Erotic Fairy Tales: Bluebeard Opinion

Erotic Fairy Tales: Bluebeard Manga Opinion Review

This is a short 3 chapter story from Erotic Fairy Tales. I enjoyed it for the most part. It wasn't my favorite however, it is a interesting way of changing a previously known Fairy Tale. Bluebeard was short and written well. However, I think the thing I liked best about it was how they drew the characters. The characters both men and women in this manga were drawn really beautifully. The artist's work is what really put this manga over for me into one of the ones that were memorable enough to review. 

Now I will tell you the things I found a tiny bit annoying though understandable given its name and what I assume they are trying to do with the manga. The story was written pretty well and the art was really good despite them changing the story a lot, however, the ending was random for 2 reasons. 1 is that there is a page that seems to not belong but doesn't fit elsewhere at the very end. The bigger issue is the Sex at the end... I have no issue with smut in fact put in tastefully or distastefully it doesn't matter to me so long as it flows correctly with the story. However, the sex between Kain (Bluebeard/ruler) and his wife at the end seemed like a side thought added only because it is part of the "Erotic Fairy Tales" Collection of stories. It seemed to have no rhyme or reason and for those unfamiliar with the Bluebeard folktale and its historical similarities they would not even get why it was put in at all.

For those who do not know The Bluebeard Folktale was supposed to be about a ugly guy who tried to get permission to marry 1 of 2 sisters. However, neither wanted to because of rumors and his looks, both tried to push it off on the other but eventually after a lot of persuasion the younger got married. When Bluebeard was leaving his house for some days he gave some keys to his wife and told her she could open what she wanted except for one room. She was explicitly told not to open. She got too curious and opened the door to the room and found his previous wives dead there and lots of blood she was scared and told her sister. They were going to flee but he came home early. He was trying to kill them and then the girls brothers came and killed him before he could kill them. Having no children the wife ended up with all his money. I looked it up the historical similarities to the folktale and one was to a serial killer called Gilles De Rais. Another was in a biography of  St. Gildas about a woman who was warned by the ghosts of her husbands past wives that he killed them when they became pregnant. If you want to know more about these I suggest Wikipedia. Anyways, this man in the manga was by no means ugly in any way. Also they said nothing about pregnancy or past wives, it seemed in the manga he was her savior.

It is a good story if you are looking for a short smutty story with good art that is not too close to the original Bluebeard Folktale or lore. Children should not be reading this but given the title I assume that would be obvious to most. It is not a dark manga at all which is surprising given the nature of the original tale. Check it out if it sounds like something interesting to you.

Hanatsukihime Opinion

Hanatsukihime Manga Opinion Review

Hanatsukihime is one of the first manga I had read long ago that wasn't a anime that I had watched previous to getting into the manga. This one is short. Only 2 volumes, however, it gave a lasting impression on me. The art is beautiful the story is good. There is very little in this manga that I would complain about even a little bit. However, there is tons of things I want to praise. 

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First let me say my only small tiny issue with this manga is the lead girl Lys selfishness. I can understand it though because dying is a scary thing. Truthfully her desire to live originally didn't bother me cause she didn't know it would be at Siva's expense so truthfully that didn't bother me at all. It wasn't until later when she found out the truth about Siva and got scared of Siva and just left it as he fell off a cliff. She then lived past the contract for months while Siva was sealed and in pain without seeming to have anywhere close to the feelings she once had for him, she thought of him often but the thoughts didn't seem to be that of someone who loved him. She seemed confused and stayed with prince russet. He told her not to run away, but she seemed like she had no plans to do so anyways. that is when i had issues with her, but she realized near the end that she was being cruel to Siva the whole time and that she wanted to save him and that is what made me like her again. She was young so I took that into account and didn't Judge her too harshly throughout the stories. She was drawn beautifully though. I truly loved the art.

