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Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 2

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is My Gently Raised Beast. Read on for the review of Volume 2 of the manhwa. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Time flies when you’re having fun with your talking cat, and Blondina is now a beautiful young lady! In fact, she’s right at the age to start hearing talks of marriage—a topic that makes a certain Divine Leopard very flustered… But speaking of Amon, when will he grow up? And is Blondina ready to see her dear little kitty mature into something beyond her wildest imagination?

The Review

As you might guess from the color illustration, there is a time skip in this volume. After 45 pages, which are mostly focused on the brash Prince Lart developing a crush on Blondina’s attendant Lucy, the book jumps ahead ten years. But other than the kids growing into adulthood, not much changes. The Emperor’s behavior is as inscrutable as ever, and no progress has been made in the search for the legendary individual with golden eyes and hair. Blondina’s status remains that of a barely tolerated royal, and memories of her past continue to torment her.

However, Amon’s coming-of-age ritual sets things in motion. He commands the Emperor to send Blondina to the ritual to serve as his witness. It is a momentous occasion for Amon and the two other leopards participating and provides our first real glimpse into the Divine Beasts and their forest home. Even so, this excursion from the palace feels more Blondina-centric than Amon-centric. She gets attacked by bandits hired by her half-sister Adellai. Then Amon, who is somehow able to sense Blondina is still haunted by childhood memories, takes her on a detour to her home village so she can both overcome her trauma and exact revenge upon her abusers.

Volume 1 gave a hint to Blondina’s pre-palace misery. Volume 2 fleshes out the details of her life under the village innkeepers, who could pass for Les Miserables’ Thernadiers. Except the Thernadiers didn’t have to face the wrath of a certain Divine Beast. Let’s just say Blondina and Amon get their pound of flesh.

Having resolved that, the narrative steers toward the romantic aspects of the story. In this, Blondina proves both astute and clueless. She recognizes her half-brother’s affections for Lucy. At the same time, she mistakenly believes Amon’s also in love with Lucy when he is actually in love with her. Which means she constantly misinterprets his behavior towards her. However, the close of Volume 2 hints that Amon’s going to end those misunderstandings very soon.

In Summary

My Gently Raised Beast has a lot going on–the Black Leopard’s sinister reputation, the Divine Beasts’ sway over humanity, the Emperor’s inscrutable attitude toward Blondina, the rivalry for the throne, Amon’s affections for Blondina. Unfortunately, all these elements feel disjointed so it’s hard to keep track of them. The story’s keeping my interest, mainly because character interactions are cute and entertaining, but it’s hard to tell what kind of resolution the narrative is striving toward.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

Star secretary Miso Kim has been by vice-chairman Youngjun Lee’s side through thick and thin for nine years…until she suddenly quits! Her unexpected declaration throws Youngjun for a loop. After all, what more could she want in life to abandon an excellent job working for a boss like him? So when Miso reveals she’s leaving to finally live her own life and find love, he sets out to prove that he’s the ultimate catch―whatever it takes to convince her to stay!

The Review

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? began as a novel and spun off a Webtoon comic and a 2018 K-drama. I binged the TV series a couple years ago, and now that Yen Press has released the translated comic in print format, I get to see artist MyeongMi Kim’s take on the story as well.

This workplace rom-com is a variant of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Specifically, the couple goes from slave driver boss and harried subordinate to lovers. 33-year-old Vice Chairman YoungJun is handsome, wealthy, brilliant, and completely full of himself. He’s used to having things exactly the way he wants, when he wants it. That includes his long-suffering secretary, Miso Kim, being at his beck and call 24/7, 365 days a year.

For nine years, Miso’s given the job her all, mainly because of her family’s crushing debts. But their finances have finally stabilized, and for the 29-year-old secretary, it’s now or never if she’s going to find a husband and start a family. So she gives her notice (so she can actually go out and date). At first, YoungJun refuses to accept it. When he realizes there’s nothing he can actually do to compel her to stay, he puts himself out as a boyfriend candidate.

As far as characters go, YoungJun and Miso fall in fairly familiar categories. YoungJun is the brilliant, arrogant, rich executive who is running the family financial empire. Miso is the hard-working, attractive-though-not-gorgeous heroine who is devoted to her lower-class family that has that one person who always needs to be bailed out. The thing that’s unusual about this starring pair is that they’ve already worked together nearly a decade at the time the story opens.

Thus, the narrative is not about them getting to know one another. Rather, it’s what happens when Miso’s able to speak and act freely without having to worry about workplace power dynamics. The artist plays it up by showing YoungJun’s high-handed behavior both in and out of the workplace and the self-centered temper tantrum he throws at receiving Miso’s notice. Anyone who has ever had a boss with zero self-awareness will enjoy Miso tearing into him as she lists all the reasons she’s leaving and why she would never date him.

