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Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress Vol. 8

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 8 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Sovieshu has discovered that Navier overheard his plan to divorce her, and he’s furious! Is this the reason everything went to ruin?! Had Navier not gotten the wrong idea, she would’ve never remarried Heinrey in retaliation, right? Convinced of his new truth and determined to set things straight, Sovieshu invites Navier to his wedding ceremony―and so back to the Eastern Empire the former empress goes, Heinrey in tow. What revelations will come to light when Sovieshu and Navier finally meet again?

The Review

Navier’s embraced her new life as Heinrey’s wife and is working hard to establish herself in her new home. However, Sovieshu, having discovered that Navier overheard his plan to divorce her, is desperate to get her back on his side. He comes off as both self-centered and pathetic as he first sends a message via a trusted aide, and then, after she refuses to send a response, invites her and Heinrey to his wedding in hopes of speaking to her personally.

His frustration is not unnoticed by Rashta, who’s dealing with insecurities of her own leading up to their wedding. Though Navier is physically gone, her influence and legacy lingers. Thus, Rashta is compelled to continue competing against her absent rival. At this point, Duke Ergi, who had been guiding Rashta in her rise to power, seemingly vanishes from her side. As a result, she’s free to act upon and face the consequences of her own rash decisions.

Sovieshu and Rashta’s souring love affair is a stark contrast to the love blossoming between Navier and Heinrey. Navier does still face the challenge of dealing with former Queen Krista’s influence in the Western Kingdom though. However, old friends from the Eastern Empire rally to her side. In addition to Laura and Countess Joubert, the former Duchess Tuania arrives along with her lover Viscount Landre, who, as it turns out, is head of a division of transnational knights. Between this elite military group and Heinrey’s own secret knights, there are a bunch of random fighting forces popping up in the plot, and I’m guessing they will end up playing key roles in Heinrey’s political plans.

In Summary

After all that Navier’s gone through, she deserves some victories, and she scores quite a few in this volume. Back in the Eastern Empire, life is not happily ever after for the Emperor and his new bride. Meanwhile, in the Western Kingdom, formidable allies have gathered to help Navier establish herself as the new Queen. And although things haven’t gotten physical with Heinrey yet, things are certainly heating up between them. Overall, the volume should very much please Navier fans.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom Vol. #5

The isekai genre has gotten big enough to spin off subgenres such as the reincarnated villainess. Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom is an entertaining take on that subgenre that also happens to be a fairytale retelling. Read on for my review of Volume 5. For other reviews from this series, click here.

Back Cover Blurb

As the Freidkin family prepares for the Queen Mother’s return, they’re filled with dread and anticipation―until the woman arrives, and she actually seems…nice? Abigail’s first impressions of Sabrian’s mother are hardly what she was expecting, but that doesn’t mean she’ll let her guard down. When she senses a change in Blanche’s behavior, Abigail begins to suspect something is off, and her suspicions are confirmed when she learns of the Queen Mother’s plans to marry off her stepdaughter!

The Review

There are a few references to fashion and Abigail’s reputation in this volume, but the focus is less on the Queen and more on Princess Blanche. Specifically, those who would use the princess to advance their own agenda.

First up is the Queen Mother. We already know that there is a rift between her and Sabrian, and now we get to see that element at play. The Queen Mother is ambitious, conniving, and most importantly, her top loyalty is not to Nerghen or her son. Rather she is striving to gain power for herself and advance her home country of Morca. Upon arriving at the palace, she wastes no time badgering Sabrian about state affairs and manipulating Blanche into considering marriage with a Morcan prince.

Her present behavior sparks flashbacks of her past actions, which paint a clearer picture of how the royal family ended up as dysfunctional as it did. Thus, Sabrian becomes an even more sympathetic character, and when Abigail helps him uncover and end the Queen Mother’s meddling, their victory is all the more satisfying.

Next is Gideon, a new court musician who has been appointed to give Blanche music lessons. However, Abigail remembers him as the unsettling character hovering around the princess at the Foundation Day celebration. Thanks to a tip from Karen (who’s apparently now Abigail’s tsundere-type friend) and Verite’s monitoring abilities, Abigail’s able to foil Gideon’s plan before he can get his clutches on Blanche.

