Hello, dearies! After so many months without a single manga review, now I bring two in the same week, right? Yup, that’s crazy old me for you all, haha! This time, I’m going to talk about TokyoPop’s duology manga series for Beauty and The Beast: Belle’s Tale and Beast’s Tale ❤ I received my review copies from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and here we go! Thank you all, guys! /o/
*~.Belle’s Tale.~*
In Disney’s live-action film Beauty and the Beast, Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman, is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince inside. This manga explores Belle’s innermost thoughts as she learns that true beauty comes from within.
~*~
*~.Beast’s Tale.~*
A tale as old as time … told in timeless manga style Disney’s much-anticipated live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” hits theaters in March 2017, and it stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. This original two-part manga series is based upon the upcoming movie… but you’ve never seen this classic love story told quite this way before. The “Beauty” manga delves into Belle’s deepest thoughts as she’s taken prisoner by the Beast in his majestic castle. Where the “Beast” manga explores Beast’s deepest thoughts as he captures Belle in his castle and finds himself falling in love with her feisty attitude and adventurous spirit.
Good night, lovely people! I was going to bother you all only tomorrow morning, but as Beth, from Betwixt The Pages, so kindly reminded me three times, she tagged me on the This is My Genre, Tell Me Yours! #booktag =D If you don’t know Beth yet, you totally need to #justsaying, so go check her own post and blog here, please! She rocks all the right books and jams ❤ Beth, once again, thank you for the tag!
Credit Drew @ TheTattooedBookGeek as the creator of the tag, either use the created tag name graphic or create your own and link back to the blog;
Answer the questions;
Tag as many people as you want!
QUESTIONS
What’s your favourite genre?
I’d say romance, but that’s a lie. I could say historical romance, but that is also not right. The truth is I’m picky with both, so I’ll just stick with the universal truth: gay romance. If we’re talking about a good and sugared gay romance, then I’m in heaven.
Who’s your favourite author from the genre?
I hate when I have to choose among my children, but if for some monstrous reason I got stuck reading the same author forever and ever, it would be Ava March. She’s my goddess on earth and she knows it. Or at least she should, as I’ve been bothering her by messages on Goodreads and e-mails since I was 17 – I’m 22 today, so the math proves how much patience Ava has with me, haha! Seriously, ALL HER BOOKS ROCK. I should know, as I have read them all. #psychotic #Ilovetoohard #sorrynotsorry
What is it about the genre that keeps pulling you back?
This question actually needs to be answered in three parts, if you all don’t mind lol Dear Annelise, of course we mind! Do you think we don’t have anything better to do than to read your babbles?
Sorry, I’m still answering it on three parts, please bear with me ❤
Part I: Historical Romance
Since I was a child, I’m a sucker for historical romances, especially the ones set in London, 19th century. At first, I only knew the heterosexual romance world – which I love dealy to this day – and what keeps pulling me back to it is to be able to see how you can find ways to rebel even when society is against you. To see how people behaved and how difficult everything was back then – can you imagine being hungry and not knowing how to turn on your own stove to bake yourself something? I honestly can’t and that’s why I keep coming back to this genre. I love to see how people were able to live and be happy with way less. How much simpler things were. If they had good toilets and tampons, I’d totally go back in time!
Part II: Gay Romance
I have such a fondness for LGBT love in general because I feel this is the last true social barrier for a relationship to actually work. If I’m reading contemporary romances and it is all about the couple getting together with some insecurity drama to it, I just don’t feel like reading it. I don’t see a valid problem, you know? But a LGBT couple has yet to deal with a lot of shit from society – many times, from their own homes. This sense of forbidden love makes me pin harder for them, in hopes that, one day, those labels won’t matter anyone and love can be truly free.
