S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 6

Manhwa Review: The Remarried Empress 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 The Remarried Empress. Read on for the review of Volume 6 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Navier and Heinrey have agreed to marry! Heinrey is over the moon, despite the political nature of their initial arrangement, but Navier is still reeling from Sovieshu’s decision to separate. She must scramble to recover, though, knowing full well that the emperor will do everything in his power to prevent their union. And so, when the day of the formal trial arrives, Navier brandishes her and Heinrey’s trump card―“I accept this divorce… and request an approval for my remarriage!”

The Review

The Emperor plows ahead with his scheme to replace Navier with Rashta as a legitimate empress. Unbeknownst to him, Heinrey forges ahead with his own plans to secure the safety of Navier’s brother (and put himself into her family’s good graces). Thus, the narrative hurtles toward the divorce proceedings we glimpsed in Volume 1.

However, before that extremely public trial, the High Priest responsible for the proceedings speaks privately to the Emperor. Like most observers, the priest is baffled by the Emperor’s determination to cast his wife aside and tries to talk him out of it. That’s when we finally learn Sovieshu’s motivation for cooking up such a convoluted plan to divorce and reinstate Navier.

Previously, the Emperor seemed an incredibly selfish and controlling person. Once he reveals what happened to him and Navier as children, he seems like an incredible idiot, and a deceitful one at that. He tells his secret in a bid for sympathy, but he didn’t get mine. After all, he could have handled the situation so many other ways (like telling Navier the truth so she could actually cooperate with a solution). The fact that he is hiding the truth and securing an heir with someone who’s so unqualified and disrespectful toward his wife paints him as both unwise and despicable.

At any rate, by the time the divorce proceedings begin, you’ll be thoroughly fed up with the Emperor. Heinrey’s surprise appearance at the trial is a much bigger deal than one might realize in Volume 1, and it is extremely satisfying when the High Priest sides with Navier and marries her to Heinrey.

Sovieshu has mostly treated Navier in public with cold indifference, so it’s out of character when he gets wildly emotional in the courtroom, spouting outbursts of how Navier is his wife and he won’t let another man take her. His behavior is more fitting for a thoughtless child than the head of an empire, and the fact that he can’t control himself diminishes him further as a ruler in my eyes. Unfortunately, because he is the highest ranked person in the country, he can and does continue to interfere with Navier and Heinrey’s union, although even he has to recognize his actions put him on dicey political grounds.

In contrast to Sovieshu is Heinrey, who’s going above and beyond to make Navier feel loved and put her worries at ease. And then there are Navier’s allies, who rally to help and celebrate with her as she leaves her marriage on her terms. Volume 6 does not mark the end of the series, but the former empress has certainly triumphed over her now ex-husband as she gets a new partner and lease on life.

In Summary

Prior to the divorce proceedings, the Emperor confides to the High Priest his true reason for divorcing Navier. But instead of earning sympathy, he comes off looking like a fool. He looks an even bigger fool, though, when Heinrey and Navier foil his plans to control Navier after their marriage is dissolved. The obstacles and troubles Navier’s faced have been numerous, so when she and Heinrey come out on top, you can’t help but wish them well.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Sasaki and Peeps Vol. 6

 

Isekai, sci-fi, and fantasy are huge light novel genres. But how about a mash-up of all three? That’s what you’ll find in Sasaki and Peeps! Read on for the review of Volume 6. (For other Sasaki and Peeps reviews, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

With the Herzian succession dispute now settled, Sasaki and Peeps head back to modern Japan just in time for a new case at the bureau. Along with Futarishizuka and Hoshizaki, Sasaki is tasked with investigating a series of recent UFO sightings, and for once the assignment appears to have nothing to do with the otherworld. Exhausted from their earlier ordeals and lacking clues, the crew decide to take it slow and leave the heavy lifting to the experts. But for better or worse, they seem destined to wind up in the spotlight, as yet another powerful faction explodes onto the scene!