YoungJun’s “romantic” pursuit of Miso begins with the comic tone of an overgrown brat trying to get what he wants, but you quickly get the sense there’s more at play. After all, he has an unusual quirk in that he doesn’t let any other woman touch him, not even his supermodel escorts. (And no, he’s not gay). Plus, a flashback to Miso’s first days at the company hints that the insensitive YoungJun can be considerate of Miso (in his own brusque way). But until those hidden elements come to light, you can laugh at YoungJun’s appalling attempts to win Miso’s affections.

I can’t make comparisons to the novel, but Volume 1 of the Yen Press translation does follow the TV series fairly closely. The main difference is that the comic has more visuals to convey comedic scenes. For instance, YoungJun’s divorced friend/relationship advisor/workplace subordinate Yusik has laughable fashion sense, and the drawings of post-rejection YoungJun are hilarious.

Illustrations in general are funny and heart-pounding as the plot demands it. They are rendered in full color on glossy paper, which makes for a nice-looking but hefty book.

In Summary

After nine years of tireless service to her demanding boss, Miso’s quitting the corporate life to find a husband and settle down. Problem is her boss won’t let her go! If you’re looking for a workplace rom-com that throws the boss-employee dynamic for a loop, give What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? a try.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Sunbeams in the Sky Vol. #1

There are stories about twin switcheroos and stories about shut-ins too traumatized to leave their homes. Yen Press’ Sunbeams in the Sky manages to combine both those elements. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Twin sisters Himari and Mio are perfect copies on the outside, but their personalities couldn’t be any more different. When Himari decides to stay home from school due to an unfortunate incident, Mio decides the best way to convince her to return is to take her place!

The Review

16-year-old Himari Akeno has high academic aspirations–or at least she did until a traumatic incident with a schoolmate renders her a shut-in. Although she longs to be a normal student once more, she can’t muster the courage to leave the house, even several months later. But then her twin sister Mio “comes down with a cold” and convinces Himari to fill in for her at school. There’s just one problem – the look-alikes have completely different personalities!

There’s no shortage of identical twin switcheroo tales. However, Sunbeams in the Sky has a dark backstory for a manga that is otherwise light and carefree. It’s told from the perspective of Himari who suffers physical assault after rejecting a schoolmate’s romantic advances. Unfortunately, because he is the son of the school chairman, the incident gets covered up. In short, no justice for Himari, and although her physical injuries heal, her emotional scars have her too terrified to return to school.

In most manga, this sort of incident would turn a character into the family NEET. However, Himari has two things working against such a fate. One, she actually does long to go to school again. Two, the determination of her devoted twin, Mio. Mio can’t bear to see her sister waste away in isolation, so she cooks up a scheme to intentionally catch a cold and convince Himari to take her place at school while she recovers.

The plan is kind of convoluted. But it actually does suit Mio, who is a believable combination of loving, concerned sibling and innocent airhead. And because Himari adores her sister just as much, she musters the strength to go along with it.

That’s the linchpin of the story: the bond between the twins. Without it, the story would be too far-fetched to swallow. However, Mio’s clearly motivated by love for Himari, and Mio’s the one person for whom Himari will absolutely push her limits. Although the twins have opposite personalities, each is clearly motivated by the well-being of the other, even when they argue and disagree.

Once the scheme gets underway, Himari’s trauma pops up here and there, but for the most part, the plot’s mostly the stuff of twin situation comedy and high school shojo romances. Mio has a loud and effusive crush on classmate Asaka, so the reserved Himari must impersonate her sister’s gushing whenever he’s around. Now, it really would cause drama for both twins to fall for the same guy, but it’s Asaka’s best friend Tsukiyono who catches Himari’s attention and vice versa. Also in the cast is Shizuku, Mio’s closest classmate and the only other person in on the twins’ swap scheme. Shizuku immediately hits it off with Himari, partly because Himari immediately realizes Shizuku has a one-sided crush on Tsukiyono (something that Mio has never noticed). That might sound like a set up for a Shizuku-Tsukiyono-Himari love triangle, but the vibe between the girls seems too caring and respectful for the plot to take that path. Plus, Himari struggles with a phobia of boys that would preclude her from fighting for a romantic interest.

Thus Himari’s trauma is the main source of tension in the story. No bullies, no rivals, no mean girls, no unscrupulous teachers or faculty, no weird hazing or competitions. Everyone in the cast is overwhelmingly kind and supportive of one another. As Mio assures her twin, “There’s nobody at my school who’ll be mean to you.”

Extras include the first page in color, artwork on the inside covers, translation notes (which for some reason are placed between Chapters 4 and 5), and character profiles.

In Summary

A teenage girl takes the place of her identical twin at school. But this is heavier and more complicated than two sisters trying to pull a fast one over unsuspecting classmates. Himari’s isolated herself at home after an emotionally scarring attack, so her concerned twin Mio concocts this scheme into nudging her back into society. It’s a weird way to think of trauma rehabilitation, but so far these characters make it work.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Graphic Novel Review: Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper

Family strife often forms the basis for a story, and the recently released graphic novel, Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper does it with a baseball flavor. Read on for the review.