Part III: Historical Gay Romances
After Greeks and Romans turned into History [haha], pretty much all relationships posed challenges. The taboo levels varied according to the times, but no couple was safe – I hope you are seeing a pattern here, haha! On the 19th century, people loved to think they were oh-so-civilized and modern, but relationships were still very complicated. Nobles and servants together? Nope. Peasants and nobles? Nope. Royalty and beggars? NOPE. Birth itself was a barrier and there were serious punishment for marrying off your social position. Now, imagine the taboo levels for two men in love with each other when they can barely choose the women to hold their hearts? I FAINTED.
What’s the book that started your love for your favourite genre?
I’ve been a book lover from the crib, with no particular trigger to my adoration. However, what truly awakened the gay romance lover in me wasn’t a book, but a manga series called Gravitation, by Maki Murakami. To be honest, it isn’t even that good, but I didn’t know it was a gay romance when I first bought it and started to read it. I was 13, I think, and totally ignored the big +18 on manga covers since I was 8, so you can imagine my face-fall as I reached volume 2 and the male protagonists had sex. I wish I could have a gif of that moment, it was priceless, haha! I already had a soft spot for beautiful bffs males, so the thing just naturally evolved and officially got out of control as I entered college and met J. L. Langley’s books. Life as I knew back then was over, hahaha!
5. If you had to recommend at least one book from your favourite genre to a non-reader/someone looking to start reading that genre, what book would you choose and why?
Actually, I have already been there with Jess, from the Mud and Stars! If you want to immerse yourselves on the wonders of historical gay romance, I must recommend you All In With The Duke, from the goddess Ava March! It’s simply the best historical romance of my life. I hope this is reasoning enough, but in case it isn’t… Here’s my review for it!
I miss my pretty Instagram pictures #justsaying
Why do you read?
Why do I breathe? Why do I eat? Why do I sleep? All those questions have the same answer: despite being highly enjoyable, I NEED TO DO IT, LMAO. Books are my safe heaven, the hobby I hop on when I’m tired, bored, happy, sad, excited, hopeful, in need of a hug… Books are my life. I actually own more books than clothes and shoes put together, haha! (Just to clarify: I’m only talking about physical books. Don’t even get me started on the digital shelves, haha!)
George R. R. Martin definitely rubbed on me, I can’t even make a tag post something short… Sorry, guys! For this one, I’ll tag…
Because I’m really sure they are ok with tags, but anyone is welcome to do it! You can even say I tagged you on your post =D Jess and Amanda, please don’t feel obligated to do this if you don’t feel like it ❤
I guess that’s it, people! Hope you found this post where I just talk about my royal panda self all the time interesting ❤ What is your favorite genre?
Good day to you! It is I, the urban legend of book bloggers back once again from the hiatus sea. I’ve realized I never got to do a wrap up for September and we are totally still in schedule for an October one, so why not do both in the same post, right? =D It will save time for everyone, yay!
September
Wrap Up
*titles with links are already reviewed, isn’t this a miracle?!! =O*
So, September was a crazy reading month for me. I do promise I kept my life on its regular tracks and that I didn’t skip work to read as I say that I’ve read 26 books that month.
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan (The Heroes of Olympus #1) – read from Sept. 21th to 26th | 5 stars
Kindred Spirits, by Rainbow Rowell – read on Sept. 26th | 5 stars
Unfortunately, I can’t remember if I bought any books that particular month or if I bought something in October, so no Book Hauls =( Sorry, my memory sucks! I used to document each book bought on a word doc, but oh well. I think I’ll go back to it on December, haha!
October
Wrap Up
In October, I didn’t manage to read so many books as in September because of my Game of Thrones Challenge, but I read all the mangas I hadn’t in the previous month in between the bloody pages of GOT, oops! So I’ve read only 6 books… But also 26 volumes of manga, haha!