However, it has the unexpected result of forcing Abigail to reveal Verite to Sabrian and Blanche. The reveal scene is hilarious, with Blanche wildly delighted by Verite’s powers and Sabrian overcome by jealousy. The king’s already freaked out about Gideon’s womanizing reputation, so seeing the mirror act so familiarly with Abigail pushes him over the edge. The argument between Verite and Sabrian is one of the funniest scenes in the series, and even though the arc has yet to conclude, it’s sweet to see Verite end up a member of Abigail’s little family.

Extras include Verite’s Character Sheet and Artist’s Notes.

In Summary

A really nice balance of drama and comedy in this volume. On one hand, we have Sabrian’s painful memories as well as unscrupulous characters trying to manipulate Princess Blanche. On the other hand, we have hilarious awkwardness between the royal couple as Sabrian’s affection for Abigail grows. Overall, a charmingly engaging and beautifully illustrated read.

First published at the Fandom Post.

In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name Vol. #1

There’s been a ton of variations on the isekai trope, and In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name, the latest such series released from Yen Press. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Through a handheld mirror connected to another world, college student Ichika shares a friendship with a boy named Cecil―one that only her older sister, Karen, knows about. When Karen and the mirror disappear one day, Ichika is devastated. But grief turns to shock a year later when she, too, is sent to the world on the other side, only to find her lost sister and a grown-up Cecil! Except…why are her sister’s first words to her “I’ve missed you, Karen”? And why is everyone else calling her “Ichika”?!In a world where her name and her past have been stolen, Ichika must find a way to forge her own destiny!

The Review

This isekai is a bit different from the ones where protagonists get transported into a videogame or novel they’re familiar with. In In Another World, My Sister Stole My Name, modern-day college student Ichika has been communicating for a few years with a child prince of another world via a magic mirror before she abruptly gets sent over. However, the primary conflict of this story is not Ichika dealing with some disaster in her new world. Rather, it’s the feud with the sister whom she thought she got along with.

In other words, the heroine is pitted against her diabolical sister, whose true stripes emerged after gaining magic powers and status in their new fantasy world.

In order to accomplish this situation, the story begins with a ton of plot contrivances. Karen just happens to be the only person to know about Ichika’s mirror and conversations with Prince Cecil. Karen just happens to get transported a year prior to Ichika. The isekai process just happens to twist time such that Prince Cecil is an adult when the sisters cross over. Assuming Ichika’s identity just happens to be convenient for Karen’s purposes, and circumstances just happen to make it easy for Karen to bully Ichika into silence when she arrives.

Plot contrivances aren’t unusual for isekai, but this is a lot even for this genre.

However, if you don’t really care about details and what you really want is a heroine versus her villainous sister in a fantasy story with a love polygon on the horizon, this title may be worth considering. The main players in this drama are two sets of polar opposite siblings. The heroine Ichika is the model student aiming for med school with an honest, pleasant personality liked by everyone. Her sister Karen has no interest in studying, is a smooth liar, and never had qualms about using her sister. Our other siblings are the half-brother princes, Cecil and Noah. Cecil is your stereotypical Prince Charming – good looks, gallant demeanor, and dedication to duty. Prince Noah, on the other hand, is rude and unmotivated. However, because he’s also darkly handsome, sparks are sure to somehow fly with this grump.

And just as Karen’s sister threatens her vaunted position as Saint, Noah is viewed as a threat to Cecil’s position as heir to the throne by individuals such as Cecil’s mother.

The romantic stakes get jumpstarted by the fact that, in this world, otherworlders marry into the royal line. Thus, Karen is already engaged to Cecil when Ichika arrives. Not long thereafter, Ichika’s pushed into an engagement with Noah.

So no Demon Lords, monsters, or fighting scenes. But there are balls, conversations over teacups, and significant looks aplenty. If you like frilly gowns and bishounen in European-style garb, you’ll enjoy the visuals.

Extras include the first two pages printed in color, creator afterwords, and bonus art.

In Summary

Don’t let the “In Another World” portion of the title fool you. Technically this is an isekai, but the isekai aspect is mainly a plot device to throw two modern-day sisters into a fantasy world palace drama. So there is magic, but the meat of the story revolves around sibling rivalries and a love polygon.

First published at the .