Siva was a awesome Character. He was drawn to be dark, mysterious, handsome, tolerant toward Lys, and Smart. I really liked him a lot. I was glad when the story ended up not being as tragic as it seemed like it was going to be. Though. It had a feel good ending. Though I was wondering, if he got his heart back, was he back to not feeling things? That was after all why devils made the game so they could feel human emotions, however, if he got his heart back wouldn't he revert back to feeling nothing. That would be sad. I was just wondering since it seemed like it would be be better if he could still experience love and other human emotions. I liked his human form the most but his devil form was also very beautiful. He seemed to have the ability to grow plants and use those as his weapons. I wish they would have given more info about Siva's power.

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This story was very good. I just wish it would have been longer. There was so much they could have expanded on. So much they could have done but still, it was a short. sweet light romance. This is one that should have been licensed in English however, it has not been yet. There was nothing offensive or adult about it. It would be fine for younger readers. I suggest it for anyone who likes supernatural and romance genres. 

Yume no Shizuku, Ougon no Torikago (Drops of Dreams, The Golden Birdcage) Opinion

Yume no Shizuku, Ougon no Torikago Manga Opinion Review

Also Known as: Drops of Dreams, The Golden Birdcage

This manga is a interesting one to me, because it is not just your run of the mill romance. There is complexity to it but that complexity doesn't come at the expense of rationality. It really is too bad that the place who does the scans is overburdened with projects so it tends to take the back burner to many others. It is definitely worth checking out though.

The creator who makes this manga is the same who made the manga Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori 15 years earlier. That is a romance I was going to review recently but ended up writing a rant on my tumblr blog instead of a full review. I was surprised to find they both were from the same creator. The quality of story is so different it is like night and day. However, this mangaka has been doing this for a long time and has made many manga beyond the 2 I have said here, she is truly very talented and the one I am reviewing now started out in 2010 is her most recent work. She is still working on it.

This is one of the few manga in which I don't have many complaints about the female protagonist. She is actually quite interesting and beautiful. She is strong, but in a feminine way which I always enjoy the most in women characters. She seemed a little airheadish in the very beginning, but soon after she was a great heroine for all the rest of the chapters I have been able to read, she is pretty, wants to learn about the world, will not cower to the other women in the harem, is quick to learn and react correctly in difficult situations.  However, just at the end of the last chapter she learned of a rival in her true love. One that had the right to be with him unlike her. With this, it is possible that the story could take a turn in a way which will bother me if she acts shallow or too straight forward with her, but over all I will still like the story.

The king Suleiman  is not ugly in fact he is very handsome and Alexandra (known as Hurem later) says she feels comfort in his arms, plus she knows very little about King Suleiman and he seems like a decent guy for her. I don't understand why her heart still beats for Mateus though, he was the one who bought her and trained her for the very reason to give her to the king. Hurem and Mateus obviously both care for each other, but, for his own reasons he decided to give her away. Both the King and Mateus seem like good guys. Plus it seems like both men are sexually active with each other or at least messing around with each other. From what Ive learned though, that was not all that uncommon in those times. Maybe they will share Hurem with each other. Though, I foresee their love for Hurem actually driving a stake between the relationship they have.

So far though I know little about any of the characters other than Hurem, Mateus is the most unknown. He seems like he is hiding something. I wonder if he is biding his time waiting to overthrow King Suleiman for some reason unknown to us yet. He is very smart and has a air about himself that is definately greater than a Head Page which is his current title. He is drawn very handsome as well. More so than the king even in some ways.

Overall the art is very good and the story line so far is very interesting. I always look forward to reading more when it comes out. Its got adult scenes in it, but so far nothing is really shown within them. I suggest this to anyone who may like to read a complicated romance that is diferent than the average romance. 

Loop (oneshot) Opinion

Loop (Oneshot) Manga Opinion Review

Loop is a extremely interesting oneshot. Though short, This manga was very unique and very memorable for me. Though I don't search it out in my manga Psychological is fast becoming a genre in which many of my favorites fit. This one is no exception. I've also been on a action kick lately. I still like romance too. This oneshot fits all my favorite genres... so it was obvious it would be one I liked.