the reacion of all my off-line friends to this info
I have been asked where in all seven hells I have managed to squeeze in so many mangas in the middle of a Game of Thrones challenge, but I’m not really allowed to talk about my time turning abilities? Hahaha! No, seriously, I don’t have a good explanation, sorry =/
Books
A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) – read from Sept. 27th to Oct. 4th | 4 stars
A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) – read from Oct. 4th to 10th | 4 stars
A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #3) – read from Oct. 10th to 17th | 4 stars
A Feast for Crows, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #4) – read from Oct. 18th to 24th | 2 stars
A Dance with Dragons, by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #5) – read from Oct. 24th to 27th | 5 stars
After I knock these down, I’ll just be a rebel and fish all the lovely books I’ve received this year from authors and publishers that remain unread for a reason or another and start a slow and steady process of reading and reviewing them all. #ambitious
BONUS: The next reviews you can expect to see here are for the Never Veil series =D
That’s it, guys! Once again, thanks so much for sticking around until the end of the post, I know I have been writing too much, oops! Love you all!
Hello, there! Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday and Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers around the internet ❤
I’m back with a manga review – just for you guys to have a notion of how late I am with my manga reviews, there are 10 pendent reviews after I finish writing this one. Ugh, I simply can’t keep up with myself, haha! Regarding today’s title, it’s another yaoi (gay) manga and it has been recommended to me by a Goodreads’ friend, Samantha. Thank you, dear! I really enjoyed this one 🙂 I’m talking about Sleeping Moon, from Kano Miyamoto-sensei!
Akihiko has a slightly peculiar family problem: all the male descendants of Odagawa family end up dead awfully early in life. Being a 27 year old, Akihiko knows he will be next unless he can break the said curse that already lasts centuries.
As he goes back to his family state on the countryside, things gets weird. His family seems to hold way more secrets than a regular one and those are far more deadly. Along with his cousin, Akihiko is hell bent in understanding why does his family members always turn up dead so early.
Things turn downward crazy when a lapse of time allows Akihiko to go back a hundred years, to the Meiji Era. There, he meets Eitaro, a young man that is also trying to understand the curse and break it.
Will the forces of past and present be able to change the Odagawas’ future?
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
This title was very different from the yaoi titles that I usually read and I loved the change of scenario. Being a mystery / time travelling /paranormal series, Sleeping Moon had a heavy art style and an eerie feeling about it all the time. It was like you needed to look over your shoulder as you read it, haha! As much as I found it all interesting, I didn’t like the loose ends on the series finale or the shallow way that the characters’ relationships were built. For those small things, I declare Sleeping Moon a proud 4 stars title 🙂
The narrative follows Akihiko mainly, but we also see the story from Eitaro and Ren’s points of view. The pace is fast and, sometimes, a bit confusing, as the characters mention several people and stories from the past that neither Akihiko, Eitaro or Ren care to explain to the reader. I think Miyamoto-sensei wanted to increase the mystery aura of the story, but it didn’t really work for me, haha!
The plot is complex and well executed. The mystery and paranormal elements are awesome and there are several funny moments to break the intensity of the story and its drama. The only reservation I’ve got is how Miyamoto-sensei build the amorous relationships on this title. As much as Akihiko says how deep his feelings for Eitaro are or how much he enjoys Ren’s advances, I didn’t feel it. It was like she just threw an amorous triangle there to have one and totally forgot to invest on this during the plot. There are a few sensual scenes (nothing very explicit) and that’s all. You don’t feel the love 😦
The characters were very well constructed and intriguing. I really liked Akihiko as a main character, as he was humble despite his accomplishments. He also wasn’t perfectly beautiful, just handsome in a regular kind of way what and I could feel that his life was real. All character’s emotions that weren’t love were pretty real, haha!
The art was cool and gorgeous, a different type from the ones that I usually swoon for. Take a look*:
from left to right: Ren and Akihikoand again, in black and white 🙂and here we have Eitaro and Ren 🙂
Isn’t this art beautiful? ❤
Overall, Sleeping Moon it’s an interesting and seat grabbing title, ideal for people that don’t really care about romance, haha!
Thanks for reading my review! Now there is only 10 more to go, haha! Oh, and thanks again to Samantha for the lovely recommendation ❤
ps:I do not own the illustrations, they were found on Google, belong to Kano Miyamoto sensei and were used with illustrative purposes only
Hi, there! Today I have something different to present as my Manga of the Week 🙂 How about something inspired by a famous game? Let’s talk about The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, by Akira Himekawa!