Back Cover Blurb

In their tiny corner of Fox Point, Rhode Island, Gemma Hopper’s older brother, Teddy, is a baseball god, destined to become a Major League star. Gemma loves playing baseball, but with her mom gone and her dad working endless overtime, it’s up to her to keep the house running. She’s too busy folding laundry, making lunches, getting her younger twin brothers to do their homework, and navigating the perils of middle-school friendships to take baseball seriously.

But every afternoon, Gemma picks up her baseball glove to pitch to Teddy during his batting practice–throwing sliders down and away, fastballs right over the middle (not too fast or he’ll get mad), and hanging curveballs high and tight.

The Review

13-year-old Gemma Hopper has it rough. She has to take care of her family in her mother’s absence while her older brother Teddy, a 14-year-old baseball talent, has been chosen to play with a prestigious travel team. Gemma likes baseball, too, but will she ever get her chance to shine?

I generally don’t have a problem with characters who have challenging circumstances. However, Spangler dumps so much onto her main character that watching Gemma go through her daily life is unpleasant. Her mother’s been AWOL for a year, and Gemma’s expected to do all the housework and parent her younger twin brothers, who don’t lift a finger to help. Her blue-collar dad is always working, and on the rare occasion he’s home, he only has eyes for his golden baseball child, Gemma’s older brother Teddy. Teddy also happens to be good-looking and the most popular boy at Fox Point Middle School. Meanwhile, Gemma has plain looks and gets mocked for her six-foot height. She only has one friend, and that friend is not beneath trying to use her to get in with the popular crowd.

In short, her home life sucks, her social life sucks, and even though she’s working like crazy, no one appreciates all the things she does. There’s a lot of pent-up anger and frustration in Gemma, and it gets laid on so thick, it’s hard to believe she has any bandwidth to humor Teddy’s demands for batting practice.

Ultimately, this is a story about family. While the Hopper family is obsessed with baseball to the point of naming their children after professional baseball players, this is not really a sports story. For all the hype about Teddy’s talents, we never see him in an actual game. He was part of the local Little League and has been chosen for a prestigious travel team, but we only ever see him and Gemma playing baseball. And when he shows off to his adoring crowds, he is hitting “homers” to pitches that he calls.

However, the Hopper family dynamics are really whacked. It’s never explained why the mother leaves. There’s a vague sense of shame about it, but no one resents her for it, nor is the father blamed for it. The dad is pretty much an absentee parent, and even though grandparents are around, they’re not helping. A charitable Mrs. Curran is helping out with childcare, but the grandparents don’t even respond to emails. And the only one doing household chores is Gemma, who feels obligated to hold everything together and do it with a smile.

Certainly, there are thankless families out there, but Gemma handles it more like an adult working mom than a 13-year-old dealt a bad situation. For instance, her younger brothers only ever play video games, and she never asks them to help out. And when she yells at one of them for making a mess, Teddy yells at her. But instead of yelling back at all of her brothers for making her life difficult, she feels so guilty that she runs out of the house. She’s not getting much love or appreciation, so I don’t see why she’s going out of her way to spoil her younger brothers (elementary school kids are capable of doing chores too!) or spend her very little spare time helping Teddy with his practice.

With family adults mostly out of the picture, Gemma’s interactions are primarily with Teddy, and those feel less like sibling interactions and more like a post-honeymoon phase married couple struggling to get by and get along. The narrative does a decent job of showing the pressure Teddy carries. Both siblings seem to understand that the family’s financial health depends on his future athletic career, which is why he is excused from household responsibilities. However, Teddy relying on Gemma as his personal pitcher just seems odd. Baseball is a team sport with A LOT of players, and Teddy, who participated in the local Little League, should have other peers to practice with. But no, his overworked younger sister is his only choice?

Also, a big deal is made about how the entire family is baseball obsessed and how Gemma learned to pitch from her grandfather. But if that was the case, why was Teddy the only child to do Little League? Why weren’t both of them in sports? The mom has only been gone a year, so Gemma should’ve had the same opportunity. The Gemma-does-all-chores could be a sign that they have a family culture where boys play sports while girls do housework, but that runs contrary to the grandfather teaching her how to pitch.

Eventually, Gemma gets recognized as an athlete in her own right, and she realizes that her mother will never return. This brings closure to Gemma’s story, but I didn’t find it that satisfying. There’s a supposedly tender parting scene between Gemma and her dad, but it gave me a bitter taste because she only receives his affirmation and recognition AFTER she is recognized as an athlete, not before. It is also only then that the father makes arrangements to take care of the household and the younger children (so that Gemma can go to Florida for baseball training), even though he could have done it sooner and lessened the burden on his daughter.

