Title: Hakushaku to Yousei
Anime/Manga: Manga
Season/Chapter: Chapter 15
Release Date: 2011
Genres: Fantasy, shoujo, supernatural, romance
Ongoing/Completed: Completed
Plot Summary: There is a legend that states that anyone who possesses the blood from the Earl or ruling lord of the fairies is entitled to a sword that is proof of that bloodline. However, if you are a fake, let's say a thief, then your body will wash up on the shore. There is word of a fairy doctor who is not only knowledgeable in the way of fairies, but who can also see and hear them who may be the key to solving the puzzle of the sword. Who is this fairy doctor and how will she be able to help when fairies don't exist?
Review: The storyline is appealing, but it leaves you hanging. Maybe there should've been a better ending then this if the series was going to be discontinued? Maybe the author was unable to continue with the series foe personal reason. I don't know, but this manga is worth finishing. The illustrations are beautifully drawn and attractive. The female characters don't wear sexy or skimpy clothes in this manga because of it's timeline around the Victorian Era.
The characters' profiles are aggravating. My favorite characters are the fairy doctor's partner and the Earl's butler. Everyone else has me bagging my head against a wall. I'm also not sure about the MC relationship. I do appreciate how the author includes both female and male perspectives, which is why their relationship is frustrating. No smut, no ecchi, varying degrees of romance and no need for censorship. It seems original to me, but I could be wrong.
I think Hakushaku is worth reading, but be prepared to be unsatisfied. Like I said, something is missing.
Opinion: Hakushaku took me by surprise. 1) I didn't expect it to end the way that it did. 2) The storyline was fascinating, but left me dangling over a shark tank. Are they going somewhere with the character developments? 3) Where is the rest? I know they couldn't have ended it with just chapter 15, right? I heard there was an anime, maybe I'll make time to find and binge ... we'll see.
Rating: I give Hakushaku 8 brownies out of 10. There really should've been a continuation or at least a more complete ending.
As always, I do not own any of the pics used in this blog.
Title: 100% Perfect Girl
Author: Wan
Genre(s): Action, manhwa, mature, psychological, romance, shoujo
Completed or Ongoing: Completed
Plot Summary: This story focuses on the romance of a young couple. They go through a lot of shit because, you know, he's king of an European country. She's just a "plain" Korean girl with nothing but her ambition to be an artist.
Review: This manhwa may make you cry. If you have seen Kdoramas (see Terminology), then you know how they storyline can be. This manhwa might not be for everyone. While it does say mature, it isn't exactly that bad. It could be because we are exposed to this stuff heavily in the American culture. So much so that I and maybe others, may be desensitized to the whole thing. Sex is implied in the art. Rape is more descriptive, but I would still say that there is worse in smut.
The story is frustrating. I have said it many times and I'll say it again; I will not give spoilers. But.... DAMN!!!
Opinion: The MC female is by any means "plain". What,?!The start of 100% is kinda slow, but picks up. There are fillers in weird places. I'll say that this manhwa made me cry at least twice. It got me angry, mad, sad, and frustrated all "at the same damn time"! (sorry Bad Girls Club reference) Truthfully, around chapter 55, I was hanging around for the sex scene, I wanted to see how the artist would bring it to life. I was disappointed.
I hate virgin romance novels/mangas/animes/manhwas. FUCK!!!! I have nothing on this kind of romance. I just feel that ALL humans should be aware and comfortable with their body and sex. Virgins and the stereotypes of virgins play on the belief that if you're sexual you're dirty, but only if you're a female. I'll save that rant for another day. If sex was what you were looking for, it's not here. If it's romance, you might be in the right place. Depending on whether or not you want to take that emotional roller coaster ride.
Rating: The illustrations wasn't too bad. The storyline pissed me off, The characters' develop into completely different people in the end. I think it's original, but then again, I haven't read as many manhwas as I've read mangas. In mangas, I wouldn't say that they go this far, again, I could be wrong. The fact that the genre was psychological could also explain why it's so deep.
It censors like no tomorrow. It implies a lot. The romance is decent, the mature level was a bit weak. I'm surprised that I actually continued to read it. I thought about quitting a few times, but the lack of sex scenes kept me going until I realized that it was way, and I mean WAY too close to the end to drop it now. I think that may have been the point. If so, kudos to you Wan. Kudos to you.
I give "100% Perfect Girl", a 5 out of 10. Uhhhh, I can't even think of a rating image to give this.
Read if you want, but if you don't like it, you had been warned
NeW tErMiNoLoGy AlErT!!!
Mature: Supposed to be for people over the age of 17. Usually up my alley depending on the storyline and art.
Oh, did I mention that I'm big on animanga art? Unfortunately, I judge a lot of animanga by it's art. It's not a good thing to do and I acknowledge my bias...
Also, I do not own the pic
Title: Puzzle
Author: Morie Satoshi
Genre(s): Romance, smut, one shot, psychological, school life, shoujo
Ongoing or Completed?: Completed
Summary: The female MC is looking for the missing piece in her life that would make her feel completed.
Review: "Puzzle" is a manga that would leave you wanting and waiting for more. It feels like it could go on a bit longer, but it shouldn't. The storyline is not strong enough for more than the one shot it was made for. Read if you're bored, but if you have something else to read, read that. It was okay. Much respect to Satoshi for having the courage to get something published though.
Opinion: The artwork isn't the best, but it's tolerable. It didn't make me want to skip ahead so it gets bonus points for that. The storyline is kinda of weak and the male MC is a man of few words. I'm glad, however, that the female makes the first move. This is opposite of how a lot of cultures (including America) choose to make the female protagonist. A docile female who never takes the initiative and is always led by the male. The message of this story; if someone who you want in your life doesn't "fit", make them fit by constantly changing until your relationship fits. Do I agree with this? Hell, no.
*NeW tErMiNoLoGy:
One Shot: This means that this manga was completed in basically 1 chapter. You usually don't find another manga for it.
Psychological: Mostly fucks with the reader's head. Not everything is as it seems.
School Life: School age people. Up to college if the story revolves around that school life.
Shoujo: Manga written and intended for females. Mostly involves strong female characters and romance.
Also, I do not own this picture!