In a small village in Hyrule, there lives a boy called Link who has the mark of the Triforce on his left hand. It is a mark of destiny that leads Link on a fantastic adventure! Transported to the land of Holodrum, Link meets Din, the Oracle of Seasons. When a plot to steal the seasons from Holodrum unfolds, Link must battle the evil General Onox to save Holodrum and his friends from a terrible fate!
Why I think it’s a worth-reading manga: first, because it is Zelda. I love videogames, but Zelda is a title that I never had the chance of playing due lack of opportunity. I like the game’s concept, characters and plots (I have an offline friend that is a Zelda fan and she used to fill me in with the news pretty much always, so thank you for that, Lu! <3), so when I saw the opportunity to read something about Zelda, I just grabbed the manga as quickly as possible, haha! And it was cute and lovely as I expected it to be! So you should read it too 😀
That’s it, thanks so much! Have you ever read a manga based on a game? 🙂
Hi, there! I know, it’s been FOREVER since my last manga review! I really need to manage my time better, haha! I promise I’ll catch up with myself soon 🙂 But mean while, let’s have fun talking about a very funny, cute and surprising manga series: Seito Kaichou Ni Chuukoku, from Monchu Kaori sensei!! 😀 (yes, it is a yaoi series… Again.) My review contemplates the series until volume 6 😉
Chiga, vice-president of his class, is obsessed with his president, Kokusai. The other guy is a magnet to pervs and weird people, so Chiga feels like is his duty to bodyguard for Kokusai.
What started as only a safety arrangement very soon grows into friendship with the undeniable pull of desire and passion behind it.
Can Chiga confess his true feelings for Kokusai? Will Kokusai accept something more?
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
First things first: HACHIYUMI, WE HAVE TO STOP STARTING UNFINISHED SERIES!! LOL This one I’m not really sure if Hachiyumi recommended to me or if I found it myself and filled her whatsapp with crazy fangirlings while reading and bossing her around for her to read it too, haha! Both scenarios are equally like to happen and I apologize for my eccentricities to all my offline and online turned offline friends, as I have no control whatsoever when I’m obsessed with something, haha!
Now, to the manga: it had me since page one. The art is so delicate and yet the males remain so manly, haha! I loved everything about this series! Oh, well, I don’t really loved that it takes so long for its chapters to be out and about, but one can’t have everything, right? Haha! The title starts light and funny and gets darker with each volume until you are grabbing your seat and eating your nails without being able to breath. For sure, a 5 stars series!
The narrative is manly from Chiga’s point of view, but we get to switch characters more as the series go by. I liked the main couple and Chiga is one of my favorite manga guys! Also, the relationships on this series are so real, with the difficulties, the love, the camaraderie and all… It begins with a very fast pace and it slows down as the story gets more complex.
Which brings us to the plot. It starts simple and revolving around Chiga and Kokusai, as they need to work out their differences and feelings to be together. As things go by, new characters are introduced and Chiga and Kokusai start to share their spotlight with other gay couples. This is highly common for long yaoi series and now I’m going to tell the big secret behind this.
The truth is… that the authors rarely know how many volumes their stories will have. The manga publishers are merciless and demand a good start for the series. If you make trough that and the public loves it, only God knows when they will allow the author to finish their stories. Don’t believe me and need examples? Okay.
NARUTO. The author had the whole story prepared, but when it was coming to the end, the publishers begged him to keep going as Naruto is a world-wide gold mine. Results? The story got boring, confusing and repetitive.
Back to Seito Kaichou Ni Chuukoku: it is still being published and I think that’s awesome, but once the main problem gets solved and Chiga and Kokusai start to go out, there is only a handful of things that one can do to keep the story going without falling for Naruto’s destiny and that’s why other couples take over. Either the story that Kaori-sensei had in mind came to an end and she is stretching it or she never had a plan for a long-term publication and is going with the flow.