The word bubbles on the first and last page bother me a little. Its just a tiny little thing so it doesn't affect my rating for this manga but, its just, i don't understand why its needed, it really didn't add anything to it, in my opinion. At the very beginning and at the very end it seems like some invisible entities are speaking to each other about what they had put into place and how it resulted. To me though it didn't add any deeper meaning and seemed totally worthless. However, I am sure someone will see it as interesting. It didn't bother me that much though. Also just to nitpick... perhaps i am desensitized but i didn't see this as a horror genre, however it is classified as that. Supernatural possibly but horror is usually scary, this is not

The art was great and went well with the subject matter and very detailed throughout. I especially liked the action scenes and the way the main characters were drawn. The story itself was excellent as well. Though it ended on a note that was satisfying. I was really enjoying it and wished they could have nixed the talking spirits at the end and had them reincarnated or something and  kept it going... though honestly if I think about it that would be a little hard to carry off too... i just wish they could have made it longer and that the main characters could have understood each other a bit more before the end.

This is a oneshot you don't want to miss. Short and interesting. A good read. There is no smut but there is violence and death so if you are squeamish about that maybe you wouldn't like it. It is not scary though. However, If you have no issues with those things. Don't pass it up. Its a good one.

Honey x Honey Drops Opinion

Honey x Honey Drops Manga Opinion Review

Honey x Honey Drops is one of the few Shoujo Manga that I really enjoyed reading. It stands out in my eyes among the many shoujo romance manga that I have read. The art is beautiful, the story is delivered really well and it is really hilarious in some parts. 

The main male, Kai character was drawn extremely handsome for a high school boy but seems to gain a older look in the end. I really love it when the artist makes the characters grow like real humans. Other than him though his rival that is trying to get rid of his honey is drawn extremely handsome as well and I like the traditional clothing they put him in. 

I didn't have anything I could really complain about about this manga other than the main girl Yuzuru was a little bit too dumb for my taste in some cases. Also she seemed to like to get herself into troubling situations where she could become the victim. Also in some of the cases with Kai's fiance I didn't like how she acted, however, the fiance was way worse. I didn't like her at all. However, I may be being slightly too critical of Yuzuru given her age in the story. Some of the things she did were absolutely hilarious though. Though she cried too much for my taste. Near the end her relationship with Kai was really heartwarming. He was a sweet guy under the rough exterior. 

If you do not like smut. Though this manga is excellent you may want to avoid it. It does have a considerable amount of smutty scenes. However, the story was impressive. So if you are one of those types who does not like smut too much but will like a story if it is good even if it has some sex scenes in it. I think you should still give this one a chance. 

Over all anyone who enjoys a good Romance should read this Manga. It is in my opinion one of the best Shoujo romance manga out there. This is coming from someone who can stand to read very few manga of the school life genre. So you know its got to be good. 

There is a anime as well however, I have not had the time to view it. So I cannot give my opinion on how good the anime is. I plan to watch it eventually though and when I do I will tell you if its worth checking out as well.

ChunChu Opinion

Chunchu Manhwa Opinion Review

I just recently got really into this Manhwa. I am glad that 3 volumes came out in English even if it seems to have been dropped by dark horse that way I can at least support the creators somewhat. This Manhwa is a really good read but its dark and depressing so far.

Chunchu is a man who seems to have been born under a unlucky star. He is a good guy who was persecuted  by everyone so much that he hardened his heart and became close to the very thing he was accused of being. He is a lonely guy who trusts nobody because of how everyone has treated him. People are trying to kill him always, he is always misunderstood, abandoned, and betrayed by the people who have taken him in. He was born a twin. His twin brother was the one who is evil. Even as a baby. his twin brother gave him a awful fate. He tried to avoid his own destiny by switching his with his brothers. Though truthfully, I feel for his twin slightly too since he is unfortunate as well and is trying to deny what he truly is. I truly hope that in the end Chunchu will have people who understand him, know the truth and help him clear his name.

Although sad, depressing, and violent so far, this story was written and drawn extremely well and is worth checking out. Especially if you like action, drama, and fantasy genres. My opinion of it in general is very high. It is currently one of the few I am following closely.  I plan to add more to my opinion of it as the storyline progresses. If you are someone who doesn't like to read anything violent then this Manhwa is not for you. However for everyone else, I highly recommend it.