The Review

I thought this series had hit its capacity for sci-fi and fantasy elements, but I was wrong. With Volume 6, we have the introduction of UFOs to the modern world, along with wildly advanced alien AI. And not just any AI, but the super logical type that has developed the bug called emotions, leading to terrifying destructive results. Predictably (and annoyingly), the form this AI takes among Sasaki and company is of a gorgeous teenage girl in accordance with the series’ particular brand of fanservice. (Even Hoshizaki’s younger sister calls Sasaki out as a “weirdo” who’s always hanging around young girls in this volume).

Anyway, this UFO arc reads sluggishly overall. Unlike the situation with the Octodragon, the UFO has no connections with Sasaki or his varied friends. As such, there is a lengthy setup with the Bureau calling Sasaki, Futarishizuka, and Hoshizaki to do an independent investigation of the UFO; a bunch of data crunching by the sparrow starsage; and Futarishizuka showing off her knowledge of radio equipment. This finally culminates in an unexpected and funny alien abduction in a swan boat. However, the three Bureau members apparently aren’t the only humans involved in this first contact. So once aboard the UFO, there’s again a ton of passive observing and random chatter before Sasaki and his psychic colleagues encounter their alien host, Type Twelve, a super advanced android with the emotional maturity of a baby.

In terms of their exchange, it’s not particularly original. The Bureau employees’ special powers aside, the encounter is fairly similar to other sci-fi works where humans must deal with computer systems destabilizing due to the introduction of “feelings.” The conversation tends to drag due to all the information dumped in, and as if to make up for it, the story shifts into overdrive when the alien ultimately decides to destroy humanity and jettison all the abducted humans into outer space.

Thanks to psychic/Magical Girl powers, many of those humans, including all of Sasaki’s group, survive, only to have to tell their respective organizations the planet is in imminent danger. Once again, the pace slows to a crawl as the narrative details everyone’s responses. Then things rev up for a final nighttime Battle Royale involving all the paranormal elements thus introduced into the series. Unfortunately, creating a clash where our main character get mixed up with government agencies, Magical Girls, an Angel/Demon isolated space, psychics, and an alien takes a while. So despite the fate-of-the-world-depends-on-it stakes, this epic fight gets a bit slow (and confusing) toward the end.

The first eight pages, which contain illustrations and a thread from Lady Elsa’s social media, are printed in full color. Extras also include a summary of events thus far, nine black-and-white insert illustrations, an afterword, a character profile of Type Twelve, and a text exchange between Peeps and Sasaki about the anime adaption.

In Summary

Just when you thought the cast couldn’t get larger or more varied, alien android Type Twelve makes her appearance. The volume’s first half detailing initial UFO sightings and investigations drags and isn’t particularly original compared to other sci-fi works. However, the second half is more interesting with Type Twelve’s reactions to the planet anomalies that are psychics, Disciples, and Magical Girls.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Tales of the Tendo Family Vol. 1

If Demon Slayer has you looking for more manga set in that historical era, Tales of the Tendo Family might be worth a look. Read on for the review of Volume 1.

Back Cover Blurb

Masato, a son of the Tendo family, is meant to marry Hojo Ran, the daughter of a baron. There’s just one problem: she’s a fake. The real Ran has fled after hearing that few make it out of the Tendo family alive. In her place is a young woman who says she will die if it means saving someone else’s life.

The Review

When a teenage orphan saves a noblewoman from drowning, she’s stunned to learn it was a suicide attempt. The noblewoman, Hojo Ran, is betrothed to Tenjo Masato, whose family is embroiled in a bloody succession dispute, and Ran felt that death was preferable to getting caught up in that struggle. Upon hearing this, Ran’s rescuer volunteers to take her place. Unfortunately, the groom immediately sees through the fake bride’s ruse!

This is a shojo historical that is set in the Meiji or Taisho era; has a rich, handsome, and twisted male lead; and features a cheerful, spunky orphan heroine. Within the first few pages, you can tell she’s the good-hearted type, but her concern for others initially comes off as outrageously extreme. As much as a person might sympathize with another, who would actually risk their neck for a stranger they’ve just met? Especially if they’re not getting anything in return. However, the motivation behind the heroine’s bizarre actions comes to light at the end of Chapter 1 when we discover the girl has a death wish.

Like she really does want to die. Nameless and abandoned by her parents, she was raised by an old man who treated her as his own. So when her adoptive grandfather died, she set her mind on following him to the afterlife.