Manhwa Review: A Business Proposal Vol. 6

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is A Business Proposal. Read on for the review of Volume 6 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of the series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Taemu can finally rest easy. With Minwoo out of the picture, he now has a monopoly on Hari’s affection…or does he? Jihoon, the new secretary filling in for Sunghoon, is smart and capable, but there’s just one problem―he’s getting a bit too friendly with Hari! Meanwhile, the other two lovebirds must also deal with a troublesome third party. When her rival Yoojeong uses her connections to pressure Sunghoon, Yeongsuh is forced to make a decision she’d been putting off…

The Review

The previous volume ended with Yoojeong using her connections to cause trouble for Sungwoon Corporation. Her rationale of making Sunghoon hers via his loyalty to his employer feels far-fetched. Ultimately though, it creates a situation where Yeongsuh’s dad gets to see the strength of Sunghoon’s character, and Yeongsuh uses the opportunity to strike a deal to get her father to accept their relationship. Once that is done, the crisis evaporates in quick fashion for what was supposed to be a corporate-sized catastrophe.

With that, our two main couples enjoy several chapters of romantic bliss. Now that Taemu and Hari are done lying to one another, Taemu can earnestly devote himself to the task of convincing Hari that he is the one for her. Thus, they have a picnic date, a midnight stroll on the beach, and the obligatory boyfriend-taking-care-of-his-sick-girlfriend chapter. In short, tons of warm and fuzzy moments.

On the sidelines, we do have substitute secretary Yoon trying to make advances on Hari. However, Hari is not at all interested, and Yoon, unlike Yoojeong, is just an ordinary guy. So no love triangles here. Thus, poor Yoon mainly serves to spark Taemu’s jealousy so we can see him get territorial about his girl.

Jealousy also sparks over Yeongsuh. However, it’s not Sunghoon getting territorial; rather, Hari’s brother Hamin gets het up upon learning about Yeongsuh’s engagement. The narrative has hinted about his crush on Yeongsuh, and now he gets his very own arc about it. When he takes off running, I thought it would at least lead to a confession. It didn’t. Overall, the arc was a let down because Hamin doesn’t actually do anything and there are no alternate love prospects for him either.

The volume closes with the introduction of a new female character who I’m guessing will cause trouble in Taemu and Hari’s relationship. Hari has spent most of this volume getting spoiled by Taemu’s love and affection, so they’re due for a bit of turbulence.

Extras include translation notes.

In Summary

Now that Hari and Taemu are truly a dating couple, Taemu gets to shine as Hari’s boyfriend extraordinaire. He may not have been in a relationship before, but he’s quickly wearing down Hari’s resolve not to talk marriage. He’s also making it impossible for Secretary Yoon to be a real rival for Hari’s affections. But even if Yoon doesn’t create a love triangle, he does the job in showing what happens when Taemu sees another guy getting too close to his girl.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage Vol. #1

There’s been a lot of variations on the Villainess trope, and Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage is the latest such series released from Inklore. Read on for my review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Juvelian is a villainess so universally hated that when she is accused of jealously poisoning the princess of the Ashet Empire, her own father leaves her to die a traitor’s death. Faced with the threat of interrogation by the infamously tyrannical Crown Prince Maximillian, she takes her own life.

And that’s how the story ends—at least, that’s how it was supposed to end.

Now, a reborn Juvelian has joined the cast, and she is determined to rewrite the finale. But even if she manages to change the ending, she will still need to contend with her father’s feral protégé—a young man who sees Juvelian as an obstacle to his dangerous ambitions.

The Review

This is the first villainess isekai manhwa I’ve read, but it’s certainly not my first villainess isekai, a subgenre that has really ballooned in the light novel and manga realm. In this case, the protagonist is reincarnated as Juvelian, a beautiful but evil noblewoman, whose life ends after she’s framed for poisoning the princess of her country. Because this world is based on a novel series, there are no “conquerable characters” or multiple storylines. However, there is a definitive Death Flag that our reincarnated soul is desperate to avoid.

Unfortunately for her, she’s faithfully lived her life according to the novel’s script, and it’s only with a year to go before the Death Flag incident that memories of her previous life return. Like most such characters who realize they are hurtling towards a Bad End, she quickly sets about taking measures to avoid that fate – playing nice with the noblewomen she’s snubbed and insulted, being kind to the servants she’s abused, and breaking up with Mikhail, the handsome swordsman who was the supposed reason she poisoned the princess. Pretty standard stuff for a villainess isekai.

