So I forgot but I’ve read this before - and this time I enjoyed it more. Perhaps it was being back with Alastair. Perhaps it was that, after reading tSo I forgot but I’ve read this before - and this time I enjoyed it more. Perhaps it was being back with Alastair. Perhaps it was that, after reading the books, I had context and more love for Maric. Either way I enjoyed this quite a bit. I’ve also read the next comic so I know the plot - maybe it was that. ...more
This was a cute single volume - gave me Sweetness and Lightning, Vol. 1 vibes with a dash of romance. There is a lot happening the volume so 3.5 stars
This was a cute single volume - gave me Sweetness and Lightning, Vol. 1 vibes with a dash of romance. There is a lot happening the volume so it felt a little rushed near the end. However, I did love the role of food and coming together to share food.
The story following three leads - our romantic pair and little Tane. Tane really stole the show whenever he was on page and he is on page a lot. This left the romance bits a little undercooked but I could see Yutaka and Minru's story being this discovery of first love. They as a result, feel younger than there 24 year age would imply. They could have been aged down and not much would have changed in the story - which is a shame. There could have been more done with this concept of adulting and loneliness but it probably would have overwhelmed the vibes.
Still Worth picking up - it's a quick read and appears to be a single volume....more
The first half was more journeying on our hero part. The stories were fine - but not as meaningful as others. Charming overall but not spectacular (thThe first half was more journeying on our hero part. The stories were fine - but not as meaningful as others. Charming overall but not spectacular (though I do want to see one particular one in animation)
The second half though - wow! This was a great start to a much wider arc I think. The new villain was fat Stix only reason that I am not bumping this up to 4.5 as there was quite a bit of exposition needed to set up the conflict and I am not sure I followed all of it. It kind of dragged the book in pace.
However - the villain was fantastic!! Unfortunate that I have to wait for the next volume ...more
So good - can’t wait to see some of the battles animated but as always, what makes the volume special is the character beats.
And can you feel bad forSo good - can’t wait to see some of the battles animated but as always, what makes the volume special is the character beats.
And can you feel bad for a demon ? Because I sure did here - they are truly aliens here which makes for an interesting tone. Not tragic exactly but sad nonetheless ...more
**spoiler alert** The first half of the volume I’ve seen in the anime - and I think it did it better. But … as we progressed there were some lovely mo**spoiler alert** The first half of the volume I’ve seen in the anime - and I think it did it better. But … as we progressed there were some lovely moments.
And we got to see Fern and Stark have a moment - all the stars for that !!...more
I’ve been reading a lot of manga, manhwa and webtoons. This one really stood out. We follow our lead as she navigates her life and marriage. There is I’ve been reading a lot of manga, manhwa and webtoons. This one really stood out. We follow our lead as she navigates her life and marriage. There is a questioning of her assumptions, her mistakes and her dreams and desires.
There was a complexity here which was both painful and honest. I started the second season but I’m going to take my time with this. This made me cry ...more
This is a tough comic for me to rate and review. I loved the art - home run on that front completely. If this had been a print to hang on my wall therThis is a tough comic for me to rate and review. I loved the art - home run on that front completely. If this had been a print to hang on my wall there were panel where I would have paid separate money for (not the creepy ones but you know what I mean). Some of the art should have been in an album without the story. It would have been better for it I think.
Unfortunately, story left me cold. It somehow didn't gel with the art so I was not engaged. I didn't follow some of the world building - not in the sense that I didn't understand what was going on but I didn't care. Seemed fairly generic fantasy tropes mostly. The cat lessons / asides were cute but broke up the volume for me. I figured out where the plot was trending about a quarter of the way end so there was little surprising. I am hoping the mystery catches me more in the next volume.
I did read this in the collected volume edition and in hindsight reading this as separate comics following the chapter would have probably been better. Some books require the episodic format and this was one where I think the breaks would have help. Ah well, hindsight is 20-20 after all.
I did like the preponderance of women - again, it made for an interesting visual. I had to stop reading to think about how that visual impacted me. However, again, that was to the determinant of the story.
This has all the ingredients of a great comic but needs time to gel. I am hopeful in the next volume as I did feel the 2nd half found its stride better. Kippa and Ren were really cute. My favorite characters - though that could be that there was a sever personality deficit in everyone else. I will continue reading this for Kippa alone. A short volume with only her would get 5 stars from me.
I would still recommend this and I will be continuing with the story. For those who are impacted by the visual style while definitively like this more. I am not a very visually oriented reader despite enjoying comics - the word will always win for me. And here it detracted more than added.
Merged review:
This is a tough comic for me to rate and review. I loved the art - home run on that front completely. If this had been a print to hang on my wall there were panel where I would have paid separate money for (not the creepy ones but you know what I mean). Some of the art should have been in an album without the story. It would have been better for it I think.
Unfortunately, story left me cold. It somehow didn't gel with the art so I was not engaged. I didn't follow some of the world building - not in the sense that I didn't understand what was going on but I didn't care. Seemed fairly generic fantasy tropes mostly. The cat lessons / asides were cute but broke up the volume for me. I figured out where the plot was trending about a quarter of the way end so there was little surprising. I am hoping the mystery catches me more in the next volume.
I did read this in the collected volume edition and in hindsight reading this as separate comics following the chapter would have probably been better. Some books require the episodic format and this was one where I think the breaks would have help. Ah well, hindsight is 20-20 after all.