So she’s a bit different than your typical cheerful, spunky orphan. Moreover, the codger that raised her taught her a thing or two about martial arts. When an assassin attacks the fake bride in the Tendo estate, she knocks him out, no problem. Unfortunately, her ability to fight seems to conveniently come and go. When Tachibana, Masato’s right-hand man, spars with her while she is blindfolded, she defeats him easily. However, in another scene, Masato orders Tachibana to forcibly give her a bath with the end result that she flees naked around the house. I believe the scene was intended to be comic, but I found it lacking in taste.

Compared to her, our male lead is more conventional. He’s born to a rich, dysfunctional family. Although he’s only 16, he’s got a ruthless aura and hardened attitude. (The way Saito-sensei drew him, I originally thought he was in his mid-20s!) His father, the family head, is on his deathbed. He’s got an uncle out to publicly humiliate him and an aunt with an unhealthy obsession for Masato. It’s unclear for now who Masato’s most powerful enemies are, but Masato’s mother was a commoner, which would automatically put him at a disadvantage in this kind of conflict. Unlike our heroine, he’s determined to live in order to accomplish his goal, and when he realizes how valuable her abilities would be, he has no qualms about manipulating her into keeping up the role of his bride.

So this is not a Taisho Cinderella story. By the end of the volume, there’s been one attempt on Masato’s life and two on his fake bride’s. Still, for those who enjoy this kind of succession drama against the backdrop of high society, there are tea parties and elegant attire aplenty as the intrigue plays out.

Extras include illustrations embedded in the chapters and a bonus story at the end. The font is a bit on the small side, and the formatting is off in a couple of places. Cultural notes are provided as footnotes.

In Summary

A young girl marries into a wealthy family embroiled in a bloody succession dispute. However, this bride’s a fake! Instead of a meek noblewoman, a fearless commoner is in her place – and her ruthless fiancé sees this substitute as a useful tool. While I can see how the unlikely pair might end up romantically involved, they’ll have to deal with assassination attempts first.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: My Gently Raised Beast Vol. 5

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

Back Cover Blurb

Blondina is rescued just in the nick of time by Amon, and her safe return is greeted with much joy and celebration. But not everyone is happy to see her alive and well―when Adellai witnesses all the love and warmth around her half sister, something inside her snaps. Unhinged by jealousy, she redoubles her efforts to destroy Blondina…but not if Amon has anything to say about it! “I will never lose you again, Briddy.”

The Review

Amon comes to Blondina’s rescue, foiling Adellai’s plans. With this, the story plunges into full royal succession struggle mode. It doesn’t matter that Blondina harbors zero ambitions of taking the crown. She nearly got murdered, and things clearly won’t end there. Thus, sweet, mild Blondina quickly grows a backbone in order to confront first the Dehills and then Adellai. Blondina’s declaration, “What I need right now isn’t someone else’s power, but my own, so I can protect my people,” shows how drastically she’s changed.

In the meantime, Adellai doubles down on her efforts against Blondina and the Divine Beasts. She’s definitely painted as the villain here – not showing the slightest hesitation to eliminate foes and inconvenient allies alike. Although jealousy is at the root of her vehemence, she’s unfortunately starting to feel one-dimensional – spouting the same pompous line about taking back what was stolen from her whether she has the upper hand or in mortal danger.

As for the person at the center of this sibling rivalry, he’s behaving annoyingly out of character in this volume. After Amon returns Blondina to her family, her father suddenly gets a conscience. His very belated guilt over Blondina’s suffering doesn’t feel genuine though. He’s the king for crying out loud. Given his power and resources, he had a whole lot of options if he truly wanted to secure Blondina and her mother’s welfare. The lack of resentment in Blondina’s reception of his apology doesn’t feel genuine either. After all, this is the same gal who was happy to dish punishment to the abusive innkeepers. One could argue that her father’s abandonment was as bad as their behavior or worse. Not to mention, the king has not and still is not doing a thing to quell the hostility between his children. In a sense, he’s to blame for this vicious sibling rivalry, and the man is too oblivious or incompetent to stop it.