The book is printed on glossy stock, so it’s pretty heavy. The title page and author afterward are printed in color. The bulk of the graphic novel is black and white with a bluish-gray shading, and just a few pages have drawings printed in a reddish-brown.

In Summary

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper looks like it’s a sports story, but it’s not really. It’s more about the family drudge finally having her day in the sun, where her chief rival is her good-looking, popular, golden-child brother. While I’m all for family drama, this baseball-themed sibling rivalry stacks way too much against Gemma, and I get tired of her sour face real fast.

First published in The Fandom Post.

https://www.fandompost.com/2023/03/29/fox-points-own-gemma-hopper-graphic-novel-review/

Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 2

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 2 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

Navier now knows the identity of her pen pal, and is happy to find herself growing closer to Prince Heinrey (and Queen!). But not everyone is quite so pleased about their friendship…Meanwhile, Rashta’s secret has been exposed, leaving her backed into a corner. How far is she willing to go to save her reputation?

The Review

Volume 1 ended with Rashta getting freaked out at the New Year’s banquet, and now we discover why. Volume 2 begins with Rashta’s master, the Viscount Lotteshu, declaring her to be his runaway slave before the entire party. And Rashta’s situation isn’t as simple as an escaped slave. She was also lover to the Viscount’s son and bore him a child. This is definitely tabloid fodder, and although the Emperor forces the Viscount to retract his accusation, the damage is done.

Alphatart’s characterization of Rashta is a bit confusing in this arc. At first, Rashta’s now-revealed slave background seems like a bid for sympathy. But after the Emperor uses his authority to make the Viscount say he mistook her for someone else, Rashta wonders why the Emperor didn’t kill or imprison the Viscount instead. That’s a fairly extreme expectation. And when Rashta seeks to quell the new gossip about her, she doesn’t care who she drags down in the process.

However, she is extremely clumsy in her efforts to sling mud on others. Her “naïve-girl-who-doesn’t-know-any better” act is getting old, but only her partner in crime, the new character Duke Ergi of the Bluvohan Kingdom, calls her out on it. If poor Navier has to lose her position to this upstart, I’d rather she exhibit more savvy. At any rate, Rashta’s innocent public face and conniving/desperate private face make her thoroughly unpleasant.

All of which makes the Emperor seem the bigger idiot for clinging to her. He apparently knows the truth about Rashta’s slave background yet uses his authority to cover it up and wrongfully accuses Navier of bringing the Viscount to disgrace Rashta. And when Rashta begs to come along for Navier’s private birthday celebration (because she’s afraid of the Emperor and Empress being alone together), her reasons for coming are all ridiculous, yet the Emperor takes them at face value. At the same time, he is quick to assume Navier is on the brink of an affair with any man she has a conversation with.

The shining ray of light in the midst of these terrible characters doing terrible things is Navier, whose conduct remains noble and irreproachable. And while Heinrey’s not nearly so irreproachable, his interactions with Navier are fun, funny, and swoonworthy by turns. However, it appears Duke Ergi and Heinrey share a secret, and I look forward to seeing what it is.

By the way, some dialogue didn’t transition well from Korean to English and resulted in a couple awkwardly worded conversations. However, the illustrations continue to be vibrantly gorgeous.

In Summary

Things are falling apart for Rashta. Her slave past has come to light, and the Emperor looks like he wants to reconcile with his wife. What to do but spread nasty rumors about someone else! However, there’s no finesse to the way Rashta executes her plan, which makes it tiresome to watch. Fortunately, Heinrey’s attempts to endear himself to Navier, as man and bird, keep the story engaging.

First published at the Fandom Post.

https://www.fandompost.com/2023/03/15/the-remarried-empress-vol-2-9798400900068-manga-review/

Manga Review: The Villainess Stans the Heroes: Playing the Antagonist to Support Her Faves! Vol. #1

Isekai has really overtaken the anime/manga scene the last several years. The Villainess Stans the Heroes: Playing the Antagonist to Support Her Faves! is one such title. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

What’s a girl to do when she’s reincarnated into a game full of her biases, and as the antagonist to boot? Simple—do whatever it takes to make them shine, of course! When I’m reborn into the body of the villainess Eldia, I’m determined to play my role to perfection for the loves of my life…but how was I supposed to know that one impulsive mistake I made years ago would bring such drastic changes to the story!?

The Review

When a 20-something gets crushed by a pile of merch, she abruptly wakes up as Eldea Euclair, antagonist of her beloved game Emotion Fantasy. For her, it’s a dream come true to see her favorite characters in the flesh! So she’ll do all in her power to keep the story on track–even if it means playing the villainess. There’s just one problem. Some early interference on her part has caused the game’s top assassin to become her personal butler.

