku. Too much too good, eh?

Other related stories set in the same universe that I haven’t read: Damage, Beaten, Fifty Sentences. You can find links via the author’s profile.

Handicaps, by darklightshades []
Aizen/Grimmjow, NC-17, short. Warnings: non-con/dubcon. Prompt: Bleach, Aizen/anyone-but-Gin: dirty sex on the Bancouch (the massive sofa in Las Noches) - It’s good to be the king.

I clicked because I click any pairing that looks like it’s rare and whoa. Pretty persuasive, not to mention interesting and not badly written at all.

Infamy- 20 Myths and Legends about Zaraki Kenpachi, by Pero (peroxide_fic) []
Kenpachi, Eleventh Division; Gen, PG-13, ~3,000 words. Summary: The mysterious Zaraki Kenpachi.

Not “OMG wow” but it’s lovely and entertaining, even if (or maybe exactly because) it’s rather fanonish. I want to understand a character when I read fanfic, especially one as awe-inspiring and fucked-up as Kenpachi, not to read a number of words about how mysterious he is, even if underneath it we are still given some understanding of him. But this story is pleasant to read anyway and amusing. I enjoyed it.

new Insomnia, by SilverKytten []
Renji/Ichigo, R/NC-17, WIP. Summary: When you carry world on your shoulders, who’s left to catch you when you fall? RenjixIchigo. [minor spoilers throughout] Warning: Ichigo is underage; violence (as to be expected in a Bleach fanfic).

I wouldn’t say this story is perfect: there are some epithets (not too many) and errors — but it’s engaging enough and really hot. It also has a slow and believable progress of the relationship, which I was really happy to see. I don’t know how long the author is planning this story to be but it’s long enough already. And the UST and the first-time sex are delicious. The premise is: before the looming war with Aizen’s forces, Ichigo feels restless and worried for his friends’ well-being. He prowls the town in search of Hollows to relieve some tension. Renji, who’s freeloading from Urahara meanwhile, feels and does the same. One day their ways cross and Ichigo, exhausted from his continuing insomnia, falls asleep on Renji. Starting from this, their relationship begins a slow and gradual change.

A Matter of Mind, by Sophia Prester (or here) []
Gen: Kurotsuchi Mayuri, PG, short. Summary: Mayuri has his own, unique perspective on Aizen’s betrayal.

Mayuri deserves more fiction about him, yes, he does! So yay! I think it was a good look into how his mind works. This totally explains, as for me, why Mayuri who doesn’t care about anything but his research fights where and on the side he’s currently fighting.

The Meaning of Soul, by Antharyn []
Hisagi Shuuhei/Kira Izuru, PG-13, short. Summary: Kira…can shinigami die?

Original character POV, the other main character of the 2nd degree of interest for me (Kira), light epithetus, lots of emo stuff… and still I liked it. There’s something in the story that touched me.

The Monkey and the Moon, by imadra_blue []
Byakuya/Renji, PG, ~1800 words. Summary: “Let me tell you about the difference between you and me. It’s like the story of the monkey trying to capture the moon.” – Byakuya Kuchiki to Renji Abarai, Bleach Chapter 142. Notes: Takes place after Aizen’s theoretical defeat and refers to the speculated fates of a few characters. Will no doubt be rendered AU when Tite Kubo finishes the Aizen storyline.

Lovely and lyrical. The story is told via thoughts and small but significant gestures rather than grand action or talks. I loved how awe-struck and humbled Reiji is before Byakuya, how wanting and courageous at the same time, and how they don’t really speak to express it all. Works well here, as for me. Wonderful short story.

Red Pineapple Romance, by ldybastet (or here) to be rated later
Byakuya/Renji, R so far, WIP. Summary: In the real world, there is Valentine’s Day; in Soul Society, Byakuya gets a mysterious gift.

06.16.2009: As the title promises, it’s a Byakuya/Renji romance. Light-hearted and full of UST, where neither Byakuya’s nor Renji’s characterisation rubbed me against the fur (rare thing!). I found it a really pleasant reading and hope to see more of the story soon. Will add the rating depending on how the UST is resolved. But it looks very promising so far.

new There’s Something About Zaraki, by drakensis []
Gen, PG, very short. Summary: Hitsugaya has questions about Yachiru, but he wasn’t expecting the answers.

Very short and funny. Not a word from me because it would spoil everything, just… don’t peek at the ending, all right? It won’t be funny if you do. But funny it is :)

To Hell and Back, by furiosity and incapricious ##
Bleach/HP crossover. Harry/Draco, others, R, novel-length! Finished! Summary: Turns out that Dumbledore meant it when he said death was the next great adventure. Spoilers: Harry Potter — up to and including Deathly Hallows sans epilogue; Bleach — no plot spoilers, massive world spoilers, minor character spoilers. Warnings: violence.

I’m posting this rec in a Bleach rec set even though I’ve seen To Hell and Back on HP newsletters rather than the Bleach one. Yes, probably because it’s Harry/Draco. But the world of the story is the world we know and treasure from Bleach, and this is what I love best in fanfiction: the exploration and expanding on a canon universe. F and Incapricious do wonders here in this respect. I savour every chapter!

Harry and Draco die (not a spoiler; it’s a premise) and appear in Rukongai. Having being wizards on Earth, apparently they have Reiatsu now. That gives them lots of opportunities and problems. And wow! It’s simply wow! Rukongai and Seireitei, Soul cutters (Zanpakutou) and Kidou, Shinigami Academy and glimpses of the characters we love, traditions and customs, etc, etc. It’s amazing. Everything is really really amazing! As soon as I come up with a question on how this or that would be, the answer comes within the story, much better, more logical and interesting than what I could come up with. And Harry and Draco? Guh! So. Much. Love!

This is a story that you can read if you are into both canons or only one of them. It will make sense, promise. Anyway, it’s an awesome story. “Run, don’t walk” how awesome. And knowing both authors’ record, it won’t deflate or wither away. Go read!

new Trading, by raspberrydrink and Follow, by darklightshades []
Pokemon/Persona 3/Bleach xover, Pokemon AU, Shota!Shinji and Ninetales!Gin; dark(ish). Summary 1: Shinji learned certain things the hard way. Warnings: Weird AU’s inspired by 10 word memes, horrible things happening to cute things, Gin in any form being an evil bastard. Summary 2: It was the last time he ever tried to get rid of Gin too.

Weirder than weird, also a crossover with a universe I have no idea about but nice for a bit of perspective shifting. Really, really crawls into your head and refuses to leave. But also fun, in some twisted way.

Unveiled, by Gryvon []
Gin/Kira, R, short. Summary: Gin helps Kira home after a night of drinking. Contains slight spoilers for the “End of Hypnosis” arc. manga vol 20, anime season 3.

I would like this fic just for the ending. There are a few typos and too few pronouns (vs names) but I liked how the author showed the scene and, again, the ending. Whoa. Such a little thing, but how many accents it puts where they should be.

Winter War, by sophiap, incandescens, liralen to be rated later
No idea about future pairings and ratings but so far it’s PG-13, WIP, gen. Bleach AU: The war against Aizen’s forces went very badly. Nothing is sacred and no one is safe.

06.16.2009: Unrated because only four chapters are posted so far, so I can’t predict how much I’ll like the story in the end. But what’s posted is pretty interesting. It’s a dystopia. United Shinigami forces have suffered a defeat from Aizen and his clique. Now they are scattered all over the place, many of them dead, others lost. Each chapter shows us the current circumstances of one key character and through him or her, the part of the post-war world where they live and operate. No unnecessary explanations: you plunge into the world and try to figure things out, supplying some details from the context, as more and more of events and characters get shown. I did think that Ukitake’s part was a bit melodramatic and the opening part, a bit obscure, but overall, I’m intrigued and will be following the story.

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked.”

In case you have no clue what I’m talking about here, check my manga and anime recs.

Fools and Their Money, by treneka #
Gen, G, ~1000 words.

Fabulous and funny. Chikage plays at stock market. An impending disaster, you’d think? Heh. Read and see. I adored it. All the characters are IC, especially Tachibana and Chi whom we can see the most. I want to quote the entire short fic because there are wonderful bit after wonderful bit but I’ll limit myself with just one of them:

He was also strangely good at remembering things long after a true idiot could have been distracted from them. It was a talent that Tachibana’s parents had exploited many times in caring for their son. Tachibana might forget to take his vitamins or change his sheets or call home, but Chikage would helpfully remind him beyond all hope of pretending he forgot anyway. Worse, you just had to reward him for being helpful, because yelling at Chikage was like kicking molded gelatine: it caused a ripple, but ultimately didn’t change much.

“We could play together, if you taught me the rules?” Eager as a daisy in the morning.

It took a week of asking followed by a week of hopeful glances, until finally Tachibana gave in and explained the quotes.

“So you’re helping companies that need you, and someday they pay you back?”

“Or they suck your money into a black hole of bad management and a soft economy and you never see it again.” As usual, Chikage had blissfully ignored that part.

Learning to Fly, by afrai (or here) []
Ono/Chikage, PG-13, short. Summary: In retrospect, thought Ono, kissing Chikage had been a bad idea.

It’s a story of one ill-considered kiss (can you imagine anything else from Ono?) and how it turned out. I can’t even tell why I liked it. There’s just something in it that seems to me to fit the manga very well. Pleasant story, as for me.

Omikuji, by Tenika D #
PG, ~11K words. Pairing: not telling. Summary: Paper fortunes for a life no more substantial. Sometimes Tachibana wondered what things would be like with just a little more dimension. Then he drank more sake and had a nap. Maybe read porn. Depended on the day.

This story is completely different from the one above. It’s quiet, contemplative and, I don’t know, unobtrusive, if one can say so about the story. The relationship between the characters I’m not naming (so that you could see how it works on your own) grew so logically, so, to use the author’s word, inevitably, that I was completely persuaded that they make sense together by the end, even though I’d never even thought about them as a pairing before. Tachibana’s having a sort of midlife crisis. He feels like something is missing in his life. Purpose maybe? Or anything truly meaningful. I felt his disquiet throughout the story, and love the details that highlighted it, such as the cup and what adventures it gets. The story is like a less comical episode of the anime/chapter of the manga, although not like those sinister ones either. I liked it.

Evermore, by Amanuensis (you can leave a comment on LJ here) #
Fandom: Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. The Count/Albert, soft NC-17, ~3300 words. Summary: Albert is in love. That’s all he knows and all that matters. A/N: If you know The Count of Monte Cristo in any form, you should find this accessible, as Gankutsuou is the same story, names and all, set in the future.

I wanted something to kiss it better after watching the anime but this story broke my heart. No, nothing bad whatsoever happens in it. It’s just like a sharp needle that pins you to where you sit. Precise, to the point, and very emotionally affecting, all the more so because the author doesn’t press any buttons heavily. It’s exactly like the Count’s and Albert’s relationship in the anime, a slice of it taken, say, from the middle, only with sex added — and it’s a step that is easy to imagine. I was reduced to arm-waving and OMGing after reading it, and even the summary kills me dead, so perfect it is.

Going Cold, by Rayne (FreezingRayne) #
Fandom: Gankutsuou (The Count of Monte Cristo). Franz d’Epinay/Albert de Morcerf, NC-17, short. Summary: “Do you remember when we all used to be friends?” He sits down across the table from Franz. “All those rides in the countryside, the trips to the beach? When we talked to each other?

Bittersweet? No, probably plain angsty but as for me, less so than canon. I liked how, even though the Count never appears on screen, everything in this story revolves around him, as it should. It’s a short story but it manages to evoke lots of emotion. Do try it!

new Howl and the Castle That Didn’t Move, by Lyssaphra #
Gennish Snape/Howl, PG, ~2K words. Harry Potter/Howl’s Moving Castle (book) crossover. Challenge: Snape adopts Harry; Snape/Howl; in HP-verse; animagi; aversion to some animals.

This fic was written for me, on my challenge, and by my close friend. Of course I was going to like it. But I think other people might like it too, so here, have this rec. The fic isn’t outright funny but it’s amusing and rather tongue-in-cheek. I mean just think “Wizard Howl.” It asks for Hogwarts and stuff, right? Right. But I would never expect all these twists the author invented. Clever, sweet, will make you smile if you’ve read Howl’s Moving Castle.

OMG, this fic is so strange and wonderful! It’s rather creepy but amusing at the same time, just like canon. And look at the pairing! I would pounce on the fic with this pairing in any case but this one is written really well, and it works, trust me! All in all, a sheer pleasure to read!

His Butler, Mirthful, by Nimori #
Fandom: Kuroshitsuji. Gen with lots of Sebastian-aimed UST, PG-13, short. Summary: Sebastian’s tastes in humour, as in everything, is fiendish.

The Phantomhive servants follow their butler, compare notes, lust after him collectively and individually, place bets on who will make him laugh and dream of hearing it — in other words, the story fits into the anime canon (I haven’t read the manga so I wouldn’t know) pretty well with all its servants’ quarters’ silliness. Also, there’s a nice hint of creepiness, which is very fitting too. Nice little fic!

Afterglow, by lunesque
Conrad/Gwendal, NC-17, very short, ficlet. Warnings: Incest, Rimming/Felching. Summary: Conrad loves the quiet moments.

Gulity pleasure alert. Nothing to pick a bone with in this fic in what concerns words. They are smooth and precise; the author knows how to use words to a great effect. My problem with it is that it’s a PWP and so tiny, these characters could have been anybody. None of the questions that you can come up with are answered here. This is what I said in my comment: I’m sitting here with my jaw on the floor ‘cos GUH. GUH! That was unbelievably hot! And I don’t like PWPs to begin with, and this, this was, I dunno, half a PWP ‘cos it was so short. But… GUH!!! OMG :) I’ll now be trying to imagine how they came to be lovers, what their relationship looks like, etc, based on tiny wee hints peppered in this fic.

new And Everything In Between, by Kameko (Inglorious DMK) #
Gwendal/Yuuri, PG-13/soft R, short. Summary: It’s the closest Gwendal’s ever been to falling in love, and it’s ruining the careful order of his life. It all used to be so easy.

And here’s a KKM fic I want to rec without any ‘but’. I love Gwendal, probably love him best among the KKM cast. As for me, this story does him justice. It’s rather sad (not tragic though) and leaves enough for a hopeless optimist like me to cling to, in vague hopes for a better future. Also, there are cats! Wouldn’t be a proper fic about Gwendal if there weren’t anything fluffy and cute in there, right? Anyway, it’s a good story, with enough to think about and to feel, despite its being so short. Give it a try!

Duties of a King, by Amanuensis #
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou. Harem!smut (Yuuri/Conrad, Yuuri/Gunter, Yuuri/Gwendal, Yuuri/Wolfram), soft NC-17, ~3300 words. Summary: The Maou has to keep everyone happy.

Absolutely delightful! Subtle, amusing, insightful, and very much in character. Amy makes every one of these characters shine and express themselves perfectly in how they treat their king and how they behave in bed. As I love Gunter best of them, of course I loved his part best too :)

At nine o’clock, the door opens to admit Gunter, and Yuuri’s wide awake.

It’s not because of the noise. Well, perhaps it is. Not the volume of the noise, to be clear. The noise is just Gunter’s inhalation as the door shuts behind him, leaving him alone in the room with his beloved majesty. The inhalation carries the sigh of a man who fears he might faint from giddiness. Yuuri always hears it.

Kyou Kara Maou, 20 Themes, by Mousapelli []
Various, PG-13, collection of drabbles, about 6k words total.

As usual with a fic that consists of drabbles, some of them seem better than others. I particularly liked #6, 9, 14, 15, and 16. The fic makes a pleasant, mosaic-like impression, not unlike KKM itself. I enjoyed it.

My White Tiger and Opaline, by Lady Devonna #
Gwendal/Günter, G, short; story 2 is PG-13 and WIP. Summary 1: A very young Gwendal meets his true love and immediately makes a fool of himself. Warning: teen angst. 2: Following “My White Tiger” a few years down the road, Lady Celi has become the Maou and Gwendal must shoulder responsibility for his family and country and still find time to cope with his devoted and slightly more grown-up love for Lord Gunter Von Christ

Story 1 is lovely and slightly bittersweet. It contains a scene from the past and a scene from the present. I liked how the author addressed Günter’s seemingly flawless elegance and battle prowess and on the flip-side, his chibi-like clumsiness. Story 2 is much longer (and still a WIP) and darker but very enrapturing. Same as the first one, it’s written from Gwendal’s POV and I completely believe that this is what young Gwendal would be like. He’s already grumpy and asocial, he likes to be in charge of people and dislikes court intrigues; he knits to relieve stress and express what tender emotions he feels in the only way he knows how. He’s also young and awkward and completely love-struck. As he’s the POV character, the story is mostly about him but Günter shines too, because Gwendel loves with the utmost concentration of a loner who finally found something to penetrate his defences, so of course it’s all about Günter for him. I don’t know how canonical it is, but Günter is older here. Not quite a generation gap but enough to bring age issues forth.

This is my favourite kind of story: plotty but centred on character and relationship rather than action/adventure. Although there’s enough plot in the most literal sense to keep the reader on tenterhooks. I didn’t want it to end. I hope the next chapter is posted soon!

Return to Me, by Striped Neko
KKM. Gwendal/Yuuri, R, WIP (looks abandoned?). Summary: Haunted by the ghosts of the past and current misunderstandings, Gwendal von Voltaire has never been an easy demon to love. Can the Maou’s light overcome the stoic General’s resistance? Will he win Gwendal’s heart, or lose him to old regret?

Gulity pleasure alert. This is almost a half-star rec. Almost. The writing isn’t perfect (epithets again), but it’s smooth enough not to jar on you too much. And it’s not out of character. Hard to be, really, with a canon as silly and over-the-top as Kyou Kara Maou. It’s just a bit too romantic? In places a bit too mushy? And I suspect will get only more so as the story goes on, judging by other fics of this author. Canon lends itself easily to romance though, especially with Celi but… I don’t know. The fic is not as well-balanced between silly, dramatic, and romantic as canon maybe? And the author likes Wolfram much less than I do, which is saying something. There’s no outright bashing though, I must say in the author’s defence. She’s just less kind and understanding to him than to the rest of the cast. In any case, it’s an enjoyable reading. And how often do you find a Gwendal/Yuuri long fic (64K words currently) to enjoy?

The Twelfth Treasure of Shin Makoku, by Striped Neko
Gunter/Yuuri, R, novel-length. Summary: Once upon a time there was a beautiful demon lord who fell in love with the Demon-king…and that’s when his problems REALLY started! By request, a Gunter/Yuuri fic with some action, romance, and hopefully some laughs, too. Oh. And kissing. Yeah. Kissing.

Gulity pleasure alert. Read what I wrote about another fic by this author, Return to Me, above; this is what I repeat about it. Only, Wolfram is loved even less. This is why I like this fic less. Also, the ending 20K words or so are so mushy they almost made my teeth ache for real. But this fic is finished. It’s a plus :) 100K words of a Gunter/Yuuri, awfully romantic fic, er? Say you don’t want it, er? ;)

new Feels Like Fading Away, by allira_dream []
Dai/Jaehee, PG, under 1K words. Warnings: Spoilers for the end of the manwha. Summary: If this was a movie, Dai would have been just there, across the street, not looking at him, perhaps listening to some music, perhaps looking at the TV’s. A/N: Written for springkink: Let Dai, Dai/Jaehee: reunited - we aren’t Romeo and Juliet.

I didn’t want any fic after reading Let Dai. But now that several months have passed, I do. I want a long well-written fic set post series with lots of angst, drama, love, and a happy(ish) or hopeful ending. I haven’t seen any. So I’ll take a very short one. Say, this. There’s one problem with this fic: needs editing for a few times where character names are confused (but Dai and Jaehee being one, in essence, it’s understandable :D). Otherwise, it’s written well, with the right balance of poetic, angsty, and charming, and reads very pleasantly. Do try it!

While it’s not quite necessary to read the prequel to get what’s going on, I think it might help, although I didn’t like it enough to rec. I did like this sequel though. It’s angsty and emotional, although in no way hopeless. The ending is lovely :)

A Degree of Captivity, by reversedhymnal []
Ritsuka/Soubi, NC-17, shortish. Prompt: Looking as the other jerks off. “Stockholm syndrome.” Summary: When Ritsuka walks, he trails invisible chains behind him.

A bit more angsty and poetic than what I usually like, but this story is worth reading. I can imagine Ritsuka and Soubi’s relationship going along a more twisted way when Ritsuka decides to get rid of his ears because the manga is twisted enough to lend credit to that. Very hot and felt IC to me. Give it a try!

Dreaming into Being, by Katharos / antique_land []
Gen(ish), Ritsuka, Soubi, PG-13, short. Summary: Memory and identity are such complex things. Who could say where one ends and the other begins? Futurefic, speculative. Very speculative.

What if, a few years later, the true Ritsuka comes back and now he doesn’t remember those years that are the plot of the manga/anime? Interesting speculation, well-written.

Familiar, by Sleeps with Coyotes / ciceqi []
Gen(ish), Ritsuka/Soubi, PG-13, ficlet, AU. Summary: He doesn’t do love spells.

A tiny but memorable AU with a role reversal: Ritsuka is a wizard, of sorts, and Soubi is his cat. Whimsical and lovely.

Give and Take, by Sleeps with Coyotes / Ciceqi #
Ritsuka/Soubi, NC-17, short. Warnings: Um. Toys? And Ritsuka is underage, but that’s sort of, y’know, canon. *coff* He’s 16 in my head, but YMMV. Summary: Ritsuka gets the wrong idea and Soubi gets creative.

I absolutely loved the power dynamics and tension in this story, the initial dissonance and the solution Soubi finds. Ritsuka finally arrives at the stage of his development where he feels like losing his ears but goes about it in a way that makes Soubi rather unhappy. When his subtler hints remain unnoticed, he makes a considerably more obvious one. Lovely, sexy, intense, everything I want from a Loveless fic! Ciceqi has more Loveless stories; I’m planning to get to them ASAP :)

Life Cycle of the Butterfly, by still-ciircee #
Soubi/Ritsuka, NC-17, one-shot.

Even though it’s technically Soubi/Ritsuka, it’s Ritsuka who’s in charge and I liked how the author wrote it. This fic is also considerably plottier than the ones above, that is to say, it’s not a PWP. It’s a story, with Seimei, the Seven Moons, and some porn that actually helps to move the plot and is nice on its own. I loved Soubi’s repeated pleas. Wonderful reading :)

Of Human Rind, by Sleeps with Coyotes / ciceqi #
Seimei/Ritsuka/Soubi, PG-13, one-shot. Summary: One way it could go in the end.

I really like the idea of such a threesome and loved how the author wrote their complex relationship here! One bone to pick with this fic is that it’s a pre-threesome. I SOOOO wanted to read more of it!

Pleasing to the Ears, by inksheddings #
Ritsuka/Soubi, R, short. Summary: Ritsuka loses his ears and- oh, wait. No, he doesn’t. And it’s confusing the hell out of him.

A sort of what-if: Ritsuka and Soubi had sex but Ritsuka’s cat’s ears are still very much present. ANGST! Or not. :) Pretty amusing and lovely.

Rejected Goods, by lazulisong #
Ritsuka/Soubi, R, 2450 words.

Lovely, with just the right amount of angst and poetic things, just the right amount of cat’s ears and tail, and just the right amount of porn. Pleasure :)

Visceral, by inksheddings #
Ritsuka/Soubi, NC-17, short. Summary: If only they could just blame the spell.

And here’s a fine example of “aliens made them do it”, that is, in this case, a spell. Which is perfectly logical for the Loveless canon. A spell cast in a battle earlier that day makes Ritsuka behave as a dominant partner. But the spell wouldn’t work if there weren’t anything in Ritsuka for it to work on. This fits my view of Ritsuka and the pairing dynamics, btw. Also, there’s a bit of tail porn :) Nice!

The Way He Is, by white_aster #
Ritsuka/Soubi, NC-17, shortish. A/N: Hairbrushing, with a hefty side of Ritsuka!angst and a pr0n dessert.

Ritsuka is having some sort of, very Ritsuka-ish, sexual identity crisis and decides to help himself test his preferences by brushing Soubi’s hair. Sexy and IC. Ritsuka is very much a teenager, Soubi is messed-up but steadfast. Nice :)

new Antagonists, by shayheyred []
Mugen/Jin, R/NC-17, short. Summary: They hate each other. It must be love.

Pleasant and a bit more melancholic and romantic than canon but the writing is smooth and enticing.

new The Barbless Hook, by lynnmonster #
Jin/Mugen, NC-17, ~8,000 words. A/N: This Jin is post-series, rather aimless, and somewhat disillusioned. He’s not quite the same Jin we saw during the course of the show — but then, he’s had something and now has had time to feel its lack, so I think that although he’s a bit different, he’s not entirely out of character here. Mugen has changed, as well; he evolves during the series, and I like to think he continues to grow up a bit even afterward.

At first, it feels like reading a Pirates of the Caribbean story rather than a Champloo one. Because it’s set after the series and the author makes Mugen revert to his past activities, namely piracy. The story is mostly set on a pirate ship and in port towns. But however strange an impression it makes, I feel that everything in this fic is within the realm of possibility. And the characters felt very much in character to me: Jin with his very quiet disquiet and Mugen who’s as loud as ever but weirdly observant underneath all his idiocy. The story on the whole is lovely. I did wonder all the while what ending the author would give it and yay, it was the best of all :) It feels pleasantly natural, thanks to Mugen, I’m sure :)

new Bruised, by Eleanor K. #
Jin/Mugen, NC-17, shortish.

It’s a PWP but hot and well-written, and somehow intriguing enough to keep one reading even without porn, I think. Or maybe it hits my kinks :) In any case, I liked it a lot.

new Predictable, by shayheyred (or here) #
Jin/Mugen, NC-17, shortish. Summary: Bushido does not cover getting Mugen laid

Utterly brilliant! In character, funny, and hot. Mugen is horny (isn’t he always?). He makes an advance on Fuu and, predictably, gets slapped. Jin hints — among his monosyllabic grunts — that he could teach him how to get a woman who’s not a whore. What follows is a fantastic mix of manipulation and honest lust. Very, very amusing. Won’t be quoting for fear of spoiling your fun but believe me, I’m tempted to quote at least half the story. Highly recommended.

Usual drill:

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

If you want my reviews of manga and yaoi manga that I liked, click here. Other fandom recs are here. Or use the nav bar above.

And Waves Crashed on the Goban, by Luce Red (issen4) []
Hikaru/Akira, Isumi/Le Ping. Shortfics from multiple POV, written for September’s 31_days themes (plus one). Summary: Everyone’s searching for a miracle. Some think it’s the Hand of God.

There were several things not to my tastes in this story: 1) I didn’t like the role the author cast for Waya. I don’t think it’s OOC (out of character) but it’s not how I see him. 2) I’m not sure I believe in this Touya. Not that I disbelieve in him either. I just think I need to see how this caring side of him has developed. 3) It’s established relationship and I don’t like those in general. 4) I have zero interest in Le Ping. But I liked Isumi in this story, so I sort of liked Le Ping by default :)

What I liked was that the story is told from multiple POVs, so we can have a look into the minds of a whole range of main and secondary characters. Alternating of those POVs gives the story a really pleasant rhythm. It’s interesting, too.

The Art of New Games, by Mirabella #
Touya/Shindou, PG-13, short. Summary: Touya really doesn’t think his clothes are all that bad. Shindou and photographers disagree. Touya wouldn’t really care, except that there are advantages to humoring Shindou once in a while.

The story addresses Touya’s fashion sense (lavender suit OMGDEAD). Amusing and so charged with teenage hormones (and awkwardness) that I was really surprised to recall after reading it that it hadn’t been rated NC-17. Wonderful!

Quote: “There is nothing wrong with that suit,” Akira says between his teeth.

Shindou gives him a Look and rummages in his backpack. “Touya, there are so many things wrong with that suit that finding them all should unlock a secret level. When I get the Honinbou title I’m going to burn it as a present to myself.”

Bad Habits, by Triste (tristefic) []
Akira/Hikaru, PG-13, short. Warnings: Questionable humour. Summary: Akira has always been melodramatic.

Pretty amusing, especially the beginning and the ending. “Explain it to me once more,” said Touya. “Just *how* is this going to work?”

“You know that Sai is a ghost, right?” Hikaru replied. “And that he always has to be in the same room as me? And that our minds are connected? Well, basically, whatever I feel he feels, and vice-versa.”

“So… when I touch you…”

“He’ll be able to feel it. We’ll be sharing all the same sensations.”

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air after that, and when Hikaru sighed, Sai sighed right along with him.

Flowers and Go, by arboretum []
Akira/Hikaru, PG-13, shortish. It’s not that Touya’s actually said anything; it’s how he says nothing that gets Hikaru all flustered.

Amusing, lovely, and awkward in the best way. And the writing simply takes you by the hand and leads you in a wonderful dance you’d never think you were capable of. Unless guided by such writing of course.

“Touya, I’m coming to your house. Right now.”

There’s a slight pause; Hikaru can almost hear Touya make the decision not to be deliberately scathing in his reply. “You just left.”

In Vino Veritas Series: Drunken Promise,  Goban, Teaching Go, Present from Afar, by Luce Red (issen4) []
Hint of Hikaru/Akira, PG, short. Summary 1: Hikaru gets drunk. 2: Hikaru loves his goban. 3: Hikaru has never played shidougo. 4: What the fan means to Hikaru.

It’s just a few drinking scenes. I liked Kuwabara in this series, and drunk!Hikaru too.

Inertia, by rageprufrock ##
Touya/Shindou, Touya/OFC, NC-17, oneshot. Summary: Touya has always been a quiet, mature child.

Touya Akira is married and has a baby. Can you imagine it? How do you see it? Myself, I now can see it only like in this fic! It’s perfect. Yes, yes, I believe that this is exactly what Touya’s adult life must look like. ‘Cos come on, does he even know anything about life except Go? Is he even aware of anything besides Go, well, and Shindou. Or is it Shindou and Go? Anyway, the story is absolutely wonderful. Angsty and funny in turn, and moving. And the writing is better than Hikaru’s Go <-- forgive me, I couldn't resist my first Go pun :)

Issues, by Mirabella (or here, locked) #
Shindou/Touya, PG-13, short. Summary: Five things about Shindou, Touya, and sex. By request.

This is, IMO, what good writing is about. I don’t like “five things” kind of stories but couldn’t help liking this one. Hikaru is having a rather belated sexual identity crisis. The story, or five scenes more precisely, is/are built around it. Amusing, moving, spot-on in characterisation and the details chosen to speak instead of large blocks of text, and pushing all the right buttons. I can only call storytelling like this elegant.

Quote: It actually takes Shindou a long time to realize that he has Issues. He’s got Go and manga and the occasional pick-up basketball game and he jerks off in a sort of desultory way, and it takes Akari yelling at him to get him to realize that when you’re eighteen years old, have a successful career, and live on your own, you’re really a long way past the point in your life where you should be convinced that girls have cooties.

Jigo, by Dracostella #
Gen with AkiHika undertones (or gennish Akira/Hikaru), PG, novella. Summary: The day Akira became a 9-dan, his father died of a heart attack. Alone, Akira finds himself in a strange new match with Hikaru.

Sad story… well, not exactly. Rather, with a sheen of melancholy and subtle. It’s a first person Akira fic but hard as it is to imagine, I liked it. I can’t even say if the author pulled off his inner voice or not. What I was totally sold on were those tiny shifts into recollection, phrases floating up in the middle of other things, that would kill the story for me were it another one but worked wonders here. I loved a drunk Ogata who had an epiphany that he was becoming Kuwabara, loved the too nice Isumi too. Come to think of it, it’s the sort of story that makes a stronger impression on you when you begin remembering it than when you are reading it because it has quite a few haunting scenes and lines.

Memoirs of a Go Player, by flonnebonne (or here: part 1, part 2) []
Akira/Hikaru, PG, 2 chapters. Summary: The diary of Touya Akira. That is, if Touya Akira were a crazy stalker.

Written in the “secret diaries of…” format, very amusing. Part one is from Akira’s POV, part two, Hikaru’s. I liked Akira’s part better although they are about the same events, so seeing the second commentary after the first one only adds to the fun.

July 2

Ogata-sensei asked Shindou for a private match. At his apartment. Where he keeps his good sake. And Shindou agreed. Right in front of me.

I’m bringing my binoculars tonight.

Outside the Lines, by aishuu #
Touya/Shindou, NC-17, AU, ~14K words. Summary: Akira, the mangaka of “Bleach,” meets Hikaru, the mangaka of “Death Note.”

All kinds of awesome and so much fun! The idea is crazy on the surface: to make HnG characters mangaka. Not only that! The mangaka who draw the most popular manga: Naruto, Bleach, Doraemon, Prince of Tennis, Death Note. I admit I’m familiar only with about 1/4 of the manga mentioned but I believe one doesn’t have to read all of them to get the story. As for me, this AU works surprisingly well, especially the ending — I never saw it coming but it’s very logical. It all makes sense, even Sai. I do wish, seeing which manga Hikaru is doing, that he had some guidance from Sai :P Wonderful story! Hot, fun, moving, and entertaining.

Preliminaries, by stirring_still []
Touya/Shindou and Waya/Isumi, NC-17, novella. A/N: Spoilers for the entire series.

I can’t say this fic is completely to my tastes. For one, I don’t envision either Hikaru or Akira this way. There are small things in this fic that contradict my view of them as characters, my ideas of how they would/should be behaving in various situations (say, at the end, I think Touya would either be more loud and obvious about that or much more private), and also some details of the life of a Go pro or life in Japan. But while I think that some scenes could be more precise characterisation-wise, some others are spot-on, as for me. For example, when Shindou accidentally tells Waya about Touya. That’s so Shindou! Another thing not to my tastes was the beginning of the relationship that seemed too fast (or is it easy?) to me. For yet another, I didn’t like what I consider a fan service moment when Akari reacts to their relationship. But that all sort of fades because I believe it’s one of the hottest fics I’ve read in HikaGo. Awfully hot! Guh how hot :) And I loved it. There are a few very amusing scenes there, too.

“There are no manga about Go, and so manga is worthless!” Morishita said, “Concentrate!”

So on the whole, I enjoyed the story. Not bad for somebody’s first try in a new fandom :)

A Resolution of Territory, by Arboretum (sequel, A Pretty Good Year) ##
Akira/Hikaru, NC-17, ~10K words.

Brilliant all the way through and very amusing. While being highly advanced in Go and renown in the official Go world, Hikaru finds that he’s very much behind in the areas of life that interest ‘normal’ teenagers the most. Namely, sex. Hikaru’s Life-Changing Discoveries and Steps on the Way are accompanied with lots and lots of Go and relationship counselling from the unwilling Waya. That’s the kind of fic that gives you real pleasure while you’re reading and puts a happy smile on your face when you remember it. Awesome!

Quote: They fight so loudly all the time eventually three different guests from three different countries all suggest imposing a restraining order on Hikaru. “No way,” Hikaru and Touya say at the same time. Well, Hikaru says, “No way,” and Touya stiffens up and says, “Absolutely not.” Same thing, whatever.

The Rumour Mill, by Harukami #
Touya/Shindou, R, 7K words. Set some year or two post-series. Spoilers for the series.
Sequel: A Suitable Memorial (R).

A rumour appears seemingly out of nowhere that Shindou and Touya are in a relationship. Shindou freaks out in a very Shindou-ey way. This is, IMO, one of the very best versions of Hikaru’s possible sexual identity crisis. Funny and very moving at the same time. It’s also a story where Akira cuts his hair. I nearly cried. It works so well here both on the emotional level and as a sign of, well, things :/ Really wonderful! I’m going to read more of this writer.

“I’m expecting news in the mail any day now. Whoever it is, though, I look forward to a real good game!”

The interviewer laughed politely. “And… let’s see, any chance that it might be Touya Akira?”

“I can hope, right?” His grin brightened at the sudden interest on her face. Well, of course — two young Go geniuses across the board from each other, attractive and smart, what wouldn’t a girl be thinking about?

“So, you don’t think your relationship with Touya 4-dan will interfere with your playing?”

Hikaru chuckled. “Of course our — what?”

“Pardon?”

“Relationship? What?”

Square One, by murinae #
Touya/Shindou, PG-13, ~26K words. But if Shindou Hikaru is a frog prince waiting, that would make him, perhaps, the princess. And since Akira refuses to accept such a role, he kicks Shindou’s sandals with a not-so-gentle thump…

One thing is clear: I’m going to read more by this author. This story is wonderful on many levels. Plot is: Hikaru is framed and accused of cheating in his Tengen matches. Imagine how it affects him. He knows he didn’t cheat. Touya trusts him. They begin investigating. It’s written wonderfully, with lots of moving scenes, and lovely scenes, and lines that are perfectly placed. But I want to just stop at a couple of points that made me fall in love with this story. Ogata. He is perfect. I’m a big Ogata lover but, disregarding the fact that there are too few fics at all that feature him, as for me, most of them either fluff him up a bit (or not a bit, but I’m not speaking about those) or villainise him. This one though… As for me, he’s spot-on here. Another moment that I’ll be re-watching inside my head is how Shindou sort of moves into Touya’s life and how Touya frets about it. It’s just so IC, real, and lovely. Very engaging and satisfying reading!

Touya’s Pride, by Ravenna C. Tan (also on IJ) #
Hikaru/Akira eventually, Akira/others, sort of, NC-17, novella. Summary: Touya Akira loses a match and suffers a crisis of faith. Could wily old Kuwabara-sensei have the answer? Or is the answer to be found in Touya’s eternal rival, Shindou Hikaru? Warnings: This is not a fluffy Aki/Hika fic. There is what could be termed cross-gen/chan, and also psychological manipulation as part of the plot. The sexuality is graphic, but not gratuitous. Touya is 16. Spoilers for the series, also.

This is unlike any other AkiHika story I’ve read. For one, it’s several times kinkier than the kinkiest HikaGo fics I’ve seen. I believe that it might have something to do with Ravenna’s applying the arsenal of things by now habitual in HP fandom (what’s with its pornish_pixies and daily_deviant and multiple kink-oriented communities) from where she comes to HikaGo. IMO, HikaGo (and AkiHika in particular) can only profit from it.

I’m not sure I believed in Hikaru in this fic. He’s more balanced and mature than how I see him. IMO he’s weirder in canon. But I liked the rest enough to disregard this disagreement in the author’s and my view of him. So, Touya loses his momentum. Help unexpectedly arrives in the form of the creepy and manipulative Kuwabara Honinbou, who obviously has some strange agenda of his own. The help at first looks more like torture. But Touya perseveres. Hot, intense, interesting. I was looking forward to the updates every day (it was posted as a WIP but is finished now). Now if only Ravenna promises to love Ogata better next time she writes a HikaGo fic, I’ll be quite happy :)

Upon NetGo and Next to NetGo, by Luce Red (issen4) []
Akira/Hikaru, PG-13, short and novella-length. AU. Summary: What if Hikaru had continued playing NetGo, and never became an insei (or a pro)?

Story one is amusing, especially the players’ net names (Kuwabara in particular) and the running commentary involving them. Story two is more serious. It’s a more detailed look at how things might have gone if Hikaru never became a pro. I’m not sure I’m quite ready for HikaGo AUs in general and there are a bit too many direct references of the canon scenes and situations in this AU-verse than how I like it. But it’s an interesting story. Held my attention all the way and I enjoyed it.

Waterloo, by Aja (bookshop) #
Akira/Hikaru, PG-13, 8000 words.

This story shows us a very interesting situation: Touya Jr. is on the brink of a victory which would better (much better) be a loss. One victory he’s not ready for. Think of him and you’ll know which victory it is. The way it’s shown to us is, while not unheard of, interesting. Aja reveals necessary details one by one so that we construct the whole picture from them gradually. It’s not a puzzle though, nor is it an annoying formal trick. Instead, it lets us connect to the characters and their emotions slowly and the more inevitably the more we learn. Wonderful piece, masterfully written and very intense. It will make you love the pairing and Go even more: how they work, what things mean between them, what the game is for them, what secrets they harbour and how those affect them, everything. Wonderful!

A Whole New Apocalypse, by Aja #
Akira/Hikaru, PG-13, short. Summary: So Hikaru has this problem, and it starts and ends with Touya.

Reading a HikaGo fic of Aja’s reminds me of all the reasons I loved her fiction in two other fandoms. It’s just brilliantly written and adorable.

The Brief and Abridged History of Ko Yongha, by chaineddove (or here) #
Various m/m pairings, PG-13, ~9K words. Description: Ko Yongha, 2002-2010 (1986-2010, I’d say — pj).