In Summary

The sibling rivalry intensifies! Although Blondina escapes the “stimulant incident” with her life, others involved in the plot do not. Adellai’s quick to kill attitude and maniacal eyes are starting to feel stale, but it is interesting to see Blondina develop into more than a victim who needs rescuing. And although Blondina’s not actually interested in the throne, Lart is. Things are bound to get a lot messier between the three siblings as the power struggle continues.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Doomsday With My Dog Vol. 4

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 4 of the manga. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

What They Say
A high school girl―the last human on Earth―and her loyal canine companion make their way through the prefectures of postapocalyptic Japan, taking in the spectacular sights and meeting the locals―from the furry to the intimidating to the outright bizarre! After all, when there’s no destination, the journey is all the fun!

The Review

This final installment of Doomsday with My Dog reminds me a lot of the middle volumes of ZOM 100 with our characters basically taking a post-apocalyptic tour through the different regions of Japan and detailing various cultural and geographic highlights as they go. The main difference is that ZOM 100’s ruined landscape is populated by zombies while Haru and his master encounter the unique fauna and mythical creatures of each region they visit. Part of the journey is just Haru and his master, but for the majority of this sightseeing installment, they are accompanied by the female Shibas (who are still fighting over Haru), the German Shepherd squad, and the fool of the pack Husky.

There is a chapter each for Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, and Niigata. Each chapter opens with an illustration of the characters at a prominent landmark of the prefecture and ends with Haru and his master cosplaying to represent the area. These arcs are packed with references to historical figures, monuments, and local jargon, so most Westerners will be making frequent use of the translation notes, which are pretty good at explaining the cultural references.

The manga concludes with the bonus story “Love Letter,” in which Haru seeks assistance from the Anubis-folk to write a love letter to his master. Previous bonus stories have been tearjerkers, and this one is no different. However, the creator weaves in comedy amid the schmaltz so our characters can end with smiles on their faces.

Extras include translation notes and afterword.

In Summary

It’s the final volume! Haru and his master wander across Japan, highlighting the unique characteristics of eight prefectures in a way that feels a whole lot like a tourism campaign. Then the series concludes with a heartfelt outpouring of devotion from the Shiba to his master that will make dog lovers laugh and cry.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: A Business Proposal Vol. 4

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

Back Cover Blurb

 Hari is about to finally end it with Taemu when disaster strikes. Sudden news of her parents’ accident throws her into a panic, but thankfully, her capable CEO is there to get things under control! Taemu proves with grace and efficiency that he really is good at everything―crisis management, emotional support…and frying chicken…? With her parents in the hospital, Hari needs all the help she can get to keep the restaurant open, and Taemu is determined to use this as a chance to rack up brownie points! However, things get heated when Minwoo joins in, increasingly possessive of his “best friend”…

The Review

Talk about an emotional roller coaster. Taemu and Hari steam up the first two pages with what was meant to be a goodbye kiss. Fortunately for Taemu, he gets the opportunity to keep the relationship going when Hari gets the sudden news her parents were injured in a kitchen accident. Yes, it is a conveniently timed crisis, but it allows Mr. CEO to demonstrate how serious he is about Hari, both in conventional rich person fashion (taking care of her parents’ medical care) and a more unusual way (rolling up his sleeves at the restaurant to help keep the family business going). Actually, everyone rallies to support Hari and her brother, so the entire swoon-worthy cast ends up in aprons. If you wanted to see the CEO and his secretary frying chicken together, this is your volume!

In addition to the crisis keeping Taemu and Hari together, it allows Sunghoon and Yeongsuh to cross paths and ultimately clear up their misunderstanding. With that, they kiss and make up – in a way that burns up the pages. The book definitely earns its “Older Teen” rating with their bedroom scene at the opening of Chapter 43. So things are just peachy for the pair – except for the fact that Yeongsuh’s dad doesn’t consider Sunghoon ideal husband material. Rich girl’s daddy has made a move yet, but it is imminent.