I’ve read/watched a few of these “reincarnated as a villainess” isekai, and the reincarnated individual is usually trying to maneuver through their real-life game without triggering a bad end or death flag. However, this title doesn’t follow that formula. Primarily because the story begins right as the villainess exits the game.

Eldea is the early-game antagonist who is only involved in the initial part of the game. However, the manga doesn’t bother including that in this story. Rather, it opens with Eldea’s final scene in the game where she’s found out and stripped of her rank. All of her diabolical doings are only mentioned in retrospect. And after 26 pages of playing up her villainous role while internally geeking out over her faves, our reincarnated antagonist’s part in the game is done.

So, no death flag hanging over her head. And because she’s made preparations in advance, no bad ending either. She just has one niggling concern regarding her number one fave, Albert the assassin. Because she interfered early in this character’s storyline, he wound up as her butler. In other words, living a completely different life than he was supposed to. Moreover, he knows that she possesses knowledge about the heroes of their world that normal people don’t.

This combination of fangirl plus hot favorite character of course sparks romantic tension between the two. Despite his loyalty, she maintains emotional distance because she assumes he’d eventually move on. Albert, for his part, assumes he’d never truly capture her heart. However, all that swiftly gets cleared up with the confessions in Chapter 2.

Therefore, our main character is not in fear for her life. She’s taken measures to change her identity (to the financier Ellua) and set up a comfortable estate in another kingdom. And all the romantic tension between her and Albert gets taken out at the end of Chapter 2. With so much resolved, where is this story going?

For now, it seems like she’s simply going to enjoy the world of her favorite game. Because she’s no longer responsible for acting out a role, she can indulge in stanning the heroes (which, since she’s well-versed in their storyline, she can do easily). So yes, the title totally describes the book. However, the subtitle (Playing the Antagonist to Support Her Faves!) not so much, because, again, we don’t witness her committing diabolical deeds.

In terms of illustrations, they do the job for the most part. Character expressions are on point, and costumes have a lot of nice detail. However, action scenes, like when Anson draws his sword or when our main character uses shadow magic, are difficult to follow. Also, when Albert removes his shirt, his bared chest comes off more as blocky than tantalizing.

Extras include first page in color, artwork on the inside covers, three pages of bonus comics, and author afterward.

In Summary

It’s every fangirl’s fantasy–stanning your faves in real life! And for the most part, our reincarnated main character is simply geeking out over her heroes, whether they’re dutifully playing their assigned role or acting out of character because our reincarnated fangirl introduced doujinshi into their world. For now, it’s sort of interesting, but without a tangible goal for the main character or any information on the ultimate goal of her heroes, it’s hard to tell where the plot is going.

First published at the Fandom Post.

https://www.fandompost.com/2023/03/14/the-villainess-stans-the-heroes-playing-the-antagonist-to-support-her-faves-vol-1-9781975361051-manga-review/

Light Novel Review: Bride of the Barrier Master Vol. 1

It’s been a while since I’ve read a light novel that actually felt light. The ones on my plate tend to be heavy on military strategy, magical systems, or complex world-building. Bride of the Barrier Master does involve magic and rankings, but they’re mainly to illustrate how our heroine abruptly surges from below average to far above and beyond. Read on for the review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

For thousands of years, Japan has been protected by five clans wielding barrier-weaving magic. Born to a branch family of one such clan, eighteen-year-old Hana has always been stuck in the shadow of her more capable, beautiful, and popular twin sister. When a strong power awakens within Hana, she chooses to hide it so she can continue living a quiet life out of the spotlight. But that ideal lifestyle begins to slip out of reach when Saku Ichinomiya takes over as the new head of the Ichinomiya clan and sets out to find a bride strong enough to stand by his side. Eager to keep her abilities secret, Hana steers clear of Saku… but will she be tempted to sign a marriage contract if it guarantees the peaceful, quiet future of her dreams?

The Review

Hana is a modern-day teenager born to an ancient heritage. Since time immemorial, Japan’s destiny has been safeguarded by five crystal pillars. Because they are constantly under attack by spiritual forces known as shades, five clans blessed with mystical powers have the duty of protecting the pillars, and Hana’s family belongs to one of those clans.

While Hana’s twin sister Hazuki is deemed a genius at a young age, Hana is below average in her magical abilities. Because they are twins, they’re constantly compared, and because their parents are obsessed with power and status, they dote on Hazuki and berate Hana to the point that they don’t think of her as a daughter. So when Hana’s power– one that eclipses her twin’s–belatedly awakens on her 15th birthday, she has no interest in letting her parents take advantage of her and keeps it a secret.

Chapter 1 is the laying out of this emotional groundwork. For anyone who’s been unfavorably compared to a sibling or suffered parents/relatives who viewed them as tools, Hana is definitely relatable. The cover illustration makes her look like a sweet, demure girl, but her personality is cynical and sassy due to her twisted upbringing. The parents are flat from a characterization standpoint, but their terrible personalities make their comeuppance in Chapter 2 deliciously satisfying.