I love it when I read a story about a character that I have no interest in and it makes me care about him. That’s what happened here. The author made me see Ko Yongha in a new light, understand him, and even feel for him. It’s not that long a story but somehow it felt longer to me. Maybe because it spans some 20 years, maybe because we can see a lot of things and people. It’s very intense too. Hikaru, Akira, Ogata, Yashiro and their various relationships play a big part in the story. Ko Yongha lives to provoke and have fun, in his spoiled and twisted ways, so where he goes and where passions are already running high because of Go, clashes of personalities are bound to happen (there are quite a few amusing episodes too). Ko Yongha grows though. I wouldn’t enjoy the story if he didn’t. Have a look at how it goes and what events and people shape the Ko Yongha of several years later.

Crossing Boundaries, by Ai (aiwritingfic)/ann_applecore and chaineddove #
Isumi/Le Ping, PG-13, novella. Summary: Isumi is stuck with the notion that Le Ping is a kid. Le Ping, unfortunately, has other ideas.

Really, really lovely and heart-warming. Only Le Ping’s broken English that is supposed to express his broken Japanese becomes a bit tiresome after a while. A bit, not much. And as his Japanese improves, you stop noticing it. I have no idea how well the English speech patterns and errors that the author uses reflect the patterns and errors of a Chinese native speaker made in Japanese so it worked fine for me. I do know though that I couldn’t find a way to translate from Russian into English a story a friend of mine wrote where a German student was learning Russian because too much in it depended on word play which would be completely different in another language. But I digress. Everybody’s paired up in this fic (well, almost everybody, with a few notable exceptions). That should have irked me but instead I found it amusing because the author wrote it in a humorous key. Isumi is so perfectly Isumi here that I kept wanting to hug him. Yang Hai is awesome and very Yang Hai, too. The relationship between the two main characters moves along slowly but believably. I loved ch. 5 that consists of messages and email exchanges best, especially Kuwabara there and how Ogata keeps trying to hide from him. Made me laugh out loud. Wonderful story!

A Deeper Calm and Pearly Gates, by Ai (aiwritingfic)/ann_applecore []
Story 1: Touya Kouyou/Fujiwara Sai, PG, short. Summary: A very chaste romance-that-is-not-a-romance. Fujiwara Sai finds Touya Kouyou in the afterlife. Story 2: Ogata, Kuwabara, Isumi, Touya Kouyou, Sai, G so far, WIP (2 chapters/3 LJ posts so far). Summary: Ogata finally arrives at the great go salon in the sky.

Story 1 is lovely if a bit too conflictless, if to read it as a stand-alone. But it should really be read together with Pearly Gates. Basically, they both are just a beginning of a story but this afterlife world looks fascinating. I hope the author continues it ‘cos it’s interesting to see how it works. Ogata/fish OTP forever! That scene made me coo and laugh. So far the story is very peaceful. I hope to see more of it in the future.

Desynchronization, by ontogenesis (scroll down) ##
Gennish Ogata/Sai, PG-13, novel-length. Summary: Two years after Sai’s disappearance, Sai turns up in Ichigaya, amnesiac, wet, and and very much alive. Ogata finds him.

Ogata lovers on my flist! Yes, the two of you! Also, Sai lovers on my flist! Yes, the considerably bigger number of you. This is our birthday and Christmas at once.

Because OMG, this is so freaking amazing! It’s my dream HikaGo story. Seriously. Long! And plotty! although not an action/adventure. It’s a story centred on character and relationship, the main characters being Ogata and Sai. Ogata finds a ‘woman’ floating in a canal. It soon turns out that the woman isn’t a woman at all but a rather unusual but beautiful young man. Who doesn’t remember anything prior to his dunk in the canal. But who soon recalls the game of Go upon seeing a Goban in Ogata’s apartment. And whom Ogata very soon recognises as the mysterious s a i from the Net. You didn’t think Ogata was a sharing type, did you? But you can’t imagine a thing of such magnitude to stay hidden for a long time, right? The story is gripping; it’s so interesting and tense and complex. The cast of characters isn’t limited to Ogata and Sai only. You’ll see basically everybody, and many of them play major parts. I hope the next chapter is posted soon because I’m completely addicted. ## is a bit of an advance payment on my side but if it keeps on as it has been going, that’s indeed how much I loved it.

Easy, by The Hoyden and lynnmonster []
Ogata/Ashiwara, NC-17, short. Spoilers: Episode 60. We are so not kidding.

This is a nice PWP. I don’t much care for Ashiwara (or PWPs) but I love Ogata (newsflash, right? :D). It was lovely to see him have some. Not just sex. Some understanding, and familiar comfort. And to see him understand somebody else so well, too. Nice :)

Everyone Else’s Story, by Aja []
Waya/Isumi, PG, short. Summary: Isumi only asks about Shindou the one time.

Isumi is a bit too perfect here (or maybe he just is in Waya’s eyes) but who am I to turn down a perfect Isumi? :)

A Game for Three, by Harukami []
Hikaru/Akira, one other pairing surprise, R, ficlet. A/N: AU, because, well, yes, rather different events before end of the series would have to take place for this. But. XD CRAAAAAACK.

I just burst out laughing when I reached the end :) The rules of writing a tiny!fic say that the ending is most often what makes it. IMO it works wonderfully here.

Getting on and getting off: Or How Touya Akira Got his Groove back, by beleidigung #
Touya, Shindou, Ochi, Waya, R, two chapters.

This is the best Ochi I’ve seen in HikaGo fic, hands down. Not that I care about Ochi. But beleidigung made me care and even fall in love with him a little. Another thing is that she made me fall in love with Hikaru even more. But Ochi shines here, he really does, especially when delivering his ‘killer’ line :). So, Touya discovers one day that he’s socially inept and lonely. A pet doesn’t help. Shindou, which would be his first choice, looks like he plays for the other team. So he begins eyeing his ever-second choice, Ochi. See how it turns out. The fic has several lines that took my breath away with their brilliance. The style is sparse but so very precise there’s no need for many words when a few can work so well. Awesome! I was happy to find it.

Shindou’s first impulse is to hurl the goke in his hand at Ochi’s stupid head and maybe flail around and knock over a few gobans, preferably Ochi’s. But this is the same part of him that wants to eat fifteen chocolate bars in one go and spend his entire paycheck on arcade games, and he’s learned, painfully, that this is the not the voice to follow.

The Good Friend, by corbeaun []
Waya, Isumi/Le Ping, PG-13, ~6K words. Summary: Not everything can be fixed, but this time Waya Yoshitaka tries to be the good friend.

Bittersweet. Le Ping arrives in Tokyo — without cash but with a goal; Isumi places him at Waya’s. Which turns into a complicated triangle. The story is built on the subtle nuances of the three characters’ relationship and things in Waya’s past that influence his present. I liked that Waya stopped running from himself at last (possibly), which in turn affected Isumi. Pleasant story, quiet, and although not the most cheerful one, the overall effect is nice, I think.

How Certain the Journey, by Jain (or here) #
Ogata/Touya Akira, PG, short. Summary: “Strange how I know inside you. I measure the time, and I stand amazed.” — Vienna Teng

Yay, Ogata fic! Ogata gets some, yay! Well, will get anyway :) Quiet and lovely, with some lines to die for, so precise and well-timed they are. I particularly liked Akira confessing about the weather forecast. Wonderful!

Mirror Games, by cest_what (FKA Crawfords_Lover) (or here) []
Waya/Isumi, Le Ping/Zhao Shi, PG, short. Teaser: Shindou dropped his chopsticks with a clatter. “Waya,” he said, his eyes huge, “don’t look now, but there’s another of you.”

Adorable and perfectly proportioned, so to say. Features a troublemaker!Le Ping and a very moving Zhao Shi, not to mention two wonderfully written main characters. Why would I care about Zhao Shi, one would ask. Well, noramlly I wouldn’t, but there were several lines in this story that made me pause and admire them, not for their stylistic value or word-smithing but for how very spot-on they are in expressing people’s emotions. One of them was when Waya was playing Zhao Shi and observing him, and it made me see the character all of a sudden. There are lots of funny scenes too.

“Are you brothers or something?” Yashiro asked, only faintly curious.

Waya snapped his eyes open. “He’s Chinese,” he said.

More Than Meets the Eye, by cest_what (FKA Crawfords_Lover) (or here) []
Saeki/Ashiwara, PG, short. Summary: In which Saeki spies, and Ashiwara might not be quite what he seems. Follow-up: Reciprocal Stalking (Is More Fun Than the Regular Kind).

Sweet and amusing (especially Morishita-sensei in his rivalry-cheerleading way), and written really wonderfully. My only problem is that I can imagine both main characters only vaguely :) But you know, that’s the thing about good writing. C’est What writes in a way that makes being only vaguely familiar with characters enough somehow. Lovely, lovely story… well, stories, as I liked the second one better. Probably :)

Ogata’s Loss, by Ravenna C. Tan #
Ogata/Akira, NC-17, 5700 words. Summary: Ogata Seiji 10-dan is fairly sure he loses his mind when he sees Touya Akira kissing another boy in a public place. Insanity would be a good excuse for why he can’t figure out who is seducing whom, Akira-kun or himself. Warnings: Somewhat cross-gen. Ogata is probably around 30, Touya is 17-18.

I loved it. Tugged all my heart strings in the right ways, it did. I loved how Ogata always thinks ahead, and how hopelessly in love he really is, and for how long, in fact, he has been, probably never admitting it even to himself. I loved how masterfully Ravenna showed it. And how awkward, mentally even more so than physically, Akira is. The story is bittersweet, it’s also detached and hot at the same time. Detached because the two characters are both people who tend to overanalyse and observe, so they do it endlessly. And hot because sometimes even they get overcomed with sensation and feeling, so when they do, it’s steaming. Wonderful story!

Opening Move, by Ravenna C Tan #
Ogata/Touya, NC-17, under 1000 words. Summary: Touya receives an unexpected lesson from his senpai.

Ravenna wrote this ficlet for me and it’s designed to hit all my HikaGo rare pairing kinks :) Paraphrasing my comment to the author, awwwwww! It’s Ogata/Touya! It’s so lovely! And it’s for meeee! I do wonder how Ravenna manages to combine detached with hot and make lovely things without shmoop.

If you like Ogata, go try it!

Overture, by Triste (tristefic) [] seems to have been removed?
Sai/Hikaru, PG-13, AU, angst. Summary: Spring is a time for new beginnings.

Tearjerker. IMO rather melodramatic but not unpleasant. This is a Muggle AU a no-Go AU where Hikaru is a schoolboy and Sai, a terminally ill and bizarre young man he meets who volunteers to tutor him. I liked and disliked this story at the same time. Liked ‘cos it’s easy to remember and visualise, disliked ‘cos take Go out of this universe, and I don’t know why I’m reading it, besides I don’t see either Sai or Hikaru as the author wrote them. But if one wants something to cry over, it’s what the doctor ordered.

The Relative Value of Things series, by rageprufrock ##
Ogata/Shindou, some Touya/Shindou, NC-17, series of short fics.

It so happened that the first ever HikaGo fic I read was Ogata/Shindo. Not my first pairing of choice but I certainly don’t object, and this is why I love Pru’s writing. A writer like her can turn you to any pairing, tested and proved by pj. Because I loved Remus/Sirius fics of hers in HP fandom and I don’t even like Remus/Sirius. The same happened here. The story grabs you, makes you see with Ogata’s eyes (3d person), and just try not to like him — or him paired with Shindou! Scorchingly hot, too. You feel the air charged with desires, covet glances sliding past you from one incredibly intense guy to another, rivalry, jealousy, and victories. Absolutely wonderful!

Unexpected Developments, by Jain (or here) #
Touya/Waya, NC-17, one-shot. Summary: Waya’s affectionate when he’s drunk.

This is all sorts of lovely! I’m starved for non-AkiHika pairings, so I was really happy to find such a wonderful Touya/Waya story. I’m totally sold on them after it. The relationship grows so smoothly, so naturally here. And the writing is also natural like breathing. I’m smiling out of sheer happiness of reading a story like this.

Waya’s Move, by Ravenna C Tan #
Waya/Touya, NC-17, short. Summary: Waya is tired of all the mysteries about Shindou. But maybe everything isn’t about Shindou after all. A/N: I’m imagining Waya and Touya as 16-18 here, this taking place maybe a year after the end of the manga. Mild spoilers for the series.

And this is a fabulous Waya, probably the best I’ve seen in HikaGo fiction. I love Waya. He’s an ordinary talented and intelligent guy surrounded by prodigies, genii, and mysteries. How hard it must be for him to be a friend and not quite a peer/not quite a rival of someone as brilliant as Shindou and at the same time Touya. AND at the same time not to lose his integrity and not completely lose his faith in himself. He isn’t particularly jealous but one has to suffer from time to time in his position; even a much more level-headed Isumi does. Others deal with it worse, say, Ochi or Honda. But I digress. Ravenna here sort of lets us be in Waya’s head for a little while, which also reminds us how really lovely and likeable Waya is. Waya’s Move is a story about a paradigm shift or, if you will, how something rather like a stagnant mess inside Waya’s head becomes a beautiful clarity. The way it’s done here is pretty amazing. I loved it, especially the ending.

And you know what’s the bestest? That it was written for me :DDD

Affecting Eternity: Ponnuki, by lanerose []
Gen, G, short. Summary: In which Touya Kouyo acquires a student and, some day, a rival.

A nice short story where we can see a much younger future Touya Meijin and the coming to Go of another character I like very much. Lovely!

All the Pieces, by metisket #
Gen (Waya, Shindou, Touya, Isumi, Akari), PG, one-shot.

I loved it! It was amusing, insightful, and wonderfully paced. The story doesn’t contain any drama; very little happens in it. But it still stays engaging and very entertaining. It’s spring; Touya has had to leave on a Go-related trip and asked Waya to ‘babysit’ Shindou because the latter “doesn’t like spring.” Waya is annoyed and mystified. Waya’s POV makes this fic. IMO it’s awesome. But really, both Waya and Shindou shine here and the dialogues are so much fun!

An Approach to Tsumego, by trixie_chick #
Sai/OMC but not explicit; I’d even say it’s Sai gen. AU. Novella.

This is a really interesting AU. I’m rather used to seeing Sai AUs set in the present but this one is set in the past! It’s an alternate route Sai story takes when he plays that game with the cheater. I can’t hope to evaluate anything concerning historical accuracy but that aside, the story impressed me and moved me. I’m tearing myself a bit ‘cos I can’t decide who I feel for more: the Emperor who was so unlucky in falling in love and who wasn’t the kind of man to make do with what he had, Sai who was (is) so much into Go that he noticed little beside it, or the poor commoner who got stuck in between so unfortunately. That game of Go (you’ll get which one I mean by the end of the story) and Sai’s single-minded fixation on it? Wow. Anyway, I liked the story a lot. I think I’ll reread it later to savour some finer points.

Autographs on Fans, by Luce Red (issen4) []
Gen, G, short. Summary: If there was one thing Ogata resented, it was being compared to Kurata.

A short and amusing scene in the Go Institute. Ogata talks to Kurata. Shindou has forgotten his fan, and Ogata wonders, as usual, about the mysteries Shindou hides. And gets his answer. Well, an answer :) Very much in Shindou’s style.

Feints and Passes and Feints and Truths, by Luce Red (issen4) #
Gen, PG, shortish. Summary: 1: There’s a rumour that Kuwabara is retiring. Ogata investigates, without success. 2: Ogata discovers why Kuwabara is retiring.

Lovely to have friends who are into some of your fandoms ‘cos then you can discover fics you missed in a casual talk :) Thanks to Lyssaphra for reccing this fic to me!

Something is wrong with Kuwabara. There must be ‘cos the man is retiring. And everybody seems to know what it is except Ogata. Unable to stand a mystery at the best of times, he goes to beard the lion in his den. You can imagine how well that would go, remembering their games and talks. Nice story, intriguing and moving. Kuwabara is properly insufferable, Ogata is properly frustrated by that, and the ending is really lovely.

Kuwabara is Dead (Long Live the Honinbou), by flonnebonne (or here) ##
Gen, PG, short. Summary: So, what does Kuwabara do on the last day of his life?

Brilliant, can’t find a better word for it! I didn’t like Kuwabara Honinbou at first when I read/watched the manga/anime but he grew on me, the impossible, manipulative, rude old geezer. This story catches his essence perfectly, as for me: his character and his relationships with Go players around him, especially Ogata. One would think that a fic about the death of its main character would make one sad and teary-eyed. Well, maybe it will work like this for some. It made me shake my head in wonder though. Wow, simply wow. Every bloody line works, every tiny detail is in place. And Kuwabara, aww, old man, I’m almost in love with you!

Lore of the Fan, by Amber Michelle (runiclore / Myaru at FFN) (or here) []
Gen, but you can read at least two pairings into it, PG, short.

Poetic, has a really nice ending with a poem that brings it all out and ties it all together. Written very pleasantly.

new Princess, Princess, by Viridian Magpie (or here) []
Gen, PG-13, short. Cross-dressing.

Kuwabara, with his usual deviousness and tendency to f-ck with his opponents’ minds, hints to Touya that he might be gender-confused. Which plants a seed. Touya decides to experiment a bit, to put the disquiet born out of Kuwabara’s words to rest. See how it goes.

What I liked in this fic is that it’s neither a PWP nor particularly kinky nor even…I’ll keep quiet about this last one :) Makes it pretty refreshing. And the ending is funny.

Reasoned Madness, by thephoenixboy []
Gen, G, short. Summary: After the last match of the Honinbou tournament, Kuwabara takes Ogata out for a drink.

The Ogata-Kuwabara duo never gets old. Ogata finally wrestles the Honinbou title from Kuwabara. But the latter wouldn’t be the man he is if he couldn’t find his victories elsewhere. Very amusing. Drunk!Ogata (and hangover!Ogata) is fun.

Seance de Go, by aishuu (or here) []
Gen (with some Touya/Shindou undertones), PG, short. Spoilers: Through the anime. Summary: A stormy night, a game between Hikaru and Akira, as promises are finally fulfilled and made.

This is a nice story. I was sort of under-impressed when I began reading it. Like, well-written but didn’t sink a hook in me. But the ending was what did it. I thought, gah, the clues were all there. Why didn’t I notice? The story is very sad but somehow not quite hopeless. I like this feeling.

Shadows of a Voice, by Luce Red (issen4) (also on LJ; scroll down) #
Gennish Akira/Hikaru, PG, novella. Summary: Someone out there also plays Shuusaku Go.

A proper longish mystery. Formally, it is Akira/Hikaru but it’s an established relationship with a couple of kisses in the background, the story itself meanwhile is about something different. A young guy appears who plays Go scarily similar to Shuusaku’s and who calls himself Sai. Imagine how it messes with Hikaru’s head. Poor Hikaru. Although he’s not the kind of guy to back down from a challenge, so he goes on a crusade to uncover the mystery. It’s a really interesting and captivating story, told in a way that is near ideal for me: a straightforward narration, with hooks to keep our interest and hints to help us be a tiny bit ahead of the characters sometimes. But what I liked even more was that it wasn’t limited to mystery only. Other things sort of play a bigger part in this story, and IMO it’s a good balance. It speaks of honour and love and memory and various aspects of Hikaru’s relationship with Sai, which I can’t speak of in detail because it would be a spoiler, although I would love to. Wonderful story!

The Simple Life Plan of Shotaru Shindo, by aka_anonymous []
Gen, G, short. Request 1: Hikaru’s dad - his opinion of his son’s liking for go.

Apart from the Western first name-last name convention applied in this fic that my brain, used to the opposite, stumbled over, I liked it. Hikaru’s father is a bit more present than absent in it, the fic being from his perspective, than in canon but he’s still rather detached and doesn’t really get his son, which, IMO, is as it should be in this universe. A very ordinary man raises a very extraordinary child. What’s going on inside his head? This fic offers us a look into it. I found it believable and the story, interesting and a bit amusing, if a bit sad at the same time too.

See my review of the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and Death Note and other manga here. If you want my reviews of yaoi manga that I liked, click here. My extensive Harry Potter fiction recs, recs of FMA fanfiction, Death Note fiction recs. Other fandom recs are here. Or use the nav bar above.

Usual drill:

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

A HUGE list of DJ at Aarinfantasy forums. This is a place to find everything if you can’t get it from the scanlators’ site. The place, even.

Doppelgänger (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Vital Songs / Nagi Yusura
Scanlated by: DokiDoki
Pairing: Heidrich X Ed, Al X Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: R, NWS
Status: oneshot, 80 pages
Summary: Film spoilers! Ed returns from he alterverse with Alfons Heiderich in tow… our Alphonse is not pleased, nor is he willing to be outdone.
DL: here.

My notes: wasn’t going to read this doujinshika again but got seduced with the title and summary. I really liked the beginning. Then Al abruptly went out of character (according to the authorial intent, since even Ed remarked on it — but it still was jarring), then it went into shota-ish clichés but didn’t stay there too long. Can’t tell you how happy I was! In the end, it turned out to be a pretty interesting and moving story.

Empty Shell (Kuukyo na Kara) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Kawashou Kobo/ Yokohama-ya
Scanlated by: Secret Garden
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: WS but for a couple of embraces and a naked chest
Status: oneshot
Summary: Al visits the Colonel to find out more about the time he’s missing. He finds out more than he would have thought. 30 pages
DL: here

My notes: I can’t say I like how it’s drawn (Ed looks rather shota-ish), and the story is emo but I liked it. Not much but enough to save it. I also didn’t find it completely believable. But it moved me. So what worked? A couple of details, as it’s usual with me. Roy repeatedly calling Ed “bean” as if trying to cheat fate was a nice touch.

Equestrian Game (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Bambi Takada / Ronno to Kallus
Scanlated by: Secret Garden
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: R, NWS
Status: oneshot, 28 pages including covers
Summary: Roy attempts to give Ed a lesson on the honoured sport of dressage by having sex with him in a stable and incorporating lots of horse-back riding innuendoes.
DL: f-locked in Secret Garden LJ.

My notes: it’s a PWP in decorations. Amusing and not explicit, drawn by the artist I like a lot. Nothing much to the story but it made me smile and I enjoyed looking.

Futaribocchi Densetsu (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Daen + Bambi Takada
Scanlated by: Central Library
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Gender Bender Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NWS, NC-17
Status: oneshot, 37 pages
Summary: –
DL: locked in CL LJ?

My notes: It’s cross-dressing rather than gender-bender. The Colonel says that Ed is bad at spying and disguising himself, so Ed decides to prove him wrong. The first half is done by Daen, the second one by Bambi Takada. I like the 2nd part better because it has actual plot where Ed has to use his newly developed crossdressing skills to do some good. The story on the whole isn’t quite my thing because I like crossdressing only when it’s done in a very specific way, not the cosplayish one like here. There’s also an awful foot at page 16. :/ But I liked how plot turned into kink turned into plot again, and one specific scene made me laugh: when Roy gives Ed cat’s ears to try. Ed’s interpretation of it is very amusing.

Hagaren O.D. []
Circle/Doujinshika: Daen / Konboi Chouchou aka Dosukoi Hanako
Scanned by: catystorm @ Central Library; Translated by moumusu
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Comedy Doujinshi Gender Bender Shounen Ai
Rating/warnings: PG-13
Status: Complete. Pages: 72
DL: here.

My notes: Grabbed this DJ because of Scar on the cover. I’ll try anything once, even roasted grasshoppers. So why not a part 3 of a high school AU (part 1: Hagaren, part 2: Hagaren Maximum (DL raw here)) where Ed is called “he” but wears pleated skirt? And where he and Roy are members of Disciplinarian committee, Greed is Ed’s fanboy, and Hughes is a father figure. As I suspected when I read the preface, it’s not really my cup of tea. Even though there’s Scar, in his almost canon role. If you like the genre though, read it. It’s not bad. Even with me, while Roy x Ed skirted romance vaguely annoyed me, I found the Scar plot-line very amusing, especially its resolution. For that, half a star.

Hermaphrodite #
Circle/Doujinshika: Bambi Takada
Scanlated by: Secret Garden
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Yaoi
Rating/warnings: R/NC-17, NWS, violence
Status: 9 Volumes (Ongoing), 9 vols. scanlated
Summary: Roy corners Ed into a sexual relationship based on the concept of equivalent exchange, ie, he offers information and protection for sex. Ed agrees for a lack of choice, and their whole messy relationship begins.
DL: f-locked in Secret Garden LJ.

My notes: unlike most DJs I’ve read, this is a proper story, not to mention that it’s drawn really nicely. The style is spare but clean and airy. Bambi Takada doesn’t use much detail but when she does, it’s precise and often meaningful, without being too accented as it tends to happen in yaoi manga. The characters look exactly like in FMA. Amazing.

The story begins with a FMA fanfic/doujin cliché: Roy coerces/forces Ed into sexual relationship. While I don’t like it, in this story it was developed enough for me to not mind at all. I underline: the relationship develops. And there’s plot. Well, it’s not something to write home about if to think of it as of general manga but if to compare it to other DJs (and quite a few of yaoi manga), it’s quite good.

I love the scene where Roy drinks with Hughes. I love the sex scenes in the later volumes. They are beautiful. The main story is finished with vol. 8, so if you are wary of WIPs, don’t be. Volumes 9 and 10 are sequels, 9 from Roy’s POV, 10s from Ed’s. Vol. 10 isn’t out yet but you can read the first nine and not be left hanging. Very pleasant story on the whole.

ETA: don’t let the title mislead you. It’s metaphorical, not literal.

Inu no Hi []
Circle/Doujinshika: Bambi Takada
Scanlated by: Secret Garden
Pairing: gennish Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi
Rating/warnings: PG, WS
Status: complete
Summary: Al and Ed find Roy drenched in a park. The colonel seems to think that he’s a dog.
DL: here

My notes: this is definitely my favourite doujinshika. The story is unusual and I would even say weird but lovely and drawn very well again. Colonel on his dog’s day (see the summary), while it didn’t look quite IC for me, was interesting to observe. And as I said, it’s a lovely story. Quite pleasant.

Kagami no Nai Heya (A Room without a Mirror) (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: GD Mechano / Izumi Yakumo
Scanlated by: Scan Clan
Pairing: Ed x Roy, Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Mature Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NWS, NC-17
Status: complete
Summary: from scan-clan: Ed and Roy find themselves trapped in a relationship they can’t control. And what’s Roy hiding from Ed? Pages: 80
DL: here

My notes: I don’t know whether it’s a problem with translation or original (more likely translation ‘cos I noticed the same thing in other Scan Clan’s projects), but Roy and Ed sound like teenagers who live in the streets. Scan isn’t very good either. I really like the drawing though, a lot, even if it’s sketch-like. GD catches fleeting expressions and gestures very well. There’s also a sort of story hidden behind all the porn. It needs puzzling out and I didn’t like the ending but I think certain images from this DJ and it’s mood will stay with me for a while. Rainy days, empty room, chalk traces on the floor.

Kaleidoscope (2006) []
Circle/Doujinshika: K2 Company / Kodaka Kazuma
Scanlated by: gretchen8642 and moumusu
Pairing: Hughes x Roy
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NC-17, NWS
Status: oneshot, 16 pages
Summary: –
DL: ? I forget where I found it.

My notes: I still haven’t tried Kizuna, a very popular thing by this mangaka, even though I downloaded it. I really liked how this DJ is drawn except for one page (page 2: proportions! OMG Hughes thumb half Roy’s face in size). It’s neither whispy nor too bold, just wonderfully contrasted and sure, with a few really good details which is what often makes or breaks it for me. For example, Hughes in his boots on the bed or the entire page 10 — it’s so funny. I can’t say I liked the clichéd yaoi sex talk (or talk on the whole — to much repetition of canon), this is why it’s half a star. But now I think I’m going to try Kizuna sooner rather than later. OTOH, I don’t much care for Kodaka Kazuma’s Sex Therapist (my review here…. We’ll see.

Kanohi (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: GD Mechano / Izumi Yakumo
Scanlated by: Scan-clan
Pairing: Roy x Ed, Ed x Al is really gen
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Shounen Ai
Rating/warnings: PG, WS
Status: complete, Pages: 84. Film spoilers!
Summary: An absolutely gorgeous representation of Ed’s relationship with Al. This frame story outlines some of the brothers’ past and present, with more of GD Mechano’s stunning art. (from Scan Clan)
DL: here.

My notes: A very unfortunate cover, sort of anti-cover even, in its scanned form. I suspect it looks nicer on paper ‘cos it seems embossed? The story is surreal. I’m not sure I quite get it, except to guess [spoiler:]that all that leads to the last panels is Ed’s trip down the memory lane, a metaphorical journey consisting of recollections and coloured in sadness. I like GD’s drawing and I like trains, so I found this DJ interesting and even pleasant, on the melancholy side of things.

Kenja no Propeller (Philosopher’s Propeller) (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Daen / Konboi Chouchou aka Dosukoi Hanako
Scanlated by: Central Library
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Shounen Ai
Rating/warnings: PG-13, mild NWS for kisses
Status: oneshot. Pages: 23
Summary: –
DL: here.

My notes: awfully cute and romantic. Will make your teeth rot. Roy kissed Ed when they were having dinner in a restaurant. Ed is pissed off ‘cos it was embarrassing. More kissing ensues. If you like cute fluffy stuff, go for it. Daen’s fluff is really well-done. Surprisingly, it even got to me and I usually hate fluff! But there must be an exception to every rule. Apparently, this DJ is it for me :)

Linus []
Circle/Doujinshika: GD Mechano / Izumi Yakumo
Scanlated by: Scan Clan
Pairing: Al x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NC-17, NWS, should I even warn for incest?
Status: complete
Summary: In this book, Edward is twenty and still belongs to the military as a national alchemist. Alphonse is still armor. They still continued to study the human alchemy. One day, Alphonse completed his dissertation of human alchemy -Human Alchemy is impossible- Pages: 80
DL: here

My notes: This isn’t a story I should have liked. Truth be told, I think I should have been either spooked or disturbed. This is suit-of-armour incestuous porn, that is: Al is the armour, Ed wants him and gets him. With lots of graphic details. I find it stretching my belief as far as the premise/characterisation goes but I liked the drawing and there’s something moving in this story. I’ll definitely remember it.

Lovely Cool Fake (2005) #
Circle/Doujinshika: Bambi Takada / Ronno to Kallus
Scanlated by: Biblo Eros and Secret Garden
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: R, NWS
Status: complete, 36 pages
Summary: Film spoilers! Takes place after it. Ed attends university and meets a person who looks like his beloved colonel. He’ll just have to forget him and start a new story with this lovely and cool fake.
DL: here.

My notes: it’s really, really lovely! I love Bambi Takada’s DJ because she tells stories beside drawing characters so that they make me melt and drawing sex so that it makes my heart flutter. The story is romantic but not saccharine at all. I liked it so much that on finishing it sent an admiring letter to the artist. Which is a first for me. One thing I disliked was that Ed moved his metal arm, which he shouldn’t have in these settings. But it doesn’t really matter in a story so wonderful. I wish it were longer so that I could stretch the pleasure.

Memento Mori (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Vital Songs / Nagi Yusura
Scanlated by: DokiDoki
Pairing: Al x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NWS, incest
Status: oneshot, 65 pages
Summary: Al worries that if Ed regains his arm, he’ll forget the price they paid for everything… foolishly, Ed pursues his final victory anyway. But Al’s right: there’s always a price.
DL: here.

My notes: Half a rec, with a caveat. I’ve read one DJ by this artist (Stigma, review here) and didn’t like it because the Elric brothers are shown as religious, Al in particular. Which I wouldn’t mind in and of itself were it, say, Scar who’s a religious fanatic in canon and whom I love to bits. But Al and Ed?? What the fuck? In Memento Mori, it’s just a short scene at the beginning, and strangely, I find it all the more annoying for it. It’s not necessary for the later story, it never appears again, so why make Al pray and be very religious at all? Gah. I want to read about my favourite characters, not about the author’s issues. The story itself is interesting (amnesia cliché, pretty detailed for a DJ), and the drawing is pleasant. But I don’t think I’ll be reading more Vital Songs’ DJ.

Munich 1921 (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: NINEKOKS / Kyuugou
Scanlated by: Deja-vu, Lost Heaven (yaoi), Secret Garden
Pairing: Roy x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Yaoi
Rating/warnings: PG, WS for part 1-2; NC-17, NWS for 3.5
Status: 5 Volumes (ongoing), 2 vols scanlated
Summary: Vol.1: I’ve Met Him Again. In a book shop in Germany in 1921, Otherworld Ed runs into our world Roy. After helping him retrieve a book (which leaves Ed ticked off) Roy develops a relationship with Ed. 64 Pages.
Vol.2: Shut Your Eyes and Squeeze the Trigger
Vol.3: I Still Had the Foolish Dream
Vol.3.5: He Is Wandering in the Black Forest. Roy watching Ed (who’s in our world) having sex with his own counterpart.
Vol.4: It Keeps On Us Like the Still Blue Sky
DL: vol. 1 (or here), vol. 2

My notes: There were several things that annoyed me in this DJ. One has to do with the scanlation of vol. 1: quite a few errors, including chapter titles and “Mastung” on the inlet. The other has to do with the contents: Kyuugou draws Ed with a non-functioning arm (as well she should) but somehow both his legs are working fine. I mean, one couldn’t stand on tiptoe on a prosthetic leg, especially one made at the beginning of the XX century, but Ed does. Huh. Then on page 35 suddenly he gestures with his right arm. Also, I doubt Ed could hold a crutch under his metal arm ‘cos his arm is amputated right at the shoulder and the metal prosthetic is just a decoration at that point, unlike automail. But I like Kyuugou’s drawing on the whole (both DJ and original manga). As in other DJ by the same artist, here Ed looks relatively like Ed from FMA, Roy looks a lot like the mangaka’s original characters, and Hohenheim looks the most like himself.

There’s also a story. I don’t want to read a DJ that is just sex scene because I want to be told how they got there, how they live, how they love or not-love each other. Just a sex scene isn’t enough. I can imagine it in my head just fine, if not better. I want to be told something interesting, unusual, moving. Kyuugou succeeds here. With only two volumes scanlated, it’s just a beginning of a story but it’s intriguing and detailed enough for me to want to read more. I sneaked a peek at part 3.5 (since it’s only raw yet). Looked nice, in the context of what I know of the story at this point of time. I’ll be looking forward to the next volumes.

Night Flier []
Circle/Doujinshika: GD Mechano / Izumi Yakumo
Scanlated by: Scan Clan
Pairing: none. or you can see it as some sort of Al x Ed
Genre: Doujinshi
Rating/warnings: PG
Status: complete
Summary: Ed had a bad dream. The night like today, Edward sleeps in the Alphonse’s arms. Pages: 28
DL: here

My notes: The scan and translation could be better; there are quite a few errors. But it’s a sweet scene. It’s all about sleep: Ed has a nightmare, Al sleeps on the floor, flashbacks of how they slept when their mother was alive, and how they end up sleeping. Aww :)

Off Limits (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Cinnamon
Scanlated by: uiggu
Pairing: Roy x Havoc + Archer
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NC-17, NWS
Status: complete, 19 pages
Summary: Oh sweet Jesus my prayers were partially answered with this doujinshi. It features the following: Roy topping; pulling rank; military uniforms; office!sex; threesome(ish); Archer being totally 100% Archer; and ARCHER DOING PAPERWORK. (by uiggu)
DL: here

My notes: it’s an amusing and kinky PWP. There’s nothing to like in the story because there isn’t one, but I liked the way it’s drawn and the power balance. Or I better say imbalance :)

Pavane (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Kitakami Ren
Scanlated by: Attractive Fascinante
Pairing: Havoc x Roy
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating/warnings: PG-13, mild NWS for naked chests and a kiss
Status: complete, 32 pages
Summary: Havoc is kinda jealous that Hughes holds a special place in Roy’s heart. But is that really what happens?
DL: here (use find option of your browser).

My notes: This is weird. I can’t say I particularly like the drawing. There are some things in the anatomy (ears, the proportion of hands to body) that drove me spare all the way. I can’t say I much care for the story told here either. But somehow the end result is that I rather liked this DJ. There’s something sweet in Havoc’s expressions. Note: The story follows the manga canon in what concerns Maes’ military past.

Quiet Reunion (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Jackpot / Toomine Kuuya
Scanlated by: Secret Garden
Pairing: Roy x Ed implied
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Shounen Ai
Rating/warnings: PG, WS
Status: complete
Summary: from SG: his one also plays after the movie. Very pretty art and a bittersweet story.
DL: here

My notes: I liked how it’s drawn. Mind that the characters are much less girly inside than on the cover. The story is poetic and emotional, a bit too much of both for me. But pleasant. And it resonates with me somehow. I know this feeling of Ed’s when you’re so deep down the memory lane that you chase a stranger in the street, mistaking him or her for somebody you knew a long time ago; somebody who, if you think of it, would look very different by now.

Traumerei (2004) []
Circle/Doujinshika: Idea / Seina Rin
Scanlated by: Deja-vu
Pairing: gennish Al and Ed
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Psychological
Rating/warnings: WS, PG
Status: complete
Summary: Al seems to have disappeared, giving his soul to let Ed have his arm and leg back. Ed seems to be dreaming the whole time, Al always at his side. In reality Ed won’t accept that Al is gone, and sees him. No pairing, Just Ed missing his brother. 100 pages.
DL: here

My notes: Ok, it seems I get it by now but I’m still going to read what DJ by Idea I downloaded. What I get? That their style doesn’t always agree with me. Not the drawing style. That I like. The storytelling style: lots of poetic inner speech, ellipses, etc. But in Traumerei, where this story picks up and the author lets the character actions and words speak for themselves, I like it fine. Traumerei is sad or maybe bittersweet, depends on your angst tolerance level. I cried a little.

Gankutsuou dj - Baise (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: K2 Company / Kazuma Kodaka
Scanlation Team: Dark_Kitsune
Pairing: Count x Albert
Rating: NWS
Status: oneshot, 22 pages w/cover
Genre: Doujinshi Drama Yaoi
Summary: A dark story that details Albert’s obsessive dedication to the Count, and the Count’s manipulation of this fact.
Download: @ Aarinfantasy forums (you’ll have to register)

My notes: picked this one for the artist ‘cos I liked a few DJ of hers in other fandoms. This one is underwritten like most DJ but not bad, as for me. I like how she draws the Count but Albert and Franz look less like themselves. Wish it were more developed, more of a story. Would be interesting. But even as it is, it reminded me of Amanuensis1’s story I liked, Evermore.

Gankutsuou dj - Femme Fatale (2005) []
Circle/Doujinshika: K2 Company / Kazuma Kodaka
Team: Shi-ran
Pairing: Monte Cristo x Albert, Franz x Albert
Genre: Doujinshi Yaoi
Rating: NWS
Status: oneshot, 30 pages
Summary: The Count has some fun helping Franz and Albert get to know each other. (from shi-ran)
Download: @ Shi-ran’s site, @ Aarinfantasy forums (you’ll have to register)

My notes: a PWP with some illegal substances thrown in as a ‘non-plot’ device, and the Count’s machinations of course. Pretty hot. I liked the drawing, too.

Usual drill:

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

If you want my reviews of manga and yaoi manga that I liked, click here. Other fandom recs are here. Or use the nav bar above.

FMA places to check:

gossymer’s FMA fandom intro post, with rec lists linked
Ship manifesto: Elricest (Edward and Alphonse Elric)
Ship manifesto: Roy Mustang/Edward Elric
fma_yaoi LJ comm
Touka Koukan, a Fullmetal Alchemist yaoi fanfiction archive
Scimitarsmile, another FMA archive
FMA recs people gave me when I asked
FMA recs at Try This Fic
Scar fic list

new Chaos verse, by Metisket []
Roy/Ed, Al/Riza, Havoc/Winry, PG-13/R?, series in progress, the parts within are finished.

I’m not sure I quite believe in something in this ‘verse — either Roy and Ed or their relationship, or maybe there just is a bit too much banter for me. Having said that, I enjoyed these stories a lot. The author constructs her universe in a way that makes it come alive, maybe because it’s all about everyday life, small woes and wonders of it. As a result, it’s a very vivid and soothing slice-of-life/romantic comedy. Very pleasant to spend an evening on.

I stumbled upon this story after I had found and really liked a HikaGo fic of Metisket’s that had been posted anonymously in a HikaGo fest. I liked the writing very much and when the reveals were up, went to check what else she wrote. I’m very glad I did :)

new In Defiance of Reason, by Metisket #
Roy/Ed-ish, PG-13, oneshot, AU. A/N: So. In response to the question, “What would it look like if Edward Elric were as crazy as Allen Walker?” I said, well. CLEARLY I MUST WRITE THAT FIC. It’s a mad AU. And I don’t think Ed would handle being crazy with anything like Allen’s grace. Besides which, it’s possible that I wrote him even crazier.

