Review: After School Nightmare, Volume 2

After School Nightmare, Volume 2 by Setona Mizushiro

My rating: 3 of 5 stockings



Last instalment, Mashiro is now dating Kureha one of the people who share dreams together. Kureha was raped when she was a young child of only five or six, her mother was also abused by her father. Now the only man Kureha trusts is Mashiro because he's intersex. Mashiro is now focussed on proving he's a man and protect Kureha at all cost.

Mashiro's focused on finding out who's in the dream world and trying to help them graduate, or to gain some ground. Sou an old kendo classmate has confessed his love towards Mashiro, and previously kissed him. Meanwhile in the dream-world Mashiro realises strength here is based on sheerly imagination and the strength of one's soul. Midori finally found her key, unlocked the door and was forgotten. In reality Mashiro tries to ease Kureha into making friends with men, specifically just one. As expected the result wasn't good.

Time for my opinion, this volume tries too hard to cram too much in it's limited space it hold. Don't get me wrong I love it, it's just I've notice with the 2 first volumes could have been made into 4 or 5. That's also something that I like about it, it has less fluff than most stories. With the gender bender genre the main character can end up with Kureha, Sou, or no one. Romance, Mystery, fantasy, drama, I give kudos to this story. I'm giving it 3 stockings it's good but it could be better.

Review: キミがスキ 2 (2) by Ayu Watanabe

キミがスキ 2 (2) by Ayu Watanabe
My rating: 1 of 5 stockings

Last instalment, Aoi, Mase, and Hojo have all transferred to the same high school. Aoi has also made a new girl friend Natsumi, while Hojo and Mase become friends also.

Aoi and Hojo are still a couple while Natsumi tries to win over Mase. Eventually Mase and Natsumi get together. Aoi get's emotionally startled by these event.

Okay's it's short I have no choice, this whole story revolves around a love triangle, which in reality is really just two people attracted to each other trying to piss each other intentionally or unintentionally. The plot, characters, and story line are boring, and are lacking in so many ways. I'm giving this volume 1 stocking nothing more nor less.

Review: L DK（5）

L　DK（5） by 渡辺 あゆ

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



For the L DK volume 4 I did not write a review (I had to go to work), so instead of my "Last installable ... blah blah..." I'll just say, read volume 4.

L DK volume 5, Aoi, Shusei, and Kota (the landlady's son) all go to the amusement park. Shusei get's jealous but of who Aoi or Kota and why? A new neighbour moves in next door who also happens to go to the same school as Aoi and Shusei. With school regulations banding all dating, romance, and living arrangements with the opposite sex, Shusei does the unthinkable. What will the new neighbour Sanjo become, a friend, a foe or a lover?

This is by far the best volume up-to-date of the series, there's romance between Aoi and Shusei, but not only that it seems that he's starting to realized he might lose her. A rival character shows up, I'm not a fan of love triangles, although in this story Sanjo's more along the lines of a pair of cable jumpers and Shusei the car battery (not the best metaphor). I have no choice but to give this 4 stockings, it's that good.

Review: L DK（3）

L　DK（3） by 渡辺 あゆ

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Last instalment Aoi realizes that she indeed loves Shuusei, although getting her feelings to reach him will be a battle of it's own.

L DK volume 3, Aoi and Shuusei are once again living together, and hiding that fact is getting harder and harder to maintain. The titled Prince Shuusei is having a hard time keeping the women at bay never mind the girls, with a crazed cougar teacher trying to seduce Shuusei, how is Aoi supposed to get close to him? If that's not bad enough Shuusei's older brother Kugayama shows up, what does he want?

The way Shuusei handles every event and obstacle thrown at him, makes this story all the more interesting. Aoi on the other hand tends to act like the typical romance heroine, where she gets herself is horrible situations that could have been easily avoidable.

The events in this story are getting quite interesting and old plots points that were originally boring or uninteresting, have come back with a vengeance. I honestly recommend people to read this volume, it's funny cute, and you know something's wrong... I'm going to give this book 4 stockings.

Review: L DK（2）

L　DK（2） by 渡辺 あゆ

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stockings



Last instalment Aoi and Shuusei came home to find a woman named Eri waiting by the door.

L DK volume 2, Eri who turns out to be Shuusei's sister, tests the alleged "love" that Aoi and Shuusei proclaim they have for one another. It doesn't take long for her to see through their ruse. There's also a school basketball competition, a confection to Aoi from Shuusei's old friend. A few changes in living arrangements change and a few more surprises occur and secrets are unveiled.