Anyway, the characters and the art are the best assets of this series. The characters are so real, intense and funny! They always have some snarky remark to make and Chiga is incredible. Kokusai is more naïve, so Chiga is the skeptical with streets’ smart. I laughed aloud many times while reading Seito Kaichou Ni Chuukoku ❤
And there is the art, that is breathtaking and only keeps getting better, as Miss Xtina would say.
Don’t need to believe me, look*:
from left to right: Kokusai, the bottom, and Chiga, the top ❤
and it is still beautiful in black and white ❤ I took the liberty of erasing the line in the square due to spoilers 🙂
Really, I love this delicate and beautiful art style that still manages to portray guys as guys lol
Overall, if you like yaoi, daily life titles, wonderful art and awesome characters, you have to add Seito Kaichou ni Chuukoku to your TBR pile!
Thanks so much for reading my review!! ❤ What’s your favorite on-going manga series?
*ps: I do not own the illustrations, they were found on Google, belong to Monchu Kaori sensei and were used with illustrative purposes only
Hello! Quick late post today, just to recommend a manga for this week! I’m trying to gather a bit of everything that I have already read here on the blog, so today it’s time to show you Nana, by Ai Yazawa!
Nana Komatsu is a young woman who’s endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she’s hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She’s looking for love and she’s hoping to find it in the big city. Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo’s underground punk scene. She’s got a dream and won’t give up until she becomes Japan’s No. 1 rock’n’roll superstar. This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties.
Why I think it’s a worth-reading manga: Nana is that kind of shoujo (romance) that stars cute and light and then goes darker with each volume. Secrets, lies, problems, dramas… Everything pops up. It’s not only real life, it’s a sad real life. I admit that I couldn’t keep going with the series after volume 7, as I would open it and immediately started to cry, but Yazawa-sensei’s art is wonderful, just like her plotting skills. If you like a good drama, you have to pick this one up 🙂
Hi, there! Good morning and happy Wednesday! I’m kind of freaking out today, as my graduation ceremony is tonight, but I’ll try to act normal, okay? HAHAHA
Today’s Manga of the Week is Death Note, from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. This title left me glued until the very end, as there were so many twists and intriguing characters. And did I mention that the main character is basically a villain? ❤
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, a 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?
Why I think it’s a worth-reading manga: BECAUSE THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A VILLAIN! Okay, not just that. This title is intriguing, delicious, full of fandoms and room for ~interpretations~, if you catch my drift (and if you don’t, just google Light and L yaoi to see what I mean, haha!), and so much more. Until the end, you don’t know what’s going to happen and it is awesome!
That’s it, haha! I have a couple of bookish news to share and, hopefully, I’ll get to post two reviews today, after I get back from my graduation ceremony. That’s the plan, at least…
Good night, again! Can you tell that I’m full of energy on this Spring break? Haha!
Also, I’d like to start this review apologizing myself. I was trying to be a restrained reader (a.k.a. finishes a book, review, start the other). Trying being the imperative word. I went crazy over these few last days and read three manga titles and three books. Yup. I own you six reviews and I’m not counting the one that I’m trying to beginning to write. Hopefully I’ll get them all done until the end of the Easter holiday, haha!
What would you do if you found the love of your life…
… In your first night as a married man to someone else?
That’s Japanese mob clan heir Ranmaru’s dilemma. To satisfy his father’s political wishes, he agreed to marry a girl from another clan, to forge an alliance. The problem is that they barely can stand each other and start to fight as soon as they board their honeymoon cruise to Italy.
And, on the very same night, Ranmaru leaves his spouse to literally fall in the arms of the man that would steal his heart: Italian captain Al Valentino, the embodiment of fun and sex.
An unlikely romance blossoms between them and even destiny seems to be working 24/7 to make sure that Ranmaru and All will remain together.
The big question is: will reality bless this love as well?