I enjoyed this story a lot, and I don’t even like FMA AUs in the first place. But this is a “what if” AU that is fascinating, weirdly plausible, and very compelling: what if Roy didn’t meet Ed when he came to Rizembool after Elrics’ failed human transmutation? (There’s another “what if” involved but I won’t name it to avoid spoilers.) So here we have a mad vigilante Ed who rids the region where Roy is in command of the worst of the criminals. The balance of power is interesting, and I loved the ending :)

Pawns, by velvet_mace (or here) #
Roy/Ed, Al/Winry, PG-13/soft R, novel-length. Drama/Action. Warning: Torture. AU from the end of the anime. Summary: Al is flesh, Ed is retired, Winry is in love, and Roy is in jail. And the Army wants all of them, willing or not, for a sinister purpose.

Not without errors but interesting. Roy Mustang makes his move for power — but fails. Now he spends his days in an alchemist-proof cell, being a victim of military mind-games for the sake of his former subordinates. A new fuhrer, a really war-crazed one rallies the country for the war on two fronts. People are pressed and blackmailed: alchemists, doctors, and cannon fodder. Both Elric brothers and Winry Rockbell can’t escape the army. The world of this fic is scary, scarier than the canon because it speaks of mind control even more. But the story is very captivating because who is the hero? The mastermind of every and all manipulations, [now] Private Roy Mustang. He’s scary but brilliant and sooo attractive, OMG :) I loved him to bits. I loved Al in this story too. He is a moral compass even when he has to do things he wouldn’t want to, and he always keeps a level head, and a kind heart. Plotty and engaging!

new Play to Win, by E. E. Beck #
Roy/Ed, others off screen, NC-17, 12,000 words. Summary: Ed loses his virginity, and then his inhibitions. Roy loses his mind.

Found this fic on Lyssaphra’s rec and fell in love, not unlike Roy :) The author managed to write a slut!Ed that is totally believable. I mean, a character can become anything; one just have to make readers believe in it. So if Ed becomes a slut, how will he behave to still remain Ed? This is how. This is perfectly Ed, as for me. Think of Ed’s view of the world. There’s this huge thing that is Al and then this much smaller thing that is everybody and everything else, right? So how would a person who is one of those small everybody elses go about winning Ed? Well, when they get a clue themselves that this is what they are doing. The answer is: as only Roy can do, meticulously plotting and scheming, very patiently. Loved the writing, loved the story! Would love a sequel very much too.

new Prognosticate, by E. E. Beck ##
Roy/Ed, others off screen, NC-17, oneshot. Spoilers: Last third of the series and the movie, vaguely. Summary: “Divination alchemy,” Ed said scornfully. “Also known as complete and total bullshit.”

And this one, as for me, is bloody awesome. The ending in particular. So poignant and piercing and OMG perfect. I loved-loved-loved it. The story is about love and the allure and dangers of looking into future. There’s a sort of paradox that always comes up when we speak of fiddling with time, in any way: does Roy fall in love because he looks or would he anyway if he didn’t? But the fact is, Roy falls hard. Poor bastard :) Ed is also perfect here. Mouthy, loud, brilliant, and very Ed on the whole. Loved it!

The Shadow of Desire, by Sol 1056 []
Gen with some Roy/Ed undertones, R, novella. Drama/action. Warning: torture. Part 1 of The Contraries Arc. Summary: It hurt, somehow, to know that there was no one, now, who could see past the mask if he didn’t want them to. Spoilers for ep. 20-27.

Roy is depressed and desperately, achingly lonely, in the stoic Roy way of course. And Edward is an ever unpredictable trouble magnet who just happened in the same town with Roy when the latter is sent to investigate the disappearances of state alchemists in a small town. Edward invites himself to accompany him, which leads to much more trouble than any of them could predict. I liked Roy here; he’s very human. But I liked Al best of all, with his willing to go to any lengths to help his brother and with his mishaps. Pleasant story, would that it could be a Roy/Ed romance. Ed’s purring snore is a nice detail :) One of those that stick to memory.

Situation Normal, by Sleeps With Coyotes (ciceqi) #
Roy/Ed, Al/Winry, PG, ~13K words. Summary: Ed figures out why folks are acting so weird. Then he figures out why he is. Notes: AU after episode 14.

Good writing. I loved a few of Coyo’s Eroica stories and was glad to learn she wrote lots if FMA. People react strangely to Ed: they either get all tongue-tied or babble when speaking to him, and anyway they keep staring at him. Ed decides that it must be some weird rumours circulating about him. Heh, as if! Lovely stuff. Amusing, too.

new Enjambement, by Kaltia (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) #
Al/Ed, Roy/Liza, PG-13 (?), unfinished at 7 chapters. Warnings: incest, duh (not graphic though). Summary: “I’m not being forced out of another home. They won’t be here long, and it’s not like they’ll be looking for us.” Spoilers: ep25 of FMA1/ch15.

I was seduced to try Enjambement with this rec that promised “intelligently written Elricest and Roy/Riza with plot.” It is indeed intelligently written and has plot, but what is more, it’s an Al/Ed established relationship which I swallowed as if it’s what I like best while in fact, I barely ever read established relationship fics. It’s neither graphic nor kinky. Instead, it’s understated and somehow very convincing emotionally: these are the two boys that don’t really have anybody except each other to rely on, very traumatised but tough, who finally found a quiet corner for themselves. A corner that is being threatened and that they are willing to fight for with all their, not inconsiderable, might. I think it can be called a post-series AU: Al is back to his body; Ed is officially dead and lauded as a hero. The story begins two years after those events when there’s some unrest in the neighbourhood and military choose the town where the Elric brothers are quietly hiding for their base.

This is a story I’ve kept on my update alert list for a year. I don’t think the epilogue is forthcoming at this point but one can read just these seven chapters. Believe me, they are worth it and they won’t exactly leave you hanging. Still, pity it’s unfinished :(

The Flooding Dark, The Evening Strange, by Herongale ##
Scar/Ed, NC-17, novel-length. Spoilers: This is a post-series AU. All 51 episodes are fair game and will (probably) be referenced.

Scar fascinates me. A fanatic, semi-religious and semi-patriotic, he’s on a killing rampage for most of the anime (and a large part of the manga). He has a mysterious cross-like scar on his face and a tattooed arm capable of destroying anything, the secrets of which we learn bit by tiny bit as the story goes on and with those secrets uncovered, we also accumulate the knowledge of his past. His and his people. But we also learn his more human, vulnerable side. And then there’s another ‘but’. But despite it, we still know very little about him. How can the man who’s pure and good, and also neither unaware nor particularly stupid — this is how he looks to me anyway — commit such atrocities? How can this man sacrifice so much for — for what exactly? The question “So what kind of person he is? What makes him tick?” occupied me almost all the way while I watched the anime. And this is the question that occupies Edward Elric when he encounters Scar, mysteriously alive and well but without scars or tattoos, in our world, in the pre-war Germany.

This isn’t a light story. It speaks of penance and sacrifice, of hard choices and a long way home, and ultimately, of love. The author evokes an amazing range of emotion throughout the story. The sex was so hot I felt shivers running down my back and arms, the tenderness was so heart-warming, and what Scar was willing to do, OMG, I cried and cried and cried. If I didn’t love him before, I would fall for him head over heels after this story. Actually, I think I did fall in love with him a bit more anyway.

Herongale’s Edward is rather different from how I see him. He’s more emotionally detached from everybody who’s not his brother than how I imagine him. He doesn’t know or recognise love unless it’s familial. But I believed in him here anyway.

Despite being set in our historical past in accordance with the sequel canon, the story shows rather little of the problems that existed at the location at that time. I found it a bit puzzling but on the other hand, I liked it. I want to read about Edward and alchemy, not about the beginning of Nazi movement. There are, nevertheless, enough details of Ed’s and Scar’s everyday lives to make the fic vivid. There are also cats, which is always a bonus for me, as you know :)

Stories like this are what I’m in fandom for: to have my emotions and thoughts stirred and rearranged by a wonderful piece of fiction. Heartily recommended!

The One Place: [1], [2], [3], by Toffee []
Ed/Scar, PG, discontinued. Only 3 chapters written. Spoilers for the end of the series and the film. Summary: “It is hard to hate you, Edward Elric. Even then, you were hard to hate. Both you and Alphonse.”

Oh my, why do the best ones get abandoned? Why oh why? :( It’s such a wonderful story! Really, I think it’s better to read only three chapters of it than many of a finished Scar fic I’ve inhaled in the last week. These Scar and Ed are at the same time spot-on and changed by the new life, and it’s such a pleasure to see them like this. I know that inspiration can’t be forced but I so, so wish the author finished this story. Because it’s joy and pleasure. Half a star only because it’s unfinished, otherwise it might have been ##, depending on the ending.

Sand Cathedrals, by Mikkeneko #
Ed/Scar, NC-17, ~10K words. AU from episode 42, spoilers up to this episode.

This is a post-canon-episode-42 1st person fic written from Scar’s POV. And I liked it. Sad but with a tiny glimmer of hope. Can’t say much about the plot because it would spoil it but I liked how the author twisted the Philosopher’s Stone thing and how it illuminates the characters.

Firebird, by Laylah (or here) []
Al/Scar, NC-17, ~5500 words. Canon what-if. Summary: Even if he wanted to, there was no way he could. Al would say yes, not because he wanted to but because of some stupid, alchemy-derived notion that it would be a fair trade for his food and shelter.

Smooth writing. This story reads a bit like Snarry, if to think about characters’ relationship and interaction. This fandom heads off to AU at any point imaginable and I’m used to it by now. I don’t get it though why Scar is living with his people after the end of the series; it looks like the author simply decided that they wanted it so. But I’d like some backstory for such a what-if. I also wasn’t persuaded that Al would come to Scar or that he would stay there. I need more reasons for both. But the picture the author paints is easy to visualise, and the scenes are pleasantly peaceful. And it is among the best Elric/Scar fics I’ve read.

Into light, by Toffee []
Ed/Al/Scar, past Ed/Heiderich implied, NC-17, short. Spoilers for the end of the series (and some for the film).

I’m not sure I quite believe in this threesome but I enjoyed reading the story. What I could believe is that Ed’s non-platonic interest in Al could stem from his past relationship with Heiderich, which in turn grew from Ed’s missing his brother. The author writes subtle nuances and shifts in their situation and emotions very well.

Stormbringer series, by Mirabella (or here) []
Roy/Ed/Al, PG except the last story which is NC-17; novella-length on the whole. Summary for story 1: You shouldn’t make jokes about Ed being short. It leads to things that make Al nervous.

The last story is very very hot. And they all are written very well. But somehow these Roy and Al kept being at odds with the Roy and especially Al that are in my head. Not that I didn’t believe in these ones, not quite. It just was a dissonance. But the sex was very hot, and for that at least I’ll remember it.

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

If you want my reviews of manga and yaoi manga that I liked, click here. Other fandom recs are here.

Death Note Post Script: an Unofficial Blooper Reel, by moonythestrals #
Light/L, R, short. Summary: You know all of those things that should’ve happened in the actual series, but didn’t? Yeah, I don’t either - but my brain made a valiant effort to uncover them at four in the morning.
Spoilers: For the entire series, just to be safe.

Meta!fic. In my opinion, very funny. I like watching bloopers, so I enjoyed this fic a lot. It’s even more amusing on the second reading or if you try to imagine it as ‘real’ mis-filmed or mis-drawn scenes. My favourite thing: Hermione!Misa :) And the thing that made me laugh out loud was the several reshootings of THE scene from vol. 7.

And to think that I wasn’t even going to read more DN fic :) I’m a magpie *sadface*

Implication, by puella_nerdii []
L/Light, NC-17, ficlet. Warning: Spoilers through ch. 38 or so. Prompt: July 3: Death Note - L/Light - talking during sex - all the way up to the edge where logic starts to fade

Very amusing, on the dark side of things. The joy of a properly done tiny!fic is its ending, isn’t it? This one’s ending is bril.

A Shinigami Fable, by Amanuensis #
Gen, ~650 words. Summary: The Shinigami have begun to tell stories.

Witty and hilarious, it answers the burning question “Why Misa Misa?” and quite a few of others — tongue firmly in cheek, of course. Ryuk’s running commentary is perfect.

A Tithe to Hell, by Aja (bookshop) ##
Light/L, NC-17, 34,000 words. AU, set immediately after manga issue 53 (the end of the Yotsuba Arc). Warnings for: knife/bloodplay, excessive eyerolling, bad metaphoric comparisons of L to fish, amphibians, birds, monkeys, insects, cave dwellers, and fungi, ridiculous amounts of cuddling, and cake as a plot device.

This is just bloody amazing. I finished it and kept staring at the screen, robbed of words and possibly even thoughts ‘cos they simply kept returning to the scenes of this story, rotating them in my head. I’m not sure I want to read another DN fic or even delve in this fandom at all because after this, how could they bloody compare? Guh.

It’s everything I would ever want L and Light’s relationship to be, every character trait perfectly explored, every mind-game potential fulfilled, every detail of behaviour and appearance taken into account. And it’s so poignant, so beautiful! The author made me see and feel, cry and grin, be there, become them.

They say familiarity breeds contempt. For me, it rather breeds inattention, the lack of consideration. I’ve been in HP fandom for years, so I stopped admiring — stopped noticing even that unique chameleon skill that makes a good writer take somebody else’s character and recreate it perfectly, as if it were their own invention, naturally like breathing. I read a story with a Snape that is perfectly Snape, I see a Harry who is so Harry that I can’t help saying “OMG it’s him!” and I take it for granted. And only when I come to a new fandom, do I begin noticing such things again afresh. Aja took my breath away with this skill here. A perfect Light. A perfect L. Simply wow.

Well, it’s a veeeery old fandom actually. I simply discovered it now. And OMG am excited! So now I’m wallowing in Eroica fiction like a happy piglet in the mud.

As usual,

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

If you want my reviews of manga and yaoi manga that I liked, click here. Other fandom recs are here.

Eroica fanfiction on the net:
Eroica fanfiction index at Eroicafans, the most comprehensive archive, with email order
Fried Potatoes, an eFiction based Eroica archive
Eroica archive at Belladonna.org, sorted by author; most links lead to Eroicafans
Castle Gloria, LJ community for Eroicafic
Schloss Eberbach, everything Eroica-related on LJ
Yuletide Eroica fics (mostly short)
Eroica fiction on FFnet
Eroica sources at Beladonna
Eroica recs at Crack Van

A Sadistic Entanglement, by Hunter (or here)
This is Dorian/Klaus ship manifesto. Nice, if one wants a smooth introduction to the pairing and even fandom.

An almost perfect alibi, by Livia ##
Dorian/Klaus, R, ~10K words. “I need a favor,” Klaus said, very carefully, if the words were bits of broken glass. Written for musamihi in the Yuletide 2008 Challenge

Loved it, loved it, loved it! Delightful and perfectly Eroica. This is exactly the sort of Eroica fic I want to read. Saved it to my hard drive halfway through and in places simply squealed, for real. It’s flirty and tense, funny and hot. Aww, I’m a happy reader now :)

As he approached, Dorian’s vanity battled his curiosity. His impulse to wash up and put together a really sensational outfit was strong, but so was the urge to find out what could have possibly prompted the Major to call. After a rough and dirty fight, his curiosity won the day. Whatever it was that had brought the Major here, onto Dorian’s territory, it must be awfully impressive, especially after– No. Dorian pushed Zurich out of his mind as he entered the castle, hurrying through its spacious halls. The Major had rejected him, that was all. Nothing odd about that. Dorian wasn’t going to give it a second thought.

–

Having stopped only to run a razor over his face, comb his hair, put it into a ponytail, pull it out of the ponytail again, and put it back into the ponytail once more, Dorian strode into the sitting room where the Major waited. He pulled the tie from his hair impatiently, tossing his head to shake his hair out. Of course it looked better down– what had he been thinking?

The Major looked as he always did, forever and ever amen. His clothes were crisp, if unstylish, his tie was a tragedy, and his expression was businesslike, betraying only slight impatience. Dear Klaus. Dorian had always enjoyed ruffling other people’s feathers, and the Major was an eternal temptation in that regard. Among others.

He had, Dorian noticed, dragged one of the Queen Anne chairs nearly eight inches out of place, turning it fifteen degrees to the left. It ruined the neat arrangement of the furniture in the room, but allowed the Major to sit facing both the door and the window. It was very like him.

Angel and By Any Other Name, by Kay Reynolds (or here) #
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, novel-length. Summary1: Our heroes must escape from a Third World prison. Summary 2: Our heroes face their pasts… and their future.

There were 2.5 things in this story that I disliked (one of them strongly). I would quit very soon were it another story. But there was something in this one, lots of somethings even, that made me read it for two days, totally engrossed. I’ll start with those 2.5 things as I always try to be honest about what I liked or not but please read this rec to the end, ok? Because really, I hate one of these things with a passion, so if I enjoyed this story despite them, maybe you will, too.

1) The story has a serious case of epithitus (the thief, the Earl, Dorian, Eroica vs Klaus and Major), which makes it read like an orgy or a group fight, depending on the scene: Smiling, Dorian crossed the short distance to the bed, positioning himself before Klaus. The Major put his arms around his thighs […]. Then he paused. Dorian shifted a bit, uncomfortable. […] The thief placed his hands on Klaus’ shoulders and pressed his fingertips into muscle, encouraging, Go on….. Which leads to constant POV jolting. Which makes for unnecessary interruptions of smooth reading ‘cos the story has gliding POV as it is. Which, in turn, sometimes shifts to completely random POV character like a cat or a secondary character we can see only two times in the fic. In which I can’t see any reason or purpose, within this story.

2) There are other stylistic choices that irked me. a) I wish the author didn’t use German for Klaus’s speech apart from ‘Gut’ and ‘Ja’. ‘Cos there were errors. b) Sex scene = purple. Blades, swords, sexes, anything but plain old cock. On the other hand, purple prose made me think of “Man in purple” so I found it amusing rather than annoying. The sex is still hot though, very very hot. c) The story is not without SPAG errors on the whole either (not many but what there are, recur).

IMO, the things I list above point at the lack of writing experience. Perhaps. Or the lack of knowledge of writing tricks. But where it lacks in that, the author compensates in talent and the ability to tell a really good story: strong, interesting, and multifaceted. It’s darker than the manga, more in the mood of Der Freischütz. For example, “They call it ‘intelligence.’ But what I am doing most of the time is killing people,” Klaus told him harshly. “Sometimes people are trying to kill me. To stay alive, to accomplish my work requires so much concentration, so much determination and resolution that I have no room for anything else.” Well, there are no killings in From Eroica in Love, at least not in the first 21 volumes, but if you remember Der Freischütz or try to look at the same story from another angle, not humorous, of course you won’t do without death.

This story touches and digs deep into other dark(ish) topics: attempted rape in the prequel, family history where the parents, if not quite demonic, aren’t good parents at all (which seems to be a cliché in this fandom), with other twisted past events that influence the characters’ present. The biographies the author creates for both Klaus and Dorian and all the historical stuff are interesting and not unbelievable, or maybe just very suitable for this darker reality. The story is rather verbose; it’s also very dramatic. It’s often bleak, at other times romantic. But it’s always captivating and interesting to follow. I enjoyed it a lot and was particularly impressed with how the author made Major and Eroica’s relationship work and be so damn logical. The cat was a very nice touch too :) A cat always improves a story, as for me, and this one is no exception.

I think the author managed to keep a really fine balance between romance and angst, and between action and contemplation. The story is pretty plotty but it’s not very fast-paced.

I do imagine these characters differently from the Dorian and Klaus in the manga when I read this story, especially if I think of Klaus. But I don’t think it’s a question of characters being in character or out of character. I believe it’s the matter of another medium and genre.

There was a passage that made me laugh out loud:

“And ‘Mad Vlad’ Zhirinovsky is ready to begin a new war.”

“He is demanding the return of Alaska, Finland, Poland and the satellite countries. He is threatening to deploy nuclear weapons at Germany. He likes to think of himself as Russia’s answer to Hitler. Zhirinovsky is connected to the KGB. He was recruited in his student days in Turkey, back in 1969.”

I do remember the time when Zhirinovsky seemed a big shark. Now, there are bigger ones, and he looks just like one of the numerous opportunistic politicians, no more. But this scene is a nice touch — very much in the mood of the original manga and that historical period.

As a conclusion, it’s a very enjoyable story, as for me. And the storytelling is good, too, despite small imperfections. Would you believe me if I told you that I stopped noticing POV switches and epithets by the middle of it? Well, I did. I think it’s worth rereading too.

Angle of Descent, by CTB (Colette T. Bolech) (available from the Eroicafans.org email archive) []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~8600 words. Summary: Eroica finally has enough and does as the Major wishes. He leaves. But is that really what they both want?

Angsty and intense. We can see an offended and cold Dorian. Sex when it happens is sexy. Quite pleasant, on the angsty end of things.

The Beat That My Heart Skipped (Sounded Like This), by Livia #
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, 4600 words. “You’d think a queer like you wouldn’t care to use blackmail as much as you do,” Klaus remarked.

I had to go and look what other Eroica fics this author wrote after this year Yuletide’s one (see rec above). How did I miss the last year’s? This story was harsher than most Eroica fics I’ve read and I liked it, especially that Livia didn’t make it in any way melodramatic or even pointlessly dramatic. It explores a what if: what if Klaus really secretly wanted Eroica but couldn’t cave in to his advances because of Eroica’s own nature that makes him a pretty ruthless individual for whom nothing is too low if it makes him closer to his goals? The story is very vivid. I enjoyed it a lot.

Breaking and Entering, by Neery []
Fandom: From Eroica with Love. Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ~8,500 words. Summary: Klaus really needs Dorian’s help.

I enjoyed this story but can’t say I liked it. Because the author’s view of Dorian and Klaus isn’t similar to mine. First of all, I think that for Klaus to offer what he offers here for Eroica’s cooperation at all, the world must end. No kind of mission, no kind of threat to the world made him even consider it during all the numerous volumes of the manga, and yet it happens right and left in fanfiction. Not being a canon nazi, I’m ready to allow for it. But not as fast as in this story. Really, it’s very very much OOC for Klaus to say that at all, but I might be ready to put up with it if the author works for it to happen, if they make it difficult, if they make me feel Klaus’s desperation and that it’s his last resort.

Secondly, I don’t believe that Dorian is kind or soft-hearted. Whimsical? Sure. Devious? Very much so. Attractive? Duh. Charitable? Well, can be sometimes but more often not. He is a thousand things but but in my view, kind is among the last of them, and only to a select few (if not one!) people. I didn’t feel while reading this story that the author and I imagined the same characters.

Apart from that, the story is pretty enjoyable, mostly because it’s very plotty and written smoothly. It sort of sucked me in and I shook off the spell only after finishing the story. Which was nice. :) So while not love, it’s a rec from me anyway :)

But Not For Me, by unknown (available from the Eroicafans.org email archive) []
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ficlet. Summary: Dorian, the Major, and a romantic location.

Amusing, even funny. I never expected such a twist — although I should have! How many years have I been reading fanfiction? It’s just a vignette but nicely tricky.

Caged Flight series, by BT #
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, longish novella on the whole. Written: August 1989. Summary: Capture, escape and rescue. And of subsequent events.

A delightful writer. I’m reading their Eroica fiction one story after another and enjoying them all. There are quite a few good writers in this fandom. That makes it such a pleasure to wallow :)

I like it that sex happens early in the story, even thought with the help of mind-altering substances. I do prefer these two characters to come to some sort of relationship without any help from any devices, but if it’s done as well as here, I like it too. it’s even refreshing that BT makes Klaus and Eroica fall into bed first (believably!) and sort out the mess later. It reads really smoothly. Well-written, hot, plotty, and nicely angsty in places where Dorian’s and Klaus’s characters clash.

Cakes and Ale, by Torch (flambeau) #
Dorian/Klaus, R, ~5K words. Summary: Klaus finds out what the road to hell is paved with, and Dorian refuses to wear a tie.

Amusing, hot, and well-written. Dorian and Klaus wake up terribly hungover in Schloss Eberbach and try to remember what they did or didn’t do last night. Very vivid. Pleasure!

Calamity is Virtue’s Opportunity, by Sandy K. Herrold []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, novella. Summary: Eroica has his eye on a prize, which Klaus warns him not to attempt. But how can Eroica resist a challenge?

This is another blackmail plot which, I gather, are pretty common in this fandom. There are a few details I found interesting though: spoilers, highlight to read: for one, Klaus had a brother whose death has a mystery for him to uncover. For another, Dorian kills. The motivation for Klaus and Eroica to do it didn’t seem too convincing to me but it’s wasn’t unbelievable. The story is darkish and of course plotty. This is what I like about this fandom so far! If one wants to keep up with the source, they have to write plotty fics. I enjoyed this one.

Cantiques de Noël, by BT #
Dorian/Klaus, Dorian/OCM, NC-17, novella. 1991. Summary: The Major gets lost in thought, and then the snow at Christmas time.

It’s Christmas, but Klaus is lost. His mission was cancelled, his subordinates and colleagues are busy partying, but he decides to escape and have a fast night drive through Britain. The story features an emotionally stunted Klaus that is written very well, and lots of vivid scenes. I watched it rather than read. Pleasure!

Could we start again, please?, by Anne-Li (or here) []
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ~16K. Summary: Klaus finds a way to get rid of Dorian for good. Is it really such a great idea, though? Some people die, but most of them do get better. Slight crossover with the Ateam.

This is a time-travel fic, the first I’ve read in this fandom. Aw, I love plot-related clichés :) On one of his missions, Klaus finds a new science lab that has constructed a time machine. Klaus thinks that he finally found a way to fix all his problems, as most of those are connected to Eroica. He travels to the moment of their first meeting and ‘fixes’ it. Only, being a hapless Muggle, he doesn’t know that fiddling with time is a terrible thing. So afterwards, he has to fix what he has ‘fixed’. Easy to follow, interesting to read.

Crossing the Lines, by Jay Tryfanstone (link to the main page) []
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, short. Summary: Nailing the flag to the wall.

A much older General comes to a much older Earl. The story is non-linear, and trust Tryfanstone to use various formal devices with such a skill. What she achieves I can only call elegance. Very succinct: a line from a conversation, a hint at a parallel scene. This is here and that is in England; this is now and that will come to pass. But as soon as you catch up with the rhythm, it’s not difficult to follow. Sad but not hopeless.

The Curse of the Eberbachs, by Heather Sparrows and Anne-Li #
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~58K words. AU with regards to the events of 1588 and crossover with Harry Potter.

This is a story like what you’d encounter off LJ, at FFnet maybe — only if you come across one like this, grab it! It’s fun and light but with a nice doze of angst. I wouldn’t read it if it were an HP story ‘cos I’m used to different tone and styles in HP fanfic but it reads very well in Eroica. The wizard I love best in HP (if you know me, you’ll know who it is) is super cool here, if paired with [”Oh noes”] <= that's me escaping spoilers.

Centuries past, a wizard curses Tyrian Persimmon, the notorious ancestor of Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach, and all his male descendants to become beasts that Tyrian showed himself to be if they don't acknowledge their true love by their 30s birthday. In 1985, Klaus wakes up as a dog, keeping only his human voice and mind. He has to find somebody he trusts to help him. Enter Eroica. That is, exit dog!Klaus :) I had lots of fun reading it, laughed at the Major’s antics and lines, wept when things went pear-shaped, and on the whole, enjoyed it an awful lot. Very entertaining and vivid.

Den of Thieves and Brother of the Sun, Brother of the Moon, by K. L. Fidelius (story 2 by K. L. Fidelius and Countess Grey) []
Dorian/Klaus, R and NC-17, 12K and 24K words. Summary 1: Eroica is called in by NATO to steal back from other thieves. The KGB objects. Summary 2: So much time has passed since the story was begun (based on the first few English translations) that it now resides in a sort of alternate time-line to the Eroica series — but then all slash stories do that anyway. This story takes place before the end of the Cold War. Category: Amnesiac!Klaus.

Story one was part of No Holds Barred 9 fanzine (link above is to the place where to obtain it), so it’s not the easiest thing to get. But it’s not necessary for understanding story 2. In Den of Thieves, Klaus has to go to, well, a den of thieves to get plans of a new Soviet tank. In exchange for them, he has to deliver a criminal to be released there. Klaus is displeased but has to do what NATO powers that be ordered him to. But the criminal boss asks him to perform at the party. With Dorian. There’s also Misha the Cub, the stolen Leopard tank thrown into action, faked sex, and lots of other fun things. Story 2 is a bit too tell-ey in places but still very enjoyable. It’s vivid like a film and somewhat resembles Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island or Robinson Crusoe, meaning that the main characters stranded in a closed-off location find the necessary items to live on and have to exercise their mental powers to make their living from simple things.

I’m not sure I quite believe everything about what Klaus remembers of his father and what the latter says about WW2 but it’s a small detail in a long story, so I don’t think it matters much. I liked amnesiac!Klaus in this story. He’s lost his memory but not his powers of observation. So based on what glimpses of memories he gets, he comes to the most logical conclusions. Too bad for him that those glimpses were out of context :) The ending’s awfully romantic. Pleasant story, even if the plot is cliché.

Desperate Measures, by Kadorienne #
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ~15K words. Summary: Dorian gets expert consultation.

Delightful! The taming of a very special German NATO shrew with the help of a professional, of a sort. Funny and romantic, and very pleasant on the whole.

Diversions, by Jen B. aka Caithion []
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ~22K words. Summary: There are diversions for pleasure, diversions to tease, and diversions of necessity.

Klaus is on his last mission before retirement and then on a contract to trace the terrorists when said mission goes awry. Dorian goes with him of course. A large part of the story is set in my homeland and it made me very amused. I also find it amusing that it’s not the first fic where Misha the Cub (KGB/ex-KGB head) was shown as a rather honourable character. I would prefer Klaus and Dorian not to be in their fifties. Actually, I prefer their age not stated at all. There are trademark non-existent Russian names, travel all over the world, and action. Nicely written, too.

Five Days in Padesca, by laurakaye []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, shortish. “This is still about the Pope, isn’t it? It’s hardly fair to keep on about that after all this time.”

I liked how the author made the Major change his mind about Eroica in this story. With his unique single-mindedness, he analyses everything from top to bottom and, having set on the course of action, acts. Lovely and hot!

A Garden in Paris and A Garden in Eden, by Jeanne Johnson []
Dorian/other man, some Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, novella. Papuwa/Eroica x-over.

I haven’t read Papuwa (and found no info that it’s even been scanlated), but it doesn’t matter. The story reads just fine. It’s very intriguing and interesting. Sergei and his, let’s put it like this to avoid spoilers, connections read like wonderfully written OCs to me. The story is darkish, angsty, and wonderfully balanced between plot and relationships, exactly in the way I like most. Twisted families and twisted pasts rule the current events, and mysteries are uncovered at a nice pace. The only disadvantage for me was that it’s not much about Klaus. It’s mostly about Dorian and Sergei. And when it comes to Klaus, he only appears several times; the rest is left offscreen. Nice story.

Goodwill To All Men, by Karen Colohan / Yavanna []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~15500 words. Summary: Christmas is supposed to be the season of goodwill, but Klaus can’t help feeling those around him him are stretching things a bit too far…

It’s a PWP, nice and detailed. I thought it was a bit too easy in how they fell into bed but it was pleasant to read anyway. I liked Eroica’s costume. I would hate it in another universe or on another character but I think it suits Eroica really well.

Hold, by Sleeps With Coyotes []
Dorian/Klaus, PG, short. Summary: If he could, whether or not he should, would he?

I bet you thought what I did when you saw the summary. Take your mind out of the gutter, you perv (and fetch mine too)! It’s verrry romantic. And amusing, in its precise little details.

House of Cards, by Margaret Price (w/stories by Yoiko and Filigree incorporated in the text) #
Dorian/Klaus, R, ~72K words. Category: CIA!Dorian, OutOfTheCloset!Klaus. Warnings: AU, violence, fist fights, angst, guns, bombs, terrorists, and spy stuff, plot twists, crack-humor moments, a world tour, planes, boats, and other seagoing vessels, exotic locations, and other surprises. Summary: After twenty-five years of resisting Eroica’s advances, Klaus finally gives in, only to have the Earl drop a bombshell that convinces the Major that the world he knew ended without his knowledge and was replaced with a cruel parody. Nobody breathe or the house of cards will collapse.

That’s when one should say the words “really, really far-fetched.” The story requires a serious suspension of disbelief, theoretically. But in fact, the universe of “From Eroica with Love” gives credit to almost any far-fetched plot set within it. Dorian Red, Earl of Gloria, criminal alias Eroica, turns out to be neither Dorian, nor Lord Gloria, nor Eroica but something else entirely. Too bad Klaus learned about it a day after he had come to Eroica, basically saying, “Ok, you won, you can have me.” Klaus’s world is destroyed. He takes several drastic steps, and things get very, very complicated because secrets from the past also begin floating up.

There are some things in the writing that I didn’t like, i.e. that Klaus’s speech often sounds American or that sometimes some scenes made me feel as if the author were playing dolls, but my overall emotion while reading can be best expressed by “OMG!” The fic is very, very plotty! It’s a roller-coaster. I read 72K words in one go, nervously biting my lips and chain-smoking not unlike Iron Klaus. So captivating!

In the Shadows, by FoxyG unrated so far
PG-13, novella (44K words). Eroica/Pet Shop of Horrors crossover. Klaus is tracking down a terrorist in Los Angeles. Count D has a new client.

Until I stumbled upon this story, it hadn’t occurred to me that these two fandoms could be crossed. But now it seems so logical! It’s a very enjoyable reading. Plotty and often very amusing. But not without being slightly creepy — it’s D’s petshop, what else would you expect!

So, who will out-macho the other? Klaus or Leon? And who’ll out-charm the other? D or Eroica? My bet is on Klaus and D :)

Not without occasional error, but very intriguing.

Rec 2:When I last read and recced it, there were only three or four chapters written so I left it unrated. The author finished it since, so I think it’s a good excuse to update my rec.

I would call it an equal crossover: even though it’s set in LA and heavily centres around Count D’s petshop, both sets of main characters get approximately equal time on screen, which is in-canon, as for me. Eroica’s author makes Klaus and, correspondingly, Dorian travel all over the world. It isn’t a hardship to imagine them in LA. It’s also easy to imagine Dorian buying some exotic pet from Count D — that shop and owner would strike his fancy, wouldn’t they? I was going to say that the Eroica duo are the main characters in this fic but realised it wasn’t true. All four of them are main characters, and we get to see what happens in each of their heads (limited access, if we speak about D — and that is quite in character). I liked the characterisation of all the four, and it’s sheer fun to see the ’synonymic’ ones put close enough to compare. Who’s more macho, Leon or Klaus? Who’s the best charmer, Dorian or D? The bet I made in my rec of then (Klaus and D) — heh, I was right, I think. In any case, to see them together makes for lots of fun! The story on the whole is plotty, amusing, and a bit creepy, as any story that deals with PSOH should be, as for me. The ending wasn’t quite to my tastes but it wasn’t bad, IMO. Just a bit easier than it could have been.

If you are into these two crossed fandoms and like the story, please leave feedback for the author. Such weirdshit crossover efforts should be appreciated! :)

Incandescence Arc: [1], [2], [3], by Kat Reitz and Tzigan (or at Kat Reitz, Tzigane, Whizzy, and Perryvic’s site) #
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, novel-length. First Time, Hurt/Comfort, Death. AU as it diverges from the middle of the series. Warnings: Sex, yelling, love, emotional pain and physical pain, warm fuzzy moments, and the realistic decline into a tragic circumstance. Summary: “The candle that burns brightest burns out quickest.”

Deep in the story and liking it a lot, I suddenly decide to look at the headers — do I wish I didn’t! I’m now scared shitless that it will make me bawl. Well, it should be expected that I come across a death!fic even in such a happy fandom as Eroica. What this fic does, it gives you a feeling of impending doom looming over all the bliss (even if it’s a bliss after a really heavy injury). You just can’t help hoping for a miracle but know deep inside that there can’t be one.

I could say that this fic is melodramatic. It is, especially part 3, excessively so, even. But it simply sucks you in, so by the time that you notice that it’s becoming rather heavy on emotion, you are so involved in reading that it simply doesn’t matter. There are small problems scattered all over: light epithitus, small errors and typos, especially of the lie/lay variety. But, once again, I read about 100K words in one sitting. The authors just made me care about the characters that much. But it is a very sad story. Rather like Beautiful World by Cinnamon — HP readers will get what I mean. So, yes, it did make me bawl.

Bottom!Klaus is my bulletproof kink, especially a Klaus that tentatively discovers the joys of bottoming soon after discovering the joys of gay sex, and switching roles is too. Also, I like it when there’s lots of explicit sex. This fic features all of that. Very enjoyable, as for me, although might not be everybody’s cup of tea.

The Iron Mask, by Kadorienne []
Dorian/Klaus, R, ~6K words. Written: 2001. Category: Amnesiac!Klaus. Summary: Take the standard Eroica blackmail plot. Throw in the sharp blow to the head our darling Major has been needing so desperately.

Cliché but fun. It’s the first time I saw amnesia plot in this fandom, and although I admit that there’s nothing unique in how it’s executed here, it was still pleasant to read. The way the Major behaves after losing his memory is very much him and therefore, very amusing.

“Where shall I take you, darling?” The man’s accent was English and aristocratic, quite pleasant to hear.

“Wherever you wish.”

The other man seemed a bit surprised at that. Giving Klaus an inquiring look, he said, “Well, we really ought to get you out of those wet clothes.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he looked as if he regretted them. He sent a quick, apprehensive glance Klaus’ way. When Klaus only nodded mutely, the other man continued, “My flat is closer than the schloss, if that’s all right.”

“Of course.”

Klaus had said something wrong. The confusion in the blond’s face was muted, but it was there. Klaus only hoped he could get his bearings without offending the man. A lovers’ quarrel was all he needed now.

It Cuts Both Ways, by Karen Colohan / Yavanna []
Dorian/Krycek, Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~15K words. Eroica/X-Files crossover. Summary: It takes another man to make Klaus see Dorian in a whole new light.

A PWP, and even with a kink I don’t like (knifeplay), and again I think Klaus surrenders a bit too easily, but it’s hot and enjoyable. Yes, sometimes I like PWPs. I know zero about X-Files, so I went and read character description at Wikipedia. It wasn’t necessary though; you can get the story quite well without.

One thing I disliked was this line: However, he’d nearly got more involved in the action than he’d bargained for when a stray bullet had flown in his direction. Fortunately for Eroica, Z had seen the danger and yelled at him to duck. — just how slowly do they think a bullet flies? It’s not a potted plant thrown by an angry housewife, you know.

Lacunae, Or, Five Klauses That Never Happened to Dorian, by afrai (bravecows) #
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ~5K words. Crossover with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Summary: We’ll see how brave you are.

I don’t know how much the story borrows from Eternal Sunshine ‘cos I haven’t seen it, but the result is beautiful. Klaus erasing his memories for the sake of his work is very Klaus, and he remains true to himself, in everything he does, in everything he says. Dorian is very Dorian too, always believing in love, even inside Klaus’s mind, and ever persistent, even if he doesn’t know what exactly happened with Klaus. Lots of fine nuances in this one, and it’s written very pleasantly.

Lives Lived, by Jeanne Johnson []
PG-13 and R.

Amusing, clever, well-written, witty even, it’s a story of souls reborn. Not quite my thing though because it’s too, I dunno, literature-like. But memorable.

A Matter of Good Will, by Beth Minster []
Dorian/Klaus, R for violence, novella. Summary: A priceless artefact, a theft, and Mardi Gras.

Pleasant and plotty (although not without occasional light epithitus too). One thing I didn’t like was that in the respect of Dorian and Klaus’s relationship, it’s exactly like the manga. Sapienti sat :) Other than that, it has a nice plot with a carnival, disguises, mystery, and native religions. Reads quite well.

Members Only, by Sleeps With Coyotes []
Gen, PG, short. Summary: Klaus tracks a target to a very private gentleman’s club.

Well-written, vivid (the guards at the club!) and amusing, especially the ending. Pity only it’s not Klaus/Dorian :)

My Kingdom for a Horse series, by BT []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, novella. Published in Homosapien 1991. Set during the 1988 Korean Olympics. Summary: The Major hates filthy bars, courier duty, and Eroica. He especially hates when he has to contend with them all at the same time half a world away from his beloved Germany.