Also crossing paths during the restaurant crisis are Taemu and Minwoo. After everything poor Hari has been through, it’s satisfying to watch the two guys fight over her in between washing dishes and passing out restaurant flyers. However, the romantic tension with Minwoo comes to an abrupt end when he breaks up with his girlfriend and professes love to Hari. I expected more out of this scene, especially since he is the person Hari has obsessed over so long, but his confession is unexpectedly disappointing. By the end of it, he truly does seem like a squid. But at the very least, it allows Hari to make a clean break from him and focus on her situation with Taemu, which is complicated enough.

In Summary

An accident at Haha Chicken brings everyone to the restaurant to help Hari keep her family’s business afloat. In between our gorgeous characters dazzling customers as they clean tables and marinate chicken, Sunghoon and Yeongsuh light up the bedroom, and Taemu and Minwoo exhibit jealous behavior over Hari. Ultimately, things with Minwoo come to an unsatisfying and disappointing conclusion, but the progress between Sunghoon/Yeongsuh and Taemu/Hari are plenty to keep the drama going.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom Vol. #3

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

Back Cover Blurb

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived a king and queen who absolutely did not get along— or so the people believed! As Foundation Day approaches, pressure mounts on Abigail to show the world that she and Sabrian are a perfectly happy couple. Unfortunately, she’s got her work cut out for her—news of how Sabrian slapped her hand away during their dance practice has reached the ears of the other nobles. With the adorable Princess Blanche there to give them a push, will the king and queen be able to build enough trust in each other to attend the festivities as a united front and successfully put the malicious rumors to rest?

The Review

After Abigail’s attempt at dance practice ends with Sabrian walking out on her, the palace is unsurprisingly abuzz with gossip. While she tries to take it in stride, it’s her faithful mirror Vérité that gets outraged. In addition to his delightfully angry rant on Abigail’s behalf, he suggests divorce. Given the circumstances, Abigail seriously contemplates it even as she worries how it might impact Princess Blanche. Meanwhile, Sabrian’s forced to take stock of the family situation and ultimately decides to come clean with the truth behind his seemingly cold treatment of Abigail.

Previous chapters hinted that the late Queen Miriam had something to do with his behavior, but “physiologically unable to have contact with women” wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. Moreover, Abigail’s surprise (?) when Sabrian points out the age difference between him and his daughter felt odd. After all, Abigail would’ve been privy to that information long before. However, the main point is that the previous “ambitious and greedy” queen saw her sickly 14-year-old husband as a tool and used him accordingly. And that is the key that allows Abigail to see Sabrian not as a coldhearted monster, but a scarred victim.

Thus, the couple’s relationship changes dramatically. They’re still in separate bedrooms, but now that Abigail knows about Sabrian’s internal demons, she offers her utmost sympathy and support. As a result, the little royal family becomes closer and happier than ever. Which means we need new elements to cause trouble. And they both show up at the Foundation Ball.

First is Lady Karen Stoke, younger sister of the late Queen Miriam. Her father tried to persuade the king to take her as an additional wife before, and now she enters the stage to do the convincing herself. At first glance, she appears as ruthlessly ambitious as her father, but as the creator states in the Artist’s Notes, it’s actually because she’s young and naïve and imitating the adults around her. In a different story, she would be a rival for Abigail, but given the king’s– ahem–“affliction,” the girl’s attempt to seduce Sabrian and humiliate Abigail end up as fodder for comedy.

The other troublemaker who’s a bit more difficult to read is Lord Raven, Sabrian’s illegitimate half-brother. He only appears briefly, but that moment is enough to cause a ton of tension. And given that the line of succession is always a source of strife in palace dramas, I suspect he’ll end up center stage at some point.

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

In Summary

Sabrian reveals to Abigail the reason behind his seemingly cold indifference–and it’s got nothing to do with her. Not even close. Although the confession rather puts the king’s first marriage into a bizarre light, it allows Abigail to extend a helping hand to her husband. With compassion blossoming between the couple, we need something new to cause trouble, and the late queen’s scheming younger sister enters to do the job. Only she’s not so much a villainess as a comic character, so we get another character to laugh at.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Ako and Bambi Vol. #1

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 1.