Every book/show need's it's annoying character, whether you like them or not. Shouta is that annoying character, although I like him he adds a little something to an otherwise bland story. More of Shuusei's mysterious past get told without actually giving away too much. Compared to the first novel this one's much more juicy. Aoi even proclaims her love towards Shuusei when she's speaking to Shouta. I'm tempted to give volume 2, 2 stockings because it's not "up to par" story wise, or 3 because I find it's better then the first that I have 3 stockings to. I have no choice but to give it 2.5 stockings.

L・DK 1 by 渡辺 あゆ
My rating: 3 of 5 stockings

In L<3DK we follow Aoi Nishimori a stubborn high school student who live by herself. We start the story some time after Aoi's best friend Moe's confection to Shuusei her feeling, and got rejected. Not soon after Aoi's new neighbour brings her a gift, which cliché enough is Shuusei. After a few mishaps he ends up having to stay with her till his apartment gets fixed.

It's average, there isn't anything different that says BAM! I'M AWESOME AND UNIQUE! Within the first volume their love is obviously applied, without any real barriers. There's always the sense of normal girl dating school hottie, and the bullying that comes with it. Something that bugs me a little is how easily Moe gives up on Shuusei (you can tell it hurt her to do so), but I'd like to see more of Moe's thoughts on this. Also most manga's take several volumes to get to were Aoi and Shuusei got in the laps of 176 pages. The art is okay, but not great.

The only reason I'm giving this book 3 stockings, is for it's potential and not of it's current contents. Considering it starts so cliché it's actually has potential to become a beautiful story.

Review: My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 7

My Sweet Kaicho, Vol. 7 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stockings



Last installment we left Misaki and Usui at the school camp out resolving Usui's worries, this of course is before the side stories. The last side story we left off with was Usui playing prince with Yukimora's little sister, although in the end prince Usui and princess Misaki ended up together, and Yukimora and his sister regained a sibling relationship.

In volume 6 of Maid-sama/My Sweet Kaicho there's an all you can eat sweet glutton competition at Maid Cafe, of all the people to show up Shintani an old childhood friend and classmate, will her cover be blown? What started out as a girls day out to the cultural festival ended up in a date between Misaki and Usui!

I can't tell you much about what happens in the novel without giving away some key story elements and events. All I can say is that I found the two last chapters of this book too rushed. Many people must be thrilled about this volume, but look at the two last chapters I'm someone who likes to savor a long awaited moment not someone who rushes to it and then puts it on the back burner. I can't give it 5 stockings but I can give it 4.5 stockings.

Review: Love Neko

Love Neko by Kazuhiko Mishima

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Yabuki Eiji a high school teacher, just got himself in a sticky situation. One night while surfing the web, he came across a web site that sold 3D High-Tech Moe-Girl "Necoco" who was described as the Ultimate Loving Machine, and impulsively pressed "Purchase". While a little time passed by, he entered his household to find a young man with cat ears and a tail who introduced himself as Necoco!? It doesn't end there, with Eiji threatening to return Necoco, Necoco decides to show his worth the only way he knows by being the "Ultimate Loving Machine".

I absolutely loved this story and even the short stories in chapter 5 and 7. It's got a cute yet rough love to it. To put it bluntly I've read many romance novels and manga but not many Yaoi, so I can't really compare it to much. To see the High school teacher and the robots love evolve was quite hilarious. Necoco never really evolved nor changed as a character, Eiji although came to eventually love the weird cat boy.

I'm a sucker for manga romance and cat ears so I have no choice but to give this book 4 stockings out of 5. Okay in all seriousness this is an actually good short story, it would have gotten 5 if there'd be a deeper plot to the story, I know that it's made to be more lighthearted and to attract a female audience, but a little more plot wouldn't hurt the cause.

Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 4

Maid Sama!, Vol. 4 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Last installment we left with Kanon trying to hypnotizing Usui. At the beginning of the fourth volume Kanon fails at hypnotizing Usui into hating Misaki. With his plans of getting rid of the female body in Seika High, he tries plan-b and hypnotized Misaki. When she wakes up at 7 o'clock in the morning she will hate Usui, but with Usui's help she's able to stay awake and avoid being hypnotized.

With a girl hating hypnotist on a rampage in the school, Misaki trying to increase enrollment into Seika High and the maids at the cafe try to help the manager's sister succeed in her beach side shop. With so much happening how can Misaki ever rest.

I enjoyed the fact that Aoi made another appearance in this volume. Misaki and Usui's romance is finally starting to grow, to a more then obvious state to all who see them together. The story's slowly progressing, as real life would make it seem. If you compare it to novels the romance and story is sluggishly advancing. But you can see that characters both major and minor are slowly evolving and breaking through their obstacles. Which is a nice aspect to this series.