Again, what I liked best in this story that it practically begins with sex. There’s no long way to it, no slow and gradual change of Klaus’s views. But somehow it’s believable all the same. Good use of alcohol :) I also liked the NATO interviews and ‘Dr Freud’ — that was very unusual but insightful. Pleasant story, longish too!

Not The End Of The World, by Heather Sparrows []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~16K. Warnings: Angst, Injury, Rape (implied, not graphic). Summary: When Dorian is injured, Klaus must face his demons.

Very angsty. Features bottom!Klaus, a Klaus that realises/acts on his attraction when Dorian is injured, and Dorian that has to come to terms with being unable to act as Eroica anymore. Cliché? Yes, even several of them at once. I liked this story among the best that work with these clichés though.

Not So Horrible, by Anne-Li (or here) #
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, ~15K words. Category: Crossover with Doubting Lucifer, the author’s original story, currently unavailable. Summary: The Major gets some disquieting mission orders.
Has two sequels: Lies and Deception and The Name of the Game
24K and 20K, Summary: The Major learns Eroica has been arrested, but not for stealing. Then things really get out of control.

This story features asexual!virgin!Klaus, for real! Yummity! So I like asexual!Klaus (or bottom!Klaus), Snape, L — I’m disturbing myself :) Well, I do like Horatio and Eroica and Boromir so maybe I’m not hopeless. But I digress. In story one, the Major is given a mission that requires him not to shoot or get microfilms but to get into good graces of a very dangerous criminal mastermind. By getting into his bed. He comes for help to the one expert he knows in this field. Story two is a nice proper mystery. Dorian is imprisoned on a false accusation. Klaus with his Alphabets and the remains of Eroica’s team (minus the traitors that ran away as soon as they smelled trouble) try to find who could frame him. There are several people whose behaviour is suspicious and tables are turned several times. The sequels are very pleasant, even if Lies and Deception has an info dump about the events of story 1 at the beginning. There’s an occasional error here and there but they don’t spoil the reading. I liked the criminal boss OC an awful lot. He’s weird and scary but also funny.

One Morning In January and sequel, White Rose Blooming, by Kadorienne #
Novella.
Dorian/Klaus, Klaus/OCF. #1 Summary: A story about Lieutenant Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach.. #2 Summary: Virgin!Eroica, EmperorOfTheHamburgNights!Klaus. Novella. Rated PG-13 and R. Warnings: Het scene!

Story 1 is a scene from Major Eberbach’s past. The one I really liked was story 2. I was glad to see characters from vol 1 (Caesar) in story 2, although I admit I spent some time trying to remember who he was.

The story is angsty, USTy, and awfully romantic. I quite liked it. But what I liked best was the author’s take on Klaus’s homosexuality. I didn’t have to suspend any disbelief about it. Just think, it’s no mean feat if we are thinking of Iron Klaus. I also liked how Kadorienne pulled off Dorian’s being a virgin (at his age! And Dorian!) Was also believable, as for me. So, this time they go to Peru. Klaus is on his official mission — well, and on an unofficial one, too, and Dorian of course has his own business there. And of course their paths cross. Action begins. There are terrorists, secret orders, kidnappings, rescues. I.e. it’s nicely plotty. Meanwhile outside of his mission(s), Klaus is in the middle of settling down. He’s chosen a nice woman and is going to marry. The frustration soaking all this business is nearly palpable. Dorian’s angst is too.

There was one thing I didn’t like: an info dump in the middle in the form of Dorian’s recollections, recounting the events we all know from the manga. Why would anyone do that? But that’s a minor thing while the story on the whole is very enjoyable. As for me, of course.

Out There, by Kadorienne #
Dorian/Klaus, Scully/OCF, R, ~33K words. Category: Crossover – From Eroica With Love/X-files. Summary: Klaus seeks the truth, and finds a great many things. Note: If you really believe in alien abductions and UFOs, you might want to avoid this.

Very much to my rationalistic tastes. Something inexplicable and very disturbing is happening to Klaus. He takes a leave and goes to America to look for answers. There he meets Spooky Mulder and Scully, about whom I know little but that turned out to be all right ‘cos the story gives you the necessary context. Eroica follows Klaus, as usual. The story is nicely plotty; there are a mystery, aliens, shrinks, special agents, army bases and army secrets, and it all comes to a satisfactory conclusion. Interesting story with well-written characters.

The Perfume of the Gods, by Kat Benedict []
Dorian/Klaus, R, ~28K words. Summary: Eroica has a case of the blues, which can only be solved by a theft that suits his tastes.

A bit FFnet-like and over the top but very entertaining. There’s a plot carried out by some sinister Egyptian group, a super-duper ancient perfume that would make the one who wears it loved by all, encased in sheer emerald, various factions that fight and plot; people are kidnapped, heists are pulled off. In other words, it’s action/adventure. Entertaining and fun to read, even if not light all the way through.

Peripeteia, by Sylvia ##
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~28K words. Category: Uke!Klaus. Summary: Peripeteia: sudden change of fortunes; in drama, the climax and turning point of a tragedy, leading into the catastrophe; also used for other narrative forms.

See the category? How could I not bite? I liked this story a lot, so much so that I went to search what else this author wrote. Nothing in this fandom, regretfully. There were a couple of things I simply loved about it, first of which is characterisation. The author works with the side of Eroica one doesn’t often see in Eroica fanfiction: he’s very selfish and gets carried away by his whims and fantasies, so that he becomes pretty uncaring/delusional in his obsession: he doesn’t understand what’s going on inside Klaus’s head, nor does he care very much ‘cos his own love (and lust) takes precedence for him. This side is present in canon!Eroica. It’s not his only side but fandom usually looks at his more pleasant and gentle character traits more eagerly. Yes, Eroica is lovely but he can be rather scary, not to mention bothersome, and Sylvia does wonders with this part of him. Which leads to somewhat disturbing dub-con when the Earl, overcome with his passions, finally gets his Major at a rather unfortunate moment. I wouldn’t like it if it stopped there. ‘Cos I love Eroica and however egotistic and capricious, he’s not a rapist. But then Klaus comes into the spotlight. What the author makes of him is no less interesting or wonderful. I love the asexual and psychotic canon!Klaus. I like many a fanon version of him. The one in this story, IMO, is a perfect mix. I liked a lot of versions of his sexual identity crisis that I’ve seen in fanfic. I like the variety. But this one was the one that seemed most in character to me. I totally believe that Iron Klaus would deal with it the way he does in this story.

Wonderfully written, interesting, and believable. Damn, I wish Sylvia wrote more Eroica fics.

Revels and Revelations, by BT []
Oct 1996. Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~7000 words. Summary: An undercover Major is invited to a “co-worker’s” family gathering at Christmas time, only to learn it is also the Earl’s family.

Another Christmas story from BT. It’s an established relationship fic, well, background EST anyway. I don’t usually like those but here I couldn’t help imagining it as a sequel to one of the stories above :)

The Major, as a British ministry clerk, comes with his superior to the latter’s family Christmas where he meets his lover of the past year — as it turns out, part of the family. The trademark Major’s suspicious mind begins analysing every talk and gesture for the clues for his mission. It’s very amusing and not a little tense. Also, I like how BT writes sex.

Spring Fever, by Kadorienne #
Dorian/Klaus, R, novella. Written: 2001. Summary: Klaus makes Dorian an offer he can’t refuse.

I love how Kadorienne writes romance: so exciting and comforting, with a nice touch of angst and tension and engaging plots. Perfect to bask in. One thing I wish is that the story were explicit. But I shouldn’t be too greedy.

As iamtheenemy says in their crack_van rec, “This story has a simple premise - Klaus, realizing he will be unable to resist Eroica’s constant flirtation any longer, makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Eroica gets one night with a cooperative Klaus, and in return, must never bother him again. Of course, things don’t go quite as planned, for either man.”

Amusing and lovely, and a bit angsty, to spice the romance. Pleasure!

Strangers, by Colette T. Bolech & KM (available from the Eroicafans.org email archive) []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, novella. Warnings: Character death – before start of story, angst and grief. Summary: Dorian is deeply depressed and gets support from an unlikely source.

The ‘before the start of story’ situation made me really sad. It robs Dorian of his Eroica part, and to see it missing is pretty painful. I don’t quite understand the very premise, why Klaus comes to visit Dorian at all. But if to put that aside, the way the story goes is lovely, even if I don’t quite believe in this Klaus. The story also needs another proof-reading.

Suite of Hours, by CTB (Colette T. Bolech) (available from the Eroicafans.org email archive) []
Dorian/Klaus, NC-17, ~13K words. Summary: Eroica and the Major reflect on their relationship or lack there of. Conclusions are draw. Notes: Published in Concupiscence 3- 1994

The story is slow and rather verbose, as for me. While the characters think of each other, there is a lot of masturbation (rather repetitive) and contemplation but it’s not as boring as I though it would be on reading the unfortunate summary. The stupefied and insecure Major is hot. I like how CTB writes sex: even though it is repetitive (or not very varied), it’s somehow very sincere and intense.

The Three Kisses, or, Love Tank, by Beth Minster ##
Dorian/Klaus, PG-13, novella. Summary: The Major needs Eroica’s services… but can he pay the price? Illustrated by Nico & Kat Benedict!

Well, it’s a story of three kisses. Amusing in the best Eroica style. And absolutely delightful, despite occasional light epithitus. The author spells the Major’s name as Klaus von Eberbach which contradicts the canon that doesn’t itself agree with grammar. Canon or grammar? Well, I’ll take any :)

It’s also my ideal comfort reading and ideal romance. I reread it two times since, and every time I find myself smiling all the way, this is how much I enjoy it.

Too Good To Be True and sequel The Truth Shall Set You Free, by Kadorienne []
Alternate sequel: The Course of True Love.
Dorian/Klaus, Dorian/OMC. Rated R. Summary 1: Just a few scenes from the manga told from a somewhat different angle. Klaus’ point of view. Summary 2: Discovery, disgrace, and redemption. Summary 3 (alternate): Klaus makes a terrible error in judgment, and accepts the consequences.

Too Good To Be True shows us Major Eberbach’s view of the world. It’s pretty bleak as such a view of the world is but amusing because it’s Iron Klaus and very IC, as for me. I liked the alternate sequel better, so I’ll speak of it. IMO, it fits the first story (and manga) very well. Major is exquisitely paranoid. The author takes this character trait of his and develops it to — almost — absurd, which seems very logical and fitting in this case. Major Eberbach sees plots everywhere. More than that, he sees the proof that they are real plots. So he mistrusts Eroica. And mistrusts him. And keeps doing it, until the picture of the world he sees loses its orderliness. Then he feels that maybe it’s a call for a rethink. But that doesn’t mean that Eroica will welcome him with open arms. The second half of the story is awfully romantic, in a nice way, but a bit too much for me. A pleasant story on the whole.

The Waiting Man, by Kat Benedict []
Dorian/Klaus, R, novel-length. Summary: The Major fears the stress of his job is getting to him. And then things get worse.

By all rights, I should have hated this fic. It’s chock full of things I dislike. But I enjoyed it, even while rolling my eyes or moaning “oh noes”. It surely makes for an engaging reading. It begins with two mysteries: one concerning Klaus, the other, investigation he takes a part in. After that, the story undergoes some pretty wild genre leaps: the initial plot gets resolved and it drifts into psychology (childhood trauma and therapy) and some paranormal things. The story keeps developing on the brink of characters being completely OOC, falling into rather boisterous humour or cheesiness and coming back to some middle ground. There should be warnings; I don’t know if they disappeared when the story was republished or weren’t there at all, but here’s what a standard warning would be for: bad things that happened in the past but are talked about in detail in the present, for violence, and for religious topics. Well, and a warning from me for bad German. [I do wonder why people keep using languages in their fics that they don’t know shit about. Ask a native speaker to beta or simply don’t use it. Errors in elementary grammar don’t make the story look good.] One more thing not to my tastes was that IMO, the author isn’t very precise in what concerns secondary character actions. Say, this:

After a few hours of fruitless labor, Klaus called a break. “I don’t think there’s anything down here. Let’s do some more looking upstairs.”

Agent J wiped himself off with his shirt. “Looking for what? We don’t know what the scholars were after, or the Neo-Nazis. For all we know, the Neo-Nazis were digging here only because we were. Maybe they think we know what we’re looking for.” — I had an impression that Klaus didn’t really let the Alphabets discuss his decisions.

However, this fic is very vivid and memorable. There are lots of interesting scenes and funny scenes (Klaus in the sex shop is hilarious, so are the teenagers they keep stumbling across), and it is very engaging and reads smoothly. I don’t regret reading it and think I’ll remember it.

Dorian looked up at Bonham. There were tears in his eyes. “I just had a vision! Klaus is dead! I saw it! He’s dead!”

“‘Ere, ‘ere, what’s all this?” Bonham soothed. “Hit your ‘ead, Your Grace? I think you’ve knocked yourself silly. Now come on, upsy-daisy.” — this exchange made me laugh out loud. It’s so Eroica.

Watching Me Watching You, by Colette T. Bolech & KM (is available by email request) #
Dorian/Klaus, R, novella. Summary: The Major, Eroica, and a blackmail plot.

By now I get it that epithitus is a common illness in this fandom so I probably should quit warning for it. But anyway, it’s present in this story too, and no, it isn’t very distracting in it either. There’s a blackmailer who threatens NATO officers. NATO powers that be assign the Major to play a part of homosexual lovers with Eroica to lure the blackmailer and catch him. Klaus, ever serious about his missions, will go to any lengths to accomplish it. So he begins staging and play-acting with Eroica, as planned. And hates it, of course. But they have to do it for a long time. Somewhere along the way, Klaus’s thoughts about his role change. I liked how gradual and smooth the change was in this story. They have to pretend to be lovers, spending a lot of time together. Then they have to pretend a little less and enjoy their outings a little more. Little by little, step by tiny step, we come to the lack of pretence. There’s plenty of angst but quite a few of lovely scenes too. I liked it.

Come untouched: HP fiction featuring orgasm without direct stimulation

What I take:
- stories where a person comes without his genitalia being touched AT ALL. As in, the person’s body can be touched but NO touching genitalia and NO intercourse.
- come MOSTLY untouched. As in, the person is teased for so long or whatever that they come the second they ARE touched.

Won’t do:
- if a guy is fucked and comes without touching his cock.
- wet dreams won’t do either.
- no WIPs that have only a chapter or two written;
- no drabbles;
- do not bring fics you haven’t read;
- do not bring fics you didn’t like;
- do not bring fics the authors of which show no grammar or spelling skill even if you liked them;
- do me a courtesy, please, do not leave only a link. I’d be really grateful if you tell me (besides the title and author) whether the fic is a WIP or completed, what the pairings and the rating are.

Special marks:

# - liked
## - loved
NR - have not read
new - added in the last month or so

These are NOT my recs; it’s just a themed listing.

Stories are sorted by the character who comes untouched, and further on, in alphabetical order by title:

Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape, other

All Bets are Off, by Allegra #
Harry/Draco, some Harry/others; R; novella. Summary: I am SICK of Good-little-innocent!Harry… Enter Playboy!Harry and his Overinflated Ego, a challenge, a bet, a couple of Really Cunning Plans - and there you have it, “Forty days and forty nights”, Hogwarts style. Mayhem ensues! Warning: judicious use of Emphatic Capital Letters and idiotic one-liners.

Anachronism, by starcrossedkayla
Snape/Harry, NC-17, novel-length. Summary: Upon waking up, Severus finds himself not recovering from Nagini’s bite, but healing after a long-term mysterious illness. Not only must he uncover the mystery of the cause of his affliction, but also deal with his lover, who is the very last person he wanted to ever see again: Harry Potter.

A Bit of All Right, by I Got Tired of Waiting (igtow) NR
Harry/Draco; Harry/Snape; Ron/Hermione; Bill/Fleur; Dumbledore/??. R, novel-length. Part 2 in Hiding Under the Ninth Earth series. Summary: “Hiding Under the Ninth Earth is a continuing story of Severus Snape and Harry Potter–their relationship and life together. It’s about the Muggle Wars. And it’s about how two people, standing firm together, can change history.” In Chapter 32, Snape makes Harry come with a thorough kiss.

Black Box, by Lysrouge
Harry/Snape; R; PWP, ficlet. Summary: Harry in a box.

Candyfloss, by Frances Potter (dragon_charmer) (locked)
Harry/Draco; NC-17, short. Summary: “Harry, a crowded Quidditch Stadium and a Slytherin with a sweet fetish.” Part of the series called Honeyduke’s Luxury Selection.

Chastisement, by nishizono
Snape/Harry/Draco, NC-17, short. Summary: Another PWP detention story featuring an authoritative Severus Snape. It can be read as a non-crack sequel to iDobby, or as a stand-alone one shot.

A Choriambic Progression, by Mairead and Aristide ##
Harry/Snape; NC-17, novel-length. Harry comes untouched a couple of times, once with no touching and once with minimal touching.

Contemporary Magical Innovations by H. Granger, by Kai (kaiz) #
Harry/Snape, PG-13, novella. Summary: “The difference between History and What Really Happened.” Severus makes Harry come using only his voice.

Headonist, by ElectricAndroid
Snape/Harry; NC-17, short. Eyeliner, silk knickers, and Veritaserum.

His Master’s Voice, by Eriador117
Harry/Snape; NC-17; short. Summary: “Harry loves his Master’s voice …. sequel to Games Without Frontiers.” Warnings: blindfolds and light bondage, teacher/student.

La Vita Nova, by Titti
Harry/Snape; NC-17, novella. Part of the HP/SS Fuh-Q Fest. Harry comes untouched during his first time with Snape.

A Little Self-Control, by Nox Pumilum
Snape/Harry; NC-17, chaptered PWP. Summary: “Severus says that Harry has no self-control. Harry, of course, disagrees. They make a wager of sorts…” Warnings: Bondage, cross-dressing, use of sex toys, Harry is still in school.

Maui Wowie, by odogoddess
Harry/Snape, NC-17, short. Summary: post-series. Whilst on vacation, Severus and Harry try a few new things out…

Minute Man, by Reena (reenka)
Harry/Draco; NC-17, short. Malfoy makes a very special show that makes Harry come in his pants.

Mistakes and Menages, by Diana Williams
Snape/Remus, Snape/Remus/Harry; NC-17. Story 5 in Lacy Things Series. Harry comes untouched watching Snape, though it’s not the main part.

Quill and Ink, by Cybele (cybele_san) #
Snape/Harry; NC-17. Sequel to Something to Write On. Harry faces the consequences of dreaming about Snape’s quill. He comes because of magic (and a quill) thanks to Snape’s intervention.

A Ride Revisited, by Magdelena NR (reqiures registration)
Harry/Snape; NC-17. Summary: Years later, Severus reminds Harry about an earlier ‘ride’ on the Knight Bus. Sequel to A Ride to Remember.

Scratch, by AuctaSinistra (or here) ##
Harry/Snape; NC-17, novel-length. Warning: underage. Harry comes from Snape’s mere touch.
Sequels: The Holly and the Ivy and This Thing of Darkness (also at ISF and WTP)

A Six Horse Problem, by Eriador117 (or here) NR
Snape/Harry, NC-17, novel-length. Non-magic AU based on Equus. Psychiatrist Severus Snape has his toughest case to date. Warnings: Violence, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Non-con (rape), Self harm, OOC-ness, Under 18, Contains Het Sex. Harry comes untouched while under a light trance.

Shattered Souls, by Eriador117
Harry/Snape; NC-17, novel-length. Summary: “Snape and Harry have more in common than they would like to think. When they are forced to be married and bonded in order to keep Harry safe from the Dursleys, will Snape be able to help Harry come to terms with his demons without falling under the spell of his own?” / Warnings: Rape, torture, child abuse, non-con situations, eating disorder, suicidal mentions, depression, post traumatic stress, and lots of angst. There’s a scene where due to the bond they share, Snape mind talks to Harry to orgasm during a potions class with no touching anywhere.
Sequel: Shattered Hearts. There is also a scene in the sequel, Shattered Hearts, where they are both viewing a love scene in a pensieve and Harry comes without being touched.

The Tides That Bind, by Nienna Ciryatan and Tigerlily NR
Harry/Snape; NC-17 (?), long. Summary: Harry needs Professor Snape’s protection. The onlyway Severus can protect him completely is if they’re bonded in marriage. Well, that’s what Albus Dumbledore claims. In Ch. 8 Snape talks Harry to climax without touching him.

Tiger & Dragon, by loverstouch NR
Harry/Draco; R, long, WIP?. Summary: In the summer after his fifth year Harry is taken from the Dursley to live with the Malfoys. The next day the Daily Prophet’s headline read ‘Boy who lived died in Death Eater attack’.

The Tongues of Men and Angels, by makesmewannadie (requires password)
Snape/Harry; NC-17; PWP, short. Harry makes a request: “I want you to fuck me with your voice.” Snape sees to it.

Yes, Professor, by Seeker (brenantrim) #
Harry/Snape; NC-17, short. Summary: “Hermione returns from holiday and Harry gets an idea.”

Draco Malfoy

Commencement, by Aja #
Harry/Draco; NC-17, short. Summary: “On the eve of graduation at Hogwarts, a drunken encounter leads to run-ins with Filch, unexpected bonding, and, perhaps, much more…”

Corruptela Vox, by Constant Vigilance
Harry/Draco; NC-17, one-shot. Parselsmut. Summary: Draco’s kink is revealed. Pretty much a PWP.

Language of Love, by Beren (beren_writes)
Harry/Draco; R; PWP, short. Summary: Harry and Draco try a little experiment with Parseltongue.

Matinee, by LadyVader
Harry/Draco; NC-17, one-shot. Summary: This is why you don’t let people film you when you’re drunk… or do you?

Momenti Diversi, by zarah5 (link to ch.5; previous parts are linked from there) #
Harry/Draco; NC-17, chaptered novella. Summary: In which you’ll find the Italian sun, some sexual tension, a reluctant Harry and a persuasive Draco. (Post-Hogwarts, aftermath of war.)

Narcissus and Echo, by themostepotente
Harry/Draco; NC-17, short. Summary: “Harry has ways of making Draco come without touching him.”

Obscene Obsession, by Jitterbug
Harry/Draco, NC-17, short. Summary: “Draco is in denial and has an oral fixation.”

Ouroboros by Dana (shaggirl) #
Harry/Draco; discontinued WIP; R. Summary: Harry and Draco need each other after the war, for punishing sex and other things. In Part 2, Draco comes untouched, but it’s just a minor detail there.

S is for Sibilant, by MoonflowerRose
Harry/Draco; NC-17, short. Summary: “Draco finds out something rather annoying about himself, and something rather interesting about Potter. Dirty talk parseltongue for Elle.”

Three Gryffindors and a Slytherin, by Beren (beren_writes)
Sirius/Harry/Remus, Draco/Remus; NC-17, short. Summary: It was only supposed to be a small party to celebrate the Ministry finally sorting themselves out and officially declaring Sirius innocent, really it was.

to go wherever dreaming goes: part 1, href="http://nothingbutfic.livejournal.com/150579.html">part 2, part 3, by abaddon (nothingbutfic) ##
Harry/Draco; NC-17, novella. Summary: There is also love in the world.

Severus Snape

Toward the Future, by Titti
Draco/Harry, Snape/BW; NC-17 . Sequel to Our Summer at Hogwarts.
Harry and Draco’s last year at Hogwarts. Snape and Bill are there to help them fight Voldemort. Slytherins help Harry’s training. Features Severus coming from the pleasure a bond created to counter the Dark Mark.

Velvet Tongue, by Phantom
Snape/Sirius; NC-17; PWP, short. Dungeons, two enemies chained to the wall, and shackles charmed to release their captives at the moment of orgasm.

Other

Seamus Finnegan

Handjob, by Lysrouge
Seamus Finnegan/Terry Boot; R; PWP, short. Summary: Terry brings Seamus breakfast in bed.

Remus Lupin

M is for Melolagnia, or Music Be the Food of Love and Q is for Quatiosis, or Shake Your Bon-Bon, Ma Belle-Belle, by Anj (rosesanguina)
Parts of the The Lusty Alphabet of May in lj comm pervy_werewolf. 1) Remus/Luna. R. Day #18. 2) Remus/Fleur; R. Day #22.

The MoonyBelly, by franticbabbles
Remus/Sirius, R, short. Quote: “There were certain things Sirius Black had learned his Seventh Year at Hogwarts, things that would stand him in good stead for the rest of his life. […] And he learned how to make Remus Lupin have an orgasm without going anywhere near his cock.”

Sirius Black

Found Wanting, by anise_anise #
Harry/Sirius; NC-17, short. Sirius comes untouched while giving Harry a blowjob.

Many thanks to all people who take part in the search!

Know other good stories that would qualify? Please, share!

If you want to see what yaoi manga I liked, look here.

Manga are sorted by title

Ai no Kusabi (1992-1994) #
Status: 2 ep x 60min
Genres: Drama Psychological Romance Sci-fi Tragedy Yaoi
Rating: R, mature
Based on this book by Yoshihara Rieko. Read about the book here.
Found: I’ve heard about the book and anime a lot but my watching/reading list is so long and there are so many things I want to try on it that this one always got pushed down. Until ura_hd recced it just a few days back. I went to check it and got lost in it :)
Summary: The story is set in the future on the planet named Amoi which is controlled by a supercomputer named Jupiter. Among the mostly male human population, the light-haired elite class is allowed to temporarily keep the dark-haired “mongrels” as pets. One elite member, Iason, encounters a mongrel named Riki in the slums and decides to take him in. However, Iason keeps Riki longer than it is socially approved, and rumors abound about their possible relationship.
Watch at Youtube or download at Aarinfantasy site, since they are the subbers.
Read more reviews here.
A new version is being made and is scheduled to be released spring 2010.

My notes: This one is really good! I wasn’t sure how much it was going to impress me while I was watching it, meaning: really good and I liked it quite a bit but it wasn’t quite love. A day passed. Then two. And I’m thinking and thinking and thinking about this story, watching and watching and watching some scenes in my head, and I find myself wanting to watch it again. So it couldn’t possibly be anything but love, especially for the last Riki/Iason scene, which, as for me, is near perfect.

If you are a scaredy cat (I am!), mind the genres. But also consider this: I try to avoid unhappy stories. But there’s something in this one, so poignant and beautiful, that it’s truly comforting and pacifying.

I loved the story. It must be really well-told — and I think it is! — for a Sci-Fi anything to overcome my aversion to the genre. And it’s always a plus for me when there’s love where it shouldn’t have been. In this case, in Iason. He is a super-human, one of the artificially created race that are, on average, much stronger and bigger than “natural” humans (which, come to think of it, is a decent background for seme/uke size cliché). They are also devoid of human feelings and urges. They need neither relationships nor sex and keep pets for their own amusement, to watch them. Except that an enslaved Riki is like a captured flame, and fighting to submit him, Iason somehow falls for him, in his strange way.

Riki is suffocating in captivity. But when he comes back to his gang of the pre-Iason’s years, things can’t return to what they once were. It’s a train wreck. You watch how a small conflict grows before your eyes, sucking in more and more people. You know it can’t end well. But it’s impossible to look away because by the time it reaches the point of no return, you are too invested in the characters, their friendships and animosities, their highly complex relationships.

I loved the art, too. At first I thought it was dated (and it reminded me of Akira somehow) but now I better say it’s a bit old-fashioned. Yes, you can see that it’s not an anime from this year but the art is nice, as for me. Especially Riki. I loved how he was drawn, when he’s brooding in particular.

As a conclusion, highly recommended!

*and no, I don’t want fanfiction. It’s a rare case when I think the story is perfect as it is.

MANGA: Antique Bakery (Seiyou Kottou Yougashiten) (2000) #
Mangaka: Yoshinaga Fumi
Genre: Comedy Josei Shounen Ai Slice of Life
Scanlated by: 7:11AM, Beautiful Soup
Status: 4 Volumes (Complete), licensed
Found: recced to me by klynie1 here
Summary: From DMP: A high school crush, a world-class pastry chef, a former middle-weight boxing champion…and a whole lot of cake!
Ono has come a long way since the agonizing day in high school when he confessed his love to handsome Tachibana. Now, some 14 years later Ono, a world-class pastry chef and gay playboy has it all. No man can resist Ono’s charms (or his cooking skills!) but he has just found a new position under a man named Tachibana. Can this be the only man who resisted his charms, and if so, will the man who once snubbed the “magically gay” Ono get his just desserts? And how in the heck did a former middleweight boxing champion wind up as Ono’s cake boy? The series won the 2002 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo.
You can also read the manga online here.

ANIME: Antique Bakery []
Directed by Yoshiaki Okumura
Status: Complete, 12 episodes, 30 minutes each
Summary: Antique Bakery is a small bakery that’s run by four handsome men. Tachibana, the owner. Chikage, who was send by Tachibana’s family to watch over his childhood friend. Ono, the “demonically charming” gay master pastry chef. And Kanda, a former boxer and Ono’s apprentice.
DL: all episodes can be found in this post by neko_myka. Episodes 4 and 5 are a bit broken (you can watch about 70% but then it freezes). You can find all the episodes (not broken) at GalAnime.
More about this mangaka can be found in fumi_yoshinaga lj comm. DJs can be found here.

My notes: MANGA this is a VERY DANGEROUS MANGA! It will make you want to eat all sorts of cakes and desserts right away; it can make you go out in search of them! Don’t read it if you are hungry ‘cos you will drool. Also be careful if you tend to put on weight easily or are a suggestible reader. It’s guaranteed to make you pack on a couple more kilos. Even I went and ate a bar of chocolate which happens, like, never. I don’t eat desserts unless they are fruity ‘cos I don’t like sweet things, I only like fruit. But I’m afraid that I’ll be dreaming of cakes tonight.

Also, this manga is a soap. At first, it seems as if it consisted of separate episodes, united only by location and the cast of characters, i.e. Tachibana and his pastry shop. But Yoshinaga Fumi is a bit slier as a storyteller, so past and current events take turn and connect into a bigger picture, with a detective/mystery subplot in the background. The story still remains a soap in and of itself. Which I usually dislike, even strongly, but really enjoyed here. If you look at the genre line above, you’ll see it defined as Shounen Ai but I wouldn’t really call it this. The manga isn’t focused on the love of a gay couple nor does it feature any sex.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this mangaka’s style is an acquired taste. At first it looks almost ugly (what’s with their drill-like eyes and rather peculiar faces); it’s for sure different. So let yourself get used to it ‘cos Yoshinaga Fumi tells an entertaining story. Although she, too, suffers from the terrible yaoi drawing illness called same-face-itus. It takes some effort to learn to tell characters one from another.

I liked all the four main characters. Each of them is lovely and interesting in his own way, especially Tachibana, the owner of the shop who doesn’t like sweets (he has his reasons!) and doesn’t understand anything in cakes. He is really just a big softie behind his grumpy appearance :) But I liked Chikage best. He appears in vol. 2 and is hilarious. He’s slow on the uptake (not to call him a simpleton) and extremely clumsy (think Tonks!); he’s very tall but always forgets it and bangs his head on the door frame. And he’s naive and sweet like a puppy.

Ch 5 vol 1 features one of the most amusing makeovers I’ve seen. The gags at the beginning are also amusing. The shop owner observes a new customer, then makes a detailed description of their life and habits a la Sherlock Holmes. Too bad for him he’s no Sherlock at all. I think vol. 2 is more interesting (and funnier) than vol 1. And on the whole, this is the sort of story that grows on you. By vol. 3 I liked it, and had to read vol. 4 alternately looking at the raws and the file with translation because I wanted to read it no matter what. There are some SPAG errors in the scans but not so many as to make reading unpleasant. Very enjoyable, as for me.

ANIME Now I’ve watched the anime and want to rec it too.

As usual, I didn’t like it at first :D One thing I did like was that it was done in an interesting way, combining real backgrounds with animation. What I didn’t like was that the characters resembled those of the manga only somewhat, in profile more than full-face. I lol at myself ‘cos I remember how I hated Yoshinaga Fumi’s character faces at first and now look how attached to them I have become! But come to think of it, this is the first time I came across an anime where I found the difference in drawing from the manga source visibly noticeable. Ono looks the most like himself, as for me, and Tachibana the least. And Chikage is Chikage whatever you do with him :P

I don’t know how well this anime works if one watches it with ‘fresh’ eyes, meaning if somebody who hasn’t read the manga watches it. So if you are one of those and you give it a go, please share your impressions with me. It seems to me that in comparison to the manga, the anime brings forth the comical side and the detective subplot while losing some fine nuances of characterisation. But maybe I found the detective subplot clearer here ‘cos I had to read vol. 4 of the manga alternately looking at raws and reading the translation in an MSWord file :) On the whole though, I think the anime is pretty adequate to the manga. I enjoyed it, especially, yes, Chikage whom I loved as much here. He’s so awwsome. All things considered, watching this anime was a pleasant experience. It’s neither too plotty and dramatic nor too light and comical but has elements of it all. Neither too long nor too short so it works well as a light-ish distraction for a couple of evenings. Lovely!

Bleach (since 2001) ##
Artist: Kubo Tite
Scanlated by: lots and lots, see the list at the link to MU above
Status: 39 Volumes (ongoing, actually, it’s more like 40-something if to count the released chapters rather than tankoubons), scanlation ongoing (caught up with the manga), licensed
Genre: Action Adventure Comedy Drama Shounen Supernatural
Found: saw it talked about all over my flist. In the end, made a deal with Furiosity: she reads Eroica (see below) if I read Bleach :)
Summary: Kurosaki Ichigo has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability doesn’t change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Kuchiki Rukia, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can save his family; but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits and, along with Rukia–who is slowly regaining her powers–it’s Ichigo’s job to protect the innocent from Hollows and help the spirits themselves find peace.
Sources: Bleach wiki: nice, big, detailed, but beware spoilers. Anime episode guide (click links to seasons to get to summaries). bleach_news lj newsletter, several Bleach ship manifestos, Bleach recs at try_this_fic, my Bleach recs.
DL: on your own please. But it’s all over the net (Bleach comms, mangatraders, free_manga, etc, etc). I might upload it for a day or two later for those who will get seduced with my rec.
*I dislike early covers so no Ichigo covers here.
For more covers, see this rec on LJ.

My notes: reading this manga/watching the anime is as suspenseful and full of unexpected as watching a cow ruminate. But I enjoyed it, very vocally even: squee’d and shrieked and squee’d some more, reading/watching it in huge chunks, literally not able to put it away.

What I mean is: at first, it looks like a computer game. You get a character who has decent starting characteristics: strong, steadfast, loyal. He encounters an enemy. The enemy thrashes him. He tries and tries and somehow overcomes the enemy. He becomes stronger. He meets a new enemy. The enemy is stronger. The enemy thrashes him. He tries and tries and somehow overcomes the enemy. He becomes stronger. He meets a new enemy. It’s scary and strong. It thrashes our hero. Lather, rinse, repeat, many, many times. Actually, as long as the manga/anime goes on. Our hero will get a few friends (in the terms of computer games, say he got a few helpers and now travels with a team). The process will be repeated with all of them. And also like in a computer game, the enemies that seemed scary and super strong at the beginning? There will be much scarier ones later.

Once you figure out the pattern of a fight and acceptable variations, and that will happen by the fifth or tenth fight in the manga, there will be few surprises for you anymore, at least in one-on-one battles. This is what I meant in the first line of this rec. But I still give it two stars. Would even give three if two weren’t my highest rating. Why? Read on.

So, the first conclusion: you’ve seen one battle, you’ve seen them all. But here’s what looks like a paradox at the first glance but in reality isn’t. The battles are quite probably the most enjoyable part of the manga. You welcome them. You cheer on your favourites. You savour them. I imagine not unlike Homer’s listeners enjoyed and savoured the battles and one-on-one fights in the Iliad. Not unlike people of the Middle Ages savoured the highly repetitive and rhetorical descriptions of the battles of King Arthur’s knights. So yes, this is what shounen manga, Bleach not the least among them, remind me of.

At first, explanations of what’s going on and how and why one of them will defeat the other, delivered by various characters, seem annoying. But then you clue in to the genre and they become enjoyable. I especially loved them during “the battle of mad scientists” (you’ll get what I mean when you get to it). All warriors deserve some story space to explain and properly show themselves, be they protagonists or antagonists, and as long as they are warriors, they aren’t completely “bad guys”: they are also given page room to express and explain themselves, and they often have their own truth. Kubo Tite gives the total majority of characters their own character moments; while I found it bewildering or slowing down the pacing at first, I learned to treasure it later.

And this, following in the steps of the old, rhetorical, pre-Romanticism epics, is one of the things (I’ll name the second one later) that make you love the manga the more the longer you stay with it. I began with [], went through # and now love LOVE LOVE it, ##. When I started reading the manga, I was bewildered why Furiosity squealed so much with every new chapter released. I thought, “Well, sure it’s entertaining enough but what’s so special in here to cause such a loud emotional reaction? Huh.” Somewhere by vol. 20 I began sort of getting it, like, “Yay, go Ichigo, kick this baddy’s arse! Yay, he did it!” But I still thought the manga was hardly beyond shounen cliché, so while for sure a well-crafted thing, it was nothing outstanding to warrant so much praise generously given to it by its fans. But now, after about 40 volumes and 200-something episodes of the anime, now I understand it fully. Well, yes, it’s a typical shounen. But it’s totally worth the praise.

Of course Kubo Tite didn’t invent any of those general features. What he did though was making the whole of his manga damn appealing, not least of all because of the second thing that makes you love this universe the better the longer you stay with it: the characters. The cast is huge, lots of characters are quite awesome, and seeing how almost all of them have character moments, every reader can pick at least a few characters to fall in love with. Not to mention that with the exception of the first volume or two (while Kubo was, possibly, finding his style), they are drawn in a way to make you want to lick them. Well, at least admire them :) As the story develops, we meet new characters and the old ones are given tantalising glimpses of biography that shift your initial opinion of them (usually towards understanding and sympathy).

I adore many, many Bleach characters. I won’t type long ruminations on them, limiting myself with just brief intros and a few screencaps since my task here is to seduce you, not to analyse things. Let the fact that I can type all their names without looking them up be a testament of my love :) So here are my favourites, in descending order; if you want to see pictures of them, see this rec on LJ.

1) Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo, as for me, is an ideal shounen manga protagonist. He’s really really awesome. It’s a typical trait of a shounen protagonist but somehow it looks especially charming and appealing in Ichigo: never giving up and always striving to become stronger, for the sake of protecting his friends. Nothing new, right? Right, however Ichigo beaten but still standing is too awesome for words. He’s such a sweety… a mouthy sweety but still :) Anyway, just believe me: Ichigo is awesome beyond belief.

2) Zaraki Kenpachi, the 11th Squad captain, the strongest swordsman of Gotei 13. As for me, first and foremost, the man is ultimately honest. He’s a one-track pony: he’s interested in one thing only, namely fighting, and never hides the fact. He might look like a stupid brawn-no-brain at the first glance but in fact, he’s pretty sharp. Look at his fight with Tousen, for instance. One thing he doesn’t have is the sense of direction, which his fantastic brat of a lieutenant Yachiru (whom I adore — but who doesn’t?) doesn’t have either. So the scenes where they chase Ichigo through Seireitei are among my most favourite of all :) A bit of trivia: I share a birthday with him! Yay :)

3) Kuchiki Byakuya, the 6th Squad captain, the head of one of the four noble houses. Byakuya is cooler than cool, in all senses. Beautiful, not to say pretty, and scary, the master of the most beautiful and awesome Bankai too, as for me. When I hear “Scatter, Senbonzakura”, I make an embarrassing girly squeak of adoration :)

4) Abarai Renji, Byakuya’s lieutenant. His tattoos make me drool. For real. I love his biography, his tenacity, and his boisterous personality. In the 50-60s episodes of the anime, Renji, Kenpachi, and Byakuya look good enough to eat.

5) Ichimaru Gin, the 3d Squad captain, my favourite villain. From the first moment I saw him wave from behind the closing gate, I was intrigued: strong, psychotic, with ever closed/slitted eyes and smiling face. When he showed that tiny bit of humanity giving the dying Matsumoto some dried persimmons, I fell in love completely. One thing remains unclear for me. Wiki says: “In the anime, Gin speaks with a distinct Kyoto dialect, which is polite but indirect. His English dubbed voice is also formal and polite, but with a rather mocking and facetious undertone.” In the subbed speech, he sounds almost like Hagrid though, always making me think he’s formerly a low class Rukongai street rat. I wonder what impression, biography-wise, his speech makes in Japanese.

