Manga Worth Reading

Still funny. This volume ramps up the romance from the previous books, with the introduction of a TV exorcist who used to be an apprentice to Miko’s father. When he shows up in person, claiming that he was promised Miko as his wife once he became successful, he makes the incubus demon Kagura jealous. The visitor is a danger to Kagura in more ways than one — not only is he more acceptable to her parents, he can literally banish Kagura from her life.

Demon Love Spell Book 3

When reading this series, I always find myself thinking about the classic Buffy/Angel relationship. The idea that giving a guy what he wants by sleeping with him will cause him to leave you is a universal one when it comes to high school girls, and making the guy a literal demon just ramps up the fantasy, angst, and potential for humor. I find it amusing that when guys start hitting on Miko, the characters have to debate whether or not they’re secretly demons or just guys who don’t take “I’m already in love” for an answer.

More disturbingly, though, Miko doesn’t believe in her own feelings. When she wants to make love to Kagura, she thinks that’s a bad thing (and she never quite trusts herself, wondering if she’s under the spell of his powers). Somehow, in her mixed-up teenage mind, that she enjoys being with him is a sign that she shouldn’t be. She pays more attention to what she’s told she should be doing than what she wants to do. Man, people are twisted, aren’t they? And yet, they make for entertaining, soapy reading.

Demon Love Spell Book 3 has a sudden wedding, the conflict between family and feelings, a character pretending to be someone else, secret motivations, vows of destined love, and abrupt revelations. There’s also a story about a snow demon drawn to Miko’s warmth, followed by a short backup about what Kagura’s life is like when he’s hamster-sized. That’s adorable! (The publisher provided a review copy.)

The opening chapter wraps up the Anna storyline from several of the previous books with an oh-so-convenient letter from the now-departed former classmate that lays out her feelings and motivations. I found this helpful, because I admit, I had trouble during that lengthy tale reconciling what characters did, why they said they did it, and how I thought people would actually behave.

A Devil and Her Love Song Book 8

Thankfully, the rest of the book is back to the strengths of the storyline, with Maria appreciating her new friends as they graduate to a new school year. First, the class is going to run a marathon, an interesting setting for the usual questions over trying to fit in — the girls are all planning to run slowly and cross together to avoid any of them being embarrassed by finishing late — or being true to oneself and actually trying to do one’s best. It’s a strange setting for an emotional realization, but Maria has one anyway, about her feelings for Shin.

Maria is drawn in gorgeous fashion, with plenty of closeups of her pageboy framing her luminous eyes. She’s the appeal of the series for me, as she struggles to make friends and grow outside the stereotypes others have forced her into. I identify. She’s a dogged individual, sometimes in spite of her self, and regardless of the trouble it gets her into.

A Devil and Her Love Song Book 9

A new character joins the cast. The freshman Shintaro likes Maria and isn’t shy about expressing it, unlike some others. His brash enthusiasm shakes up the little group in ways that make for more story fodder. Like Maria, he has problems understanding social boundaries, but unlike her, he doesn’t let his lack restrain him. She’s embarrassed by it, but he embraces it, even when it puts him in danger from older students who don’t like the way he stands out.

There’s also a beach trip, with the requisite swimsuit panels. Background material includes some author’s notes and a quiz to determine which character you’re most like.

The trip continues in Book 9, where the group fractures temporarily over Shintaro’s behavior but reunites over a disaster. Then it’s back to school, where music again enters the story. Maria wishes to hear Shin play piano in a concert hall, so he faces his father to try and make it happen. His past emotional struggles over living up to that legacy take focus for a while, and we’re shown the transformative power of both music and touch.

SuBLime Manga prints yaoi and boys’ love titles, and although almost all of their books are Mature rated, the actual amount of sexual content can vary widely among stories. Blue Morning turns out to be one of the books in the “not very much physical contact” category, which was fine by me, since I’d rather read about the emotions and relationships than watch scenes of the act. (However, please note: the one sex scene can be read as non-consensual, although the actual motivations are impressively complex and multi-faceted.) Blue Morning is a historical story of a young man attempting to grow into his inheritance.

Blue Morning

Ten-year-old Akihito finds himself the heir to a highly ranked and prominent family. His only guide is the young and well-respected Katsuragi, the butler with his own secrets. He’s handsome, mysterious, and has an answer to any problem. He’s firmly committed to shaping Akihito into a man who can advance the family’s rank, but no one knows why.

As Akihito grows up, pleasing his mentor and father figure becomes more important to him, and his desire to make Katsuragi proud of him transforms into more complicated emotions. The art is detailed in its figures and expressions, as well as background and setting, allowing the reader to sink into the era portrayed and its attractive men.

There are more questions than answers provided in this volume, which some readers may find frustrating. However, those who enjoy the foreign atmosphere of the near past, a time when rules provided constraints that made relationships more risky, will enjoy the mystery. (The publisher provided a review copy.)