I'm giving volume 4, 4 out of 5 stars isn't that neat. The reason for this is because Aoi makes an appearance, just kidding. The actual reason is because the Misui relationship is progressing at an enjoyable rate (you see what I did Misaki + Usui = Misui. Also Usui's love towards Misaki is all too obvious ... who is he? We haven't yet been able to find out ... it's starting to bug me. Maybe it will be revealed in the next installment of Maid Sama!



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Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 3

Maid Sama!, Vol. 3 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last installment we left with Seika Senior High midway through their sports festival with Misaki winning all the sporting events up to date (except one) with the goal to make life more comfortable for the female population.

In Maid Sama! volume 3 we continue the sporting festival by following an exhausted Misaki while she fights to win and also shows her soft side. Misaki's high school life isn't getting any easier neither is her work or social life. With many twists and turns from a cross dressing boy trying to steal Usui away by any means to mysterious happenings involving a high school hypnotist, life is anything but easy.

I found this volume fun and cute, although unlike the second volume it's more serious. The romance in this novel is slow if not at a standstill Usui just can't get his feeling to reach Misaki no matter how he tries. Although Misaki just isn't realizing her feeling, with helps prolong the story while the readers hope for the relationship to blossom. With the main two mostly detailed while the other characters are more background detail, it certainly helps with foreshadowing.

Don't get me wrong I did enjoy the read but I'll have to give it 3 out of 5 stars. I really liked Aoi-chan's appearance and hoped to see more of her, although it was short lived. The only serious event that might effect Misaki and Seika High is in the last chapter of Maid Sama! volume 3. If you're accustomed to reading my reviews, slow books with the intent to foreshadow the next book are a big turn off to me. This book is somewhat like that, although there were still some consistency to what I like to call mini stories or mini events.



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Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 2

Maid Sama!, Vol. 2 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



We currently left volume one with Usui confessing to Misaki. In the second installment a flustered Misaki can't keep her head on straight, unsure of what Usui's got up his sleeve, so sure that he's messing with her. Her presidential work piles up, she isn't able to study, she can't concentrate on anything including the cafe. A series of events happens possible romance, school festival, Misa ... the boy!? and is the president switching schools!?

Volume 2 of Maid Sama! stays true to the initial portrayal of the characters in the first volume, little character development is made which normal for this type of story, after all it is only the second volume. Besides the recent list of characters, we have a new face added to the story I'll just say he's the president of another school and keep it at that.

I enjoyed the fact that Misaki enjoyed being a boy more than a girl, which didn't impress Usui. The side stories are very fun and light hearted which make the read enjoyable and slow paced. They are a few serious moments and knight on a white horse moments, but all in all this volume can't compare to the first, although the art work is as beautiful as always. I liked it but that's it, it's a good story but not 5 star good, that's why I'm giving it 3 stars.



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Review: Maid Sama!, Vol. 1

Maid Sama!, Vol. 1 by Hiro Fujiwara

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The first installment of Maid Sama! Bad tempered, boy hating Misaki Ayuzawa, is president to a school of an 80% boy population school. Her more then prejudice attitude towards any male, has caused her more then enough problems when it comes to the student council and overall student body respect. Although she has her own reasons, when she was younger her father fell in dept and left the family with the dept to payoff while he ran away from responsibility.To re-pay the dept and support her fragile mother and little sister she works as a maid at a cafe. One day Usui-san discovered her secret! What will happen to Misaki, will Usui-san spill the beans?

I enjoyed this manga very much, I usually don't write reviews from manga because they either lack to much information to write about, they didn't peek my interest, too predictable, characters aren't interesting, or it's just plain boring\bad. This manga is none of those, it has just enough happening in every chapter to keep my interest while sticking to the main plot.

I like the fact that you actually get to follow Misaki Ayuzawa story and see why she acts the way she does, her background story, a growing romance, and also a change in character. Most manga miss the fact that the first volume of a series is to introduce your main characters and not keep everyone in the dark. I think that most authors think that the readers should already know what's happening without even telling them anything, which really just leaves plot holes everywhere.

Maid Sama! volume 1 gets a total of 4 stars for an introduction volume to a series. It gives enough information to the story while still withholding just enough to make readers want more. I definitely recommend it to my readers who want a romance, comedy, shoujo, school life manga.



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Review: Bloody Kiss, Volume 2

Bloody Kiss, Volume 2 by Kazuko Furumiya

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The second and final volume of the Bloody Kiss. We introduce a new main character Mizukami Sou, Kiyo's long lost childhood friend returned (just a little cheesy). Sou also happen's to be a destroyer of evil (vampire slayer of somesorts), and has returned to protect Kiyo, what will happen!?