6) Urahara Kisuke. Urahara is ♥ When we first met him, I thought he was creepy, which I’m sure was the author’s intention. I started liking him by the middle of the manga but all I can say after the “Turn back the Pendulum” arc is, OMG, hat-and-clogs man, you are so, so fantastic! Also, I love his name. Kisuke sounds lovely for Russian ears.

7) Hitsugaya Toushirou, the boy captain of the 10th Squad. Aww, be my teddy bear, will you? He’s so adorably serious and smart, especially in comparison to his flaky lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku, that I want to hug and tickle him. I think they make a terrific pair with Matsumoto, both serious/working and comical. When he answers Ichigo’s “Toushirou!” with “It’s Hitsugaya-taichou to you!”, I clap hands. Kubo’s captain charts show Hitsugaya to be stronger than Gin (and in general to be in the stronger half of the captains), and that makes me squee.

8) Ishida Uryuu. He reminds me of Touya Akira of Hikaru no Go as in, he has a stick up his arse the size of the tallest tower of Seireitei, he tries to maintain cool and propriety in all situations but at the same time, he has a temper which Ichigo drags out of him with ease, and he’s a sewing dork :) He looks good, too, especially in his white Quincy outfit :)

9) Sado Yasutora aka Chad. Sado was my favourite supporting character early on in the manga. Not that I began liking him less later; it’s just that more awesome characters got introduced for me to fall in love with. Sado is totally my kind of guy: big, strong, and quiet.

10) Ukitake Juushirou, the 13th Squad captain, and his hairy and lazy husband Kyouraku Shunsui, the 8th Squad captain. What? I’m sure they are long-term partners, despite all Kyouraku’s flirting with his lieutenant. They are among the four oldest Gotei 13 captains, have been in these positions for ages. Ukitake is probably the kindest and most compassionate of the Shinigami. Kyouraku’s flamboyance and laid-back attitude hide a sharp mind and lots of strength. They shine separately but together they shine even stronger.

I also like Shihouin Yoruichi, Kira Izuru, Hisagi Shuuhei, Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika, Unohana Retsu, Yamada Hanatarou, Hirako Shinji, Komamura Sajin; from the Arrancar, I like Grimmjow. I have a complex love/hate relationship with both female leads, Kuchiki Rukia and Inoue Orihime. I hate them when they have to play the part of damsel in distress cum wet blanket for a while, although both are pretty cool in other situations.

Zanpakutou (Soul Cutters, Shinigami swords) are nearly separate characters. Well, Ichigo’s one is, and he’s Snape. He really really is Snape, no? :) See here. My favourite Shikai is of course Byakuya’s because of its terrific beauty and killing potential. Second place is Kira’s. I find the idea super cool. The very release incantations for many a Shikai/Bankai became a thing of beauty for me as I read more and more of the manga. “Scatter, Senbonzakura,” “Howl, Zabimaru,” “Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru,” “Raise your head, Wabisuke” — every time I hear those, I squeal a bit inside.

Back to what I said at the beginning, this manga can be potentially endless, which the insertion of the Bount arc in the middle of the anime proves, and I would really love for it to last another ten years. In the manga, my favourite one is Turn back the Pendulum arc. I love it to bits and pieces. I hope there are more chapters from it in the near future ‘cos I’m burning to know more about the past of nearly every main Shinigami character.

Drawing: The first volume (or several) are, to be frank, pretty meh. Seeing how the story doesn’t really pick up much until the beginning of the Soul Society arc either, they are rather a chore to read. Well, at least it was so for me. But please believe me, the further you go on, the better the drawing becomes. In the second half of the manga, it’s simply fantastic and drool-worthy, in my opinion.

Anime: Animation is neither too good nor too bad, as for me. In other words, quite all right. My particular favourites drawing-wise are about eps 50-60. I like how they follow the manga story line, and — don’t throw stones at me — I like filler arcs. Not separate filler eps, especially not the earlier ones, but I do like the Bount arc and the New Captain arc. But what I absolutely love in the anime are extras that are shown after the end credits, Shinigami Illustrated Book in particular. Of course not all the episodes are equally witty but a dozen are absolutely hilarious, say, Kenpachi and his bells, Komamura and hair brush, Ukitake giving sweets to Hitsugaya, eps about how the Shinigami Women’s Association spent all their money and now are taking candid photos of hot male Shinigami to sell in 160s, also ep. 142 Shingami Zukan, Golden Kenpachi/Byakuya is awww and lol In general, I think small comic relief details in the anime are quite good, for example, Sado’s interactions with Nova or “Kurosaki brothers” when Renji appears in the Mod Soul arc.

Random notes

- Soul Society is a pretty ruthless world. It often asks for lots and lots of its faithful Shinigami. Just see, for example, the Maggot Pit in Turn back the Pendulum arc. Or almost any of Yamamoto’s Seireitei-wide decisions actually. Or the life at the outskirts of Rukongai.

- Kubo loves boobs. Inoue, Matsumoto, Neliel, some other female characters give a lot for a male teen to drool over. OTOH, female readers have lots to drool over too, I testify for it :) Kubo also has a foot fetish, and OMG I love him for it :) Sandal-clad Shinigami feet, aww, I need them iconified :)

- When I was still in the middle of the Soul Society arc, I was convinced that Aizen must turn out to be a baddy ‘cos he was too congenial and kindly and that Gin must be secretly a good guy ‘cos nobody as sinister as him could be a villain. We’ll see in the end if I was half-wrong or not :)

- Favourite pairings:
from the major slash ones, I quite like Ichigo/Ishida, Ichigo/Renji, and Byakuya/Renji. But this is yet another fandom where I like rarer pairings better, such as:
Kenpachi/nearly damn anyone, het included
Ichigo/Byakuya, Ichigo/Hitsugaya, Ichigo/any of the males listed above among my favourite characters
Gin/Kira, Gin/Hitsugaya (want!), Gin/anybody but Aizen, and not too non-con-ish
Ukitake or Kyuraku with any male except each other
Ikkaku or Yumichika with any male except each other

- Still amazed that the fandom is so poor. Rants here.

It seems I’ve run out of steam at last :) To wrap it up, try it. Read it or watch it! I’ve spent nearly half a year with Bleach and I’m positive I’ll be coming back to it again and again, as more episodes of the anime or chapters of the manga are released, as soon as there’s a big enough batch collected for me to get lost for a day or two :)

Chi’s Sweet Home (2008) ##
Status: 104 ep x 3 min. Sequel: Chi’s New Address
Genre: comedy, slice of life. Themes: cats, family
Director: Mitsuyuki Masuhara
Original creator: Kanata Konami. More info here (series is ongoing)
Found: I first heard about the original comic from Parlophone a while ago. Then I kept coming across Chi this and Chi that. And finally I decided to try it.
Summary: After being accidentally separated from her mother and siblings, a kitten is taken in by a human family. Although pets are forbidden in their apartment complex, they become attached to the kitten they have named “Chi” and decide to keep her, hoping they will be able to keep her a secret from the landlady and the other residents. At first, Chi only wants to return to her mother, but the love and companionship of her new family soon erases these thoughts from her mind. Chi’s family - A gentle mother, a kind father, and a playful little boy - has never owned a cat before. This presents some problems, but it also fills every day with new discoveries and joys, and they come to think of Chi as an important member of their happy little family. And although some of the things her family does occasionally confuse or annoy Chi, she comes to really enjoy her happy and fun life with them in her new Sweet Home.
Download: in usual anime-sharing places: torrents, lj comms, etc. It’s popular, so it’s everywhere, including YouTube.

My notes: in short? OMGSQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! MEOWSQUEEEEEOMG!!!!!! Which means a) RUN DON’T WALK! And b) *DEAD OF CUTE AND FUNNY OVERLOAD*

In other words, this is the most adorable thing I’ve seen ever! The cutest, loveliest, funniest anime ever, and at the same time neither saccharine nor silly. It’s a tale of a kittie in a sort of ideal family. What makes it so funny and refreshing is a counterpoint of POVs. We see things from Chi’s point of view but also from the family members’. Litter box training? Hilarious. Chi hating Dad for the visit to the vet? Hilarious and lovely. A hundred of short scenes from a kitten’s life, awww. Guys, really, it’s fantastic! If you like cats at all, go watch it! And if you are a cat lover, it’s a must-see.

Have a look at ep. 1 at YouTube. It will take you three minutes but you’ll know if you want to see more.

Death Note []
Author: Ohba Tsugumi/Asami Yuuko. Artist: Obata Takeshi
Scanlated by: Aku Tenshi, Binktopia, Ice-Master Scanlations, KEFI, OrangeTangerine, Shannaro, The Ones Who Never Lie, Toriyama’s World, We, The Fans, mD-xD, pedobears, gto0o
Status: (12 Volumes + Volume 13: How to Read - Complete), licensed
Genre: Adventure Mystery Psychological Shounen Supernatural
Found: via Amanuensis; bought 10 vols in a tiny shop in Haarlem, Netherlands, and the rest in Antwerp
Summary: Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal…or his life?
Read here

My notes: This is a story of love that could have been but wasn’t. When I first opened this manga, I didn’t believe I would like it. I didn’t like the drawing. I thought it was very professional but adhering to the tastes of late-teen majority and not to my tastes in general. But since I’d bought all the volumes, I decided to give it a go. And it blew me away. Totally and completely.

It’s possibly the plottiest thing I’ve read. I don’t like playing chess (although I did when I was a child), but I’d compare it to chess, only lightning-fast. The two young geniuses play various, highly complex combinations that change and turn like a kaleidoscope, fluidly shifting and dragging you with them. It’s a manga impossible to put away. You keep OMGing and WHOAing. I felt torn between the desire to gobble it up as fast as possible and stretch the pleasure. So for the first half of the manga, the way to work and home became my favourite part of the day ‘cos I decided to read it only on the train. Yep, it wasn’t the wisest decision ‘cos yep, I missed my stop.

But then it went sour, for me. You see, I’m a fan of a finite narrative structure, so to say: beginning-development-climax-end. There’s another one, that of a soap or ongoing TV series. Say, like this: there’s a big family with complicated relationships. Mary and John are in love but fighting, and Suzy left for a long trip (’cos the actress is busy in another project, but that’s off topic), and CC is in coma (because the actor’s contract hasn’t been renewed, but that’s also OT), and Mary and John keep fighting but that’s becoming boring, so the creators need ‘new blood’. So - bang! - a long-lost sister comes, who turns out to have been living in captivity, seized at a tender age by a really bad twin brother of CC who had left home to join a gang when he had been a teenager. In other words, add a new villain. Add another hero … deinde centum, dein mille altera, dein secunda centum.

Let an old villain train/pass his powers to/clone/whatever a new one; let the hero find a companion/pass his sword/blaster/fatherly advice/whatever to the new one; let a lost relative/friend/love appear. Then do it again. This way, your story becomes potentially endless. This way, your plot gemmates. You can end it at any stage of gemmating or let it linger depending on the popularity of your product. It’s not inherently good or bad. It’s just another structure. But I hate it. It rubs me against the fur.

This is why, when DN changed the type of story in the middle, I nearly stopped reading. Not because of [spoiler, see below] in vol. 7 but because I felt that it started looking as if the writer introduced more new characters because s/he didn’t quite know what to do with the old ones and the admittedly elaborate plots s/he entangled them in.

Now for the real spoilers, highlight to read:

I can’t say the killing of L made me terribly sad. But it did make the manga lose any sort of personal touch that it had had — which hadn’t been many, as for me. ‘Cos both L and Light are rather sociophobic/sociopatic to begin with, and their relationships with the people around are nothing but utilitarian. This is, on the whole, a manga where it’s very hard to identify with the characters: they are either, let’s put it mildly, not very humane and treat people as things (massmurderer Light, reclusive and ruthless L, a young criminal Mello or a hyper-infantile Near — who turns out the most humane of them; a psyho actress Miso or robotic Takada and Mikami) or are boring or not very bright (Soichiro Yagami who’s a good man but old and boring; Matsuda who’s stupid — but he’s my favourite character in this manga. On a tangent, don’t Matsuda and Ide make a good couple?). So removing one character from the pair of opposites the readers got to like best by vol. 7 and introducing two new ones who require a couple more volumes to get used to, as for me, was a serious mistake, not to mention that it broke the pacing. Also, one Kira vs one detective genius was ok. Two Kira, since the second one appears very soon, vs one L were fine. But as soon as L is killed off, I couldn’t see the rest as anything but arbitrary. If there can be M and N, why not P and O? Or L1/2? Well, ok, the author managed to pull out of this hole by making Near deliver the explanation of why N+M are cooler than L. But I had to read for five volumes to get there. The same is true for the other side: if there appear more Shinigami, new Death Notes, and a new Kira, why not another one? Or three more? In the end, I can’t see why it had to be 12 volumes and not 18 or 34. Or 9. In other words, the middle part bored and annoyed me.

IMO, the story does pick up by vol.9 or so when it becomes personal again and — surprisingly — settles back into the finite structure, and by vol 11, it again becomes truly engaging. But still the reason I persevered through the third quarter and finished it was to see how exactly the ending would be done. I liked the final confrontation and the very final pages but didn’t like what happened in between. Spoiler ahead, highlight to read:

The way Light dies, well, I didn’t find it particularly unbelievable but I didn’t find it believable either. He was coolly walking the plank for so long that his total and very melodramatic loss of nerve seemed a bit OOC.

A couple more words about the drawing. As I said, it looks very professional but rather generic I don’t know. It’s clean and really well-done, but as I said in comments on LJ, it reminds me of Mercedes Benz while I want a horse. It’s also very dense: a lot of visual information is pushed into every panel (except blank black pages) but little of it is vital information. The panel structure isn’t very varied. They are all rectangles, and the two tricks the artist uses are close-ups and remote view from above. I don’t think it’s a drawback though. If the visual side were more varied, with this kind of ueber-fast and complex plot, it would be too hard to read, I think. This also makes it a ’starter’s set’ manga, something that an inexperienced western reader could use to begin getting familiar with manga in general because the narrative element dominates over the visual clues.

The thing I hated was how feet are drawn, of course :) I don’t mean only L’s awful monkey feet (really, feet aren’t sorta-arthritic-hands!) but the feet of other characters too.

And also concerning drawing: when there were about 10 pages without speech bubbles in vol. 10 — to convey the passage of two weeks — it completely threw me. I thought I got a defective book :)

As a conclusion, it was for sure a very entertaining and engrossing reading but not involving on any other level than plot/suspense.

ETA: but where the manga didn’t succeed, the live-action films did. I watched both Death Note and Death Note: the Last Name (careful, articles may contain spoilers). I liked them. They are long and very different from the manga. I liked the cast. So many beautiful girls. Although it’s silly to compare such different media, I liked the drawn!Light better. Well, same about the drawn!L. But I also liked this creepy eyebrowless film version. I finally was able to connect to the story emotionally here as I was unable to while reading manga. Let me just say that what didn’t make me cry in the manga, here sure did. It’s so quiet; he’s alone. I cried like a baby. Also, showing the event of such magnitude through details: hands, chocolate — that really punched me hard.

I also liked the endgame in the films better, in what concerns Light’s character (see spoilers above). But what I absolutely loved were Shinigami. They are so wonderful!

The films worked for me where the manga didn’t, and where the manga did, I liked it a lot. So I got the whole from two different sides :)

See also comments on LJ: some very interesting discussion points from Amanuensis among others.

Eroica Yori Ai wo Komete (From Eroica With Love) (from 1976 till now) ##
Mangaka: Aoike Yasuko
Scanlation group: Pink Panzer; an anonymous group scanlated the first 19 volumes. The first ten volumes have been published in English.
Genre: Action Adventure Comedy
Status: 34 Volumes (Ongoing); scanlation up to Vol. 21 (part 2 of of story 17)
Found: in a talk with Parlophone about old skool manga
Summary: What happens when a gay art thief and a conservative NATO officer cross paths? Disaster, of course. Dorian is an aristocrat, a thief and a hedonist; Klaus is a duty-driven espionage agent with no patience for fools. Follow them as they chase each other across the globe — from Britain to Baghdad, from Alaska to Alexandria, from Moscow to Madrid. Spectacular locations and non-stop adventures await!
Download: Vol. 1-19 with a nice detailed guide including notes on scan quality (locked for members); vol. 20-21 (locked). More covers (and first 13 vols for sale) here
Prequel/spinoff: Der Freischütz (The Freeshooter; Madan no shashu)
Status: 1 volume (Complete).
Summary: A hardboiled espionage action story featuring Major Eberbach. Can he elude the pursuit of the genius assassin from the KGB? More detailed summary by missparaphilia here.
Other related and side stories: Z, Plus Ultra (artbook), Nanatsu no umi nanatsu no sora and its prequel, Eru Arukon - Taka (a step to the past, about Man in Purple)

Related things: lj comm castlegloria (Eroica fanfiction); schlosseberbach (everything Eroica); Eroicafans.org. There’s fandom! I might dip my toes in it. I haven’t decided yet. Am awfully tempted.

My notes: I loved this manga to bits and tiny little pieces! I’ve had SO MUCH FUN with it. Best Male Friend who had to observe me reading it in the evenings on our trip now must be sure I’m a complete loony, if he hasn’t thought so before. Because I clapped hands, squealed, laughed, and talked to my laptop.

It’s awfully trashy, as trashy as only comics about superheroes and Cold War times can be but yeah, lots and lots of fun. I can’t tell you how many times I burst out laughing or grinned in delight. Each time I finished a story from the series, I thought, “I liked this one best!” And then thought the same when I read the next one. The genre is spy action/adventure and humour. Truth be told, I don’t like reading about spies almost as much as I dislike reading Sci-Fi. Not my thing at all. But this one is so light and captivating, and in the end, so amusing and enjoyable that I succumbed almost at once.

Character facial expressions aren’t Aoike Yasuko’s forte, nor is anatomy. Plot is. Spies and secret agents of every country: KGB, NATO Intelligence, CIA and FBI, MI6 (SIS), Interpol, etc, etc and also local police of where the action takes place and local criminals are all competing with each other or fighting each other. Characters travel all over the world. Character names are awfully trashy too; that first seemed too bad to me but later made me laugh and welcome them (Misha the Cub as the KGB boss, Comrade Dostoevsky, Comrade Gorky, Comrade Karinka, lol). The settings are European (mostly) but there are lots of Japanese sayings or references, and that creates a fantastic multi-cultural kaleidoscope. If it’s skewed, it’s fun nevertheless. One thing I find surprising is that among all the agents and forces, there’s not a mention of Stasi. You’d think that Iron Klaus of Bonn would mostly deal with them. But back to what I started with, this manga is incredibly plotty. Feels like a real rollercoaster sometimes. What amazes me most is that the mangaka always ties all her ends by the end of a story. Wowsome.

Both main characters are very attractive. Supporting characters are wonderful too, especially Mr James, Eroica’s extremely stingy accountant (although I don’t like how he’s developed in the last scanlated stories). I love-love-love Iron Klaus (Major Eberbach). I can’t even believe how much myself. Almost like Snape. But then again, he’s a Snape-like character, only with much better hygiene. He’s very rude and loves to shout; he expresses his negative opinion on people and actions without hesitation. He’s a prude and neat freak and superhero all the way but unexpectedly, there’s something in him that calls for your sympathy and makes you want to hug him, even with the risk for your life such a gesture would pose — when he broods or when something does manage to stun him (Eroica usually :D). IMHO, his character isn’t as logical as Eroica’s: it’s rather contradictory, if you start thinking about it seriously. But in the mosaic-like nature of this character perhaps lies a lot of his appeal. He’s intelligent, resourceful, quick-witted, and observant but at the same time not aesthetically developed in any way (despite being a rich aristocrat by birth) and rather naive in some things, or maybe infantile. But why am I looking for that much psychological credibility in a character who smokes like a chimney but is able to run fast for miles without losing his breath? He’s incredibly cool (superhero, remember?) but his quirks and idiosyncrasies make him humane. And precious. If to speak of the way he’s drawn, I melt when I see his haircut. Melt and squee :) So I understand why Eroica never gives up.

Eroica himself is also an absolutely charming character: extravagant, flamboyant, childlike in his wish to have all the pretty that he likes, devious yet kind. And more logical in and of himself, as a character. Speaking of the drawing again, the characters don’t age as the years pass: not only is Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach the Eternal Major, he’s an ageless Klaus: he’s the same in 1990 as he was in 1977, and so is Eroica.

On the whole, I’ve read manga where the drawing looked more professional but was it more enticing? No, no, it wasn’t. At the beginning, I looked at the covers and thought, “OMG, what awful jaws!” By the end I though, “Oh my, such lovely chins, gimme more!” I thought it many times while reading Eroica that I saw things drawn better in other manga (although Aoike Yasuko, I must say, is among the best in what concerns the absence of anatomy errors in her manga!) but overall I was completely charmed. The mangaka draws one face for her main characters, as too many do, but it seems she’s aware of it: see story 10 and on. In any case, the drawing changes to the better visibly from the first volumes to the middle of the manga. It looks as if the mangaka didn’t find her style and touch at once. I like the later style better of course, and objectively speaking, it’s more elaborate and sure.

Another thing I liked very much about this manga is that it’s like a contemporary history lesson. Well, only for those who remembers the news hot topics from the years when the volumes were drawn ‘cos the lessons are comical and so of course warped. War Iran vs Iraq, Moscow Olympics 1980, Perestroika and Glasnost, the uniting of the two Germanies, they all pass before your eyes. Fashions! OMG sunglasses! Hair styles OMG! :) Breathe and drink history, or ‘History Lite’, if you will :)

Speaking of structure, the manga consists of stories that have the same cast of characters and that you could read separately. Comparing it to other manga that have ‘big plot’ and ’small plots’, I wouldn’t say it has a big plot that unifies all stories. I mean, if you start with story 15, I don’t think you’ll find it incomprehensible. But I still recommend reading it from beginning to … well, to the current [scanlated] volume. Because while the big plot barely goes anywhere, the characters form various kinds of relationships, and it’s interesting to trace those. Story 1 is really just a warm-up for the later series (but please don’t let it scare you off). There are main characters you won’t meet after story 2, so reading vol. 1 is a bit bewildering ‘cos it barely touches what the summary speaks about. But that story picks up later, and goes on for many volumes.

Side stories are fun, especially the one that shows the disastrous party that is referred to in The Laughing Cardinals. Other side stories tell us quite a bit about Lord Eroica’s and Iron Klaus’s past. General advice: don’t skip side stories, especially the later ones. They either show a lot of important things or you simply would want more Eroica by then :)

The prequel, Der Freischütz, is darker than the main series. If From Eroica with Love is a humorous look at a spy’s life (and so, adventures), Der Freischütz is about its dangers and ruthlessness. Makes one understand Major’s paranoia better. Spoiler, highlight to read: only in Der Freischütz can we see the death of a character. In Eroica, things get smashed, buildings destroyed, there are fisticuffs, people get injured occasionally, but nobody dies. In Der Freischütz, even Major kills.[/end spoiler]

I posted this rec on my LJ under the yaoi tag but it’s not yaoi at all. Spoiler white on white, highlight to read (mind, a REAL spoiler, for the whole series, so think twice): honestly, it’s not even BL for real. Very soon in the series, by the end of vol.1, Eroica falls in love with Iron Klaus aka Major Eberbach. Major, if anything, is asexual. He despises the ‘homo stuff’ but there’s no woman to make his blood run faster either. If anything, he’s a devoted husband to his work. So Dorian and Klaus’s relationship consists of endless one-sided flirting and passes and also one-sided shouting and attempts to sterilise plates, door handles, etc not to catch the dreaded ‘homo virus’. I would hate UST of such proportions in another manga. But somehow it’s not annoying here. Maybe because Eroica enjoys chase much better than gain. Or maybe because if Iron Klaus didn’t break into a cold sweat at the thought of somebody touching him (unless it’s a fight), he won’t be Iron Klaus anymore. Be it as it may, the UST too happens to be very enjoyable in this manga.[/end spoiler]

A couple of notes on the fan translation of volumes 1-19: it seems to be done by a person (persons) whose first language is Japanese, so the English often sounds stilted. There weren’t errors that threw me out, just strange word choices and expressions. Well, and of course the translation of proper nouns can be very imprecise, say, Ljublanka in story 11: I couldn’t figure out what it was until I saw the note that it was where the KGB headquarters were located. Turns out to be Lubyanka. It’s translated correctly in the published version. But I can’t say such things really matter. Ljublanka or Lubyanka, or Russian names that can’t exist, it’s still fun and charming in its own way. My special thanks to Pink Panzer guys for picking up the scanlation in the first place, but also for keeping to the spirit of the translation (’cos by the middle of the story, I loved it) and for the good scans.

My favourite story is Emperor Waltz (a huge one, volumes 16, 17, 18 & 19), and favourite scene is Iron Klaus performing a Tyrolean dance. Who could resist?! A couple of pictures to entice: click here.

I spent almost three weeks with this manga, and now that I’ve reached the end of the scanlated stuff, I don’t know how to be without! As a conclusion, heartily and highly recommended. From pj with love :)

Fullmetal Alchemist (FMA) (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Hagaren)) (2001)
Manga: ##
Mangaka: Arakawa Hiromu
Status: 21 Volumes (ongoing), licensed (17 volumes released by Viz), scanlation ongoing (up to ch. 88 (vol.21))
Scanlated by: lots of groups, full list at the link above
Genre: Action Adventure Drama Shounen Supernatural
Found: Manga recced to me by a RL friend with the following words: “Даже не стимпанк, а альтернативный мир 1910-20 годов, с алхимией и проч. Много приключений, но при этом убедительная сюжетная линия, которая не сводится к тому, чтобы давать персонажам возможность устраивать регулярные поединки (чем грешат многие другие серии). Тонна симпатичнейших персонажей, в осн. мужеска пола. В целом, мой хороший приятель подсел на мангу именно после FM.” (”It’s not even steampunk per se but an alternative world of the 1910-1920s with alchemy and such. Lots of adventures but besides that, it has a solid plot-line that doesn’t boil down to just giving the characters an opportunity to have regular combats (the drawback of many other manga). There’s a lot of attractive characters, mostly male. A friend of mine got into manga thanks to FMA.”
Summary: From Viz: In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical “auto-mail” limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his brother and himself… the legendary Philosopher’s Stone.
Anime: #
Directed by: Seiji Mizushima. Starts at Vol 1, Ch. 1, deviates from manga plot at Vol 7. Consists of 51 24-minute episodes.
Found the anime via gossymer’s rec.
AnimeNews summary: After losing their mother, Alphonse and Edward Elric attempt to bring her back using the forbidden science of human alchemy. However, alchemy operates on the theory of equivalent trade, and breaking the human alchemy taboo carries a heavy price. Ed loses his leg, and Al loses his body. Ed is able to seal Al’s soul inside of a huge suit of armour, at the cost of his arm. Years later, Ed (now with two mechanical limbs) and Al (still trapped in the armour) leave their childhood home, each brother concerned with the other’s happiness. Ed, who has a natural talent and skill for alchemy, becomes nationally certified and is soon known everywhere as the “Fullmetal Alchemist.” Their true objective is to search for any information on the fabled Philosopher’s Stone, hoping it will allow them to regain their old bodies. All of their hopes rest with this mythical stone, which may not even exist at all. However, the brothers soon learn that they are not the only ones after the powerful stone.
List of characters, list of anime episodes (both contain spoilers). Animated film sequel: Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa. There are also novels and drama CDs; you can read about them through the Wiki articles linked above.

My notes: the rec of the anime goes first, then the manga rec because this was the order I got acquainted with them. A few bits are going to be repetitive because these two reviews were posted on LJ separately with a nearly two-month break, so please bear with me. It’s a bit repetitive, not much :)

ANIME (September 14, 2008)

I’m going to speak of the anime (and sequel) ‘cos this is the version I picked to get familiar with. I’m not going to read the manga until later, firstly because it’s ongoing and I hate WIPs, and secondly because I know how different the manga and the anime are and I’m afraid it would create a terrible mess in my head. Although this very difference is what tempts me most so I guess I will read it, as soon as some time has passed. I want to try it at least for the sake of Scar and his different fate :)

When I began watching the anime, it reminded me of Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers (only bloody and scary) because every episode is a somewhat finished story where the boys finish this or that quest, even though there’s a ‘big story’ that ties them together. I like it better though when it’s one continuous story divided into parts, say, like in Death Note. So I didn’t think I’d like FMA at first. But by the middle it becomes more of that second kind of story, and by then you know enough character background for the story to become really captivating. By about episode 25, I liked it an awful lot. Am definitely keeping it and am going to watch it again.

One of the most pleasant things in this anime for me is that you can’t easily guess if a new character you just meet will turn out a good guy, a bad guy, or a good guy who will turn bad, or a bad guy who’ll reform. Lies and deception is this story’s second (and third) names. That makes it very interesting to follow. Many surprises await you. The story is really captivating, the further the better.

The abundance of plot doesn’t mean the lack of character development, not at all. Ed, Al, Winry grow a lot as the story goes on, and so do some of the adult characters too, such as Roy Mustang or even Scar. The Elric brothers have to mature fast. In their quest to find the stone, they join the military in the country ruled by junta and torn by civil wars. They have to repeatedly see death and crime, to fight all sorts of villains and opportunists. They get help from unexpected sources but sometimes are betrayed by the those they trust. Their quest and service often ask them to make choices that would be hard even for adults and for sacrifices no-one should make. They persevere. Both brothers are really wonderful. Al is simply a good guy, kind and compassionate even though he’s a suit of armour. Edward has one hell of a temper but his heart is in the right place. There are lots of other likeable characters and interesting ones.

Another thing I liked a lot was everything to do with mechanics and alchemy: artificial limbs, the suit of armour movements (OMG I love to watch Al walk from behind!), the fact that alchemists have their specialisation and that state alchemists are given names according to what they do. I simply loved that all.

I didn’t like the sequel, Conqueror of Shamballa because it’s largely set in our world. I liked the hints of it in the TV series and I would be very happy if it stayed like that. I just don’t particularly like it when a fantasy universe sprouts into other worlds, especially when one of them is ours. I prefer it to be closed-up and separate. But the film was pretty interesting to watch.

If to think of the quality of animation (how much drawing goes into each scene, how detailed it is, etc.), this anime is among the best I’ve seen. Not Miyazaki of course but really good :) So it was a pleasant experience. Heartily recommended!

MANGA (November 7, 2008)

Love, love, LOVELOVELOVE!!!

I loved the anime, yes. But I loved the manga much more. I loved it to bits! It’s competing with Eroica (see above) for my affections.

If you watched the anime, please give a chance to the manga. It’s soooo different. Actually, I don’t know another canon where two canon sources were as different as here. Like, very different plot, different sets of characters (there are those that appear only in the anime and those that are manga-only), and a considerable part of the characters that act in both the manga and the anime have completely different roles and connotations.

I first encountered FMA about a year ago. I read the summary, looked at the stills from the anime, and thought, “Meh.” Orphaned kids, alchemy, yadda-yadda. How boring. Saw it once (HP), saw it many times. Gosh, why do I always do it?? I did it with almost all the things I love: Rammstein? Yep. Found them ridiculous at first. HP? Sure. Was looking askance at the people who kept going on and on about magic and wands and stuff. I should have learned by now to never ever say “Meh” about things without actually trying them first! I’m happy that the recs by Alex and Gossymer persuaded me to give it a go. I’ve lived in the FMA world for the past two months, and now I check every day if ch. 89 has been published already.

There’s so much to love about this manga! Firstly, of course, characters. The Elric brothers are amazing and very easy to fall in love with. I’d even say, impossible not to fall in love with. Edward, the older one, is hot-headed (especially when somebody calls him short, which he is) and rather pig-headed. If he decided something, neither mountains nor seas in his way will stop him. Something else might though. He values human life, so if his goal asks him to step over people, then he’ll reconsider the value of the goal. His brother’s approval or disapproval weighs a lot in his decisions, too. He’s a terrific fighter, for his age and stature. But his younger brother Al, whose soul is confined to a suit of armour, is probably an even better fighter: not only because he never tires and doesn’t need food or sleep but also because he’s more level-headed than Edward. He’s also very kind. Not that Ed isn’t. He just doesn’t like his kindness to be noticed. Al, on the other hand, is never embarrassed to love kittens, to thank people, or to ask for a peaceful solution. Ed is a young genius who became a state alchemist at the age of 12; both his skill and talent aren’t inconsiderable. When he researches, he tends to forget to sleep or eat, while normally he eats for two. Not that it helps him grow :) Al is quite talented as an alchemist too but he seems to be content to lurk in his brother’s shadow. The bond and love between the brothers are simply beautiful. Orphans from a young age who have survived things not every adult encountered in their whole life, they live for each other, they are each other’s family and home, past and future. Oh, of course they have their share of fights. Excepting everything that puts them beyond ordinary, they are normal boys.

The Elric brothers believe that alchemy exists to help people. That comes into conflict with Edward’s job when he becomes a state alchemist, a dog of the military, to get access to the best research materials the country has to offer. On the way to reach their goal of returning their lost bodies and body parts, Ed and Al meet lots and lots of other characters: good guys, really bad guys, and quite a few ambiguous ones. Not knowing how a new character you see will turn out keeps you on tenterhooks. That, and the plot.

Unlike the anime that has a few filler episodes, the manga never loses its drive, as for me. The plot is complex, with flashbacks and several plot-lines centred on various key characters. It only grows in complexity as the story goes on and the Elric brothers and other main characters (and we with them) learn more about what’s really going on, but it never becomes messy. Things begin small. We learn the basics of how alchemy works and what is what in this world. Gradually, they become bigger. We learn the price of errors, bits of bloody history, civil unrests, wars. Then we meet people from outside: outside the country and outcasts lurking on the edges of this world. Our knowledge of alchemy and history becomes deeper, and the complexity of the story grows on par with it. Presently, the story is clearly heading to the climax. Yes, I realise that depending on how detailed it is, it could take two volumes but could also easily fill ten. My guess would be about five more volumes to go. If you are wary of WIPs, give it a try anyway, will you? I hate WIPs but I don’t regret for a moment that I began reading this manga.

Back to the characters, my second favourite of the protagonists is, of course, the Flame Alchemist Roy Mustang, bless his scheming heart. He has a reputation of being quite the ladies’ man which his nets of female ‘helpers’ prove and upset at the same time. I also can’t help loving Major Alex Louis Armstrong, the Strong Arm Alchemist: a mountain of muscle but gentle soul, and much more observant than he lets on.

From the antagonists, my favourite one is Scar. In fact, he’s one of my favourite characters ever. A semi-religious, semi-patriotic fanatic, he sets out to avenge his people. He has a drastically different role and fate in the manga than in the anime. As the story goes on, he also learns a lot, like the protagonists, and I can’t in good conscience call him an antagonist when there are much scarier and dangerous things plotting and acting in the manga. We also can see Scar’s human side more in the manga, especially later on. (But he looks more glamorous in the anime :D)

There are many, many more characters to love in this manga, I have to agree with my friend who recced FMA to me, because Arakawa Hiromu made them live and breathe. They have biographies, amusing quirks, individuality. They are interesting and hard not to love. Besides, I love the look of most of them.

This smoothly leads me to speak of what I like best in the drawing ;) That would be facial expressions. I think Arakawa Hiromu is terrific at conveying emotions. When they are exaggerated or comical, they are hilarious. But she’s good with serious stuff too. Because really, she manages to make it clear as water when the suit of armour!Al is sulking or terrified, when he wears a grave expression or is mischievous. Spoiler for the last volumes ahead, highlight if you want to read it: when Lin Yao and Greed share a body and fight for its control, it’s usually clear by the facial expression who’s in control at the moment. Which I liked a lot! I also absolutely love everything to do with how the suit of armour or auto-mail are drawn.

All in all, it’s a compelling, even addictive story, wonderfully told and drawn. Highly and heartily recommended!

Bonuses

My favourite tracks from the FMA OST (composed by Oshima Michiru), the introduction of the characters via the anime screencaps, a few manga pages (from vol. 1 and 3) so that you could see a sample of page layouts, characters, and drawing style; an FMA meme: 16 questions about FMA and me, answered — all these can be found here in my LJ. See also my reviews and recs of 80 FMA doujinshi that I’ve read, my recs of FMA fanfics.

ANIME:Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2005) ##
Studio: GONZO, directed by Mahiro Maeda
Genres: adventure, drama, mystery, romance, science fiction, thriller
Themes: Deception, Mecha, Revenge
Rating: Mature
Status: 24 ep x 24 min (complete)
Found: via Amanuensis1’s rec.
Summary (from the manga ‘cos it’s less spoilery): From Del Rey: While vacationing on the moon, Albert, a young Parisian nobleman, meets the Count of Monte Cristo, a fabulously rich aristocrat from the far reaches of the galaxy. Fascinated by the count’s sophistication and intelligence, Albert is unaware of the older man’s dark purpose: to enact revenge for a terrible act of betrayal committed against him twenty-five years ago. Soon, all of Paris, including Albert’s own mother and father, will feel the terror of the count’s vengeance.
Related things: Wiki article, manga adaptation (ongoing, licensed), Gankutsuou LJ comm, Gankutsuou fics at Yuletide.
DL: I found it in torrents. Try ThePirateBay.

My notes: Last anime I recced (and correspondingly, liked) was Hikaru no Go. I said that the anime basically was nothing to write home about, if to think of the way it was made. Gankutsuou, on the contrary, is so much to write home about I doubt an owl would be able to carry it. When I started watching it, I kept hitting the pause button ‘cos there were so many details I felt as if everything were sliding away from me, that I couldn’t immediately fine-tune my attention to notice everything that matters. I’m sure I missed lots of fine details anyway, however hard I tried. The backgrounds/decorations and the colours are incredibly rich. The next bit is hard to explain. The characters are very well-drawn but they are sort of transparent, at least their clothes. So when characters move, it looks like they are cut out of the picture? The transparent outlines with real, visible faces move on the background of very loud cloth patterns of the character costumes, so it creates an effect of you looking through them like through a glass.

To make the matters more complicated, this film is about the [admittedly, very romanticised] European past adapted from the source set in post-Napoleonic France but placed here in some futuristic Sci-Fi-ish settings (years 5000-something), but I watched it in Japanese with English subs. That created an almost unbearably loud culture clash inside my head :)

I got used to it fast though. By episode three, I was able to follow it without any stress. I still preferred watching attentively though. While one could say that overall, the visual side is cluttered or eclectic, as of me, it’s a pleasant, harmonious eclecticism. I loved the character designs and most of all, their motion. IMO everything about how they move (walk, run, turn, fight, gesture) is simply superb here.

The anime is based on the novel ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by Alexandre Dumas, père, which was my most favourite book when I was 13-14. I love it still. I didn’t expect much from the anime. But it surprised me. It made a really strong impression on me. But now I’m struck by indecision. If I speak of the things that moved me, made me cry, made me keep watching it inside my head days later, I’m afraid I’ll begin sprouting spoilers. If I don’t though, how will I persuade you to try it?

I have no other choice but to try and see how it goes.

Duma’s book isn’t all sunshine and daisies. The Count sets out for revenge, nearly erasing half of Paris, metaphorically speaking. Yes, he suffered enough. Yes, we can understand him, sympathise, and be on his side. Until he distinctly, clearly goes over the top. But even then, he doesn’t lose his humanity. He freezes on the brink of the precipice but is human enough to step back, and we love him enough by then to stay with him.

Let me just say that in some respects, the anime is darker. And while the book is mostly about the Count, the anime is largely about Albert de Morcerf and his friends. As for me, it worked really well to balance the changes in characterisation and plot the authors forced here. You can’t not love Albert. He’s naive and, well, rather clueless or maybe not the brightest of them all. That naivete is what makes him so easy to manipulate and that, basically, makes the disasters possible to happen. But he’s also the purest, loving heart. So clear-eyed, so enthusiastic, he’s like a puppy. He’s what the best protagonists and heroes are made of.

His friends shine too, especially Franz d’Epinay. Unselfish, clever, quiet, he’s a key element in the story. He’s the voice of reason for Albert, so of course Albert doesn’t like listening to what he has to say. He will though, one day. Because however pigheaded, he too must learn, and the harder the lesson, the longer it will stay with him. I loved the parallel scenes of Albert, Franz’s, and Eugénie’s childhood/teen years and those of Edmond, Fernand, and Mercédès.

Some thoughts on the Count further white on white, highlight if you want to read spoilers: having fallen to the bottom of despair, Edmond Dantès made a pact with a demon in the futuristic nightmare of the Château d’If: his body and spirit for Gankutsuou’s experience and power to help him in his quest for revenge. Now they exist as one, the demon gradually taking over. I can’t say I liked how literal the authors were here. Edmond carries a demon inside even in the book, only it’s metaphorical. But on the other hand, there’s something in this literal demon thing that I liked, namely how we can see them struggle for the one body they inhabit. “Not now, Gankutsuou” is a powerful recurring scene, and the less of Edmond is left in their common body, the sadder it is.[/end spoiler].