The unique element of this series is Juvelian’s father, Duke Floyen. He is a master swordsman and hero of the Empire with remarkably youthful looks, but an indifferent father. According to the novel, his cold attitude toward Juvelian was why her personality got warped, and during the novel’s Death Flag event, he ignored her pleas of innocence and abandoned her to die. Given that memory and the neglect she’s personally experienced, our reincarnated soul does not count him as a person to rely on. Instead, she starts giving herself a crash course education on becoming financially independent in order to live a long and uneventful life.

However, appearances are deceiving. Shortly after Juvelian tells her father she dumped Mikhail, the Duke abruptly starts giving her his attention, starting with a sudden summons to breakfast and a bizarre shopping outing. Though Juvelian can’t see it, the narrative gradually reveals that the Duke actually cares deeply for her. The details remain vague, but he has reasons for his contrary behavior, reasons connected to his liege, the Emperor.

If you enjoy palace dramas where people get poisoned and parents view their children as enemies, you got it. While the Duke is brave and noble, the Emperor is despicable trash, going so far as to exile his son, the Crown Prince Maximilian, from court. If you think Juvelian’s twisted, Max is twisted on a whole other level. Oh, and he’s the male romantic lead for this story.

Having been banished from the palace, Max roams about on his own. So when he crosses paths with Juvelian, she assumes he’s a vagabond student of her father’s. Max, on the other hand, knows exactly who she is. He also deems her an obstacle to his ultimate goal of revenge against the Emperor. However, his plan to eliminate her gets foiled when she’s unfazed by his threat to kill her. The reason for her bravery is surprising but completely logic-based, and the artist’s rendition of her outward expression versus her inner feelings in this scene are pretty comical.

Thus begins the romantic journey of assassin/target to lovers? At any rate, I’m intrigued, and the illustrations are dramatic and humorous as the situation calls for it. The artwork is rendered in full color on glossy paper, which makes for a nice-looking but hefty book. Extras include creator afterwords, a character sheet, and bonus art.

In Summary

An isekaied soul acutely aware of the storyline she’s been reborn into desperately strives to avoid the Bad End that threatens her. But even with her knowledge, she is unaware of the true intentions of her supposedly indifferent father. Add in her father’s handsome protégé, who also happens to be the Empire’s vengeful Crown Prince, and you have the basic elements of Father, I Don’t Want This Marriage.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Bride of the Barrier Master Vol. 3

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 3. (For other reviews from this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

All Hana wanted was a simple life. Instead, she has her hands full sending a terrorist organization packing, saving her school from destruction, and rescuing her twin sister from the clutches of their terrible parents! Plus, she has to stay on her toes to keep her husband’s romantic advances at bay. At this point, living a normal life and flying under the radar are simply impossible. News about who she is has spread far and wide, finally reaching Yukizasa Sankourou, a famous scion from one of the five clans and Saku’s old friend who vehemently opposes Saku’s marriage to Hana. He isn’t content to just grumble either; he fully intends on taking drastic action, and he’s not above teaming up with Hana’s parents to get her out of the picture!

The Review

The Bride of the Barrier Master world has five clans. Because Volume 2 introduced lead members of the Ninjouin clan, I anticipated a big shot from a third clan to appear in Volume 3. We do get him; the prologue is dedicated to the Fifth Color advancement exam of Yukizasa, the 20-year-old heir apparent to the Sankourou clan. However, after the prologue, he doesn’t return to the story until two-thirds of the way through Chapter 2. Overall, the Sankourou heir doesn’t have a huge presence in the story, although he is key to the volume’s final resolution.

Rather, the plot focuses on a very personal and private family dispute. Namely, Hazuki’s transition to the Ichinomiya household. Hana and Hazuki have the opportunity to rebuild their relationship, and Nozomu brings humor and an additional romantic vibe as the narrative reveals his one-sided crush on Hazuki. Meanwhile, at the Ichise household, the twins’ parents are scheming revenge against Hana – planning to get Hazuki back on their side and convince Saku to make her the clan lady instead. Not at all probable, but they’re being portrayed as stupid as they are despicable.

And there’s actually a third party in this family mess: the twins’ older brother Yanagi. Previously, he had only been mentioned in passing with the weirdly impressive credential “youngest to claim the Lapis rank.” Given their father’s obsession with restoring the Ichise reputation, it had struck me as weird that Yanagi wasn’t mentioned more by him. However, Yanagi makes his appearance as Saku’s aide in this volume. Moreover, he reveals the root of the Ichise family dysfunction.