Okay so that sums up what was new in volume 2. I love the artwork, and preferred the story line in the second volume to the first one. There's a little bit of a love triangle thing going on in this novel which is okay, but you knew from the fist 15 pages of the first volume who she was going to pick. The story line IS better then the first but it's still a typical love story.

Now I'm going to talk about the mini short story at the end; Please, Mr.Vampire. It's a story of a shop owner named Nagase and a customer named Miku Taira. Nagase a vampire who's is number 23, who only show's up at 23:23. His shop grants wishes to a chosen few, but the deal breaker is that the customer has to give his/her blood to make it happen. What will Miku Taira do!?

Okay so I actually really liked this story, it was cute, sweet, and had a mini moral in it saying that it better to be a fine woman and do your best at everything you do, then to try to achieve beauty for selfish purposes.



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Review: Bloody Kiss, Volume 1

Bloody Kiss, Volume 1 by Kazuko Furumiya

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



The young protagonist Kiyo finds herself inheriting an old estate where two vampires reside, from a grandmother she had never met. Kuroboshi a half vampire\human and his servant Alsh (vampire) have been chased off to this mansion and resided there way before Kiyo had even existed.

Okay so here we go, so that was just a little info on the manga vol. As the title suggest it's a romance type manga although no kissing ... yet, although there is some biting. The reason why I would give this volume 3 stars is because I like the artistry, the plot is lacking, but it's has a good concept. Knowing this type of manga odds are instead of elaborating on the vampiric aspect they'll just, make it an evolving romance. No that that's bad, just lacking. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I love the fact that vampires are only aloud to take from one person in their existence. The blood from that person will make the vampire mature into an adult, the blood give is called a "Bride". There's something that confuses me though "A vampire can only take blood from one human. We call that person a Bride." as said in ch 1. I'm not sure if that's to "absorb" the "power" of that person with the blood they drink or what. Because is the last chapter of this volume, Alsh drink the blood of a male and says "Even thought I don't like sucking a male's blood." Obviously he's drank before, so I'm guessing that they drink blood to survive (although you see them eating food?), but can only pick one person to be their bride. This is one of those "would you please elaborate?".

The characters, you've got a physically strong main female character, the needy guy always wanting to be with the protagonist, and the perv. This choice in character types, is okay just okay.



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Review: Chibi Vampire, Volume 14

Chibi Vampire, Volume 14 by Yuna Kagesaki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This review is for the complete series.

I give it 2.5 stars out of 5.

I enjoyed this book to a certain point, the fact that their was a defective vampire who was the complete opposite of a vampire, was cute, creative, and fun. So this "defective vampire"'s name is Karin, she can walk under the sun, she survives on food and has no ability controlling bats. That isn't the weirdest part of Karin the vampire, instead of drinking blood like a normal vampire she injects her blood into her victims, but in most cases she has major nose bleeds.

The characters are funny, you've got Karin's grandma whom I love, and her grandpa at the end (won't say more except read to know what I mean), Karin of course more in the beginning, Anju's the quiet one of the family and has the whole loli thing down, Ren's a pervert, their father's a wimp, and their mother's a b**ch. So really it's sort of a typical comedy family, besides the fact their all vampires.

Now why did I find this manga worth 2.5 stars, it's because it jumps from one genre to another. I'm usually not a fan of genre jumping, which didn't change for Chibi Vampire. The story starts off as a comedy, gags here laughs there and some odd encounters. The story continues with Karin saying (not word per word) this isn't a romance or I hope this doesn't turn into a romance. Of course you know it'll become a romance, which is okay in my book, most stories have a little romance. But then it takes a turn for the serious, don't get me wrong there's still comedy, but I started losing interest with the couple thing and even more interest with how serious things were getting.

Originally I was going to give this series a 2 because it was okay, that's all I thought of it near the end, that it was okay. But the way it ended pulled at my heart strings and I got attached in the last manga book, I was so sad and felt so sorry for all the people/vampires affected. I decided then that I was going to give the whole manga 3 stars, but here's why I didn't. The last manga was chalk full of minis and in all honesty I don't like short stories, I can deal with oneshots. But short stories in writing I don't like because I can't get into it. But short stories for manga's that relate to another manga story, is not something I enjoy too too much.

So my final thoughts and opinions on this manga are read it if you have the time, it's a nice funny manga. Don't expect too much, the story's really slow, but if you have the time and patience, odds are you'll enjoy and maybe even love it.



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