My favourite scenes:

- The death of [SPOILER] Franz d’Epinay[/end spoiler]. It happens midway and, apart from being really beautiful and striking — I cried my eyes out and suffered from headache for the rest of the evening, it affects everything that follows, colouring or shadowing it. I loved how it was done. Usually, character death in anime is a thing projected at watchers more than other characters, even the best of those scenes I’ve seen. Here though, it changes and affects everything.

- The Count sending Albert back to Earth. I cried too, and I loved how the scene ends, [SPOILER] with the Count crying/laughing. Do you think he began with crying and then Gankutsuou took over? I believe it was so.[/end spoiler].

- The end of the final battle. [SPOILER] Albert embracing Gankutsuou. I have no words, just waaaaah! :((( I cried, and cried, and cried.[/end spoiler]

- When Albert finds the letter and says something like, “You’ve always been here, haven’t you.” It seemed so bittersweet to me! And also when he visits the grave of the character named in #1. Very moving.

By now I’ve probably scared the few people that have read this post to death. Please don’t be afraid. While it’s for sure angsty and dark in places, it’s not without its lovely moments. I’m very glad I’ve watched it, so my thanks for the rec to Amanuensis1!

Another thing entirely is that I do need something to kiss it better now. So if you have recs of Gankutsuou fanfiction by any chance, especially AU fics, I’d appreciate them.

MANGA: Hikaru No Go (Hikago) (Hikaru’s Go) (1998) ##
Story by Hotta Yumi, manga by Obata Takeshi
Status: 23 volumes (189 ch), complete, licensed
Scanlated by: Toriyama’s World and others
Genre: Comedy Drama Fantasy School Life Sports Shounen
Found: recced to me by an RL friend
Summary: From Viz: After stumbling across a haunted Go board, irresponsible Hikaru Shindo discovers that the spirit of a master player has taken up residence in his consciousness. In his pursuit of the “Divine Move,” Fujiwara-no-Sai awakens in Hikaru an untapped interest and genius for the game, and soon the schoolboy is chasing his own dream–defeating the famed Go prodigy Akira Toya!
ANIME #
Status: 75 ep x 23 minutes. Starts at volume 1 chapter 1, ends at somewhere at volume 19. Sequel, Hikaru No Go: New Year Special, contains the following events, up to but not including the tournament, the North Star Cup.
Series director: Susumu Nishizawa.
DL: you can find the manga in the usual manga-trading places; the anime is available at GalAnime (without the sequel, which can be found in torrents). List of manga chapters and anime episodes (spoilery); sample pages of the manga and artbook here in my LJ.

My notes: OMG I WANT MORE! A manga sequel, another anime sequel, anything! Just MORE! I can’t part with this universe. I’ve watched the anime twice and think I’m going to do it again, and then maybe read the manga another time.

Gosh, it happens every time! Hear me solemnly forswear to form even a hint of opinion of a new thing offered to me to read and promise to treat everything as potentially exciting until proven otherwise. Because it happened again. You see, I have zero interest in sport stories or sport manga. How much do I care for board games or abstract strategy games? Not a bit, unless they are very pretty. I downloaded vol. 1 of Hikaru No Go just to see what it’s like and to have my conscience clear when the friend who recced it to me would ask how I liked it. But after reading vol. 1, I rushed to DL the rest. I gobbled up the manga in three days, sleeping four hours a night just to be able to function somehow. I watched the anime after it, also in three days. I was so sleep-deprived that I kept falling asleep where I shouldn’t have. But I simply couldn’t stop reading/watching! It’s a real page-turner and a story that will make you love its main characters.

My mind and my heart were in conflict about this manga all the way while I was reading. The heart clearly won, despite all the mind’s protests and arguments. Won by a large margin even. The argument went like this. My mind tells me: Go is booooring; you don’t like it. My heart meanwhile flutters and following it, I’m fidgeting in my chair: will he win? will he lose? OMG please let him win! My mind grumbles: down with the indoctrination! Who cares if Japanese players are stronger or weaker than the Koreans? But my heart says: OMG Hikaru is LOVE! Look at his face when he’s in the battle mode! My mind tells me: people who are completely devoted to only one thing are the most boring and uninteresting thing in the world; you’ve known some like that and you didn’t like them in the slightest. My heart keeps squealing: ♥ to Akira, ♥ to Sai, ♥ even to Ogata and Touya Meijin :) I’d think it’s a testament to Hotta Yumi’s writing skill that despite the nagging thought that the thing this manga is about is the least exciting and utterly unimportant thing in the world for me, I loved it to bits and pieces, read and watched it twice and still want more.

Try it! I promise you won’t regret! Do you believe me yet? Want to know more?

I would call this story Shindou Hikaru: a Legend in the Making. We start with an ordinary boy and come to quite an extraordinary guy. Well, we come to him being on the brink of realising his full potential. Close but not quite there. But I’ll talk about the ending separately, later. We can see how this extraordinary person grows. We can see how and what events shape him. That’s beyond fascinating. We can also see how the legend about Shindou Hikaru grows with him, and this layer of the story is quite funny.

I love Hikaru. He’s a lazy, mouthy brat who also tends to blurt out whatever is on his mind. But he isn’t unkind and later on, he grows awesome though hard-earned determination and willpower. Hikaru looking at the Goban with his unique, single-minded focus is my favourite image from the manga.

Two people make Hikaru what he is. The first is Touya Akira. Well, the first is probably Sai but Touya gives him a stronger push at the beginning, while Sai plays a much bigger part later.

This is Touya Akira. A very serious boy and Go prodigy. Famously fashion-challenged, too (*cough* lavender suit *cough*). Akira is single-mindedness personified. He is a bit robotic, which the anime underlines. Yes, yes, I would find it most annoying in a RL person but in this character, it’s charming. Besides, his haircut makes me melt!

This is the most slashy canon that is not actually slash/yaoi. OMG, it’s soooo slashy! Everything Hikaru is about Akira, everything Akira is about Hikaru. No wonder there’s so much AkiHika slash in HikaGo fandom. Because these two ooze UST of epic proportions all the way.

On the other hand, I don’t quite understand why there’s so much Akira/Hikaru slash in this fandom. ‘Cos who needs slash when this is all canon? Is there not enough Akira chasing Hikaru, literally and metaphorically? Is there not enough Hikaru running after Arira? Is it not enough that they only think about each other? Lots? Well, that and Go but it’s the same thing really. Is there not enough Hikaru looking at Akira with love-struck, puppyish eyes? Or Akira trembling like a bow string when he hears Hikaru’s name mentioned?

Honestly, who needs fanfiction after all this goodness? It’s very obviously love even if it’s called rivalry or competition ;) Actually, soooo many slashy pairings ask to be written. Akira/Hikaru and Waya/Isumi, yes, of course, but also Shindo/Isumi, Sai/Hikaru, Ogata/Hikaru, Isumi/(no, not Le Ping!) Hai Yang, Sai/Touya Meijin. And they all are very attractive pairings with lots of canon support!

The second (or first) main influence on Hikaru is Sai. I ADORE Sai! He reminds me of Count D and Eroica at the same time only without flirting and being a completely different character.

He’s a Go genius from a thousand years past, selfish and spoiled but also clever and kind. I love him best when he’s bratty or drawn in a comical manner (Sai who plays Hikaru for the first time and misnames the spot, Sai that cries a river when Hikaru refuses to go where he wants, and such). No, scratch that. I like him best when he’s sad and contemplative. Or maybe when he’s in the battle mode. Well, that means I love Sai in whatever way he shows himself. I love him selfishly taking Hikaru’s place or being selflessly proud of his achievements. I simply love Sai. He’s very different in his various roles but never discrete. Sai’s plot-line in the story, IMO, is perfect. The rest is white on white because it’s a huge spoiler: The story of Sai’s departure is heart-wrenchingly sad and beautiful. They are bickering like old lovers; there’s casual cruelty there without any intent to be cruel at all, born out of misunderstanding and things untold. There’s love and friendship and jealousy and competition, but most of all, the presumption that they have an eternity together, as we tend to assume about our loved ones, which, in fact, they don’t have, just like us. It struck me so hard because it’s a very precise projection of thousands RL goodbyes that aren’t said on a fantasy one. That scene is also everything about teacher/pupil relationship and true life goals. The saddest and most beautiful goodbye I’ve seen in a while. I cried like a baby — not when Sai disappeared (’cos it was peaceful — but damn, how devastating it was that Hikaru was half-asleep!) but when Hikaru was looking for him at the cemetery in Tokyo, and again when Hikaru found him in his game against Isumi, and again when Hikaru dreamed about him. Cried my eyes out.

Each of the main characters have their moment of weakness or sin to overcome. For Hikaru, it’s despair and the temptation of easy win; for Isumi, loss of confidence; for Waya, well, laziness or maybe cowardice (I’m not sure how to define it); selfishness for Sai; closed-mindedness for the Meijin. They all grow, pushing and supporting each other.

This manga has lots of really loveable characters, just like Fullmetal Alchemist. Apart from the three above, I liked

Touya Meijin: I think were I to meet him in RL, I’d run away very fast. This is a man who took one skill and developed it to perfection. It looks like there’s nothing in his life beyond Go and nothing for sure is more important. I do wonder that he sired a son :) But at the same time, as a character, he’s magnificent. All that calm, intensity, and inhuman concentration, wow. The scene where he’s sitting in front of the Goban waiting for his opponent is, IMO, one of the strongest visual images in this manga.

Isumi Shin’ichiro: he’s quiet and contemplative, with the sort of calm concentration and politeness that make me see him as really sexy :) I like him whether he broods, angsts, thinks, smiles, or calmly goes for the kill in his matches. Also, he wears undershirts and tight jeans. The mangaka (and anime artists) are quite fond of showing us his jeans-clad bum :) I think he’s much better looking in the manga than in the anime, btw. As for me, he’s the prettiest of them all.

Waya: I didn’t care about him much at first but later he grew on me, especially after he’s had his lapse of judgement later in the series.

Ogata Seiji aka Ogata 9 dan: he’s somewhere in between being suave and creepy, as for me :) He’s cool and cunning and on the other hand, a total asocial jerk who discards his girlfriend as something unimportant and drinks until he loses his mind. Drunk!Ogata is such a teddy bear :)Also, he loves fish. I mean, as pets, not as food. And he drives a red Ferrari or something like that.

I also liked Chinese team supervisor (and Isumi’s roommate) Hai Yang and Kaneko, well, and lots of others. They are easy to like. Strangely enough, I didn’t dislike Kuwabara Hon’inbo. He’s a bully and a manipulative old bastard but then again, the people who are competing for his title must be ready to withstand his mind games.

Now for the more formal things: story structure, pacing, drawing, etc.

First, the manga and the drawing. I loved how it’s drawn, I must say opposite to another manga by the same artist where I didn’t care for the drawing much, Death Note. I think it might have to do with characters. In HikaGo, in my opinion, Obata Takeshi made the characters’ faces express their emotions very clearly, them being very likeable characters, and I found it the most appealing. Another thing I loved was how Hikaru’s (and others) physical growth was clearly visible. It’s pleasant to watch the changes: how his face becomes that of a teenager, losing its chubbiness, how his hands become those of a young man, and how it reflects the maturing of his character. He becomes beautiful.

I liked the drawing in the anime worse. IMO it’s sort of unstable. Different artists at work? The anime itself is on the good side of average, as for me. Nothing outstanding but quite enjoyable.

The next thing I’m going to talk about is at the same time the greatest achievement of this story and it’s major flaw. Pacing. The story (both manga and anime) is absolutely impossible to stop in the middle! One more chapter… Oh well, I need to know how this match ends… Oh phew, I need to read something calmer after this chapter, so one more… And look at the clock — five hours have passed! Games are REALLY exciting. I squealed, bounced in my chair, bit my nails. Me, who doesn’t care about games of strategy, Go included, at all. Things to get excited about take turns with those to take a breath, and then you are racing again, and so on, and so forth. This is totally, absolutely great. Two things in the manga aren’t.

#1 is Vol. 18. It’s just a filler. It consists of six extras. You learn little new about the characters from it, if only about Kurata’s past. Not that I was burning to learn more about him… But love them or hate them (or don’t care about them, as is with me), this volume breaks the pacing and makes one think about the circumstances of the author’s/artist’s life and publishing business much more than it should (which should be: not at all). The same extras break the pacing in the anime too, if you watch it continuously, even though there are only two episodes of them, if my memory serves. But come to think of it, if I didn’t read the manga and watch the anime in one go but waited for a new volume/episode and instead of a proper one got an extra, I’d probably throw a hissy fit. This way at least I could leaf/wind past them.

#2 is the ending of the manga. I don’t mind the what in the ending: the event, how it went, what it meant for Hikaru. What I mind A LOT though was how. As for me, the ending is beyond abrupt. It’s the major problem with pacing. It feels as if you were running pretty fast and suddenly ‘encountered’ a brick wall. To be frank, I thought I’d forgotten to download the last volume. I went to check: nope, ch. 189 was the last one. I kept WTFing and shaking my head, flabbergasted. You can’t just end a story in a random place; you can’t just end it ‘cos you ran out of time before your deadline or ‘cos your contract with the magazine hasn’t been resumed. A story needs a proper resolution that would fit its pacing. What happens in this manga is a beginner’s error I wouldn’t expect in such a well-told story. Disappointing. I even had an uncharitable thought that Obata Takeshi is unlucky to draw for writers who have major problems with pacing. :/ Well, disappointing and bewildering, yes, but not tragic and I can’t say it spoiled my fun :)

The manga and the anime end with different things so their messages are somewhat different too. I like the message in the manga better. Problems with the pacing aside and also putting aside all that “the big world of Go” that is too utopia-like, I’m absolutely fine with what it says. Yes, Hikaru has a long way to go yet, but he stepped on this way and he’s moving along. And yes, the combination of genius and hard labour will eventually let him achieve a lot but he’s not quite there yet. The anime message is more cheerful and winning, and even though there are no problems with pacing concerning the ending of the anime, I would still take the one from the manga as a deeper, more thought-provoking one.

ETA: I was told in the comments for the LJ post with this rec that the ending of the story as it is was forced by external circumstances. Good to know that! This knowledge makes it much less puzzling and means that Hotta Yumi didn’t suddenly lose her (quite amazing) writing skills! It’s a pity that happened though :( I would love the story to have the ending the author intended.

#3 is only about the anime. The games that are so exciting in the manga are still exciting and exhilarating in the anime, often even more so when they are accompanied by the battle music. But at the same time, they are often boring. Immobile drawn faces, the same motion repeated x 5 minutes, pa-chi, pa-chi, pa-chi, the same expression, pa-chi, pa-chi. Or, say, Ep.14: 15 seconds of the lid from the Go stones jar trembling in Touya’s hand! The whole moment of Touya’s breakdown takes about 40 seconds. Waaaaaay toooo loooong. The flashbacks are waaaay toooo looong too. There’s no need whatsoever to repeat so much; one only needs a couple of key images to remind the spectators what they need to recall.

I feel as if I were nitpicking because honestly, if I enjoyed this story, both the manga and the anime, so much that I read/watched it twice in a row, why am I stopping to enumerate what I percieve as its flaws? But as usual, I feel that I must say everything I think, the good and the bad, only remembering that the good outweighs the bad by far in this case for me.

My favourite episodes of the anime are 70, 60, 55, 48 (Sai vs Meijin), 45, 41 (Isumi vs Ochi). I love the battles! It also should be noted that it’s a pity I watched the anime in Russian. The sequel in English went so much smoother. Because the person who did the Russian subs starting from about ep. 20 showed scary levels of illiteracy. Scary! Errors people learn to avoid at age 10. Not to mention the errors in translation. They translated from the English subs (which were partly visible) and often mistranslated quite horribly. It was like trying to read a really bad fic from FFnet sometimes. But that also didn’t matter much for me ‘cos I remembered the manga and could read the English subs often, and they mostly did manage to get the general meaning across. And I really, really liked Japanese voice actors, especially the voice of Touya Meijin.

Speaking of remembering, the way my memory works (or doesn’t work) scares and amuses me sometimes. It goes like this: “Oh my goodness, I just read the manga. And now I’m watching the anime and can’t remember how key matches went??? WTF?” Pro exam match Shindo vs Isumi? I forgot the crucial moment! Was wondering who won all the way until that very moment and then nearly slapped myself. Forgot how the match between Shindo and Ochi went and who won and was wondering until the very last. Hikaru vs Waya? Nope. Forgot the result of his game with Touja Meijin. And so on. Gah :)

To wrap it up, I’m seriously considering watching the anime/reading the manga another time. Like, right now. Because it’s LOVE! So much love! And I’m absolutely not ready to say good-bye to this universe and these characters. Gosh, half a kingdom for a sequel! No? Well, off to read HikaGo fanfiction I go then :)

ANIME: Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) (2008) #
Status: 24 ep x 30 min
Anime Start/End Chapter: Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1, Ends at Vol 5, Chap 21.
Genres: comedy, mystery, supernatural
Themes: bishounen, demons, historical, shinigami
Summary: One of the noble families of England - Phantomhive, has a butler, Sebastian Michaels. He has unquestionably perfect knowledge, manners, talent with materials, martial arts and much more. But for some reason, he serves a 12 year old master…

MANGA: Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) (2006 on) #
Mangaka: Toboso Yana
Status: 8 Volumes (Ongoing), scanlation ongoing, licensed.
Scanlated by: lots (see list via the link above)
Genre: Action Comedy Historical Mystery Shounen Supernatural
Download: you can read it online at Mangafox.

My notes: I’m going to be contrary and begin my rec with a critical review taken from MangaUpdates. A reviewer says about the manga: It jumps around so much. It makes me wonder: Is this a horror manga? Suspense? Comedy? Shota-con? What the heck is going on?! It goes back and forth between being cutesy comedy and gory murder. I’m not sure how to feel about that. It makes all the death feel cheap and unrealistic. No one seems to care that people are dying left and right as long as they can make curry and play with dolls. The author could be trying to show a parallel between what Ciel is doing (fighting evil and trying to get revenge for himself and his family while being the sole heir to the Phantomhive family and doing all that it entails) and what he should be doing (playing with his betrothed, eating sweets, going to parties, and doing little-boy things), but she doesn’t do a good job of letting us know that. We never get to know how Ciel really feels about anything that’s happened, other than his near-death experience, or if he has any feelings left at all.

So all in all, I’m still not sure if I like this manga. I loved the Count Cain series, and at first glance, Black Butler looks similar, but it’s not. Count Cain made sense. Black Butler does anything but. The settings and premise are similar, but that similarity ends very, very quickly. Black Butler can be very good at times, but I wish that it would make up its mind as to what genre it wanted to be, or at least was able to blend genres together a bit better.

When I read this review (before reading the manga but after watching the anime), I thought I agreed with most of what the reviewer had said (well, except for shounen-ai hints and Ciel being 12 — nothing creeps me out in that one; I’ve seen younger in manga and in yaoi specifically). On a closer look though, I realised that they were far not objective or unbiased.

Yes, Ciel can be considered rather soulless but even when I say it with the limiting “rather”, it doesn’t sound quite right. Nor can I agree that he has no feelings at all. He is hell-bent on revenge and extremely cynical but then there’s duty, and pride, and honour, and trust to some extent (if only for his staff), and even small sprouts of affection in him — even if some of these feelings are more pronounced while others are barely visible.

If Ciel were as one-dimensional as the reviewer made him look, Kuroshitsuji would be much more boring than it is. Is it? I think not! I liked the anime an awful lot and found the manga the more captivating the further it went on.

I’m glad I watched the anime before reading the manga though ‘cos the latter, at least for the first couple of volumes, is messier. Frankly, I think that were I to start with the manga, I’d get lost and confused so much that I would quit. The anime creators tried to streamline the plot (which is much harder the trace in the manga) and tell one, main, story through all the subplots.

It diverts from the manga somewhere around vol. 5. It also makes Kuroshitsuji a finished story*, giving it a proper conclusion. I loved the last episode! I think it fits the story very well, and it’s poignant and beautiful in and of itself. I would recommend watching the anime even if just for the ending.

A character they invented just for the anime [spoiler, so it’s hidden white on white] the rogue angel who works as the Queen’s secretary [/spoiler] doesn’t really contradict the manga, as for me, but it does make the whole even more eclectic: [spoiler] as if Shinigami in the Victorian London weren’t enough — ok, ok, make them just your usual European Grim Reapers, only in a Japanese wrapping — we have angels here too [/end spoiler].

The anime kept my attention, I think, mainly thanks to the style. Is it eclectic? Sure is. Don’t expect terrible historical accuracy from Kuroshitsuji because, while it’s set in the Victorian Great Britain and liberally uses various Victorian Era styles and details, many things follow modern animanga stylistic conventions, many others are anachronistic (some deliberately, I suppose, like that Steampunkish “cell phone” Sebastian borrows, and others quite unconscious). But it all con-fuses into one style, the one that charmed the pants off me.

In other words, it’s a wonderful eye-candy. :) Partly Victorian, partly Goth, partly anime-ish. With so many lovely little details like pocket watches, collars, veils, hats, canes, buckles, ties, etc, etc, of course it’s very pleasant to watch and of course cosplayers all over the world orgasm about it.

Back to the review quoted at the beginning, yes, this anime/manga is flirting with all those genres the reviewer mentions and those noted in the genre tags. I can’t say the experiment is completely unsuccessful though. Black humour? Dark comedy, often rather cracky too? Well, yes, it’s an important element. Therefore, blaming it for cheapening death and profaning suffering is like, I dunno, asking Tarantino not to pile up corpses or pour rivers of blood in his films.

Sebastian is a demon who agreed to make a contract with a boy who had one leg in the grave at the moment, to serve as his butler and help him until the boy’s revenge on those who had wronged him and his family is fulfilled. The boy serves as the Queen’s “guard dog”, a disreputable noble with the ties in the underground society who helps solving crime cases and preventing others. Which is ridiculous in and of itself if you try to think about it as a realistic story. It’s not! It’s a very stylised Gothic mystery (manga style of course, with Shinigami and such) that has a strong dark comedy element. If you look closely, you’ll notice that these are the two genres it balances between. IMO, one shouldn’t seek some profound and realistic meaning in it. IMO again, one should just enjoy the ride, suffering the bumps and enjoying the view :)

The demon butler doesn’t have super-powers. He has SUPER super-powers. He’s omnipotent. He can cook a perfect fancy dinner, brew a perfect tea, fix anything broken, play los of instruments, teach any discipline, fight a hundred opponents at once, move from place to place faster than the fastest train, and so on. He’s also very pretty. I’m in love with Sebastian’s smirk, I confess. But who could resist?!

There’s a lot more to enjoy in this animanga. Speaking of the manga, even if the plot meanders in the first volumes, the story is for sure plotty and it seems to me that the further on, the better it is. I really like the last murder mystery arc: the closed room murder. The manga is up to ch. 41 currently and that chapter ends on a HUGE cliffhanger! OMG I want more right now!

To conclude, recommended! Give it a try!

*They say it’s decided that there will be a second season. I can’t imagine how, after this ending, but scriptwriters’ creativity knows no bounds.

ANIME: Kyou Kara Maou (2004-2009) #
Based on a series of light novels written by Takabayashi Tomo. Produced by Studio Deen. Director: Junji Nishimura
Status: seasons 1+2: 78 ep x 24 min; Kyo kara Maoh! R (OVA) (sequel): 5 ep x 30 min; season 3: 36 ep x 30 min = 117 eps total, all subbed.
Genres: adventure, comedy, fantasy, romance, Shounen-Ai
Rating: PG-13
Found: via Amanuensis’s fic here.
Summary: Shibuya Yuuri was living a pretty normal life. That changed the day he was dunked into a toilet after an attempt to save a classmate from a gang of bullies. Instead of just getting a good soaking, he’s pulled in. The next thing he knows, he’s in a world that vaguely resembles medieval Europe. If that’s not odd enough, he’s told that he is to be the next Maoh, just because he has black hair and black eyes. The Maoh is the King of the Mazoku, who are coexisting not-so-peacefully with the humans in this world. Much to his subjects’ dismay, he’s totally different from the rulers they’re accustomed to. He’s kind, considerate, a believer in justice, and not willing to use violence to solve conflicts. Not exactly someone they want running a country on the very brink of war. Now, Yuri has to deal with trying to become a good Maoh, while at the same time attempting to adapt to this lands’ customs and culture, all in a world where the tension between the humans and Mazoku is reaching its peak.
Related links: Wiki article, list of characters (contains spoilers), manga adaptation, light novel. Discussion of all things KKM-related at Aarinfantasy forums, list of KKM doujinshi available at Aarinfantasy forums (scroll down). On LJ: kkm_yaoi (name’s self-explanatory; they also list KKM comms in their profile); kyou_kara_maou (general KKM comm), the_daily_maou (a KKM newsletter), Kyou Kara Maou fandom overview. Characters in dresses from a game or something but it’s entertaining.
Download: @ GalAnime up to ep.100 + OVA; some episodes are also available at Aarinfantasy (search the forums on your own) and in torrents all over the net. You can search torrents of subbed episodes via BakaUpdates.

My notes: if I had a 10-point rating system (where 1 is the lowest, 10 is the highest) and were to rate the quality of animation in Kyou Kara Maou (further KKM), I’d give it 5. I’d give the same rating for plot. But the overall rating of mine would nevertheless be 7, which, converted into my personal appreciation marks, means #. Paradox? Yeah, well, sort of :) I’ll explain. Bear with me please and read it to the end because I’ll start with how this anime is barely average but I will come to how it has been my joy and comfort for this past month.

I don’t know how much money went into which anime production, but KKM looks like what I call a cheap anime — unlike, say, Code Geass or Fullmetal Alchemist or, to be quite radical, Gankutsuou. I base this evaluation on how much detail and detailed motion drawing goes into an average scene: to convey walk, talk, horse ride, etc. It’s even more telling if to take a battle scene. In this respect, KKM is so cheap it almost hurts. Remember how battles are drawn? One character frozen in motion, the other too, slash, slash across the black screen, the result. The frontal horse ride consists of two frames repeated? Three? Well, something like this.

The art itself is nothing to write home about to begin with, and it keeps changing rather wildly as different artists work, say Gwendal’s face changes like whoa in ep 65, well, all other faces too. It’s not always easy to find good screencaps ‘cos either the face would be distorted, or a body.

The writing is pretty messy too. The plot meanders in the manner of a soap made on the go. There are lots of sub-stories that don’t add anything to … well, to anything. Characterisation is either random or non-existent during long parts. Sometimes I almost ranted at the screen, “Move on with the main plot already!” There are anime shows where there are problems with pacing. Well, comparing to them, KKM needs that the very idea of pacing be introduced to the writers.

In my opinion, it all is especially noticeable at the beginning, for the first 20 episodes or so, when the drawbacks poke you in the eye but you don’t love the characters yet for it to seem sweet. It’s rather less than exciting while the new king runs about saving damsels in distress, kids, and cute kittens time and time again, with nothing progressing. So we established that he’s a good, kind boy, not very studious and rather bratty but with a heart of gold. One-two episodes like that would be enough to establish what kind of person he is. 20 is a bit too many.

BUT! I loved this anime and enjoyed it an awful lot, re-watching old episodes while waiting for the newer ones to be subbed.

Because first of all, it’s huge fun! It has every cliché and archetype ever written worked into it: there’s a Sauron and orks and wolf changelings, there are elf houses in the trees; there are Dumbledore and Grindelwald; there’s magic of various kinds, humans and demons, half-bloods and purebloods. There are wars and treasons and orphaned kids and most comical romances. There are kings and national customs and stereotypes and villains and knights in shining armour. Just name something and it’s likely included in this kaleidoscope of clichés. And most of it is fun, cheesy, and tongue-in-cheek.

Also, it’s officially slashy. To begin with, Yuuri gets a fiancée almost immediately, which fiancée is a boy, Wolfram. Then, everybody keeps hitting on him or lusting after him (see my icon). There’s cross-dressing, dancing, Wolfram’s jealous fits, and whatnot. There’s a slash (yaoi) fans’ running commentary delivered by the maids who make bets on various character’s chances and evaluate the positive sides of various couples.

Whatever kind of slash pairing you like, you’ll find it here — well, almost whatever — and there will be enough grounds for it to sustain your hopes. A mentor/student pairing? Konrad/Yuuri. A Harry/Draco one? Yuuri/Wolfram, the canonical one. An Eroica/Iron Klaus sort of opposites attract? Günter/Gwendal. A historical one? Dig around the original king, Shinou. A comrades in arms kind? Konrad/Yozak. A buddy pairing? Yuuri/Murata Ken. And so on.

The running gags become the more precious the more times they are repeated. Sleeping!Wolfram is the winner of my heart, and so is knitting!Gwendal, mumbling “It’s a kitty!” or Günter running about with his mournful cry “Heikaaaaaa!” McGonagall!Gunter is also among my favourite things, especially when he pulls his hair in a bun and wears reading glasses :)

The Mazoku world is really charming. The demon sword Morgif is hilarious, the bear-bees, the vulture-like birds that cry “Bad omen! Bad omen!”, the flying skeletons, the shiny head of Christo Gruff, Anissina’s fantastic inventions — they are all precious.

And of course the characters are very easy to love. Even the protagonist, Yuuri, whom I found extremely annoying at first, grew on me. I fell in love with the king’s Mazoku entourage almost at once. My favourites are Günter and Gwendal. So here’s as good a place to introduce a few of the characters as any.

To see Characters in screencaps, go to my LJ post. There you’ll find:

Shibuya Yuuri, a 15 (later 16) year old Japanese boy who turns to be the new Maou (Maoh), a Mazoku king.

Maou!Yuuri (you’ll get what it is when you watch the anime)

Yuuri’s fiancée Wolfram von Bielefeld, the third son of the former Maou and arguably, the cutest of them all.

Conrad/Conrart/Konrad Weller, the second son of the former Maou, half-human, the man who named Yuuri, the best swordsman in Shin Makoku and sort of Yuuri’s knight.

Gwendal von Voltaire (or von Walde, in other translations) — I like the former better ‘cos it’s funnier. The eldest son of the former Maou, the commander of the demon army and sort of Councellor. Loves knitting and baby animals :)

Günter von Kleist (some translations say ‘von Christ’), Yuuri’s advisor, mentor, and teacher, head of one of the ten ruling families of Shin Makoku. Lurve ♥ :)

There are lots and lots more loveable characters, and I like them all: Adelbert von Grantz and Lady Celi, Anissina von Karbelnikoff and Saralegui, Shinou and Murata Ken, Yozak Gurrier and Jenies, and others. For more information about the characters, look here (contains spoilers). Honestly, guys, I’ve been picking screencaps and fell in love with this anime a bit more again.

As I said above, I don’t like the drawing throughout the series but I like the art of the second half of season 1 best and also ep.48-49. I also like how the OVA are drawn.

I don’t really have favourite episodes. I have favourite scenes. But I liked ep. 47 about Gwendal’s youth and the “Konrad Stands upon the Earth” scene. IMO it was done beautifully. But I mostly adore the comic scenes.

There are things in this anime that should have annoyed me to no end. But in all this lovely mess, they didn’t. Say, the almost totalitarian religion of Shinou would be disturbing if it weren’t, well, Shinou (especially he of later in the series) and Shin Makoku with all the ridiculous things that are normal there.

This anime is potentially endless. It seems to be over with three full seasons (people in KKM comms are petitioning for the continuation). But with its structure, there can be season 4 and 5 easily. Anyway, I’m impatiently waiting for the last subbed episodes. And sorry for the rambling rec :)

Let Dai (1995-2005) ##
Artist: Woon Soo-yeon (Won Sooyeon)
Scanlation Group: Seri Chan’s Translations
Genre: Drama Mature Psychological Romance Shounen Ai Tragedy
Status: 15 volumes (complete), licensed
Warnings/rating: NWS for violence; reads left to right
Found: Recced by ahoythere here: It’s just been completely scanlated a few days ago (15 volumes!!) and I haven’t read it past volume one, but oh my god, I know it’ll break your heart because I spoiled myself. Here’s how a reviewer put it: “This manhwa is about a teenage gang leader named Dai who changes whatever world he steps into. He’s beautiful, dangerous, quiet, and unpredictable. He also has the emotional maturity of a 6-year-old, and I don’t mean that in a manchild sort of way - I mean that he literally thinks about things the way a 6-year-old thinks about things. He hits people when he’s upset, he leaves conversations halfway through, he expresses his sexuality through touching and kissing and absolutely nothing else. He’s wholly deranged and impossible to ignore. People love Dai or they hate Dai - there’s nothing in-between.”
Summary: From NetComics: Set in a soulless neo-Seoul ruled by young punks and pleasure seekers, an amoral teenager named Dai is the living embodiment of the city’s beauty and cruelty. As the leader of the vicious Furies gang, Dai seduces everyone who lays eyes on him, only to blind them to his own barbaric nature. When an honest schoolboy named Jaehee rescues a beautiful girl from being mugged by the Furies, he can’t possibly realize how this brief encounter will plunge him into a downward spiral of unbridled passion and unfathomable pain. From his brutal gang initiation to an unspeakable act committed against his girlfriend, Jaehee wavers uncomfortably between revulsion and fascination. And in Dai he finds a tender, caring friend one moment and a heartless sociopath the next, awakening strange and unhealthy desires in Jaehee that he could never before have imagined.
Download: you can buy it via Amazon or other online bookstore or find it online in the usual manga-sharing places. IMO you really should buy your own paper copy. I have :)

My notes: I feel as if I’ve been through a meat-grinder but I loved every moment of it.

I read Let Dai for three days, had dreams about Dai every night, made myself take a two-day break to let my head un-mess itself a bit. When I reached vol. 15 and suddenly realised that there was only one volume left, I got so agitated that I nearly cried. Because NOOOOO! Don’t end please! In the end, I read it through yesterday’s night until 9 in the morning and after that, dreamed of Dai again. I think some panels and scenes are etched into my retinas but I’m going to read it again anyway, just to savour details.

Let Dai had been sitting on my hard drive since ahoythere’s rec, but the final push came from Furiosity who said she thought I might like it. Oh, I did. Not sure I have enough words to express how much I did though.

The story is what I expected it to be and absolutely not.

First of all, have a look at more covers.

The covers are pretty but misleading. They are all so deceptively tender and peaceful. They do reflect an important side of the manhwa and Dai and Jaehee’s relationship but if one buys it seduced by the covers, I guess they will be in for a big surprise. Because the story is anything but peaceful.

It is, in fact, very dramatic and so intense that sometimes I caught myself literally holding my breath or biting my fingers. Another thing is, I was expecting this manhwa to be a sheer angst fest and darkness galore after reading the NetComics’ summary, because this summary rather than the covers was how I started to get acquainted with it. But what I noticed most when reading was a love story, a painful but pretty tender one, and far less scary than I thought it would be. So I think it’s a surprise whatever side you come from.

We meet the two main characters as polar opposites. Jaehee is a good boy. He’s a good student, does some semi-official good-boy school stuff, loves his mother (and has a very open, friendly relationship with her), is nice to his girlfriend, and so on. He’s a bit of a whimp but can fight if necessary. A good and very pretty boy. You get the picture. Dai Lee is a really bad boy. He’s unpredictable in his behaviour like a random numbers generator, cruel, vindictive, uncaring, cold, beyond merely selfish, violent, but also beautiful. You’d think it’s as cliché as it can get. Well, it’s not, please believe me. That is, of course it is because how many centuries old is this plot? What new can there be? But even such an old tale can be made fresh and captivating, and Woon Soo-yeon certainly made it striking, as for me.

So we meet them as opposites — that attract, also promptly following the cliché. There’s something in Dai that fascinates Jaehee, and something in Jaehee that attracts Dai. Ultimately, it’s a story about love: how it changes people, making some commit atrocities, some others, make fools of themselves, and redeeming others and forcing them to grow. There are many more love stories (and friendship, and affection, but also betrayals and cruelty) within this story that make it really multi-dimensional but of course most of it is about Dai and Jaehee. They yearn to become one, and I love how they rub off on each other (metaphorically speaking) and sort of even become each other, to some extent.

This is also a story about growing up. At the beginning, Dai seems larger than life and the teen gangs look like they are the world. But as you keep reading, at some point it strikes you: OMG, they are just children. Cruel and messed up, and they can (and do) bite the hand that feeds them, and they can and do break hearts and lives, but I nearly cried over them because they are so lost and confused, so emo and hurting. Yes, the story is emo because the characters are. But it’s not annoying at all. It only drives home the memory of your own teen years and makes it feel so freaking real! This is, btw, what amazed me most in this manhwa. I felt as if I accidentally used a Time-Turner and became 16-18 again, felt what first love feels like again and saw the world around how I saw it then. Stirred a hurricane inside me.

During the entire manhwa Dai and Jaehee’s relationship is like that of two magnets: being pulled together with one end and pushed apart with the other. And the story itself is this endless pull-push too, angsty then lovely, scary then sweet, cruel then funny. The pacing perfectly fits these waves, as for me. The story is fast-paced but slows down where necessary to let you digest the most affecting parts. So in this context, I like the ending and think it’s very fitting. Because you wouldn’t expect it to be simple in a story like this, now would you? A spoiler for the ending white on white, first one-word, if you want to know what kind of ending it is: open, ambiguous, or hopeful. In more detail in comments under my request for spoilers. And some thoughts of mine: Actually, the ending is more hopeful than you’d expect in the middle of the manhwa. I liked how it ended, even the abruptness of it and that it’s off-screen. Because I can’t imagine their relationship at that stage reaching any sort of definitive answer, be it a happily ever after or a full break-up. Until both of them grow up completely and maybe even after that, they have a long way to go yet in learning how to compromise between their love and the rest of their lives. [/end spoiler]. ETA: a discussion of the ending with the folks who have read the manga here in my LJ.

I could talk about the wonderful supporting and secondary characters (Naru Hagi especially, gosh, he’s so, so lovely!) but I should stop somewhere. Maybe I’ll add something later.

One thing I do want to talk about before I finish this rec is drawing. I’m in love, for real. Those of you who’ve been reading my LJ for a while probably know that my type of man is Iron Klaus from Eroica or Till of Rammstein. I don’t like them young and slender. But OMG, I couldn’t look at Dai or Jaehee enough. They are so beautiful I feel like crying. I’ve been looking at those panels with the rain (see below) for hours.

Have a look at a few sample panels from the manhwa here. They are beautiful.

What bugs me is that can’t pronounce the names. I have no idea how Jaehee sounds and even less so about the names of the sisters, Eunhyung and Yooneun. So if any of you speak Korean and can transcribe them for me, I’d be very grateful.

Anyway, I think it’s a beautiful and wonderfully moving story. Give it a try!

MANGA: Loveless (since 2002) []
Mangaka: Kouga Yun
Groups Scanlating: Kamibana Scanlations, Obsession, Shoku-dan, Raburesu lj
Status: 9 Volumes (ongoing), licensed; scanlation ongoing
Genre: Drama Fantasy Mystery School Life Shounen Ai Supernatural
Found: was recced by lots of people and has been languishing on my HD for about a year.
Summary: From Tokyopop: Aoyagi Ritsuka is one troubled 6th grader. Two years ago, he mysteriously lost his memory and developed an alternate personality. His mother constantly berates (and occasionally beats) him, asking what happened to the “real” Ritsuka, and his only defender and friend, his older brother Seimei, was recently killed.
Suddenly, Seimei’s apparent “friend,” Soubi, appears. Soubi tells him that Ritsuka’s true name is “Loveless,” and that Soubi was assigned by Seimei to take care of Ritsuka and protect him. Ritsuka soon gets sucked into a bizarre underground society where teams of people, a “Fighter” and a “Sacrifice,” battle using elaborate and beautifully-phrased spells. He seeks both acceptance of himself and the answer to the mystery of who killed his brother and why.
Download: at the groups’ sites.

ANIME (2005)
Starts at Vol 1, Ch 1. Ends at Vol 4, Ch 9.
Director: Yuu Kou
*summary at Animenews is rather misleading.
Status: Prologue + 12 ep x 23 min.

My notes: now this is some seriously weird stuff! I mean seriously weird. Weird main characters, not to say fucked-up, very strange relationships between them, things being turned upside down again and again as the story goes on, elements of various genres used, - this all creates a very strange whole.