Thus, battles against shades and shadowy organizations take a backseat to family history and the restoration of sibling bonds. While the Ichise patriarch’s actions become more comprehensible in light of this new information, the treatment of his children eliminates any sympathy he might have garnered.

But this is a series where the characters are born to fight supernatural forces, so there is a shade battle at the end. However, the circumstances leading to everyone being perfectly in the right place felt contrived. Also, the parents’ shock when they realize that the girl whom they assumed was Hazuki is actually Hana felt over the top. I mean, they are identical twins. Hana even says in Chapter 1 that they have “the same face.” The narrative doesn’t mention them having vastly different hairstyles or body types, so I’m surprised Azusa’s glamour was necessary to disguise Hana.

At any rate, if you’re willing to gloss over particulars, you can enjoy the satisfaction of Hana truly putting her parents into their place. Moreover, there is the unexpected bonus of the formerly estranged siblings reuniting. Oh, and Saku manages to get Hana to warm up to him. Happy endings all around!

In Summary

The heir to the Sankourou clan enters the story, but more importantly, Hana’s estranged older brother Yanagi appears on the scene. While Hana’s parents, who clearly don’t know when to quit, continue plotting against her, Yanagi’s making his own moves. Fights against shades take a backseat to infighting within the Ichise family!

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 7

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 7 of the manhwa. (For reviews of other volumes, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

The mysterious dreams she’s been having, the strange incident at the banquet…Blondina pieces together the clues and finally realizes what her half sister is up to. But it’s too late―Adellai is marching on the imperial palace with an army of mind‑controlled divine beasts. The bloody past between the two races seems bound to repeat itself…but Amon refuses to give up. He’ll fight tooth and claw to protect a future with his betrothed! “Did you forget? I’m the strongest in these lands.”

The Review

Having realized that Adellai has found the descendent of Barahan, Blondina hurries to the forest of divine beasts. Lart, on the other hand, goes to Adellai in hopes of convincing her to stop. As such, most of Part 21 ends up as a confrontation between brother and sister where they make clear their intentions. Considering Adellai and Lart began as allies against Blondina, it is interesting to see Lart’s loyalty transition entirely to Blondina in this interaction.

Softhearted as he is, Lart gives Adellai time to change her mind – and she uses the opportunity to rush Joseph to the temple to unleash the full extent of his powers. What follows is a lot of characters running around between the forest and the palace, culminating in Adellai and Joseph attacking the palace with an army of mind-controlled beasts. As a result, the Emperor orders an evacuation and mobilizes the Imperial troops with himself at the head. However, the lead-up and clash all take place on the same day, so everything is too rushed to feel epic. Moreover, the encounters between the palace defenders and mind-controlled beasts is minimal, so it doesn’t seem much like a battle at all.

Rather all the attention goes toward the self-destruction of the anti-divine beasts camp. Blondina’s three main opponents–who weren’t exactly loyal to one another–essentially take one another out. Adellai’s demise was the most disappointing given how she was inflated as a villain. However, in lieu of our three human antagonists, we end up with one very intimidating supernatural enemy.

Suddenly the royal succession dispute gets replaced by a repeat fight between long-ago divine beings. While the animosity between humans and divine beasts was introduced early in the series, having Blondina turn into a stand-in for the Originator God feels a stretch. It was only in the previous volume that she showed any connection to Rafiyan. It feels like the creator got too ambitious with the story’s scope and is shoving all the loose strings into this final battle to force everything to a conclusion.

In Summary

The full power of Barahan is unleashed against the palace! However, this volume is long on conversations between Adellai and various characters and short on the actual battle involving the mind-controlled beasts. The story seems in a rush to wrap things up as bad guys are quickly dispatched and reincarnated beings abruptly overtake characters.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: See You in My 19th Life Vol. 3

Lots of Korean web comics and web fiction are successfully making the jump from the Internet to traditional media nowadays. One of these is See You in My 19th Life. Read on for the review of Volume 3 of the manhwa. (For more reviews from this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

When Seoha finally remembers how he and Jieum first met, it answers some of the burning questions he has about this strange woman―but not enough to lower his guard. Meanwhile, Chowon is finding Doyun to be an impenetrable fortress, and she’ll do anything to bring his walls crumbling down. Love looks like an uphill battle for Jieum and Chowon…or so Seoha and Doyun would have them believe!