And that comeuppance is catalyzed by Saku, the new head of the clan. He’s sexy, powerful, wealthy, prestigious, and the most eligible bachelor in the five clans. To perform his responsibilities as clan head, he needs a wife with a strength to match his. So when he chances upon Hana as she surreptitiously eliminates a stray shade, he instantly recognizes her capabilities and asks her to marry him.

She initially refuses; marrying him will destroy the quiet existence she desires. Unfortunately, Saku can’t take no for an answer; the candidates vying to be his wife aren’t nearly strong enough. So he promises that the marriage will be a temporary one of convenience, and when he includes a lavish retirement/separation package, Hana gives in.

Thus, in Chapter 3, the announcement of their engagement thrusts Hana into the limelight. Even though dealing with the ire of Saku’s would-be brides intensifies the verbal abuse directed at her, Hana has the supreme satisfaction of flaunting her new rank before the family members who treated her like trash. As she navigates the ups and downs of her new social landscape as Lady of the Clan, Saku gives his support at every turn. Meanwhile, she assists him in barrier master duties, a job more strenuous than she imagined, and they discover they both have strained relationships with their parents. In short, the couple that married for convenience start falling for one another.

The final chapter is brief, a paranormal investigation that demonstrates how well Hana and Saku complement each other as a team. With that, Volume 1 concludes, but not their marriage of convenience. No doubt, future installments will show their businesslike attitude transforming to a relationship of love. And given that we haven’t seen much of the four other clans, they’ll likely get introduced in future shade onslaughts.

Regarding the translation, there are several places the phrasing could’ve been better worded for a Western audience. For instance, Hana has a conversation with Saku’s mother where she addresses her as “Saku’s mother.” Some of the slang is also so dated as to be jarring. In one scene, Saku uses the word “poppycock.” In another, Hana (sarcastically) expresses admiration by saying, “Neat.”

In Summary

Bride of the Barrier Master is fun, fluffy stuff. Yeah, Hana’s clan is entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of Japan with their mystical powers, but this volume’s really about the snubbed girl getting back at everyone who badmouthed her and marrying the hottest guy around to boot. It’s obvious Hana and Saku will end up madly in love, but that doesn’t make their journey any less entertaining.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 1

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is My Gently Raised Beast. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manhwa.

Back Cover Blurb

The orphaned Blondina lives a tough life on the streets, left only with a memento from her late mother—one that proves she is the child of the emperor of Ates. From the streets, Blondina moves into the royal palace where she lives a lonely existence…that is until she befriends a brash and surly cat named Amon. Not only can Amon talk, but he also turns into a cute boy! The truth is, Amon is no mere cat but rather a member of the Divine Leopard Clan, a group of powerful demi-humans often at odds with humanity. Will the two be able to stay friends despite all the conflicts?

The Review

11-year-old Blondina lives the miserable life of an orphan until a memento of her late mother reveals her to be the daughter of the Emperor! But her new life in the palace is lonely and difficult. Because of her commoner background, everyone views her with contempt, especially her royal half-siblings. Then one day, she happens across an injured black cat in the garden. She’s entranced by the cute animal, but it abruptly speaks to her, then transforms into a handsome boy. Thus begins the friendship between the ostracized princess and the divine black leopard Amon.

This manhwa gets off to a somewhat rough start with Blondina’s tragic backstory. Her blue-blooded father is searching for the legendary individual with golden eyes and hair who can subdue the divine beasts that hold humanity in contempt. Blondina’s mother was a commoner with golden eyes and hair but did not possess that special power. Even so, her father fell in love with the woman, fathered Blondina, and left to pursue the crown so that he could protect his lover and their child. But once he became emperor, he conveniently forgot about them, leaving his lover to suffer and eventually die in poverty. It isn’t until Blondina attempts to pawn the ring he left with her mother that her imperial heritage is revealed, and father and daughter are reunited. But having brought her to the palace, the Emperor treats her with an indifference bordering on cruelty. Blondina doesn’t manifest the golden hair and eyes of her mother; nor does she evoke any affection or nostalgia for him. Honestly, there’s no motivation to acknowledge his paternity at all. So it’s a wonder why the Emperor bothers incorporating her into his family when he could have easily denied their relationship. To add to that mess of a character profile, Blondina’s mom was supposedly so in love with the guy that she waited for him faithfully until her dying day eight years later. That might sound romantic to some; it makes me think she was a terrible judge of character.

As a result of this convoluted backstory, we have as our main character a friendless, commoner-turn-princess who is isolated on all fronts. Interestingly, we hear nothing about how the Emperor’s wife feels about her husband’s bastard kid joining the family. However, her son and daughter more than make up for it, becoming the chief antagonists of the story. Prince Lart is a bully of the proud, loud, and stupid variety. Princess Adellai is also haughty, but more sly. Having been told by the Emperor that he’ll name her as heir should she find the blonde, golden-eyed subduer of divine beasts, she’s secretly vying for the throne. Predictably, the half-siblings insult and mock Blondina any chance they get.