I fell into a complex love/hate with this universe from the very first look. You see, kids have cat’s ears and tails there. On the one hand, the worst kind of Yaoi I ever read was one with cat’s ears in it: pointless, cliched, drawn so-so, and catering to readers’ kinks at the expense of everything else. On the other, if I ever see it done well, I’ll fall in love with it because I love cats and their ears, when they ever allow you to pet them, are awesome. I don’t mind Furries. So I was prepared to hate it but hoping to love it, but in the end, it turned out to be neither. Because cat’s ears in this universe don’t play any part except fan service. Because again, and here I’ll hide it by making it white on white, they indicate a character’s virginity and fall off when they lose it.[/end spoiler] And that’s all. I mean, it’s a lovely but completely superfluous element because if you decide to read much meaning into it (relationships between adults and kids/teens in Loveless or the role of sex in this society), you’ll have to admit it’s pretty underwritten and underdeveloped too. A working element must work more :) But in any case, by the middle of the anime, I started liking those ears and tails for the sheer pettability of them, forgive me for inventing a word.

As you see, I have opinions about cat’s ears in Loveless. But what gets me most in it — it still remains to see if it gets me in a good or bad way, about which later — is probably genre confusion. I mean, at first when Soubi appears and keeps confessing his love for Ritsuka (it’s the very beginning of the story, so I don’t think I’m spoiling anybody), I thought it was Shounen Ai that would quickly slide into Yaoi. Well, definitely not the latter: as far as I’ve read it (all scanlated parts), it’s not Yaoi at all. It has elements of Shounen Ai and Yuri but they are only elements in a more complex whole. Back to the beginning: very soon after Soubi, there appear fighting pairs, and that element follows very typical Shounen cliches. If you read Shounen manga, you can name them yourself: each next opponent will be stronger than the previous one, some of them will turn into allies, and the fighting will be shown step by step. Some essential elements are missing though. The fighting is magical and two-on-two (with a few exceptions), with carefully pronounced incantations rather than swords, which also takes it a step away from the cliche. There’s also an RPG that merges with reality in an unclear way. And the main character isn’t focused on becoming stronger. He has a completely different agenda.

Which brings us to the plot. At first, the main driving element of the mystery is the question, “Who killed Seimei?” Ritsuka wants to find them and avenge his beloved older brother. The more new characters appear, the more new information we (and Ritsuka) learn, the more contradicting POVs we see, the more different versions of events and opinions on characters we hear, the more complicated the story becomes, until several bangs and even BANGS happen that turn the plot into something else entirely. The question that nagged at me the most while I was watching/reading Loveless though wasn’t the one I asked at the beginning of the paragraph. And I think at this point of the story, it’s the one that matters most: what really happened to Ritsuka? What caused him to lose his memory and change personality?[/end spoiler] We know it had happened before the other thing. So what was it?

Somebody in a less charitable mood than I am now could call the story messy instead of complex. And that would also be a fitting word. The story does leap from thing to thing, gets sidetracked following secondary characters (which annoyed me to no end, I must confess. I mean, why do I have to learn about personal relationships within some other fighting team if we will never see them again?); new information cancels our previous concepts, and POVs do contradict each other. By this point (9 volumes! 7 years of writing) no one still can tell what’s really going on. My problem with it is this: I have no idea whether this manga is so confusing because the author knows too well what she’s doing and have a plan to confuse readers or on the contrary, because she has no clue and is thinking on her feet. I have a nagging suspicion that it’s the latter. But in any case, I’m afraid we won’t know until she finishes it, if she ever does. I’ll raise the rating if the plot gets resolved sufficiently, with no holes left.

The story is entertaining and even engrossing, and we have more than confusing plot to thank for it. The two main characters, Ritsuka and Soubi, are very interesting. They are appealing and intriguing at the same time. Ritsuka is a very cute boy of 12. He had some serious trauma in the past — one unrevealed, the other, the death of his older brother whom he loved and whom he remembers as his protector. But Ritsuka doesn’t remember much. He’s scared of forgetting and disappearing, as his former self disappeared. He’s rather standoffish but honest and not nasty, and that makes people want to try and get closer to him. His newly acquired Fighter, Soubi, is an art student of 20, an adult, who puts himself in the hands of Ritsuka, completely submitting to him — except when he can’t because Seimei’s will overrides everything even when Seimei hasn’t been his partner for some time, and except where it matters that he’s an experienced and grown man and Ritsuka is just a boy and needs guidance. Soubi is pretty (hair, aww!), willowy, has an amazing voice in the anime. Soubi likes pain. He needs to be controlled and ordered about to a degree none of the other Fighters does. He’s also an amazingly skilled Fighter. The balance of power in the pair is very interesting to observe, as is the balance of trust and their slow adapting to each other.

I think I will continue following this manga when more chapters get published and scanlated. Hope it doesn’t disappoint.

I don’t have any advise on what to begin with if you want to try it, anime or manga. I started with the anime, following on to the manga in hope that it would clear some confusion. It did but confused me in other things all the more :) I don’t really think the order of getting acquainted with the two media matters. Pick the one you like better and give it a try. At the very least it will entertain you.

Okane ga Nai (No money) (2007) []
Director: Makoto Sokuza
Genres: comedy, drama, erotica, romance, yaoi
Rating: Adults only! (Contains explicit sexual content)
Status: 4ep x 25min
Summary: Yukiya Ayase is a gentle, kind hearted, and innocent university student. The only relative he has left, his cousin Tetsuo, betrays Ayase by selling him to the highest bidder in an auction with hopes of making an enormous profit to be able to pay off his debts. Somuku Kanou, a bad-tempered (though very rich) loan shark, comes to Ayase’s rescue and buys Ayase for an impressive 1.2 billion. Kanou apparently knows Ayase from something that happened between them in the past, but Ayase cannot remember who Kanou is nor does he understand why he “saved” him. In a desperate effort to keep Ayase close to him, Kanou demands the debt be repaid in full and suggests the perfect way to do it: by selling his body to Kanou for 500,000 each time. Ayase is horrified in the beginning, but something soon begins to grow between them that can’t be bought for any price.

My notes: This is the first yaoi anime I finished (I had tried watching something else but fled). Yes, it’s cliched. Honestly, it has nearly any yaoi cliché you can think of. Large angular seme whose hand is bigger than the entire uke’s head, and on the whole he’s about twice as big as the uke. Seme is a very manly man, Yakuza loan shark, tough and very macho. Uke is small, waif-like, and looks like a 12-year-old (well, ok, 14) girl rather than a male uni student. He is, of course, a wet blanket. There’s of course seme’s inability to hold his feelings in check and — thankfully — nearly raping the object of his passion. The drawing is also in the style I dislike: the aforementioned underlined size differences, those huge wet uke’s puppy eyes, etc.

BUT! Here’s a ‘but’ of course. I wouldn’t finish it if it were nothing but a sum of clichés. There’s a story in there, and however clichéd it is (is, is of course), it’s coherent, plotty enough, and the characters are coherent too. I mean, it happens way too often that I read a yaoi manga and keep ranting, “Just what sort of logic is this? Just what sort of motivation is that?” In this anime, the characters’ motivations and the logic of their behaviour are understandable and often even nicely shown. It’s also well-balanced between comedy and drama. The funny scenes are funny (see hamster training in ep. 2), the dramatic scenes are moving. You will find something to laugh at as well as something to cry about.

A note on the rating: explicit but censored? explicit but not very? Meaning: plenty of sex and quite a bit of violence but no male bits shown.

My overall impression is positive. Not a masterpiece but pleasant enough to spent a couple of hours on. It’s the right length for it, too. Recommended.

Pet Shop of Horrors ##
Mangaka: Akino Matsuri
Scanlated by: Eternal Sleep
Status: 10 volumes, licensed; sequel, Shin Pet Shop of Horrors, licensed, ongoing
Genre: Comedy Fantasy Horror Josei Mystery Supernatural
Summary: From Tokyopop: A smoke-filled alley in Chinatown harbors Count D’s Pet Shop. The pets sold here aren’t your everyday variety and the Count prides himself on selling Love and Dreams in the form of magical creatures that come with an exclusive contract. But buyers beware. If the contract is broken the Count cannot be held accountable for whatever may happen. A fascinating and macabre look into the very soul of human nature.
More covers in my LJ

My notes: I love this manga. It was the first manga that I read beginning to end and enjoyed. You’ve probably read manga where the drawing technique was more elaborate or unique. You’ve possibly read manga with a much more solid, tight storyline. I find though that it doesn’t really matter. A story doesn’t have to be perfect to be utterly enticing. And Pet Shop of Horrors (further PSOH) is. So. Freaking. Charming.

Or maybe you are like I was: rather spooked with or uninterested in manga-style drawing (which, as it turns out at a closer look, isn’t one style at all). I think PSOH can be a good place to start getting acquainted with manga. Because it’s eclectic and has elements that may appeal to different kinds of readers: horror/supernatural, mystery, crime/action, humour, morality tale, and then there are animals and very attractive main characters.

I began with the PSOH anime (available on YouTube). It consists of only four episodes (Daughter (from Vol 1.3, rabbit), Delicious (Vol 2.3(7), Mermaid), Despair (Vol 1.2, Medusa), and Dual (Vol 5.1, Kiri). People say that Count D’s voice in Japanese is better but I really liked his English voice (I watched the English version).

I admit that by the end of episode one I was thoroughly creeped out. It still stands out in my mind as one of the creepiest episodes in the series, but to see it first, without any idea what I was getting into? Was a shock. But I was intrigued too: how come that animals are also people? I mean, how? And what’s this Count D’s agenda? He didn’t seem evil, but the consequences of his business transaction were quite horrible. So I watched on. And by the end of episode four was absolutely, madly in love with him. So of course I rushed to find the manga. It’s not difficult to find; I think it might be sold where you live, and if not and if Amazon isn’t an option for you, it can be found on the net almost in any big place that trades manga.

There are ten volumes of the original PSOH manga, and three more of Shin Pet Shop of Horrors, the sequel that features different main characters. The premise is as follows. In LA Chinatown, there’s a Pet Shop. Quoting from the book: “Its proprietor, an enigmatic figure known only as Count D, beckons through his doors the injured and the scarred, introducing them to creatures friendly and bizarre. […] Detective Leon Orcot [..] has traced a series of seemingly unrelated crimes to Count D and his Pet Shop of Horrors. A steadfast skeptic, Leon dismisses as trickery the inexplicable events he witnesses.”

It begins as spooky; the morals are a bit annoying and repetitive, and detective Leon Orcot seems to be little more than a hot-tempered dunderhead. But it’s still intriguing. So you read on. And it becomes less creepy, or at least much more varied. The dunderhead turns out to be not that bad. You begin to see the logic (or a logic) of Count D’s actions. Then, gradually, the big story becomes a focus rather than those short ones of which it consists. Leon and Count D develop a sort of friendship that is actually 3/5 flirting and 2/5 shouting at each other. Enter Chris, a six-year-old third main character. You learn more and more about Leon, his past, and his life; in the end you learn a lot about Count D too (in Vol 10 in particular). You learn to treasure the drawing: D’s expressions, comic relief scenes, outfits, animals. So when it ends, you turn to fanfiction as the only painkiller available — ‘cos it ended, and the very fact is devastating.

On the way it so happens that the two main characters and antagonists have a real potential. It’s easy to develop a crush on Count D. He’s enigmatic, mysterious, aloof, and the further the more appealing. But whom I really love is Leon. He’s an ordinary guy to umpteenth degree, but he’s so good it’s impossible not to fall for him. Leon hides strength of character and integrity under his rude and messy outlook. He’s like Harry: often clueless but true and good. By the end of the first series, my heart was so totally his that I couldn’t completely get into Shin Pet Shop. You’ll see why when you get there. Chris is plain wonderful. And animals? Awesome. T-chan in particular, but you won’t meet him until the middle of the series. So, love it is :)

I want to say thank you again to iibnf for the anime and to RexLuscus whose enthusiasm made me try it and who’s been a wonderful guide.

The Piano Forest (Piano no Mori) (Perfect World of Kai) (2007) #
Genres: drama, tournament. Themes: music, piano.
Status: OVA (101 min)
Anime Start/End Chapter: Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1. Ends at Vol 6, Chap 41.
Director: Masayuki Kojima
Summary: Amamiya Shuuhei transfers to Moriwaki elementary filled with hope and ambition. But it doesn’t take long before he gets picked on by the class bullies, and gets involved in a dare to play the mysterious piano in the forest. Igniting his meeting with an equally enigmatic child that goes by the name of Ichinose Kai, who seems to be the only one capable getting sound out of the thought to be broken piano.
Found: saw it shared in some anime comm and thought the summary looked intriguing.
Manga BU page.
Mangaka: Isshiki Makoto
Genre: Comedy Drama Seinen Slice of Life
Status: 17 Volumes (Ongoing), scanlation ongoing.
Summary: from KEFI: A tranquil tale about two boys from very different upbringings. On one hand you have Kai, born as the son of a prostitute, who’s been playing the abandoned piano in the forest near his home ever since he was young. And on the other you have Syuhei, practically breast-fed by the piano as the son of a family of prestigious pianists. Yet it is their common bond with the piano that eventually intertwines their paths in life.
Download: I’ve watched it at Youtube.

My notes: I must say it at the very beginning that contrary to my usual way of getting familiar with a new animanga, I haven’t read the manga this time. I only watched the anime, so please take into account that everything I’ll be saying is only about the anime.

This is a pleasant story: while not action/adventure, it has enough plot to keep your attention, especially around the climax. The boys are likeable. Kai’s pretty wild and brash but also kind and has this inner purity and honesty that sometimes accompany raw talent and that influence people around him. I liked his practical reasons for learning things. He can’t read score; he plays what he has heard. Once he found that he couldn’t reproduce a particular piece of Chopin’s, he plays scales to learn to play this particular piece, not because one must learn scales first, nor to become a good pianist in general. And so on. I absolutely adored his literal-mindedness about Mozart. The crowd of Mozarts made me laugh every time they appeared. In other words, Kai is lovely and very refreshing. Shuuhei is a bit more boring because he’s very straight-laced for a boy his age and he plays the piano for all the wrong reasons, but doesn’t it often happen this way? The two boys meet and gradually change each other. The best about their relationship, as for me, was the ways it didn’t go. I can’t say much more here but I liked how the dramatic side of it was downplayed rather than milked for all it’s worth. It makes Piano no Mori a soothing story.

I think animation and drawing are good. I hear that the main problem people have with the manga is the drawing style. Am not able to say anything about that yet but I can’t see what’s not to like in the anime, if to speak of the visual side. It’s neither cheap nor banal, and it’s the only anime so far where a character playing the piano didn’t make me cringe.

This leads me to why I give it only one star if I like everything. Not quite everything, as it turns out. You see, it’s piano this and piano that, piano this and piano that. In more coherent speak, the story is fine and lovely but, I don’t know, very narrow. Not unlike Hikaru no Go. But HnG was much more emotionally affecting and the story was much bigger than just about Go in the end. It sort of turned me inside out, made me live it for months. Here somehow I didn’t have the impression that the story is bigger than the main theme. Pleasant? Yes. Interesting? Yes, enough. Can I relate? Nope. Apart from that, I repeat, it’s a lovely story. I doubt you’d regret spending 1.5 hours on it, so give it a try!

Samurai Champloo (2004-2005) ##
Genres: action, adventure, comedy, drama; Themes: Historical, Samurai
Rating: Mature, R (contains sex — not very explicit but there, drugs, and graphic violence)
Status: 26 ep x 23 min
Director: Watanabe Shinichirou
Found: uploaded by somebody on my flist
Summary: Mugen’s a buck wild warrior - violent, thoughtless and womanizing. Jin is a vagrant ronin - mysterious, traditional, well-mannered and very strong as well. These two fiercely independent warriors can’t be any more different from one another, yet their paths cross when Fuu, a ditzy waitress, saves them from being executed when they are arrested after a violent swordfight. Fuu convinces the two vagrant young men to help her find a mysterious samurai “who smells of sunflowers.” And their journey begins. This is a story about love, friendship and courage… NOT!
Related links: Wiki article.

My notes: this is a story of my life: however many reviews I read before watching something, however many people’s opinions listen to, I’ll imagine something completely different from the real thing. Either my imagination is too wild or reviews are useless. Take you pick :)

So when I heard that Mugen’s fighting style was influenced by break-dance and that the soundtrack was hip-hop, I imagined something aimed for teenagers to a far greater degree than what Champloo actually is. I found this anime utterly charming, and my main impression of it, despite the rivers of blood, was that it’s soothing and very entertaining, often outright funny. I watched it two times in a row, and a few select episodes a week after that.

This is a historical anime, and as far as I can see (not far, admittedly), it’s accurate. Except when it’s deliberately anachronistic. Those anachronistic elements are very tongue-in-cheek. They are often moking, poking fun of various cultures (gently or not): European, American — but Japanese very own too, turning modern cliches, trends, and fashios upside down. What they really do though, as for me, they create a real, living and ironical, connection between “then” and “now”. I should think that modernising history is doomed to make the anime look cheap and stupid. But instead, it feels truer to history, more historical than many a straightforward historical anime or manga I’ve read or tried.

The plot is a road trip: a series of connected short stories follow the main characters as they travel to their goal — which, btw, remains mysterious until the last episodes, although if you are attentive, you’ll be able to figure it out faster. Some episodes are more losely connected to the storyline (see the end of this rec), others more closely, but in any case road trip is an ideal format for this kind of story. The time is the end of the Samurai era, the epoche about which Kurosawa Akira loved to make films. The two main characters, Jin and Mugen, are typical for such change-of-epoche times. One’s traditional, the other absolutely unorthodox, both are scarily skillful with a sword and both have nowhere to properly apply or sell their talents. So they wander.

And my, they are such fantastic, fabulous main characters! I promise you that you’ll fall in love with at least one of them, if not all three!

Fuu. She is ditzy indeed, but also courageous and loyal and cunning, in her own way :)

Mugen, the wild one. Dirty, uneducated, ever horny and hungry, and uncaring on the surface, he’s pretty sharp beneath all his loudness and rudeness, and not as uncaring as he’d like to look.

Jin, the mysterious one. Quiet and proper, he’s the last Samurai, of sorts, in a new world where commerce rules over honor.

(If you want to see screencaps, head to this LJ post of mine.)

On the whole, I think, Samurai Champloo is a very harmonious creation. I also think it’s very well-done. The animation is good, not to say superb, the soundtrack is very fitting, and the overlaying structure of the story, well, I can only wish many other anime, even those I liked, were as good. Also, in this series, I saw the best recap episode ever: ep.12. I’d never seen it done so well before and doubt I’ll be lucky enough to see many well-done recaps in the future.

I feel I have to repeat: this anime is fun and even sweet, despite the amount of violence and even death that happens in there. Only it’s not for kids.

I heard that somebody was dissatisfied with the ending and so was expecting a huge failure to obliterate all my enjoyment. But I didn’t have any problem with it whatsoever. I actually think the ending is very good: very much in the mood of the story, it ties up everything while leaving room for the spectator to make up scenarios for the future.

My only small bone to pick with it is the last two out-of-the-main-line episodes closer to the end, the baseball one and that one I’m not naming ‘cos it would be a spoiler. IMO they break the pacing and could have been built in better.

But the conclusion is: highly recommended!

They were Eleven (11-nin iru! ; Juuichi nin Iru) (1975) #
Mangaka: Hagio Moto
Genre: Drama Gender Bender Mystery Sci-fi Shoujo
Status: licensed, oneshot, part of Four Shoujo Stories
Warning: pretty bad scan quality; reads left to right!
Found: via Parlophone’s recommendation
Summary: The elite Cosmo Academy attracts applicants from every stellar nation in the galaxy. One young hopeful is Tadatos Lane, an orphan esper from Terra. The final stage of the academy’s entrance exam is a perilous mission simulation aboard an actual derelict starship. The applicants depart for the ships in groups of ten, but when Tada’s crew arrives on the Esperanza, they are horrified to discover that they now number eleven. As the test progresses, things go awry and the atmosphere grows increasingly tense. The crew members begin to suspect sabotage, and Tada appears to be the likely culprit.
Read here.

My notes: there are several obstacles to overcome but if you do, this is a really captivating, wonderful story! Those obstacles are: a) the quality of the scan: it’s a simple scan of the licensed English version, not cleaned at all; b) it reads left to right. I got terribly confused at the beginning and kept trying to read every other page in the wrong order. Then there are my personal misgivings: Sci-Fi is, arguably, my least favourite genre. “Space ship” for me is like “watersports” for some :) It doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy a Sci-Fi story. It means that I’m extremely reluctant to read it. Parlophone told me how nice this story was and gave me the link to go read it. I went there, saw the bad scans and wrinkled my nose in displeasure. I decided to save all the pages to my computer to read at my leisure, using my keyboard for navigation, and got hooked while doing it!

The summary above is sufficient, so I want only to share my thoughts. I think this manga is a good example of coherent storytelling. You’ll say “well, duh” but really, how many truly coherent manga I’ve read recently? Not many. Add to this that They were Eleven has a wonderful balance of humour, suspense, and angst, a fine balance between plot and character development, and you’ll get a fine manga to read. The drawing is old-fashioned, but then it’s a more than 30-year-old work! But the style overall is very pleasant, as for me. Give it a try!

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (The Record of the Yokohama Shopping Trip) (1995) ##
By: Ashinano Hitoshi
Scanlation Groups: MangaProject, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Manga Scanlations, s.ADTRW
Status: 14 Volumes (Complete)
Genre: Drama Sci-fi Seinen Slice of Life
Found: recced by a RL friend with the words, “My all-time favourite. For me, this is an indisputable and incredible masterpiece — and I try not to say such words lightly. This is ’slice of life’ at its best and most complete, with some elements of sci-fi but they don’t matter much. Critically acclaimed, too.”
Summary: [From MangaProject]: This is the story of Alpha Hasseno, an Alpha 7 M2 series robot. Left by her owner, she appears and acts fully human while running a small coffee shop named Cafe Alpha. It is a light-hearted story about the people Alpha comes into contact with behind the backdrop of a futuristic country-side in Japan. As we meet Alpha, she makes a shopping trip to Yokohama.
A really nice review and DL.

My notes: This manga is pretty amazing but it doesn’t get through to you at once. It’s like a bud that you have to wait to grow. It’s worth it though. You’ll see a most unusual, beautiful flower if you are patient. I first thought it would be [] in my ratings, then it became # and in the end, I can’t express my love for it in anything other than ##. Now to convert my impressions into words.

This is a story where absolutely nothing happens for 14 volumes. This is a post-apocalyptic world. We don’t know what exactly has happened but the end result is: the world as we know it is dying. The sea level is coming up; the human civilisation is getting swallowed by the rising waters and grasses. The humankind is radically reduced in numbers already and keeps dying out before our eyes as the manga goes on. An android called Alpha keeps a coffee shop running way out of the way in the country in Japan. She has a customer every couple of days, which days she considers very busy. The customer is usually an old man who keeps a fuel filling column miles from Alpha’s or his grandson. The manga goes like this: Alpha takes her scooter and rides to some ruins to see the view from there. Alpha brews a pot of coffee. Alpha sits on the porch and gazes at the scenery around. Alpha drives to a city (which by that point looks like a village) for coffee beans. Another android delivers a parcel. A man with a flying fish wanders by.

The title underlines this non-eventfulness of the manga. It’s not that Alpha goes on a shopping trip where this or that adventure happens. It’s, on the contrary, just one small event in a row of the similar insignificant ones. I repeat: nothing happens in this manga, at all. There’s no plot. It’s just a gallery of the small things of which the small lives that are passing away with the world consist and which Alpha is watching and sometimes recording with her camera. There are no villains. No bad characters of any kind. No drama. This manga is the opposite of plotty. But it’s the definition of charming.

It’s so beautiful! By the middle of it, you begin cherishing those empty landscapes, roads being broken and taken over by grasses, abandoned houses, and more roads with nobody around for miles. It’s beautiful and lovely and full of quiet sorrow; not a tragedy but a gentle, loving goodbye. There’s also a hint of yuri, a very light one and as non-eventful as the rest of the manga. You can see a few pages from the manga in my LJ post here.

As a conclusion, highly recommended as one of the most charming and atmospheric things I’ve ever read!

A couple of things to know:

- I’m ‘omnivorous’, which means I read any genre and will give a go to any plot.
- That includes rape (which happens, like, in every other yaoi manga as the expression of undying love), incest, and shota(con). If you don’t know what that is, go read the corresponding articles in Wikipedia first. Otherwise, mind the genres and warnings, and if you know you don’t like something, simply don’t click the links. It’s not my task to cater to your kinks and squicks.
- If a manga is licensed, I won’t give link to places where to download it. If you want to read it, you’ll have to find it on your own. It’s not that difficult, seeing how many free manga-sharing communities and sites there are. But it would do good to support your favourite mangaka by buying her work!

## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”

If you want to also read my reviews of the yaoi manga I read that I’m not including here (I don’t like every one of them, naturally), go here. Chances are, you’ll like something that wasn’t quite to my tastes.

Manga are sorted

a) By title (Japanese title if it’s known by it better or the English one if the case is opposite)

b) By mangaka (to be added later)

Ai no Kusabi (1992-1994) #
Status: 2 ep x 60min
Genres: Drama Psychological Romance Sci-fi Tragedy Yaoi
Rating: R, mature
Based on this book by Yoshihara Rieko. Read about the book here.
Found: I’ve heard about the book and anime a lot but my watching/reading list is so long and there are so many things I want to try on it that this one always got pushed down. Until ura_hd recced it just a few days back. I went to check it and got lost in it :)
Summary: The story is set in the future on the planet named Amoi which is controlled by a supercomputer named Jupiter. Among the mostly male human population, the light-haired elite class is allowed to temporarily keep the dark-haired “mongrels” as pets. One elite member, Iason, encounters a mongrel named Riki in the slums and decides to take him in. However, Iason keeps Riki longer than it is socially approved, and rumors abound about their possible relationship.
Watch at Youtube or download at Aarinfantasy site, since they are the subbers.
Read more reviews here.
A new version is being made and is scheduled to be released spring 2010.

My notes: This one is really good! I wasn’t sure how much it was going to impress me while I was watching it, meaning: really good and I liked it quite a bit but it wasn’t quite love. A day passed. Then two. And I’m thinking and thinking and thinking about this story, watching and watching and watching some scenes in my head, and I find myself wanting to watch it again. So it couldn’t possibly be anything but love, especially for the last Riki/Iason scene, which, as for me, is near perfect.

If you are a scaredy cat (I am!), mind the genres. But also consider this: I try to avoid unhappy stories. But there’s something in this one, so poignant and beautiful, that it’s truly comforting and pacifying.

I loved the story. It must be really well-told — and I think it is! — for a Sci-Fi anything to overcome my aversion to the genre. And it’s always a plus for me when there’s love where it shouldn’t have been. In this case, in Iason. He is a super-human, one of the artificially created race that are, on average, much stronger and bigger than “natural” humans (which, come to think of it, is a decent background for seme/uke size cliché). They are also devoid of human feelings and urges. They need neither relationships nor sex and keep pets for their own amusement, to watch them. Except that an enslaved Riki is like a captured flame, and fighting to submit him, Iason somehow falls for him, in his strange way.

Riki is suffocating in captivity. But when he comes back to his gang of the pre-Iason’s years, things can’t return to what they once were. It’s a train wreck. You watch how a small conflict grows before your eyes, sucking in more and more people. You know it can’t end well. But it’s impossible to look away because by the time it reaches the point of no return, you are too invested in the characters, their friendships and animosities, their highly complex relationships.

I loved the art, too. At first I thought it was dated (and it reminded me of Akira somehow) but now I better say it’s a bit old-fashioned. Yes, you can see that it’s not an anime from this year but the art is nice, as for me. Especially Riki. I loved how he was drawn, when he’s brooding in particular.

As a conclusion, highly recommended!

*and no, I don’t want fanfiction. It’s a rare case when I think the story is perfect as it is.

Akanai Tobira (The door to the closed mind) []
Mangaka: Suzuki Tsuta
Scanlation group: Dangerous Pleasure
Status: 1 volume (complete), scanlation ongoing (ch. 3-5 released)
Genre: Yaoi
Warning: NWS
Recced by eromenos_x here
Summary: A book of oneshots (some are two chapters). 3) The Ugly Duckling and the Prince. In high school reserved Tayama paled in comparison to princely Tachibana, even the girl Tayama liked did nothing but talk about him. Now that they’re in the same college Tachibana has latched onto Tayama as his new best friend. Fighting off the Prince’s fan girls is proving to be troublesome, but more worrying are Tayama’s own feelings…
5) It’s Lonely When You’re Cold. Muraoka Takeo has been admiring the beautiful but reserved store clerk for months, but when Takeo finally gets up the nerve to talk to him he finds himself being kissed! When the object of his admiration proves to be more different than Takeo could ever imagine, is there any hope?
Download: here

My notes: Chapters 3 and 4 are the same story, the 1st part of which is told from one guy’s perspective and the second, from the other’s. When one guy is supposed to be good-looking and the other one just ordinary or ugly but they are drawn sort of the same, it makes me go “WTF?” Why should I believe words when there’s drawing? In the opening panels, it’s hard to get who’s saying what but it gets better later. There’s also some confusion in terminology. The guy is called a sadist so I expected some serious pain kink. But it’s dubcon and some rather forceful sex, and the guy doing it is pretty messed up and, yes, rather sadistic. But not S/M, no. Chapter 5 is also interesting.

These manga aren’t very unusual but there’s a nice twist in both of them that makes them easy to remember.

Anata no Tame nara doko Made mo (If it’s for you, no matter how far…) (2007) #
Mangaka: Nakamura Asumiko
Scanlated by: TerribleTrio
Genre: Yaoi, comedy
Status: 1 volume (complete)
Warnings: NWS
Found: posted in yaoi_daily.
Summary: Detective Takachiho had finally caught the elusive criminal Nanami Yoichi after chasing him all the way to a remote island. But what will happen to the pair of them when they accidentally miss the ferry home?
Download: here.

My notes: I loved this one! Maybe not for two stars but love it I did. I keep saying it about the manga reviewed today but it’s ridiculous and so much fun! And too cute for words! Nanami’s incorrigible and exasperating but he can charm the pants off anybody, so there’s no surprise it works on Takachiho. But Takachiho is whom I loved to bits here. I want to pinch his cheek and cuddle him, the adorable Serious Detective :) Anyway, this manga is delightful!

Angel’s Confession []
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Scanlation: Malariousarea
Genre: Yaoi
Status: complete, Oneshot
Warning: Not Worksafe
Found: asked for nice and loving shota in yaoi_daily_cafe
Summary: Yuuya’s parents are always fighting or out of town. When he gets locked outside on a cold winter’s night, he’s saved by his neighbor Moegi. Soon he’s spending most of his time at his “angel’s” and has fallen in love with him. But how does Moegi feel about him?
Download

My notes: First, a couple of notes on the translation. The opening panel shows a classical POV disruption: “My name is Makise Yuuya, a lively 15 years old” (not to mention bad grammar). The dialogue bubbles sometimes seem to miss things or be rather, let’s say, less comprehensible, not least of all because of jumping from 3d to 1st person. Having said that, the story and drawing are really lovely, hot in places. Not very sophisticated, on any level, but pleasant and exactly like what I wanted when I made this request. I’m going to read more by this mangaka.

MANGA: Antique Bakery (Seiyou Kottou Yougashiten) (2000) #
Mangaka: Yoshinaga Fumi
Genre: Comedy Josei Shounen Ai Slice of Life
Scanlated by: 7:11AM, Beautiful Soup
Status: 4 Volumes (Complete), licensed
Found: recced to me by klynie1 here
Summary: From DMP: A high school crush, a world-class pastry chef, a former middle-weight boxing champion…and a whole lot of cake!
Ono has come a long way since the agonizing day in high school when he confessed his love to handsome Tachibana. Now, some 14 years later Ono, a world-class pastry chef and gay playboy has it all. No man can resist Ono’s charms (or his cooking skills!) but he has just found a new position under a man named Tachibana. Can this be the only man who resisted his charms, and if so, will the man who once snubbed the “magically gay” Ono get his just desserts? And how in the heck did a former middleweight boxing champion wind up as Ono’s cake boy? The series won the 2002 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo.
You can read the manga online here.

ANIME: Antique Bakery []
Directed by Yoshiaki Okumura
Status: Complete, 12 episodes, 30 minutes each
Summary: Antique Bakery is a small bakery that’s run by four handsome men. Tachibana, the owner. Chikage, who was send by Tachibana’s family to watch over his childhood friend. Ono, the “demonically charming” gay master pastry chef. And Kanda, a former boxer and Ono’s apprentice.
DL: all episodes can be found in this post by neko_myka. Episodes 4 and 5 are a bit broken (you can watch about 70% but then it freezes). You can find all the episodes (not broken) at GalAnime.
More about this mangaka can be found in fumi_yoshinaga lj comm. DJs can be found here.

My notes: MANGA this is a VERY DANGEROUS MANGA! It will make you want to eat all sorts of cakes and desserts right away; it can make you go out in search of them! Don’t read it if you are hungry ‘cos you will drool. Also be careful if you tend to put on weight easily or are a suggestible reader. It’s guaranteed to make you pack on a couple more kilos. Even I went and ate a bar of chocolate which happens, like, never. I don’t eat desserts unless they are fruity ‘cos I don’t like sweet things, I only like fruit. But I’m afraid that I’ll be dreaming of cakes tonight.

Also, this manga is a soap. At first, it seems as if it consisted of separate episodes, united only by location and the cast of characters, i.e. Tachibana and his pastry shop. But Yoshinaga Fumi is a bit slier as a storyteller, so past and current events take turn and connect into a bigger picture, with a detective/mystery subplot in the background. The story still remains a soap in and of itself. Which I usually dislike, even strongly, but really enjoyed here. If you look at the genre line above, you’ll see it defined as Shounen Ai but I wouldn’t really call it this. The manga isn’t focused on the love of a gay couple nor does it feature any sex.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this mangaka’s style is an acquired taste. At first it looks almost ugly (what’s with their drill-like eyes and rather peculiar faces); it’s for sure different. So let yourself get used to it ‘cos Yoshinaga Fumi tells an entertaining story. Although she, too, suffers from the terrible yaoi drawing illness called same-face-itus. It takes some effort to learn to tell characters one from another.

I liked all the four main characters. Each of them is lovely and interesting in his own way, especially Tachibana, the owner of the shop who doesn’t like sweets (he has his reasons!) and doesn’t understand anything in cakes. He is really just a big softie behind his grumpy appearance :) But I liked Chikage best. He appears in vol. 2 and is hilarious. He’s slow on the uptake (not to call him a simpleton) and extremely clumsy (think Tonks!); he’s very tall but always forgets it and bangs his head on the door frame. And he’s naive and sweet like a puppy.

Ch 5 vol 1 features one of the most amusing makeovers I’ve seen. The gags at the beginning are also amusing. The shop owner observes a new customer, then makes a detailed description of their life and habits a la Sherlock Holmes. Too bad for him he’s no Sherlock at all. I think vol. 2 is more interesting (and funnier) than vol 1. And on the whole, this is the sort of story that grows on you. By vol. 3 I liked it, and had to read vol. 4 alternately looking at the raws and the file with translation because I wanted to read it no matter what. There are some SPAG errors in the scans but not so many as to make reading unpleasant. Very enjoyable, as for me.

ANIME Now I’ve watched the anime and want to rec it too.

As usual, I didn’t like it at first :D One thing I did like was that it was done in an interesting way, combining real backgrounds with animation. What I didn’t like was that the characters resembled those of the manga only somewhat, in profile more than full-face. I lol at myself ‘cos I remember how I hated Yoshinaga Fumi’s character faces at first and now look how attached to them I have become! But come to think of it, this is the first time I came across an anime where I found the difference in drawing from the manga source visibly noticeable. Ono looks the most like himself, as for me, and Tachibana the least. And Chikage is Chikage whatever you do with him :P

I don’t know how well this anime works if one watches it with ‘fresh’ eyes, meaning if somebody who hasn’t read the manga watches it. So if you are one of those and you give it a go, please share your impressions with me. It seems to me that in comparison to the manga, the anime brings forth the comical side and the detective subplot while losing some fine nuances of characterisation. But maybe I found the detective subplot clearer here ‘cos I had to read vol. 4 of the manga alternately looking at raws and reading the translation in an MSWord file :) On the whole though, I think the anime is pretty adequate to the manga. I enjoyed it, especially, yes, Chikage whom I loved as much here. He’s so awwsome. All things considered, watching this anime was a pleasant experience. It’s neither too plotty and dramatic nor too light and comical but has elements of it all. Neither too long nor too short so it works well as a light-ish distraction for a couple of evenings. Lovely!

Boku dake no Kimi, Kimi dake no Boku []
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Scanlation Group: Dangerous Pleasure
Genre: Yaoi
Status: Oneshot, complete
Warning: not worksafe
Found: looking for this mangaka’s works
Summary: A selfish young model treats coworkers and lovers badly, but cherishes his honest childhood friend.
Download

My notes: Awww. The story itself is nothing special: a first childhood love that bears fruit when the characters are adult. Big guy crying is cute. I really like this mangaka’s recurring plot of somebody returning to their childhood’s love, their neighbour. It’s a tad naive but nice and sweet. Nicely drawn, too.
More stuff by this mangaka can be found in lj comm naono_bohra or via The Naono Bohra English scanlation database.

Boku no Shiru Anata no Hanashi (Your story I have known) (2009) #
Artist: Suzuki Tsuta
Scanlated by: Dangerous Pleasure
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Yaoi
Found: posted in yaoi_daily.
Summary: 1-3) Your Story I Have Known: High-school student Matsumoto Haato has fallen in love with his abusive mother’s ex-boyfriend, yakuza Shibusawa, who was nice to him in the past. When he has nowhere left to go he turns to the gruff but kind older man. A three chapter love story that details the changing relationship between the two men over the years.
4) Sauté d’Oignon: When two people are together, the sweetness and the spiciness of love are the greatest flavors. High school student Negi and Tama have been together since elementary school, and now Negi is ready to move their relationship to a new level, but Tama’s still unsure…
5) Koe ga Todoku no Nara: Shouta is constantly getting in fights, but despite that, he’s a nice guy. One day, while saving someone from some bullies, a weirdo samurai guy shows up and tells him he’s haunting him. Now Shouta must deal with this constant spiritual companion… and all the emotions that come with him!
6) Kami-sama no me wo nusunde.
Download: here.

My notes: I definitely started this manga several months back. Now I’m trying to remember if I didn’t finish it because the scanlation wasn’t done or because I didn’t like it? Probably the former because I like the drawing. Speaking of the storyline, it’s another manga (mostly funny and cute when it’s not angsty, which it is, sometimes) where one of the characters is Yakuza. This one is really lovely though. There are a few nice surprises, and also an extra story with different characters, which is also sweet. And an absolutely hilarious mangaka’s notes at the end.

Bokura ni Matsuwaru Etcetera (Russian title: Все о нас и т.д.) []
Mangaka: Kyuugou
Scanlated by: Dangerous Pleasure
Genre: Drama, School Life, Shounen Ai, Sports
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Found: this is the first BL manga I had seen published in Russian. So I bought a copy :)
Summary: Iku and Keita are childhood buddies. Naturally, having been friends for as long as they can remember, when one started to play baseball, so did the other. During their final year in middle school, Keita’s baseball career abruptly ended as a result of the severe injuries he sustained when saving Iku from being hit by a truck. Presently, they go to the same high school. But ever since that accident, Iku has distanced himself from both the game and his friend, presumably out of guilt. What does Keita think about this? Also contains two other stories.
Download: at the group’s site.

My notes: I’m glad I bought a copy ‘cos this is a really pleasant book. There are three chapters in it, all three are non-explicit Slice of Life-like Boy Love stories. I liked story 2 best: about a middle-aged man who one day is intruded upon by a son of his late sensei from another city and whom he must accomodate and deal with. The man is rather asociable and grumpy, and it’s a sweet story (although not without angst) to see how the boy grows on him. What I liked best about this manga was that it felt more realistic than most other BL I read. And I also liked the drawing a lot! Give it a try!

Café Latte Rhapsody (2008) []
Artist: Kawai Touko
Scanlated by: Toko Kawai’s Community
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Genre: Romance Shounen Ai Yaoi
Found: posted in yaoi_daily Feb.2009.
Summary: [From evil-empire] About two guys who have a very “scary” meeting at a bookstore.
Download: here.