The Review

The first two chapters are devoted almost entirely to past events. The volume begins with Jieum at age 9, shortly after her memories return, and the obstacles she faced in reuniting with Seoha. The focus then shifts to Seoha and Doyun, who are high school students at the time, and the circumstances that caused them to become friends. The flashback arc finally ends with Jieum’s first post-reincarnation encounter with Seoha. In addition to clarifying Jieum’s cryptic statements about their first meeting and him being her first love, these scenes lend double meaning to those statements.

That glimpse of teenage Seoha also sheds light on the people that influenced him since Juwon’s death. The more Jieum observes Seoha, the more she realizes how much he’s changed from the spoiled child she once knew, and Doyun’s family clearly had a large hand in that. After all, when Seoha goes with Jieum to help at the fried chicken restaurant, he’s shockingly adept at waiting on customers. (Is this a manhwa trope? I think this is the third handsome chaebol CEO I’ve seen wowing patrons at a fried chicken eatery…)

The remaining chapters are full of alcohol and convenient drunken confessions. Chowon gets wasted, and when Jieum strategically has Doyun bring her home, Chowon spills her frustrated feelings for him. Unfortunately, because he is sober, the outpouring of honesty is completely one-sided in this scene.

Then Seoha chances upon an ugly confrontation between Jieum and her estranged brother. Not only does the incident change his “perfect” image of Jieum, it gives Jieum the opportunity to invite him to drinks. Of course, he gets wasted, and the alcohol–predictably–allows his true feelings for her to slip out. It also gives Jieum the excuse to take him home and see the locked box she gave him during her previous life. The sight of that long-ago birthday gift abruptly fills her with doubt about her next move, even as Seoha (who conveniently remembers all he did and said while drunk) gets further flustered by his feelings for Jieum.

The volume wraps up with Jieum, Seoha, Doyun, and Chowon going on an outing. While it isn’t supposed to be a date, it winds up looking a whole lot like a double date as the characters pair off in the fun and romantic seaside setting.

In Summary

Flashbacks and alcohol induced confessions! A trip down memory lane reveals the obstacles Jieum faced in reuniting with Seoha as well as the circumstances that brought Seoha and Doyun together. Then the story returns to the present where the walls Seoha built to keep Jieum out start to crumble, and some completely collapse thanks to the power of booze. Jieum hasn’t reached her goal, but she’s certainly making progress!

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Ako and Bambi Vol. #2

Haunted houses are usually the stuff of scary stories and nightmares. But for the horror writer protagonist of Ako and Bambi, an encounter with a ghostly apparition is an opportunity for story material! Read on for my review of Volume 2. (For more reviews from this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

A ghost…or not a ghost? That is the question, and the entire reason an amateur novelist, a psychic, and a high school girl go traipsing around a culture festival. Once there, they discover the secret behind Ako’s existence! Or so they think… But life—and death—just isn’t that simple. As for the inhabitants of Bambi’s haunted apartment complex, the spookiness inherent in Ako’s existence begins affecting the world around them as well…

The Review

Irifune figures out the connection between the real-life Yamashiro and her ghostly alter ego Ako. Actually, it’s nothing so obscure that requires the expertise of a professional psychic. Basically, while at the school festival, Irifune (and Bambi) notice that Yamashiro’s being bullied, and Yamashiro admits it’s because a popular girl was using her to try to get close to her childhood friend Sukuwa. It’s not an uncommon bullying set up; anyone could have figured it out had Yamashiro shared her story sooner. The way this bullying narrative deviates from most is that the incident doesn’t just change Yamashiro’s personality; an entire aspect of it gets rejected, turning it into the separate being Ako. Irifune’s additional theory about Yamashiro’s guardian spirit and Sukuwa seems like it’s taking the facts on hand ten steps too far, however.

Anyway, if the story has managed to get you invested in the characters, the question is now Ako’s eventual fate. Will she merge back with Yamashiro? Will she turn into her own separate existence? Or will she simply vanish?