Back Cover Blurb

What happens when you put one down-on-his-luck amateur novelist and one amnesiac ghost girl in one bargain-priced haunted apartment? You get the punch line of Bambi’s life. The good news is, Ako is neither the ghost of the person who supposedly committed suicide in the rental nor an unfriendly poltergeist hell-bent on causing chaos. But she needs a place to hang out until she can ascend to wherever ghosts go and Bambi needs source material for his career, so maybe they can have a mutually beneficial relationship…

The Review

Money’s tight for 18-year-old Bambi, a struggling horror writer. The only apartment he can afford is one whose previous occupant committed suicide in the bathtub. He doesn’t actually think it’s haunted though – until the apparition of a teenage girl appears before him. Fortunately, Ako has a pleasant disposition, and Bambi needs ideas for his next story. So the two strike a deal for him to model his next protagonist after her.

There are a few things that are unusual about this manga. First, the formatting resembles 4-panel comics, but it doesn’t follow the standard pattern where each column is a self-contained arc or thought. Rather, the story is presented in a chapter format, but the size/shape of the panels are limited to the one used for 4-panel comics. The panels are read from top to bottom, but scene breaks can occur anywhere, not just at the bottom of a panel column. In terms of printing, they used sepia instead of the usual black ink along with light blue for shading, which you don’t normally get for manga.

Then there’s the genre, which is somewhat difficult to categorize. The combination of a horror author in an apartment where a suicide occurred would lead you to think this is a spooky ghost story or thriller. But even though Ako introduces herself as a ghost, she has nothing to do with the apartment suicide, and we learn within the first third of the book that she’s not actually a ghost. Rather, she’s the alternate personality of a very much alive high school girl, Ako Yamashiro, which manifests when the real Ako is asleep. So while the manga has a strong supernatural element, it’s not scary or creepy. Rather, it feels like a slice of life involving socially awkward teenagers with a mysterious element thrown in.

Thus far, the main driver of the story appears to be the mystery of not-ghost Ako’s true nature and how she is connected to Ako Yamashiro. However, a huge amount of time is spent on detailing Ako Yamashiro’s school routine and Bambi’s writing career. When the psychic Irifune enters the story, she’s more of a vehicle to shed light on Bambi’s pre-writer past than a means to provide new insight on what kind of phenomena Ako is. Plus, the pacing is fairly slow. There’s not much action beyond package deliveries and conversations, so whether you stick with the story will depend on if you get attached to the characters.

I should mention that character interactions require a higher-than-average understanding of cultural references, mostly having to do with Japanese superstitions. Fortunately, the book does explain a lot in the translation notes, but dialogue regarding Japanese characters and name meanings doesn’t translate well into English.

In Summary

Horror writer Bambi has an actual encounter with an apparition in his own home! However, Ako is not malevolent or even that unnerving. She is, though, a bit of a mystery, when Bambi discovers that she’s linked to a living girl’s dreams. It’s a lot of socially awkward characters dealing with a mildly bizarre phenomenon in this slow-paced supernatural tale.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manhwa Review: What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? 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 What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?. Read on for the review of Volume 3 of the manhwa. (For other reviews of this series, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Youngjun continues to woo Secretary Kim, but he’s got some stiff competition! Miso happens to run into her favorite author, Morpheus—and what’s more, when she flips through Morpheus’s debut anthology, certain eerily familiar details in a story about a kidnapping catch her eye…

The Review

If your rich, handsome lead has an equally good-looking single brother, of course, that brother’s going to take an interest in the leading lady. However, things don’t quite head into the usual love triangle territory. SungYeon’s interest in Miso very much has an I-only-want-her-because-my-brother-has-her vibe. Plus, she immediately rebuffs his attempts to charm her. It’s only when she reads in SungYeon’s autobiography that he was kidnapped as a child that he grabs her attention.

But instead of clarity, SungYeon only raises more questions. Key facts line up, like the time and place of the kidnapping, so Miso’s certain she’s found the right person. However, SungYeon has zero memory of Miso being held captive with him.

To further muddy the waters of the past, YoungJun apparently forgot everything about his brother’s kidnapping shortly after the incident. And although YoungJun wasn’t the one kidnapped, he’s dealing with his own trauma, with actual scars on his ankles to match. Miso also discovers YoungJun had a hand in her becoming his personal secretary nine years ago even though she is far from qualified for the position. Moreover, his mother seems to hold some critical information but is being tightlipped about it.