My notes: very cuteж have been following it since it’s started being posted in yaoi_daily and am going to continue, for the same reasons as with Yume Musubi, Koi Musubi — because those posts are always a pleasant distraction. The story is very cliché: a small gay guy (yuke of course) who works in a book store meets a very big, gloomy, and ’scary’ guy (seme of course) who turns to be more like a large teddy bear than a criminal and not scary at all. One step away from cliché is that the seme is younger. But cliché or not, it’s a pleasant reading if you like the drawing. Can’t say I do ‘cos it’s rather too simple, but I do like Serizawa’s freckled face. Anyway, nice story, pleasant to follow :)

Chintsubu (Chinko no Tsubuyaki) []
Mangaka: Yamato Nase
Status: 2 volumes (Completed)
Scanlated by: Nakama
Warning: not worksafe
Genre: Comedy Yaoi
Found: recced to me by jealous_sky here.
Summary: Toride has always loved his cute classmate, Ayase. Somehow, when their school bus crashes at a fertility shrine on a class trip, Toride’s penis gets attached to Ayase’s body (well, of sorts — pj). How do they know? Well the penis can talk, of course. Similar problems beset their classmates, the class brain Iwabuchi and the class playboy, Kamiya. How will the boys deal with this embarrassing situation? Will they ever get the problem resolved?
Download: in manga sharing places while Nakama is down.

My notes: guys, this is crack. Pure, crazy, silly crack. Some lines and panels, like “After that, I new rumor began to spread”, made me laugh. The drawing is cluttered, sometimes to the point that I said out loud that filling every bit of space with drawing isn’t really necessary. But the story is sheer fun. Talking penises, penises possessed by classmates, penises wearing glasses, etc. I don’t know if in my impatience to read it I downloaded an unfinished version or if it doesn’t have a proper ending, but my reading ended on ch. 15 of vol. 2 which was a sort of non-ending. Apart from that, it was lolsome. I can’t say I really liked the story, but I certainly enjoyed reading it.

Covetous You, Insensible Me []
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Scanlation Group: Dangerous Pleasure, SHI-RAN
Genre: Yaoi
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Warning: not worksafe
Found: looking for this mangaka’s works; also Confession is recced to me by trague here
Summary: A collection of oneshots:
1) Covetous You and Insensible Me (Hoshigariana Kimi to Futsutsukana Boku) [SHI-RAN]: Never one to get close to strangers, Kai finds himself helpless in the enchanting gaze of a foreigner…
2) Lost in the Darkness Before Dawn (Gyou An ni Mayou) [Dangerous Pleasure].
3) Confession (Kokuhaku) [SHI-RAN]: Unable to forget the random act of kindness by the wealthy but lonely business man, Matsumi offers to sell his body. Is it really just for money, or is there a greater need at stake?
4) The night he escaped death (Shi ni Zokonai no Yoru) [Dangerous Pleasure]: Prequel of Lost in the Darkness Before Dawn.
5) Sleepless Night (The Night He Escaped Death bonus) [Dangerous Pleasure].
6) Service: Confession bonus [SHI-RAN].
7) Bonds of Blood: Covetous You and Insensible Me bonus [SHI-RAN].
Download: at Shi-ran, at DP

My notes:
#2, 4 (prequel) and the bonus (#5) are historical, with spies and sword fights. And also curling toes and beautifully tattooed arms. There’s some limb loss and gore in the prequel. And nice role reversal in the bonus story.
#1 and its tiny bonus (#7) are a classic NB’s story: an older, insecure uke (much older, even) and a young seme. This time a predator falls in love with his prey.
#3 and #6: is about a middle-aged man and a young boy he helps at a construction work site. It’s lovely.
Pleasant reading on the whole. I liked the Lost in the Darkness Before Dawn storyline (2, 4, 5) best. I really liked how fighting scenes were drawn. Well, and I always like how Naono Bohra draws sex.

A COWARD’S HAPPINESS series (Ikujinashi no Shiawase) []
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Genre: Yaoi
Status: 1 volume (Complete)
Warning: not worksafe
Found: looking for this mangaka’s works
Summary/scanlation groups/DL:
1) Ikujinashi No Shiawase (A Coward’s Happiness) [Cblue]: The owner of a rice shop, Kawada feeds a poor student, Mori, after he tried to steal food from his shop, saying ‘The duty of a student is to study’; and starts to look after him. But Mori starts harboring deeper feelings towards Kawada, not just gratitude… (by kriptonima)
2) Slave of Love [Datenshi Blue and ALSO Liquid Passion + Countless Time]: (spin-off of ch. 01): Mitsuo is the manager of a host club owned by his cousin, the violent and ruthless Eito. Eito raised Mitsuo from a very young age, but they’ve grown apart, despite still living together. When Mitsuo decides to help a younger coworker quit the business, he runs the risk of making Eito very angry…
3) Revenge of Love [Liquid Passion + Countless Time]: (sequel to ch. 02) The drama continues with a twist.
4) Homemade Vampire [Nakama]: Letting his oversized half-Japanese nephew live with him is one thing, but a man will soon discover that the nephew is keeping a dark secret…
5) Kodomo no Himitsu (A Child’s Secret) [Nakama]: Mori and Kaname are cousins with secrets. Mori is harbouring a crush on his older cousin and is plagued by erotic dreams at night. Kaname, on the other hand, likes to tease Mori by giving him alcohol and ‘playing’ with him after he passes out.
6) A Coward’s Blunder (extra) [Liquid Passion]: Rice shop love continues.
More stuff by this mangaka can be found in lj comm naono_bohra or via The Naono Bohra English scanlation database.

My notes: Story #1: translation: awkward. The story is drawn very pleasantly (as usual) and there are enough details to keep it in your mind after reading, say, stealing the rice or small earthquake, or the very small guy Kawada who is awfully cute and kind. Lots of lovely panels in this one. #2 follows up from one and has the same characters but is about the manager in the host club where Mori works, Mitsuo, and the owner of said club. Advice: read Liquid Passion’s version; the translation is better there. There’s an unusual take on rape, a very cliché thing in yaoi manga: the guy loves being raped, and reflects on it — well, somewhat.
#4, Homemade Vampire — liked. Especially the last panel, with fangs.
#5, Kodomo no Himitsu, is about a countryside guy Mori who came and stayed at his cousin’s place. Cousin, Kana-chan, makes him drink; when drunk, he passes out. Cousin first decides to have a laugh at his expense by making him come and wash his underpants in the mornings but gets addicted and falls in love in the end. Quite lovely, too.

On the whole, not my most favourite of Naono Bohra’s works but quite enjoyable, like most of her manga that I’ve read. If you need something nice and comforting, go for it.

Dakishimetakunai (I Don’t Wanna Hold On You) (2002) []
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Scanlator: Liquid Passion, Shi-ran
Status: 1 volume (Complete)
Genre: Action Comedy Fantasy Supernatural Yaoi
Rating/warnings: NWS, NC-17
Summary: There are several stories in Dakishimetakunai:
1) Electricity (Denki) - A high school student despairs of ever making friends on account of his appearance scaring everyone off. However, the new transfer student with the unique and ‘electrifying’ physique shows up in time to prove him wrong.
2) I Don’t Wanna Hold On You (Dakishimetakunai) - When middle-aged salaryman Masato is laid off, student Tatsuya hires him to take care of his apartment… and other, more personal services. But when Masato starts to have doubts about accepting Tatsuya’s money, what will Tatsuya do to stop him from leaving?
3) Reason For Desire (Yokubou no Riyuu) - The rich and lonely young businessman gets into a scuffle with a castoff vagrant. He gets a bit more than he bargains for when he takes the man in as live-in housekeeper.
4) Secret Knife (Himitsu no Naifu) - Two solitary people walking similar paths, one an assassin for the yakuza, the other a shinigami, meet and find their way to mutual love and understanding.
5) Rose and Knife (Bara to Naifu) - Sequel to Secret Knife. Yato comes upon an old partner who is bent on “reteaching” him how to be a ruthless killer once again. Kamui, however, will do anything to keep that from happening.
6) Keep Up Your Right! (Migikawa ni wo ki wo tsukero) - I Don’t Wanna Hold On You omake.
DL: here at LP and here at Shi-ran.

My notes: that’s your typical Naono Bohra: a collection of short stories, mostly very cute, kind, and comforting (and drawn to make me coo) with some weird and disturbing stuff thrown in. #1 and #2 are sweet and amusing; in #3, fists are the best way to talk :) The story itself is sort of #2 reversed. #4-5 are very bloody. All in all, not the best of this mangaka’s works, as for me, but still more emotionally involving that many other yaoi manga I’ve read. If you like Naono’s style, go for it. If you haven’t tried her works yet, this is a decent place to start. I simply love her drawing even if the stories are often very similar to each other.

Don’t Say Any More, Darling (Sore wo Ittara Oshimai yo) []
Mangaka : Yoshinaga Fumi
Scanlation group: –
Genre: Drama Josei Sci-fi Shounen Ai Slice of Life Yaoi
Status: 1 Volume (Complete) collection of oneshots; licensed
Warning: NWS
Found: something in the cover attracted my attention when I browsed various yaoi-sharing places
Summary: Kouhei is a doctor at the local university hospital who has lost touch with his high school friend Tadashi. While Kouhei grew up to become a successful young doctor, Tadashi became a jobless, poor-as-dirt, flaming gay writer. But one lonely night, at his wits end, Tadashi sends Kouhei a text message and receives a reply. Of course Tadashi has secretly harbored feelings for Kouhei for a long time. But when he finds out Kouhei is getting set-up for an arranged marriage… (this is for the first chapter only; the other 4 chapters are unrelated)

My notes: Story 1, Don’t Say Any More, Darling: I can’t say I like the drawing, especially the faces with their drill-like tiny eyes. But on the other hand, the drawing is very distinctive and I like that very much! The story is entertaining, especially the ending.
Story 2, My Eternal Sweetheart: a very ill boy who can’t leave their mansion asks his older brother to make a sex android for him. Then another one. And more. Nice twist at the end.
Story 3, Fairyland: “Because humans have become so foolish and indecent, god punished them by erasing them from the Earth.” After a month of wandering through the empty city, a man who somehow survived meets a teenage boy. It’s pretty weird. I can’t say I get it.
Story 4, One may day, is a non-explicit het and I don’t get it either. An older man buries his first wife and meets a woman in a caffee. He marries her but not for long. I can’t see any point to it.
Story 5, (not sure which of them is the title) Solfege: an ageing former piano star has been forgotten by public. He smokes on a bridge every day, and meets a young guy. Again, a nice twist in this story.

Well, I liked three out of five: 1, 2, and 5. Not LIKED liked but I enjoyed them and found them very entertaining. So, half a star from me. Am definitely going to read Antique Bakery and Gerard to Jacques, two longer manga by this artist.

Double Mints (2009) #
Mangaka: Nakamura Asumiko
Scanlator: Dangerous Pleasure
Status: 1 Volume (Complete), scanlation ongoing
Warnings: NWS
Genre: Drama Yaoi
Found: posted in yaoi_daily.
Summary: “I’ve killed a woman.” The domineering voice on the phone was that of a high school classmate, Mitsuo Ichikawa. Buried memories from the past resurface in the heart of a man with the same name, Mitsuo Ichikawa. It drags him right back into the passions of the past. They reunite as accomplices, yet their relationship as master and servant slowly changes into something new…
Download: at the group’s site.

My notes: this was my first encounter with this mangaka and I hated it :) The art style, not to mention the story, totally creeped me out. But somehow when the second part of the first chapter was posted in yaoi_daily, I clicked it again and very soon I was in love with Nakamura Asumiko’s style. ‘Cos this is a style, unlike most yaoi drawing you see. It’s heavily influenced by the European 20s century major stylistic discoveries but still unique and very expressive. Anyway, the story is weirder than weird but on the whole pretty interesting and less creepy than how I first perceived it. I’m definitely going to follow it and might up the rating, depending on how it goes.

Empty Heart []
Mangaka: Minase Masara
Scanlation Group: Nakama, Hochuuami
Genre: School Life Yaoi
Status: licensed but it was fully scanlated
Warning: not worksafe
Found: Recced by ahoythere here: Again, beautiful art. I read Minase’s stuff because it’s so pretty, not because the story’s good but this manga is an exception (maybe I’m also nostalgic because it was one of the first mangas I ever read…). Takumi is in love with his teacher Jun but Jun has always loved Takumi’s older brother Ryou. Because he and his brother look exactly the same, Takumi offers to sleep with Jun and pretend to be Ryou. The angst isn’t overdone and it’s quite a sweet story.

My notes: lovely. I’m in two minds about the drawing. It’s very pleasant on the one hand but some things annoyed me, stick-like arms mostly. The story isn’t too complex but it’s pleasant to look at, and there’s just enough story in it to keep my attention.

I’m keeping the summary from ahoythere because the one at Manga Updates is too spoilery.

Fingertip’s Love (Yubisaki no Koi) []
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Scanlation Group: Nakama (site is down)
Genre: Yaoi
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Warning: not worksafe
Found: looking for this mangaka’s works; recced by Reddwarfer
Summary: Detective Maizuru Motoya has a secret he cannot tell his assistant, whom he is in love with. With a single touch of a person, Motoya can read their thoughts. How he got such ability is in the past. Nakagawa, who doesn’t know about his respectful boss’s special ability, began to worry when Motoya refuses to let come in contact with him. To add more worry, Motoya is awfully close with Hajime…

My notes: It’s a bit too comical and dramatic for me, but lovely and pleasant to look at too. The detective is what makes this manga, IMO, with his special ability (you’ll learn how he got it in ch. 5) and incapacitating phobias. He’s awfully cute: eyes that have corners down and skinny hands, like a small yuppy dog :) I was wondering why people kept calling him old man when he’s freaking younger than me, like, a mere boy! Then in the extra, the mangaka said she’d drawn him as 38. Well, ok, not an old man still but less outrageous :) Anyway, the story was interesting to follow and pleasant to look at. What else to wish?

Flowers #
Mangaka: Miyamoto Kano
Group: Liquid Passion
Warning: Not Worksafe
Status: one volume (complete)
Genre: Yaoi Slice of Life
Been posted in yaoi_daily June 2008, where the comm celebrated the mangaka’s birthday
Summary: When Ryou moves into a new apartment block, his neighbour Makoto makes no secret of the fact that he likes men, and Ryou is forced to confront the secret doubts he’s always had about his own sexuality. Things get complicated when Makoto’s history with the other resident of the building, Nanno, results in jealousy, tension, and love triangles all around.
Download: here

My comments:There’s plot behind the porn and the characters look lovely, although they have MK’s clone faces (too similar to each other and the rest of the mangaka’s characters for my comfort) and awful feet, OMG so awful :((( But Miyamoto Kano tells a really nice love triangle story. I was hoping for the kind of ending this story has and it happened, so that makes me a happy pj. Really, really liked the ending :) Not my favourite of MK’s manga but nice.

Eroica Yori Ai wo Komete (From Eroica With Love) (from 1976 till now) ##
Mangaka: Aoike Yasuko
Scanlation group: Pink Panzer; an anonymous group scanlated the first 19 volumes. The first ten volumes have been published in English.
Genre: Action Adventure Comedy
Status: 34 Volumes (Ongoing); scanlation up to Vol. 21 (part 1 of of story 17)
Found: in a talk with Parlophone about old skool manga
Summary: What happens when a gay art thief and a conservative NATO officer cross paths? Disaster, of course. Dorian is an aristocrat, a thief and a hedonist; Klaus is a duty-driven espionage agent with no patience for fools. Follow them as they chase each other across the globe — from Britain to Baghdad, from Alaska to Alexandria, from Moscow to Madrid. Spectacular locations and non-stop adventures await!
Download: Vol. 1-19 with a nice detailed guide including notes on scan quality (locked for members); vol. 20-21 (locked). More covers (and first 13 vols) here
Prequel/spinoff: Der Freischütz (The Freeshooter; Madan no shashu)
Status: 1 volume (Complete).
Summary: A hardboiled espionage action story featuring Major Eberbach. Can he elude the pursuit of the genius assassin from the KGB? More detailed summary by missparaphilia here.
Other related and side stories: Z, Plus Ultra (artbook), Nanatsu no umi nanatsu no sora and its prequel, Eru Arukon - Taka (a step to the past, about Man in Purple)

Related things: lj comm castlegloria (Eroica fanfiction); schlosseberbach (everything Eroica); Eroicafans.org. There’s fandom! I might dip my toes in it. I haven’t decided yet. Am awfully tempted.

My notes: I loved this manga to bits and tiny little pieces! I’ve had SO MUCH FUN with it. Best Male Friend who had to observe me reading it in the evenings on our trip now must be sure I’m a complete loony, if he hasn’t thought so before. Because I clapped hands, squealed, laughed, and talked to my laptop.

It’s awfully trashy, as trashy as only comics about superheroes and Cold War times can be but yeah, lots and lots of fun. I can’t tell you how many times I burst out laughing or grinned in delight. Each time I finished a story from the series, I thought, “I liked this one best!” And then thought the same when I read the next one. The genre is spy action/adventure and humour. Truth be told, I don’t like reading about spies almost as much as I dislike reading Sci-Fi. Not my thing at all. But this one is so light and captivating, and in the end, so amusing and enjoyable that I succumbed almost at once.

Character facial expressions aren’t Aoike Yasuko’s forte, nor is anatomy. Plot is. Spies and secret agents of every country: KGB, NATO Intelligence, CIA and FBI, MI6 (SIS), Interpol, etc, etc and also local police of where the action takes place and local criminals are all competing with each other or fighting each other. Characters travel all over the world. Character names are awfully trashy too; that first seemed too bad to me but later made me laugh and welcome them (Misha the Cub as the KGB boss, Comrade Dostoevsky, Comrade Gorky, Comrade Karinka, lol). The settings are European (mostly) but there are lots of Japanese sayings or references, and that creates a fantastic multi-cultural kaleidoscope. If it’s skewed, it’s fun nevertheless. One thing I find surprising is that among all the agents and forces, there’s not a mention of Stasi. You’d think that Iron Klaus of Bonn would mostly deal with them. But back to what I started with, this manga is incredibly plotty. Feels like a real rollercoaster sometimes. What amazes me most is that the mangaka always ties all her ends by the end of a story. Wowsome.

Both main characters are very attractive. Supporting characters are wonderful too, especially Mr James, Eroica’s extremely stingy accountant (although I don’t like how he’s developed in the last scanlated stories). I love-love-love Iron Klaus (Major Eberbach). I can’t even believe how much myself. Almost like Snape. But then again, he’s a Snape-like character, only with much better hygiene. He’s very rude and loves to shout; he expresses his negative opinion on people and actions without hesitation. He’s a prude and neat freak and superhero all the way but unexpectedly, there’s something in him that calls for your sympathy and makes you want to hug him, even with the risk for your life such a gesture would pose — when he broods or when something does manage to stun him (Eroica usually :D). IMHO, his character isn’t as logical as Eroica’s: it’s rather contradictory, if you start thinking about it seriously. But in the mosaic-like nature of this character perhaps lies a lot of his appeal. He’s intelligent, resourceful, quick-witted, and observant but at the same time not aesthetically developed in any way (despite being a rich aristocrat by birth) and rather naive in some things, or maybe infantile. But why am I looking for that much psychological credibility in a character who smokes like a chimney but is able to run fast for miles without losing his breath? He’s incredibly cool (superhero, remember?) but his quirks and idiosyncrasies make him humane. And precious. If to speak of the way he’s drawn, I melt when I see his haircut. Melt and squee :) So I understand why Eroica never gives up. Eroica himself is also an absolutely charming character: extravagant, flamboyant, childlike in his wish to have all the pretty that he likes, devious yet kind. And more logical in and of himself, as a character. Speaking of the drawing again, the characters don’t age as the years pass: not only is Klaus Heinz von dem Eberbach the Eternal Major, he’s an ageless Klaus: he’s the same in 1990 as he was in 1977, and so is Eroica.

On the whole, I’ve read manga where the drawing looked more professional but was it more enticing? No, no, it wasn’t. At the beginning, I looked at the covers and thought, “OMG, what awful jaws!” By the end I though, “Oh my, such lovely chins, gimme more!” I thought it many times while reading Eroica that that was an error and that was badly drawn but overall I was completely charmed. The mangaka draws one face for her main characters, as too many do, but it seems she’s aware of it: see story 10 and on. In any case, the drawing changes to the better visibly from the first volumes to the middle of the manga. It looks as if the mangaka didn’t find her style and touch at once. I like the later style better of course, and objectively speaking, it’s more elaborate and sure.

Another thing I liked very much about this manga is that it’s like a contemporary history lesson. Well, only for those who remembers the news hot topics from the years when the volumes were drawn ‘cos the lessons are comical and so of course warped. War Iran vs Iraq, Moscow Olympics 1980, Perestroika and Glasnost, the uniting of the two Germanies, they all pass before your eyes. Fashions! OMG sunglasses! Hair styles OMG! :) Breathe and drink history, or ‘History Lite’, if you will :)

Speaking of structure, the manga consists of stories that have the same cast of characters and that you could read separately. Comparing it to other manga that have ‘big plot’ and ’small plots’, I wouldn’t say it has a big plot that unifies all stories. I mean, if you start with story 15, I don’t think you’ll find it incomprehensible. But I still recommend reading it from beginning to … well, to the current [scanlated] volume. Because while the big plot barely goes anywhere, the characters form various kinds of relationships, and it’s interesting to trace those. Story 1 is really just a warm-up for the later series (but please don’t let it scare you off). There are main characters you won’t meet after story 2, so reading vol. 1 is a bit bewildering ‘cos it barely touches what the summary speaks about. But that story picks up later, and goes on for many volumes.

Side stories are fun, especially the one that shows the disastrous party that is referred to in The Laughing Cardinals. Other side stories tell us quite a bit about Lord Eroica’s and Iron Klaus’s past. General advice: don’t skip side stories, especially the later ones. They either show a lot of important things or you simply would want more Eroica by then :)

The prequel, Der Freischütz, is darker than the main series. If From Eroica with Love is a humorous look at a spy’s life (and so, adventures), Der Freischütz is about its dangers and ruthlessness. Makes one understand Major’s paranoia better. Spoiler, highlight to read: only in Der Freischütz can we see the death of a character. In Eroica, things get smashed, buildings destroyed, there are fisticuffs, people get injured occasionally, but nobody dies. In Der Freischütz, even Major kills.[/end spoiler]

I’m posting this rec under the yaoi tag but it’s not yaoi at all. Spoiler white on white, highlight to read (mind, a REAL spoiler, for the whole series, so think twice): honestly, it’s not even BL for real. Very soon in the series, Eroica falls in love with Iron Klaus aka Major Eberbach. Major, if anything, is asexual. He despises the ‘homo stuff’ but there’s no woman to make his blood run faster either. If anything, he’s a devoted husband to his work. So their relationship consists of endless one-sided flirting and passes and also one-sided shouting and attempts to sterilise plates, door handles, etc not to catch homo virus. I would hate UST of such proportions in another manga. But somehow it’s not annoying here. Maybe because Eroica enjoys chase much better than gain. Or maybe because if Iron Klaus didn’t break into a cold sweat at the thought of somebody touching him (unless it’s a fight), he won’t be Iron Klaus anymore. Be it as it may, the UST too happens to be very enjoyable in this manga.[/end spoiler]

Btw, I would like to request a spoiler for the last 10 volumes, if somebody has read them raw (since the question is spoilery too, it’s also white on white): does their relationship progress in any way, as in, the Major begins to feel something beyond annoyance about Eroica or does it stay the same? I doublt it, but… And does the mangaka age her characters?[/end spoiler]

A couple of notes on the translation of volumes 1-19: it seems to be done by a person (persons) whose first language is Japanese, so the English often sounds stilted. There weren’t errors that threw me out, just strange word choices and expressions. Well, and of course the translation of proper nouns can be very imprecise, say, Ljublanka in story 11: I couldn’t figure out what it was until I saw the note that it was where the KGB headquarters were located. Turns out to be Lubyanka. Don’t know whose error it is, mangaka’s or translator’s. And can’t say it really matters. Ljublanka or Lubyanka, or Russian names that can’t exist, it’s still fun and charming in its own way. My special thanks to Pink Panzer guys for picking up the scanlation in the first place, but also for keeping to the spirit of the translation (’cos by the middle of the story, I loved it) and for the good scans.

My favourite story is Emperor Waltz (a huge one, volumes 16, 17, 18 & 19), and favourite scene is Iron Klaus performing a Tyrolean dance. Who could resist?! A couple of pictures to entice: click here.

I spent almost three weeks with this manga, and now that I’ve reached the end of the scanlated stuff, I don’t know how to be without! As a conclusion, heartily and highly recommended. From pj with love :)

Gerard to Jacques (Gerard and Jacques) #
Mangaka: Yoshinaga Fumi
Scanlated by: BeautifulSoup
Genre: Comedy Drama Historical Yaoi
Status: 2 Volumes (Complete), licensed
Rating/Warning: NWS, R
Found: recced to me by klynie1 here
Summary: [From Blu]: Just before the start of the French Revolution, a commoner named Gerard pays a visit to a high-class brothel, where he sleeps with, and then buys the freedom of Jacques, a young noble sold into prostitution. Jacques looks down on commoners and Gerard has his reasons for hating the nobility, but they’re thrown together once again when Jacques ends up being hired as Gerard’s new houseboy. Jacques’ determination to make his own way in the world, and Gerard’s surprising, quirky shows of kindness slowly bring the two together into a romance for the ages!

My notes: awww, I loved it. It’s a proper story with plot and lots of emotionally engaging scenes, with humour and well-written characters, all of that in historical settings in which a pro historian might find something to criticise but I certainly can’t. And won’t. Because I enjoyed it very much, and nothing in this story rubbed me against the fur.

Main character #1 is Gerard, one of the new bourgeoisie. At first, it’s hard to understand whether he’s kind or sinister. He has his own ways of doing things; I would say he’s a Count of Monte-Christo-like character, only without the latter’s grandeur or scale of machinations. The author does a good job uncovering Gerard’s past and showing us how it’s influenced him. Jacques, main character #2, is simply delightful. Sold into a brothel and later hired as a servant in Gerard’s house, he strives to prove his worth and independence as soon as he finds that things aren’t always what they seem. His earnestness is refreshing rather than tiresome as it could be had this character was written by a weaker author.

I always say when reccing a manga by Yoshinaga Fumi that her drawing style is acquired taste. I hated it at first but she charmed me with her strange wit and plots. Now I love it. I’m going to order this manga online as my next present to myself :) Highly recommended!

Gokuraku Cafe []
Mangaka: Mamahara Ellie
Been posted in yaoi_daily in June 2008.
Warnings: relatively worksafe (but for a few kisses)
Genre: Yaoi
Scanlation Group: Forever More
Download.
Summary vol.01: Gokuraku Cafe revolves around Yuuto Takanashi, a young cafe part-time worker with a penchant for the animated cartoon character, Jacky. Naturally enthusiastic and helpful, Yuuta often gets involved with the personal lives and problems of Rainbow Forest Cafe’s customers. Although a bit impulsive, his involvement usually ends up appreciated; to the extent that most of the (male) customers begin falling for him! Such incidents, added to the overprotectiveness of his best friend Souhei, only make Yuuto’s life more complicated. Interesting turns are indeed waiting for this young apprentice as he struggles to pursue his dreams under the guidance of the enigmatic cafe master, Dick Yashima.

My comments: The nicest yaoi I read so far, and in it lies the main pleasure of it. Everybody is nice here, even when they aren’t for a short period of time. Yuuko, the main character, is a cure for a tired mind and heart. Lovely and amusing.

Hanjuku Orange (2006) []
Mangaka: Ajimine Sakufu
Scanlator: Dangerous Pleasure, Memory For You
Genre: Yaoi
Warnings: mildly NWS
Status: 1 volume (complete)
Found: shared in free_manga
Summary: After his parents’ divorce, Kou moved to America with his mother. Ten years later, he’s back in Japan to visit his father’s grave. He runs into his cousin, Ryuusei, who took over his father’s karate dojo, and whom he has not seen since he left with his mother. Ryuusei has always been serious and proper, making it difficult for Kou to get closer to him. One day, while the two of them were talking, Ryuusei suddenly kissed him.
Download: at the group’s site.

My notes: not bad. Not a masterpiece either, as for me, but it’s actually a story, and even the cliché “non-con sex as a way of expressing true love” reads decently here ‘cos it helps show Ryuusei’s lack of communicative skills.

Hatsuai (2007) []
Mangaka: Fuduki Atsuyo
Scanlator: Attractive Fascinante
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Genre: Comedy School Life Yaoi
Warning: NWS
Found: posted in yaoi_daily in March 2009
Summary: Why would Kashiwaya be so bothered by Hibino’s adam’s apple? Kashiwaya couldn’t figure out the reason and thought maybe he might be a vampire. After pushing Hibino down and licking at his throat, Kashiwaya felt so good that he didn’t want to stop. What is going on? The pure and innocent love story of a unique high-schooler, Kashiwaya, and his classmate Hibino.
Download: here (scroll down).

My notes: IMO the story is much better inside that the cover with its cat’s ears: even though there’s an episode that has to do with those ears, it’s much less cliché that the cover might imply. The manga is hilarious, even if there isn’t much to the story. It’s just, one of the main characters is a very weird thing that turns the entire manga into something fun and refreshing. I kept laughing out loud at his antics. On the whole, I enjoyed it.

Honto Jajuu (Like the Beast) (2008) []
Artist: Yamamoto Kotetsuko
Scanlated by: Sofeena Lee
Status: 2 Volumes (ongoing), scanlation ongoing (vol.1 done)
Genre: Comedy Yaoi
Found: posted in yaoi_daily
Summary: A policeman, a yakuza and an underwear thief - where better to start a love story?
Download: here.

My notes: Ok, this manga (and the scanlation) is in progress so I have no clue if I would like the end as much as I liked the beginning, but so far the story is pretty amusing. And pretty enough :) I can’t say if it’s the artist’s intention but both the cop and the yakuza guy look very very young and are too cute for words :) And yes, it’s yet another yaoi manga where one of the partners is a yakuza and where it adds a nice comedic side to the story. Surprising how many of those stories are decent! In any case, this one is ridiculous, sweet, and entertaining. Do have a look!

Hydra/Rules and side stories ##
Mangaka: Miyamoto Kano
Scanlation group: Liquid Passion
Genre: Drama Mature Yaoi
Status: some stories complete, some scanlation ongoing (Hydra, vol. 9-11), some licensed (Lovers and Souls)
Warnings: not worksafe on the whole
Summary for Hydra: from Liquid Passion: When Ryuu transfers to Hitomi’s school, he leaves an immediate impression on him. Curious about rumours of a full-scale tattoo on Ryuu’s back, Hitomi starts getting closer to him. Before long, the friendship and fascination Hitomi feels for Ryuu start developing into more, but before he has a chance to come to terms with his feelings, Hikaru appears on the scene…. and he has his eyes set on Hitomi.
More covers here.

My notes: Another long manga that I liked a lot. Now, this mammoth is a completely different animal than Love Mode (see below). Hydra/Rules arc is by far the most realistic manga I read so far and more intelligent than many. It goes like this: one boy (Utsumi Ryuu) from a rather unhappy family (mother dead, father a tattoo artist working for jakuza) had a very unfortunate, tragic, plain bad accident in his past, partly caused by his tattoo. The accident messed him up badly. Now he transfers to yet another school to avoid rumours, and a train wreck of emotional mess comes with him. Through no fault of his. Really, who could blame him? Well, I couldn’t. I love him. But it’s like there’s something in the air, spreading by itself. And it all happens during those most impressionable years of 17-18, when hearts are still soft and trusting.

As I said, I loved Ryuu, and Hitomi is a very likeable guy, so when Hikaru appeared and started to interfere, I hated him. But by the end of vol. 8 of Hydra, I was totally in love with Hikaru. Hard not to be! He’s such a wonderful guy. Shrewd and perceptive but pretty uncomplicated, and the way he loves, gosh, if it won’t make your heart bleed for him, you are made of stone. He’s also probably the character drawn most distinctly. The look in his eyes when he begins chasing somebody (which happens only twice in the whole series, regretfully, ‘cos he’s a very loyal, steadfast guy) makes me melt. Ah, I’m simply glad most of the series is either about him or involves him.

The story spans some 15 years, from high school to when Hikaru is 26. It consists of an awful lot of short and long books. Chronological order (taken from Geoviki’s files which she kindly lent me, with huge thanks to her), in bare bones, with download links (where possible):

Key:

bold — main stories of the arc; must read
underlined — not scanlated
Italics — licensed, search on your own.

Ocean’s Cage, Sky’s Door - Please ch. 5 | Kiss | Kiss After | Skies | Hydra vol.1-4 | Hydra vol. 5-6 | Heavenly | Hydra vol.7-8 | Blue Film First | Hydra vol. 9-11 | The Days Before | Real Things | Hello Again | Sleeping Beauty, Lovers and Souls prequel | Lovers and Souls ch. 1 – Lovers, Souls | Fragile | Vanity | Dreamer’s High | Rules vol. 1 | Rules vol.2 | If winter comes, can spring be far behind? | Rules 03 | Song Birds | Another day on the planet | Another Rules story: Tooru and Atori | Double Trouble

See more detailed guide to reading Hydra/Rules stories written by Geoviki. See also guide at the scanlators’ site.

Basically, to get the story, you have to read Hydra, Lovers and Souls, and Rules. The rest are optional doujinshi. Hydra is about Ryuu, Hitomi, and Hikaru’s last school/first college years and their messy love triangle. Lovers and Souls is about a new character, Tooru, a pretty messed up and very beautiful guy whom people give money for sex, and he takes it ‘cos why not? He just doesn’t care. He’s one of the main characters in Rules. While you will be able to understand what’s going on in Rules without reading Lovers and Souls, it would be hard to connect with Tooru emotionally. So get your hands on this part. Besides, it’s a beautiful story, if very sad. Well, a huge tearjerker actually. Rules is set 9 years after the beginning of Hydra and centers on Hikaru, Tooru, and two new guys. Scan quality and SPAG are pretty good, which must be said in praise of the scanlation group ‘cos it’s not such a frequent thing, so the reading is easy on the eyes.

Some things that [might] intervene with reading:

- the scanlation of Hydra isn’t finished. The last three volumes are still being done, so by reading what’s after, you sort of spoil yourself for the ending of Hydra. On the other hand, you don’t know what happened. You know only the general outcome.
- This mangaka draws one face. For every character. Well, sometimes they are different enough, in other panels they are absolutely the same face with different hair. It makes it very hard to identify characters sometimes. You have to lean onto other things for identification, like eye colour or habits: Hikaru smokes, almost in every scene; Tooru has light eyes which makes him easy to tell from Yuki whose eyes are black, etc.
- That she changes character hair several times only adds to the mess. Hikaru first appears with longish blond hair, then suddenly with very short black hair (this is how I love him best, btw — makes his eyes stand out more), then comes back to long blond locks in Rules. I seriously WTFed and cross-referenced names for about 10 minutes when a black-haired guy named Taira appeared. I thought he was a brother of the first Taira or a namesake. Tooru wears his hair blond and messy first, then short and black, then lets it grow long. Atori gets rid of his curls — but that’s at least explained as it happens.
- That’s another mangaka who draws feet in a way that makes me sob in misery. Feet aren’t just something at the end of the leg!
- What’s with all the “I like you”? Kindergarten girls, or what? “I love you” appears a few times (good for me!), but of all the other expressions of mutual like are mostly “I like you” that sound really, really weird most of the time.
- Another speech-related thing that bugs me: very often, the characters ask, “Is that so?” Not “Really?” Not “Isn’t it?/Are you?/Did he?” that you would expect for expressing mild disinterest, mild disbelief, or just to keep up the conversation. I don’t remember this phrase used in fanfic (or RL speech, for that matter) that often. I wonder if the translators are native speakers.
- One funny thing. Hydra, Ch. 6 pt. b panel 31. The bubble reads: “Is there something wrong with your hand? You’ve been staring at it this whole time.” The upper panel on which the bubble is: definitely wrong hand/arm anatomy, as in, right hand attached to left arm. Made me lol I don’t want to sound so petty but it was the most unfortunate coincidence of error (not too many of them in this mangaka’s work) and ‘caption’ :)

As I said at the beginning of my notes, it’s a more realistic manga than most that I’ve read. There’s bad sex and messy and stupid break-ups, there are precious tender scenes, but most of all it’s life going on around you. And it’s quite awesome. It’s not melodramatic, it’s not cliché, or at least not much. You just start reading and following these guys’ lives, and fall for them head over heels. I’d make an effort to drag Hikaru to this side. Pity that he’s a Japanese. Drawn. Made up. Character. Damn :(

Am going to reread this manga. Maybe soon.

Ijimetaihodo_Aishiteru []
Mangaka: Mizukami Shin
Group: Liquid Passion
Warnings: Not Worksafe
Genre: historical, yaoi
Status: completed
Found: browsing yaoi places for this mangaka ‘cos I liked a story of hers (see previous post)
Summary (taken from Baka-Updates): Collection of oneshots. Part 3: Foreign Culture Communication Commodore “Just call me Darling,” is new to Japan and is given a young, beautiful and incredibly naive translator named Haneda Takayuki. Darling is smitten with his “Honey”, but will the culture differences be too much for them?
Download

My comments: I downloaded only story 3 ‘cos I clearly like this mangaka’s [pseudo] historical creations better. Lovely and amusing. And I really like her style, although her characters do look all the same from manga to manga. Anatomy error in panel 27 (two right hands) Anyway, it’s an entertaining piece, and pretty :)

Ikenai Otoko (2008) #
Mangaka: Kamuro Akira
Scanlation Group: Blissful Sin
Warnings: NWS (NC-17)
Status: 1 Volume (Complete)
Genre: Comedy Romance Smut Yaoi
Found: posted in yaoi_daily
Summary: From Blissful Sin: Handsome men and their no-good Love H Paradise! Ryou was dumped because of his lousy sex techniques and in order to improve his skills, he turned to JS Pro, a company full of handsome men. His debut as a seme was a complete failure! He decided to challenge the uke role by teaming up with Tatsuya, a man he admired, however… Chapter 2 is Take Love Easy. The extra chapter features Iijima from Rumble Rush.

My notes: now this is the yaoi manga I really liked! Even though it should have hit my humiliation squick like whoa, it somehow didn’t. Instead I found it pretty, in places hilarious, and overall hot and lovely and drawn wonderfully. It’s somehow very honest in that it’s about sex. I mean, all yaoi is about sex, right? Only not. Sex in yaoi is usually about feelings and true wuw or on the contrary, it’s about kink, kink, and more kink. Here sex is about sex. Which is way refreshing!

So, Ryou has a problem. He’s a young guy. Of course he watches porn. So where does he decide to go to fix his problem? To a porn studio of course! In such cases reviewers say, hijinx ensue :) They do! I laughed, I blushed for him, I facepalmed, but it’s not a comedy per se. It’s just a lovely story with quite a few dramatic moments, and far less cliched than the rest of the manga reviewed here. The backstory of Josh and Shino’s first meeting is simply love!

On the downside, “cum” in translation is as annoying as it ever is, and there are a few ugly feet at the end of ch.1. But I feel rather silly even mentioning these because I enjoyed this manga very much. Recommended!

Itsuka no Himitsu #
Mangaka: Naono Bohra
Scanlation Group: Dangerous Pleasure
Genre: Drama Yaoi
Status: 1 volume (complete)
Warning: not worksafe
Found: looking for this mangaka’s works
Summary: It’s been ten years since Yuuya was home. That was the last time he faced Asato, the blind neighbor he’s always had a crush on. He’s spent the time trying to forget the one night he acted on those feelings. But he’s been fired and evicted; with no place to go he returns to his childhood home and the man he’s never forgotten.
Download

My notes: I read the summary and thought, “OMG, OMG, it seems totally like my kind of thing, please let it be my kind of thing!” A blind man with greying hair, and there are cats and baggy sweaters! Definitely, yes. And it was. The story could have been more developed or elaborate but other than that, I enjoyed it a lot. It’s lovely and pleasant to look at.

So, Naono Bohra is clearly one of my favourite mangakas. Her men are nicely meaty. They have shoulders and muscular thighs and knees. But not photo-model-like muscular. Worker-like. They wear stretched sweaters and love cats. Fabulous!

Jack in the Box []
Mangaka: Higashizato Kirico
Group: Sweet Lunacy
Genre: Shotacon Yaoi
Warnings: not worksafe
Status: short oneshot
Found: was recced to me when I asked for nice and loving shota
Summary: Arata gives his girlfriend ’skin to skin loving’ when his girlfriends little twin brothers wanna know what ’skin to skin lovi