In the midst of the quandary, Hero-sensei throws in new characters. First, Bambi’s older sister Hana invites herself into his home. She’s pushy and weird. (What nutcase barges into her brother’s home and jumps into the bathtub with him?) She keeps her hair short and wears Bambi’s clothes, so people are constantly mixing them up. Hana doesn’t advance the plot much. Honestly, it feels like the creator wanted a vehicle for comic relief and threw in a wacky character to do it.

The other new characters serve more of a purpose. We had a glimpse of Bambi’s high school friends Rui and Gakuto in the first volume, but now they take part in present events. In addition to them providing a perspective on what Bambi was like as a high school student, Rui has a crush on Irifune. Thus, Irifune’s work interactions with Bambi have the side effect of causing misunderstandings with Rui. Although this is not a high school title, it’s taking on a distinct high school vibe with Bambi’s increasing interactions with his three former schoolmates and Yamashiro’s student life.

In Summary

Irifune figures out the connection between Yamashiro and Ako! The trigger is hardly original stuff, but the question remains as to what Ako’s ultimate fate will be. However, the focus almost immediately shifts with the introduction of Bambi’s (very odd) older sister. While our characters do still puzzle over Ako’s existence, that quandary takes a backseat to Bambi’s prewriting life and his growing career.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Bride of the Barrier Master Vol. 2

Bride of the Barrier Master has one of those “the fate of the nation depends on this elite magical group” settings. However, it’s less about the accomplishments of this group and more about how our underdog heroine abruptly surges from below average to far above. Read on for the review of Volume 2. For other reviews of this series, click here.

Back Cover Blurb

Hana has kept her recently emerged powers a secret from her condescending family. However, the new head of the clan, the beautiful and powerful Saku Ichinomiya, makes Hana into his bride to help strengthen the barrier of a pillar that protects Japan. Now, Hana’s powers are being tested by Saku’s family, and she’s even met with harassment at school!

The Review

Volume 1 was mostly about Hana’s awful upbringing in the Ichise household. Now she begins her life as the lady of the influential Ichinomiya household. There is no sign or mention of Saku’s dad, but Saku’s mom and younger brother Nozomu are there to welcome Hana with heaps of criticism. Weirdly, even though Hana immediately suggests demonstrating her full powers to get them to accept her, Saku doesn’t seem inclined to bother convincing his family, so she doesn’t. Thus, it’s not until a week AFTER the wedding ceremony that Hana duels Nozomu a definitive win and earns the respect of the entire household. As satisfying as her victory is, you have to wonder why she didn’t do it the moment she walked in.

By the way, if you are a fan of traditional Japanese clothes, there’s plenty to admire in the wedding scene. Plus, Saku only ever seems to wear traditional garments.

Now the entire point of Saku marrying Hana is because he needs her power to secure the barrier around the all-important pillar. However, out of the volume’s six chapters, only one is devoted to the pair addressing that task. Of that chapter, half focuses on explanations about the pillar; half shows off Saku’s good points so that Hana will have a reason to fall in love with him.

The majority of the post-marriage pages are devoted to a murder investigation involving the supernatural. Because the supernatural elements are high level, Saku–despite his extraordinarily taxing task to secure the pillar’s barrier–gets roped into taking care of it. Unfortunately, even his shikigami can’t handle it, so he asks Hana for help. Although she’s warming up to Saku, she’s not in love with him yet, and it takes the addition of an ocean villa to their contract to secure her assistance.

Thus, this rom-com story of comeuppance takes a sharp turn into criminal investigation with the pair tracking down traces of malignant, resentful energy. Hana’s best friend Suzu also gets sucked into the mess as her boyfriend is involved. Because of the nature of the crime, the boyfriend is portrayed as an absolute no-good jerk. This sets the situation up in stark black-and-white terms, no gray areas at all. While this puts Hana and Saku firmly on the side of justice, the fact that the good and kind Suzu was dating such a detestable human puts her judgment into question.

By the way, our characters’ shikigami are present to do battle when the occasion calls for it. However, for the most part, they are simply there to make commentary or provide comic relief. (Tsubaki’s crush on Aoi looks like it will be an ongoing joke.)

Extras include an afterword and bonus story.

In Summary

Saku and Hana tie the knot! But only they are aware it’s a contractual bond, so Hana’s stuck dealing with criticism in her new home in addition to increased antagonism at school. However, the focus abruptly shifts away from the snide remarks of her antagonists to a criminal investigation when Saku and Hana are tapped to solve a series of supernatural killings.

First published at the Fandom Post.