I did like the preponderance of women - again, it made for an interesting visual. I had to stop reading to think about how that visual impacted me. However, again, that was to the determinant of the story.
This has all the ingredients of a great comic but needs time to gel. I am hopeful in the next volume as I did feel the 2nd half found its stride better. Kippa and Ren were really cute. My favorite characters - though that could be that there was a sever personality deficit in everyone else. I will continue reading this for Kippa alone. A short volume with only her would get 5 stars from me.
I would still recommend this and I will be continuing with the story. For those who are impacted by the visual style while definitively like this more. I am not a very visually oriented reader despite enjoying comics - the word will always win for me. And here it detracted more than added....more
Pretty cute - I liked the art quite a bit, which made up for the hero being an idiot. I am not sure I followed exactly what was happening so I can't gPretty cute - I liked the art quite a bit, which made up for the hero being an idiot. I am not sure I followed exactly what was happening so I can't give this more than 3 stars.
Something about blackmail and a marriage of convenience. My takeaway was that one should not trust bankers.... though this may be an existing bias rather than any clear understanding of the plot. ...more
Cute - a little more less risque than I expected from the beginning. Enjoyed my read of it - just wish it had skewed a little more on the comedy side.Cute - a little more less risque than I expected from the beginning. Enjoyed my read of it - just wish it had skewed a little more on the comedy side. The art was good - except that the hero's nose seemed to change length between the panels. ...more
This was pretty bonkers mystery, madcap romance. I didn’t particularly like the art / character design but something about the sorry just kept me readThis was pretty bonkers mystery, madcap romance. I didn’t particularly like the art / character design but something about the sorry just kept me reading. It was kind of insane that it was so much fun. There is so much plot here that I loved it.
I am going to check out the actual HQ book in this series now. ...more
Lovely art and the artist made the hero bearable which was a Xmas / new year miracle. I remember the original and I wish the heroine had left the “herLovely art and the artist made the hero bearable which was a Xmas / new year miracle. I remember the original and I wish the heroine had left the “hero”. Here I was rooting for them. Plus the character designs were quite pretty, especially for the little kids ...more
This was a bonkers plot - straight out of a soap operas. Histrionics galore - so much so that I wanted to shake our heroine who suffered from Romance-This was a bonkers plot - straight out of a soap operas. Histrionics galore - so much so that I wanted to shake our heroine who suffered from Romance-novelitis - I.E. when ostensibly smart woman behave like they took stupid pills because … drama.
So stupid it was fun.
But on the plus side - it gave us some really great art. I liked all the dramatic scenes (and the crying). Author did a great job there. I wish there was a little more humour as it would have been more to my taste ...more
This is a bonkers manga as only a Diana Palmer book can be. There is enough plot in here for 3 of these comics which makes for confused resign
The storThis is a bonkers manga as only a Diana Palmer book can be. There is enough plot in here for 3 of these comics which makes for confused resign
The story is average at best and I would have rated this lower for the confused plot which I couldn’t really follow. But the art was nice so giving it one more star. I liked the heroine’s design...more
I liked the art overall, especially all the exaggerated hairstyles. I was constantly worried for our heroine because I was convinced she would topple I liked the art overall, especially all the exaggerated hairstyles. I was constantly worried for our heroine because I was convinced she would topple over because of how much hair she had on her head. You've also got to love bishounen hairstyle on the Duke.
This was more sweet than gothic which was a shame. There wasn't much darkness in the Duke which was not what I signed up for. Still it was cute overall - I could have done without the stepbrother taking up space but I get it.
There was some oddness in the translation which was odd in places. It’s like someone literally translated parts of the text instead of understanding the idiom or intent.
e.g “I heard you moaning when I was retiring to my room, so I want ahead and entered yours.” – not clear and slightly wrong. Clear enough in the start but translation is off. However, I gave this a pass because sometime that is on HQ not on the author in my mind. Noting it in case this bother people. ...more
This series just makes me happy and the missions are fun. Most of the main storyline is in the anime as well so I was familiar with the stories themseThis series just makes me happy and the missions are fun. Most of the main storyline is in the anime as well so I was familiar with the stories themselves, except the final extra story in the volume. It was a side adventure when Yor and Loid go on a date ...more
And this fantastic series comes to an end for me. This volume serves as both an epilogue to the overall story as well as detailing how the transfer ofAnd this fantastic series comes to an end for me. This volume serves as both an epilogue to the overall story as well as detailing how the transfer of power occurred between the Shogunate and the Meiji government.
Lovely art and some really touching moments - which of course - made me cry. The volume ended in this hopeful note which I was surprised by. It was surely optimistic and forward looking which I appreciated. Even though it made me cry as well - not in sadness in hope.
Really glad I read the series - one of the best I’ve ever read. ...more
After a few quiet volumes - which I took as a sign that the series was running out of steam- the author comes back with a vengeance and a heck of suckAfter a few quiet volumes - which I took as a sign that the series was running out of steam- the author comes back with a vengeance and a heck of sucker punch.
This was excellent - a deft crescendo on the last few volumes which form this sad but lovely sequence in the end of the Shogunate.
I think I cried in almost every chapter of the volume. Beautifully characterization with some exceptional art panel. This has been one of my favourites in the latter half of the series.
I think - maybe? Who knows - this series has so many excellent arcs. ...more
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