Kingdom Of Selfish Love

by Yamila Abraham, Studio Kosaru (Illustrator)

Prince Rhane was kidnapped by his obsessed half-brother Duran, and put through such a horrible ordeal that he fled his kingdom for three years. Now Rhane's back with the beautiful boy slave he purchased during his travels. Duran has stolen Rhane's throne from him. Rhane has come home to find the courage to fight his terrifying brother, and take back what's rightfully his. He only hopes he won't become a victim once again. Also included is the story "Genie's Pawn." A beautiful young man has been exiled from his tribe and left in the desert to die. A genie offers to save him with one caveat: he has to marry a man.

Genres: Manga, Yaoi

152 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2005

About the author

Yamila Abraham founded the publishing company Yaoi Press in 2004 and published over 50 graphic novels, many she wrote herself.

Abraham is a prolific writer of male/male romance, yaoi, yaoi graphic novels, science fiction romance, and erotica. She's known for explicitly detailed love scenes and dynamic premises. She wrote two of Yaoi Press' best selling series: Winter Demon and Dark Prince. Her best known ebooks include Maelstrom, UnPrison, Alien's Bride, and the Vanquished series.

Abraham has been a speaker or guest of honor at 150 anime fan conventions.

Reviews

[Sianeka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a couple of boy's love/yaoi stories. Main story concerns Rhane, the rightful heir to the throne, who has traveled for three years after his father's death as a rite of passage to adulthood and to get away from his half-brother Duran, who had abused and terrified him while they were growing up. While Rhane travels, Duran usurps the throne.

Rhane has to go back and de-throne his brother, with the help of a faithful retainer and a newly acquired slave boy, who also teaches Rhane the meaning of love and helps Rhane discover his own self-confidence.

Second story is the story of a genie and wishes granted.

Personally, I was a bit unsatisfied with this book. Although the storylines were interesting enough, both were too short and could've used some more fleshing out. Also, the main character of Rhane never was compelling enough for me to feel much sympathy for his plight and he never does get a real personality. Duran, the villain of the main piece, is the most vivid character in the book.

Also, I have an issue with the artwork in Yaoipress books. Yaoipress publishes Original English Language manga and it seems to me that they never quite meet the standards set by the Japanese publishers. This book is no exception, the cover artwork gives a good idea of the linework within.

It's a quick read, but suffers from the lower quality artwork typical of the publisher, and the stories are too short to really attract much interest.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title story is one of bizarre loves—master and slave, incest—all centered in the midst of a power struggle over a kingdom. The drawings are not to my taste, being mainly line drawings with little definition such as shadowing, but the characters are clear enough and the story riveting and engrossing, if you can tolerate such taboo subjects. The little story that follows, of a slave boy given a wish by an enterprising djinn, is a tale like something straight out of the Arabian Nights, possesses a twist that would be a shame to spoil here. It is passionate, wry and kinda funny, too.

[Sparrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible art, terrible characterization, and lacking in credible or interesting plotline. A cheap yaoi graphic novel.