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
If you have been here for a while, you are very sure of three things: a) I love Ava March; b) I love gay romance; c) I love manga. You may also know that I’m a giveaway rat, but never mind that. After reading Finder, also from Yamane-sensei, I knew I’d love anything that she publishes, so I started looking for more titles. A Foreign Love Affair left me besotted and wanting more, as it had the perfect bit of everything: romance, drama, comedy, hot scenes, hot males, unpredictable plot and flawless art. It would be an offense to Yamane-sensei to give this title anything less than five stars and a free-hug coupon. I also love coupons.
The narrative had a steady pace and lots of action scenes, both sheet and real action ones, haha! We follow the story mainly from Ranmaru’s point of view, but there are also glimpses on Al’s part and other minor characters, giving the reader full control of everything that was happening on the story. As a good control freak, I was very pleased with this, haha!
As mentioned, the plot was completely unpredictable. I never knew what was coming next and I was biting my nails non-stop until the end, as Yamane-sensei usually has a strong drama side on her stories. I won’t say a thing more, but be prepared for a surprise. Not good, nor bad. Just a big surprise, haha!
The characters, along the art, are the best part in this title. Ranmaru was such an stereotype of the yakuza [a.k.a. mob] in Japan that I’d always laugh with him. He had that cluelessness and cuteness about him, I don’t know… All I know is that I can totally understand why Al was so interested in him, haha!
Oh, yes. Al…
Al Valentino in all his glory*
I love Italian boys. Miss Fergie says they do it better and I guess she’s right, haha! Just look at this man. I fell so hard for him that it was hard to share him with Ranmaru. Oh well. Lucky him that I can share ;D Al was the typical perfect Italian prince: rich, handsome, funny, caring and just a hint of stalker. He takes the “so beautiful it hurts” deal to a whole new level, if you catch my drift lol
And then there is the art of Yamane-sensei.
from left to right: Ranmaru and Al*
Seriously, I stare at the pictures on her works.
Overall, if you like hot and involving romances, hot males, perfect art and quick reads, you have to add A Foreign Love Affair to your TBR!
That’s it, thank you for reading another fangirling review 😀
*ps: I do not own the illustrations, they were found on Google, belong to Ayano Yamane-sensei and were used with illustrative purposes only 🙂
Good morning! Another Wednesday kicks in, another manga is brought! My recommendation for today’s Manga of the Week is a beautiful and light hearted romance [aka shoujo] called Kare First Love, from Kaho Miyasaka!
The age-old dilemma of choosing between your friend and the one you love is the lesson for the day for these bubbly high schoolers. 16-year-old Karin Karino finds herself torn between keeping the friendship of her classmate Yuka and entertaining the advances of a boy named Kiriya. Plain-Jane Karin experiences the gut-tingling roller coaster ride for her love and first kiss as fate pairs her up with Kiriya, who also happens to be Yuka’s object of affection.
Through a series of chance meetings, Kiriya discovers the exquisite beauty lurking behind Karin’s thick glasses and coy demeanor, and asks her to be his girlfriend. But living happily ever after in high school isn’t on the curriculum, as Karin soon finds herself the center of Kiriya’s attention, as well as the bulls eye in embittered pal Yuka’s dart-board of hate.
Why I think it’s a worth-reading manga: this was one of the most classic shoujos I’ve ever read that didn’t bore me to the core. I’m very specific in my tastes to get swept off my feet for simple romances (reads romances without a supernatural or gay or dystopian touch to it). Also, I don’t like drama books or mangas, so shoujo isn’t my go-to genre most of the time. Unless Hachiyumi says the series is worth my time. Then I’ll read it and love it ❤ Point is, Kare First Love was adorable and perfect and you have to read it if you like real characters and a twisting plot!
That’s it, thanks so much for reading ❤ Have I convinced you yet that you need to start reading mangas?? ;D
I’ve been a book lover from the crib, with no particular trigger to my adoration. However, what truly awakened the gay romance lover in me wasn’t a book, but a manga series called 
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange 