Kanoko SakurakojiBesprekingen
Auteur van Black Bird, Vol. 1
Besprekingen
This series goes up and down for me. One volume I'm super into it, and one volume I'm not. This one had me superglued the entire time. There's a new dude coming in to try to break Misao and Kyo up. Who, where, why, how?! I need all of the answers. I'm pumped to continue reading this series to see where it takes me. You finally think you're over a hurdle like Sho or the kitsune, and suddenly another terror comes our way!
This book was way more fast paced and brought a bit more romance into this fantasy/romance series. It's a great read, as long as you realize there are some tones of sexual harassment in this series. So, trigger warning to those who are sensitive to these topics.
Overall, this book was a great jump away from chapter books and into the world of art and manga.
Four out of five stars.
This one was interesting - Misao was ready for battle against Sho. Will the tengu save Misao? Will she get her memories back? How is Sho so evil yet she used to like him? So many questions! I am intrigued if I'll be able to actually finish this series. I think I'm missing the last book of this entire series out of my collection. I will continue to work my way through them though!
The rape-y vibes are kind of weird for me, but I am liking going back through these. Especially since I don't one hundred percent remember what happened.
Three out of five stars.
I really hope more information comes out soon about the Senka Maiden. It is getting a little annoying hearing the 'don't do this or else...' line. Just tell us what's gonna happen or find something else in the plot to focus on.
I am glad that Kyo's brother is beginning introduced. That will bring in more drama and interesting plot lines for the books. Misao and Kyo's relationship needs to develop a little bit more. I'm hoping this book speeds it up a bit! Luckily, I feel like this volume is a step up from the first couple that weren't grabbing my interest. Add in the incredible manga illustrations and you've got a story headed in the right direction.
Three out of five stars.
So this series is quite controversial, if I'm being honest. Depending on how you look at this book, it can be quite toxic. If you can put aside that some of the things in this book are creepy, then this specific book starts getting better and is way more of a romantic, fantasy manga that you are seeking. The rape-y comments in past books are kinda weird. Their relationship dynamic is kinda strange. But, you also have to think about where this was made and when - that doesn't make anything okay if you are trigger or think it's not okay, but it's a point of contemplation.
So....
This book was way more romance, action and drama. I honestly thought this book stepped away from the creepy factor and was way more engaging. I want to see the actual romance! I want to see the struggles of the fantasy world that has been created. That was exactly what I wanted out of this series and I can remember why I adored it so fondly when I read it the first time around (when they initially were published).
The illustrations in this series has always blown me away. It's one of the big reasons I jumped back into this book. The art is just magnificent and I truly hope Kanoko has found many jobs using their artistic abilities because WOW.
Overall, this series is taking a step in the right direction and I'm impressed by it. I am anxiously thrilled to continue on reading to see where the story goes.
Four out of five stars.
My negatives:
1. This book includes more potential rape for Misao. The rape theme seems to be super consistent throughout the book.
2. Drugs too, maybe? Like, can't Misao catch ab real?
3. Storyline didn't move too much, but at least I got to see some different characters.
4. This book feels less like a romance and more of a very possessive, Fifty Shades of Grey-esque supernatural attempting to be erotica sort of book. It's kind of weird.
What I like:
1. The artwork is cool.
2. Different supernatural creatures.
Overall, I am going to finish this series out because I have most of the books (I paid full price back in high school for it so I'm getting my money's worth) but I just am not digging it. There's definitely a market for this book but it's not for me.
Two out of five stars.
Welcome to quarantine cleaning and reading! Where I pull out old books to reread and review, and then lend them to all of my friends. It's great. Honestly, I recommend it.
This series does not hold up for me. While I used to think this was romantic and like a chase, it seems kind of creepy now. It's a little rape-y in nature, yet I still want to read it and see where it goes.
If you're looking for an immature fantasy romance, this is it. It's not to be taken seriously, as it's a manga about a girl who can bring prosperity to a clan if they marry and sleep with her. Honestly, it's a goofy plot but it does make for an interesting read.
As an adult woman, I'm a little creeped out though. The boys get to gawk at pictures of Misao in her underwear and more men want to rape her. It's creepy AF. Like, we almost get a full rape scene. Wasn't this for a middle grade to YA audience? My local bookstore recommended it to middle grade readers. Yeah, you read that right. Middle grade. I was told at the time I might be too old of an audience for it at 15.
Overall, this book is fine if you don't mind rape-y and sexual jokes. I personally didn't like them, but back in my youth they went over my head and I thought it was funny. Being older, it's different. Know what you like to read is basically my warning. This book knows it's audience.
First time around back in high school: 5 out of 5.
Adult me: 2 out of 5.
Black Bird is way more creepy than I remembered. It gives rape-y vibes - with demons seeking our lead to steal her virginity and be married to her, and still propositioning her when she says no. It's quite awkward for the time and doesn't totally hold up. Despite that, I'm super intrigued for how this story goes because I don't totally remember. The tengus and foxes and other demons are very interesting to me and I do want to see how this series finishes.
I think less mature audiences will enjoy this. While it's a YA book, I think pre-teens might like it better. Although, it does bring up sex a fair bit which is why I think more people see it as YA. the controlling nature of our lead gives me Twilight vibes too, which is uber creepy.
But, the illustrations are gorgeous and I love the colour of the cover. The art is what always gets me with this amazing mangas.
It still brings back wonderful nostalgic memories for me though - waiting outside the stores to rush in and grab the newest copy on release day.
Overall, I enjoyed this book for the nostalgia and pictures. It's super creepy but a very interesting read to ump back into a series from my past.
Three out of five stars.
‘There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it.’ (back cover)
A silly sixteen-year-old girl, Misao Harada, could be a special person because she imagines demons around herself. But apart from a tempting statement on the back cover, nothing more of the book is tempting.
Go back to the real vampires’ stories.
While working at her shop, Chiyoko Shimakura was approached by a young foreign male asking for a date. Though, at the same time, there have been a lot of incidents regarding a young foreign man conning women for their money i
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BTW, this series is BRILLIANT.
Now that he has healed and the blood thirsty low tiered demons gone, Misao notices Kyou now acts... distant. News of the consummation of the "marriage" has arrived to rival clans, and now some Tengu want to demand Kyou to feed them with Misao's blood like she were a commodity when their lives aren't in danger (unlike Ayame who Misao healed because she sincerely wanted to save her).
Someone is starting to manipulate humans to attack Misao and have ended up arrested unjustly. Misao feels terrible and wonders if Kyou's sudden coldness and the victim blaming sent by Raiko are getting into her head.
I think the plot had many possibilities, and it sort of missed the mark here. Raiko is a completely detestable character, but he's actually one of the things that tries to keep the story interesting at this point. I believe the part where Tengu demons are trying to threaten Kyou now that he has officially "won" Misao fair & square seems like a dumb plot point. He's supposed to have absolute power over his clan and has the right to order his 7 bodyguards to kick everyone's butt. In prior volumes, he would have done just that. But now, he's all whatever to everyone and walks around the house. I hope there is a deeper meaning towards his changed attitude and it's not just bad writing.
The artwork continues to be great, but there is a certain scene between Kyou and Misao late in the tome that fully turned me off. It was both pointless and somewhat offensive. I hope the next volume tries to pick things up a bit, or at least explains if there is a reason behind Kyo's behavior or this is just a really dumb plot hole.
Kyou isn't willing to kill Raikou, so it's up to Misao to make a difficult decision which surely will have huge implications for the plot. Sadly, I can't spoil how this volume will end!
The thing is, Tadanobu and Kyou are actually very close friends, which is very unusual in youkai society, and to top things off, Tadanobu has a serious human girlfriend named Renko and wants to marry her.
Knowing that a battle for Misao is inevitable, the two former friends say goodbye to their loved ones and duel. But both Misao and Renko cannot accept losing the youkai that they love and must make a difficult decision. Can love triumph? Or the high expectations of each of their respective clans will rule supreme?
The first story involves the sudden visit of a very powerful dragon beast who asks for Kyou's help to save his infirm sister. Nothing is explained about her illness, except that the Tengu bodyguards are deeply afraid of angering the demigod because they know they would be crushed like ants. Misao initially thought her blood could help, but Kyou quickly states that the demigoddess would be unable to drink her blood for some reason.
The demigod offers a different solution: Kyou has obtained a lot of life energy by both kissing and drinking Misao's blood. If he agreed to have sex with his infirm sister, then not only would they gain a very powerful ally, they might locate a part of the stolen sacred fruit logbooks they have been looking for in prior novels whose ultimate importance have never been clearly explained.
Misao is of course furious and goes all jealous and insecure brat-mode. Sure, I have to view her as a clingy and heavily inexperienced teenager, but the way the plot seems to drag on half of the volume, only for the plot to never really go anywhere was a letdown.
The final chapter is better in some ways, but still felt like a desperate attempt to find some sort of tension in the plot as plot filler. Misao's dad ends up spending the night in a temple. Misao's mom asks Kyou to spend the night in their home (whoa!), and despite the fun scenes where Kyou eats human home cooked food, they still don't get past second base. Darn! Misao's parents return the next day accompanied by a sort of priest named Raiko. He instantly growls at Kyou and threatens him to leave Misao alone. After being left seriously maimed by a youkai a long time ago, he harbors a huge degree of hatred for all youkai and threatens to harm Misao in order to split them apart.
Now, this plot twist seems rather interesting, and it offers a lot of potential for the plot. The thing that annoyed me were tidbits of the execution. He threatens Misao in front of her parents, and yet they still let him rent a room in her house while he goes to college. Huh?
A troubled volume, I hope things pick up in the next one.
While Misao's mom seems thrilled that Misao was dating a childhood friend she is still incapable of remembering, getting Kyou's family to accept her might be a more difficult challenge.
Kyou's brother Sohou might remain imprisoned inside of the compound, but he's still devising a plan to regain leadership of his clan at all costs. Meanwhile, Misao not only gets to briefly meet Kyou's grandfather, she also meets Sagami's infirm (and extremely bubbly wife) Ayame.
Things seem to complicate further when we gain more hints what might happen if Kyou consumates his marriage with Misao...
Perhaps this volume lowers the tension in comparison with the prior volume, it still continues to be a strong and steady series that continues to be very fun to read.
This volume is action packed and moves at lightning speed. I really liked how the plot developed. The scenes of the aftermath where Kyou and the other guys take care of Misao while she is riddled with fever is endearing.
This manga continues to be a really fun read, and it's likely I'll continue reading until the end.
The current leader of the fox clan Shuuhei has teamed up with the Shirohebi (white snake) clan to try to lure Kyou away and poison him. However, He didn't expect Keisuke (who offers heaps of great comic relief in this volume as he gives creepy vibes even though deep down, he's just a really sweet guy)... Well, I can't spoil the fun.
The story takes darker turns and keeps things far more intersting than before!
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As many reviews have mentioned, I'm not impressed with the complete lack of consent here. I don't understand the plot, nor do I understand why there are so many horrible men who do not respect women. Based on what I've gathered, our MC realizes she has no choice but to continue. The choice is to either marry a controlling, awful male demon or be eaten by a demon. She chooses to marry the demon and the story continues. I'm not interested in continuing, as the story's lack of consent is disappointing.
It's alarming that you have plenty of popular series and books that are similar. It's a sad situation. Not only that, but it is just my hope that women read this and do not desire a relationship like this because it is not right. This type of behavior should not be tolerated and people should learn to be more respectful and mindful of their actions. We should encourage each other to use our words and actions to build healthier relationships.