The Essentials - BL

Crimson Spell is by the same woman that made the Viewfinder series. It is famous because it is one of the only high fantasy BL that has an ample amount of smut. Val is a prince, cursed to turn into a bloodthirsty demon anytime he sleeps. Havi is a magician with an eye for only high-quality goods. Seeking to lift his curse, Val enlists the aid of Havi, who tames the demon within, unbeknownst to Val, by dominating it sexually each night it appears.

This story is by the same mangaka of Ten Count. It is a soft, genuine tale of a college law student and a botanist. They are both fettered down by the identities they formed before meeting one another, by the expectations of those they share bonds with. But in spite of it all, they seamlessly acquaint to one another as though they were destined. The prequel to this series is a heartbreaking tale on my *Masterpieces* list.

Peak 2009 in Japan and America. This is about fullbloom academy, a school that trains prostitutes and hosts of all different dispositions and kinks. The academy is backed by rich people all over the world, male and female, who rent out their favorites for a night. There are multiple pairings that relate much like junjou romantica. Lots of variation and a light read.

This author has a oneshot that was converted into an OVA (Tight Rope). She's very prolific, so it's hard to say which of her series is the most well know, but Ameiro Paradox seems the farthest along in chapters as well as the best overall indicator for her style. The story is about two paparazzi/journalists who both have entirely different methods and personalities toward their work. For such good writers, they're terrible at communicating. But they can't get enough of each

Junko was once a very very popular BL artist, though she has since switched to shoujo manga. Star-like Words is a great example of her vibe, though Kasa no Shita Futari and Konbini-kun are arguably more well know. The story is about a boy who enjoys casual sex. One day he sneaks into the art room for a quicky with some guy, and he sees a painting that changes his entire life. He knows the person who painted it is his true love.

Hybrid Child now has 3 absolutely stunning OVAs. The story is by far the most moving Nakamura Shungiku(junjou romantica's author) has ever to create. It details the lives of soldiers who are forever changed by the experiences of war. As one of many damages of battle, the loss of a sense for love and companionship can be felt all around, inspiring the creation of a new technology - the Hybrid Child is a human-like being that will grow in correspondence to its master's love.

Unfortunately, even if you're not going to read it OR watch it, it is important to know. I've heard from a friend that they originally thought this series was an urban legend of sorts, or a fake idiom arising from an age-old inside joke in the otaku world. It is important to know that - No, this is not a fake series. And yes, it is real and every bit as horrifying (or hilarious) as it has notoriously made itself out to be. This is arguably how "outsiders" might see BL.

A shounen-ai that is both an icon of Josei and the gothic horror genre in shoujo. It is often compared to Kuroshitsuji. It follows the life of Cain, a boy who is surrounded by misfortune and death, at the hands of his father wishes him misery. Godchild is a sequel to the Cain Saga, though it can be read as a stand-alone series. The themes in this story are Biblical, Wiccan and nursery-rhyme oriented. With Cain's loyal butler at his side, they strive to free him from his father.

Kizuna is a classic of the early 2000's, and it has an anime (along with the author's other series, Boku no Sexual Harassment). The story is about two boys who are accomplished kendo talents; they gradually fall in love from their first days in middle school and onward. But for one of the boys, a written confession is left behind detailing his lineage as the heir to a yakuza clan. He and his boyfriend, mere athletes unprepared for the underworld, struggle to hold onto each other.

This was Takarai Rhito's (Ten Count) debut in this adaption of a popular novel. The story is about Seryou, a boy who has a ritual habit of dating whoever confesses to him at the beginning of the week - and without fail, he dumps them by its end. Yet exes of Seryou's have never complained, as their week together was bliss.

Shino, a male, asks Seryou to date him on a whim. Thus begins the pocket of time in which Shino unexpectedly experiences the most genuine feeling of his life