Fortunately, Blondina is not completely friendless. Lucy is a count’s daughter assigned to be her lady-in-waiting. Although other nobles snub the half-blood princess, Lucy harbors no such prejudices and embraces her role as Blondina’s companion. However, she has little to offer in terms of power and influence.

Amon, on the other hand, has power and influence in spades. He has an adorable feline form and the kitty cat tendency to play with yarn, but everyone (except Blondina) recognizes him as the most vicious of divine beasts, the black leopard. Yup, Amon is one of those divine beasts the Emperor seeks to eliminate. Like all divine beasts, Amon despises humans, but Blondina’s loneliness resonates with him. So he deigns to allow her to spoil him like the pet he appears to be. He is definitely a tsundere, with a sharp tongue and overweening attitude. However, when Blondina gets picked on, he immediately acts on her behalf.

His relationship with Blondina is kind of odd. Even though all other humans fall in fear when he appears, Blondina only ever views and treats him as her adorable kitty. On the other hand, when he is in human form, his good looks fluster her. Blondina doesn’t seem to have reconciled the two forms. In one scene, human-form Amon reduces her into a blushing, stammering mess by getting too close, but a second later, he reverts to cat form, and Blondina immediately starts petting his body all over as if nothing had happened. At any rate, Blondina is the one human who regards Amon without fear while Amon is protective towards her. Which means their relationship is bound to turn romantic eventually.

Illustrations are rendered in full color. The setting and clothing styles have a western fantasy flavor. Human and animal character designs are average, with a tendency towards cute, and expressions are often distorted to convey impact and emotion.

In Summary

When an impoverished girl discovers she’s the Emperor’s illegitimate daughter, her life goes from one kind of hard to different kind of hard. It’s a convoluted backstory that leads to stereotypical palace bullying. However, Blondina’s very unusual ally against her blue-blooded tormentors is at once an adorable little kitty and a creature that makes the strongest men tremble. This combination feels a bit odd, but if you’ve ever wanted a prickly male lead who’s tough, strong, and can’t resist playing with yarn, you can find him in My Gently Raised Beast.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #23

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has released the 23rd volume of this novel series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

Back Cover Blurb

Holo and Lawrence earn themselves another spot in the history books after they save Saronia from being swallowed in debt. In return for their help, the two receive an enviable reward—a noble title. While Lawrence is beyond delighted, Holo and Elsa are wary of the generous gift. Perhaps their fears are warranted, because it seems the title comes with a shady plot of land tied to the legend of a giant serpent!

Between more stories of summer adventure and moments of parting with friends new and old, Holo and Lawrence have at least a few more journeys in them.

The Review

At this point, the “Spring Log” subtitle for these post-marriage installments of Spice and Wolf is a bit of a misnomer. None of Spring Log VI’s four stories are set in the spring, and with the exception of the 10-page “Summer’s Harvest and Wolf,” all of the stories take place in Salonia and could have been structured as a continuous narrative. However, I doubt Spice and Wolf fans will complain about longer arcs detailing the forward progress of Holo and Lawrence’s relationship.

As mentioned above, “Summer’s Harvest and Wolf” is the odd one out in this collection. The slice-of-life interlude is little more than an anecdote as it relates a mushroom hunting excursion back when Col, Miyuri, Holo, and Lawrence still lived at the bathhouse. So far as this volume goes, the episode serves mainly to remind readers that Holo and Lawrence are empty-nesters rather than to convey a particularly noteworthy event.

The three other stories put together read more like a light novel than a short story collection. Having resolved a massive crisis for Salonia, Lawrence and company get dragged into additional local affairs. In “The Gem of the Sea and Wolf,” the inhabitants of a nearby village come to ask Lawrence for advice in elevating a highly regarded local clergyman to bishop status. At first, it seems like political wheelings and dealings of the Wolf and Parchment sort. However, after a few twists and turns, the conflict boils down to a simple matter of miscommunication between the aged clergyman and his flock. While the episode brings up many parallels between Rahden and Holo, its setup is awfully drawn out and seems mainly a convoluted way to incorporate Rahden’s “jewels of the sea” into a story set in the mountains.

Soon thereafter, the Salonia Bishop offers Lawrence a reward for his services: a noble title. Sounds too good to be true, so Elsa, Lawrence, and Holo investigate the associated estate, which, according to legend, used to be the haunt of a giant serpent. This story is interesting for a number of reasons. First, this narrative follows Elsa’s perspective. “An Old Hound’s Sigh and Wolf” actually opens with Elsa and Holo having a private chat, which allows Holo to talk bluntly about her husband, something readers don’t often get to see. Second, there’s the mystery behind the lumber tariffs associated with the estate. Finally, there’s the matter of the serpent legend. For the priestess Elsa, whose home village once worshiped a pagan snake god, tales of such a figure would evoke emotions and a train of thinking more complicated than most. Of the stories in this volume, I enjoyed this one the most.

