Supernatural, High-Concept, & Historical Yaoi

Two short stories, both with historical settings. The first is about a man who lives in the red light district and gradually falls in love with one of his wealthy customers. The second is about a teenager who owns a store and is in love with his teacher. Both are nicely drawn and beautifully realized, as is usual for this mangaka. It's also refreshing to read historical stories that are not horrifically tragic. Both are light and sweet.

This manga follows the adventures of a trio of characters through three stories: a young porn actor, a writer who works for an occult magazine, & his childhood friend, the illegitimate child of a yakuza boss. Psychic phenomenon, yakuza conspiracies - this manga truly has it all.
Interpersonal relationships are developed slowly against the backdrop of the stories & most of the drama stems from the mysteries, and it is a joy to see interpersonal dynamics change over the course of the three stories

This manga is 100% bonkers in the best way. It's refreshing to read shonen ai with so much manic energy and unusual worldbuilding, where the focus is equally on the romance & the plot. The tone shifts effortlessly from funny to genuinely moving in the blink of an eye. Recommended if you're in the mood for a fast-paced (and deliciously long) over-the-top romance with adventure and action and worldbuilding.

An absolute treat & highly unusual in entry in the genre. Starts out as a genuinely compelling mystery as we follow our cynical & short-tempered protagonist on his quest to learn just what is up with this bizarre town. The story takes its time to unfold, but I wouldn't precisely consider it a 'slow-burn' since there really is nothing slow about this manga. Neither is it rushed: both the romance & the revelations are developed. It is by turns creepy, tragic, comedic & heart-stoppingly romantic.

There are two stories: one for each angel, both sweet. I normally am not a big fan of the saccharine; in this instance, the whimsical premise, the tenderness of the stories, and the whispery undercurrent of sadness that runs throughout made this a lovely read.

Recommended if you would like something light with an interesting setup - a satisfying manga that would probably make an excellent palate cleanser after reading something emotionally draining.

The manga is atmospheric and quietly intense. It is sci fi, but we see the world only in small glimpses, since fundamentally the story is a small, domestic tragedy, not a sweeping epic. It incidentally raises questions about machine intelligence and personhood that are never really explored, but, again, that's not really the point of the narrative. Recommended if you want a really well-done if strange abuse story that transitions into love with a lot of porn in the interim.

Imaginative, action-filled, and incredibly beautiful, it is a truly unique entry in the BL genre. I highly recommend this to readers who want a nice drawn-out love story (with a happy ending and plenty of variety and action) and who would find the deep historical and mythological threads that run throughout as engaging as I did.

This manga contains and transcends cliches to tell an imaginative story with a huge scope and delightful side characters (which are more interesting than the main couple at times). It takes a while to get really interesting, but definitely worth it. Set aside a some time to slog through the first few volumes, which are not so good. Recommended if you're in the mood for a high fantasy melodrama with a complicated plot and a good heart.

This is the kind of manga this list was made for. I cannot recommend this highly enough, but with the caveat that you save it for when you have a lot of time on hand. Read it continuously and all the way through for the full effect (otherwise it may be difficult to remember where you left off). It is absolutely worth the time investment. It is genuinely thought provoking, wildly imaginative, and deeply moving. No warnings whatsoever.

manga written like a fairy tale. If you're looking for a compelling romance or a story with psychological complexity, look elsewhere. This is BL that reads like a myth, and provided you don't have the same expectations as you would for a normal BL or typical fantasy manga, there's plenty to enjoy here - most notably the exceptional art, which carries the story.