Heuristic's (Completed and Reviewed!!) 4 and 5 Star BL Manga PART I

This story is unfailingly pleasant, and the art is minimalistic but nicely drawn. For its genre, it's relatively straightforward (with some minimal angst), and definitely worth a read if you're in the mood for something sweet as sugar and actually about men in their 30s (! so refreshing).

The story is nicely paced, nicely drawn, and just all-around nice. I should probably have given this 3 stars, since there is very little in the way of depth, but at the same time it is such a pure-hearted, fluffy story I was utterly charmed. I definitely recommend reading this if you are looking for a simple story with minimal angst and a lot of love. Additionally, there is zero rape/dubcon/pushiness. Not even a whiff of it.

A fun, utterly goofy action/comedy with fairly simple line art and fast-paced story that nevertheless has a bit of emotional pull. The characters are fun, and even when the yakuza is being something of a total bastard, there remains an undercurrent of goodness that this manga pulls off. Definitely worth a read, but if you want some warnings about content and don't mind spoilers, check out the review on my home page.

Even the story that doesn't delve into the supernatural has an eerie, serene, dream-like quality, and the manga shows a deep feeling for time, space, location, and texture. In a way, locations of the stories - in nature, in dream-logic - are as integral to their telling as the characters are. The detail in the background lends the stories a unique atmosphere, and the leisurely pacing allows the reader to linger in the magical and melancholy world these stories inhabit. Truly beautiful.

A very romantic manga that actually deals with things like homophobia, STDs, and prostitution. I wouldn't say it is hyper-realistic or gritty in any way, but it does deal with some more serious subjects without either getting bogged down in them or weirdly fetishizing them. Additionally, the characters are genuinely endearing. I would definitely recommend this manga for someone who wants a (somewhat) slow-build romance with likeable characters and some degree of sadness (with a happy ending).

This is a really beautiful story, with nice period details (although there isn't any homophobia, which is where the historical realism breaks down a bit) and a lovely plot about reuniting with someone after a war. It's unique insofar as it is thoroughly historical without being overly gritty or tragic. I highly recommend this for anyone craving a change of setting from your typical romance - but with a happy ending.

This is everything one might want from a tender romance - misunderstandings, long-time unrequited feelings, betrayal, and heartache (with a happy ending). What makes this story stand out in my mind is that the misunderstandings seem organic. The manga does a great job of showing the tendency in long-term friendships to fall into a cycle, where two people who know one another very well can so easily settle into set patterns of behavior and develop inflexible expectations of each other.

This manga is full of angst and drama, but in spite of the fact that it reads a bit like a soap opera, the relationships feel a bit more complex and nuanced than one might expect. Actions have consequences, and the reactions of the characters have a touch of realism that lends weight to what otherwise could easily be a forgettable story. As it is, I recommend this for anyone who wants a melodrama with a bit of emotional heft. I quite liked it.

This really is an exemplary friends-to-lovers story; avoids cliche insofar as it begins with a confession & explores all the ways that confession may not be enough. Rather than relying upon extrinsic circumstances & miscommunication for its angst, it draws on the established dynamic & history between the two characters and their insecurities and weaknesses, which makes the drama feel particular to the characters.

While the backstory isn't completely outside the boundaries of yaoi convention, it is a compelling mystery in its own right. Additionally (as I am finding is typical with this mangaka), sex is both beautifully explicit and central to the central conflict of the plot, such that the more pornographic passages add to the emotional heft of the narrative (and are still hot as hell). Poignant, well-told, and with a POV character who is lovably earnest (if a bit dopey).