So there’s certainly a mystery within the Lee family. All the mismatching puzzle pieces will keep readers intrigued as YoungJun’s focus switches from Operation: Sweep Miso Off Her Feet to Keep Miso Away From My Brother. Not to say there are no romantic moments. Through the power of money and corporate clout, YoungJun finagles a second date with Miso, but whereas their first date was over-the-top in every way, Miso takes the reins to force her high-class boss into commoner territory.

Extras include illustration gallery, next volume preview, artist’s note, and translation notes.

In Summary

Rom-com steps aside for mystery when SungYeon reveals to Miso that he was the kidnapped Lee son. But he has no memory of Miso. And his accounts of his childhood years contradict with YoungJun’s. It’s not a love triangle between the three, but the lack of clarity on their history keeps things engaging.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Bride of the Barrier Master Vol. 1

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 1. For other reviews of this series, click here.

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 has been safeguarded by five crystal pillars. Because they are constantly under attack by spiritual forces, five clans blessed with mystical powers have the duty of protecting the pillars, and Hana’s family belongs to one of those clans.

For Hana’s parents, status within their clan is everything. So they lavish attention and resources on Hazuki, Hana’s talented twin sister, and scorn Hana, whose powers are a fraction of her sister’s. But Hana has a secret: her powers are far greater than her sister’s. However, she doesn’t want to be her parents’ tool, so she hides her true abilities with the goal of leading a normal life away from the magical clans. Unfortunately, the new clan head Saku Ichinomiya ruins her plans by asking her to be his bride!

Bride of the Barrier Master is a fantasy involving multiple clans, supernatural objects with very specific rules, and a magical organization with a ranking system and various roles. However, the mangaka conveys these varied world-building details clearly and succinctly even as the narrative focuses on the thrust of the story. Mainly, Hana’s disdain for the people that have scorned her all her life.

Hana’s parents are extremely one-dimensional in that respect. It’s disconcerting how they’ll insult Hana in almost the same breath that they dote on Hazuki. But their motives are crystal clear, as are Hana’s when she makes her decision to deny her parents the satisfaction of knowing she is the extraordinary daughter they dreamed of having.

So while the fate of the world – erm, Japan depends on her clan, Hana’s indifferent to that responsibility. Her aim is a quiet life and comfortable retirement, far and away from the business of guarding mystical pillars. Given the humiliations she’s suffered beneath these elitist magical practitioners, it’s understandable.

And that dream is how our male lead is able to manipulate her to do his bidding. Saku is the complete package: good looks, intelligence, talent, and the authority of the clan head. Only Hana’s not interested in any of that. She’s got zero interest in romance and doesn’t plan on marrying. Saku, though, is interested in her, if only for her magical abilities. As family head, he bears the responsibility for protecting a crystal pillar. Only he can’t do it alone. He needs a spouse who can match his power, and when he catches Hana dispatching a stray shade, he knows he’s found his match.

Thus the courtship begins. Only it’s more like a comedy routine. In a certain sense, Saku is as pragmatic as Hana. He first tries persistence. When that doesn’t work, he makes an offer she can’t refuse – one billion yen, a house, and a generous retirement package in exchange for a marriage in name only. Plus, the satisfaction of the rubbing it in her parents’ faces. The narrative isn’t lovey-dovey in the least yet, but the protagonist is definitely one that I can cheer for.

By the way, the light novel on which this story was based implied the twins are identical, but the manga has presented them as fraternal twins. An understandable choice – that way there’s no doubt which character is which. However, the character designs are really young. Saku and Hana are 24 and 18, respectively, but they look more like 16 and 12. Also, the spiritual forces threatening the clans are more laughable than scary. So far all of them have the same buggy cartoony eyes that aren’t exactly intimidating.

Extras include an afterword and bonus story.

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 so far it’s about the snubbed girl getting back at everyone who badmouthed her with the help of the most eligible guy in her circle. It’s inevitable they’ll fall in love eventually, but for now, everything is business between this hard-headed pair.

First published at the Fandom Post.