The book closes with “The Color of Dawn and Wolf,” which is less of a standalone story and more of an extended departure scene. Holo and Lawrence bid farewell to Elsa and Tanya, their costars in Salonia, and the couple continue on their journey toward the sea. The narrative delves a bit into the implications of Holo’s much longer lifespan as they hit the road again, but the topic has been broached in previous Spring Log stories, so it’s not exactly fresh material.

Extras include the first eight pages printed in color, world map, eight black-and-white illustrations, and an afterword.

In Summary

Hasekura-sensei would be better off changing the subtitle of this volume from “Spring Log” to “On the Road Again.” Rather than a collection of stories involving different characters, locations, and eras, the three main stories of this book involve the same cast and take place one after the other in the aftermath of the Salonia Financial Crisis. As the author writes in the afterword, more fantasy-esque things are included than in the original series. So Lawrence and company investigate the origins of a serpent myth rather than delving into medieval economics. However, religion and politics continue to remain strong elements, especially with these stories unfolding parallel to the events of Wolf and Parchment.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Doomsday With My Dog Vol. 1

There are tons of post-apocalyptic works in the market. But how about one where the last human on earth has conversations with her talking dog? That’s the premise of Doomsday With My Dog. Read on for the review of Volume 1 of the manga.

Back Cover Blurb

A single teenage girl journeys through the crumbling ruins of civilization—the last human on Earth, exploring the concrete jungle that has outlived mankind. Keeping her company is woman’s best friend—the ever-adorable and quick-witted Shiba Inu Haru, who is ready to stick with her through thick and thin! With such a pleasant conversation partner to keep the postapocalyptic doldrums at bay, the end of the world might not be so bad after all!

The Review

All mankind has been wiped out, except for one 17-year-old Japanese girl. But that’s okay! Her Shiba Inu Haru remains as her loyal companion. Together, they traverse the ruins of civilization, encountering aliens, fox spirits, and other fantastic creatures along the way!

The thing to keep in mind about Doomsday with My Dog is that it’s not trying to be realistic. Conversations include quotes from real people and actual facts, but the destruction of humankind is never explained. Haru’s master survives just fine among the ruins of civilization despite not having any particular skills and effortlessly communicates with aliens, mythological creatures, and all animals, except for the gorilla who only speaks French.

The series is drawn in a four-panel format, with the majority of the manga strips presented in pairs. There’s no real arc to the series; comics are grouped into sections, but the section breaks serve mainly as places for the publisher to insert cultural notes. And because of the many references to Japanese products and folklore, there are a lot of notes.

According to the afterword, the creator started this manga on Twitter for the sole purpose of drawing whatever he wanted. And it does go all over the place. Our lone human mooches off a retired alien couple, catches all manner of creatures on her fishing line, and binges on alcohol. The content is predominantly philosophizing mixed with various types of comedy and reminds me a lot of the American comic series “Calvin and Hobbes.” Like Hobbes, Haru shouldn’t be able to talk, but he serves as his master’s chatty best friend, and the narrative swings from highly intellectual discourse to silly childish pranks in the blink of an eye.

Doomsday with My Dog, however, has an edgier tone than “Calvin and Hobbes.” It’s probably due to the apocalyptic landscape, but more because of Haru’s master. The 17-year-old is a former shut in. She’s impulsive and frequently thoughtless, which gives her a bit of a mean streak. Despite owning a dog, she’s more of a cat lover and doesn’t bother to hide that preference from Haru. She’s also quick to pinch Haru’s face when she’s annoyed by his remarks.

Haru, the other half of this comedy duo, is the quintessential loyal canine. Despite his master’s many faults, he’s utterly devoted to her. Most of the series’ philosophizing stems from Haru, so he comes off as the smarter of the two. Even so, he definitely retains canine impulses, such as the urge to flee from baths.

Illustrations are rendered in full color. The quality of the drawings are top-notch all around. The dogs especially are adorable, and Ishihara-sensei does an excellent job conveying their emotions. If you are a dog person, and especially if you like the Shiba Inu breed, you’ll probably fall in love with Haru.

Extras include the bonus story “Ten Years Later with You,” translation notes, afterword, and illustrations printed on the inside cover.

In Summary

A post-apocalyptic four-panel comic series that’s at times philosophical, at times crude, and at times childishly silly, but consistently wonderfully drawn. There’s no overarching story arc, just a series of interactions with creatures – many of whom are fantastical – amid the ruins of civilization. Our main characters may look like a teenager and her dog, but they interact more like a comedy duo than a master and her pet.

First published at the Fandom Post.