Bound Beauty, Volume 1

Bound Beauty #1

by Mick Takeuchi

Legend says that fated lovers are bound together by an invisible red thread. Most people think it's superstition, but seventeen-year-old Chiyako knows better -- she can see them! Yearning to be an independent adult, she's struggling to earn enough money to move out of her parents' house. Her path is clear, until a chance encounter with a mysterious group of hot guys known as the Tyers shows her that she has the power to pull all of fate's strings...though doing so binds her into the form of a child!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Supernatural, Romance, Comedy

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2008

About the author

Mick Takeuchi (竹内未来) has been making manga since 1994. Her breakout series was Ayakashihime Kurenai, published under Kadokawa’s Asuka imprint. In 2000, she began Joou-sama no Inu (Her Majesty’s Dog), her longest and most popular work. It started out as a part-time project, with quarterly chapters, but was so popular that after 2002, it ran monthly and was her sole project for a while.

Takeuchi-sensei has a talent for imitating anime voices. When she’s not busy working, she enjoys wandering around the city.

Reviews

[David Doel]

Interesting because it provides some insight to Japanese-Buddhist culture. The protagonist reminds me of the Case Closed series because she changes from a late teen to a small child (although unlike Jimmy / Conan, she changes back in some circumstances).

The author uses every opportunity to apologize for the title, so he must be embarrassed about it too.

[Mosley]

This manga is a little bit of everything all rolled into one. I really like the concept of the strings of fate being the main storyline.

[Nicole]

A pretty fun read. Seventeen year-old Chiyako was saved from a fire when she was a little girl, and ever since then has been able to see the red strings of fate that connect destined loves. She makes money at her high school by playing "match maker" for her peers...all in the hopes that she can leave the care of her abusive father. Then, after an unexpected mishap where Chiyako falls into a hidden basement, she suddenly finds that she is now a master of the white thread of fate and one of five thread masters (which also includes the cute yet personality challenged young men she finds herself in the company of, one of whom is her precious caligraphy sensei). In a twist, Chiyako now has the physical appearance of a child (unless she is using the power of her thread, at which time she reverts to her true form).

I know - confusing. But really easier to understand than explain. The story now basically follows Chiyako's attempts to both become a master of her powers AND to get closer to her sensei/master (whom she loves).

Sadly, I won't really be able to go beyond vol. 3 since Go! Comi stopped publishing in 2009 :(

[Miz Lizzie]

I'm not a fan of graphic novels so my frustrations with this book are probably more to do with the genre than with this book per se. I'm trying to broaden my horizons since graphic novels are so popular, however. I picked this one up since a review indicated it was based on Japanese folklore, something that is up my alley. In fact, as a note in the book indicates, it's more accurately based on Buddhist beliefs though embellished with poetic license. Too many narrative gaps and not enough mythological development for my taste, especially for a first volume. Though, as a novice manga reader, I suspect that I am not picking up on at least some of the narrative clues in the drawings. Still, this one did not make a convert out of me.

[Audry]

I love Mick Takeuchi's artwork and HER MAJESTY'S DOG was such a big hit that licensing her next series was a no-brainer. We had to spread out the release schedule because the series was still running in Japan, but it worked out pretty well. I am a sucker for boys with tattoos, hot guy harems, supernatural beasts bent on destroyed brave girls totally out of their league, and sensitive senseis who need a teenage girl to come along and teach them a lesson about love. Since this series has all of that, I was hooked from page one.

[Ana]

Don't you just love books with hot guys with dragon tatoes on the cover? mmmmm..... lovely, isn't it? anyways, the series is really good! except for the fact that I can't read past book either 2 or 3 because we don't have the rest available in this lovely country known as the united states of america. sigh. Great series! wish i could read the rest of it!

[KelceyTheLibrarian]

Interesting concept but I don't think it was pulled off well enough for me to believe it. I liked the art and overall, I liked A Wise Man Sleeps better. I was ambivalent towards most of the characters and Chiyoko seemed too angry and stereotypical while I liked some of the possibilities with the male harem ;)

[Celia Mitchell]

This one's an interesting little shojo about a girl who is thrown into a magical world of spirits and controlling the strings of fate. I don't care as much for the female character because she's kind of immature a lot, but there are times when she can be serious. And otherwise, I like the story.

[scarlettraces]

an assured and confident start and a story that promises an interesting complexity. i have great hopes for this one.

[Katherine]

I thought it might be weird because of the title. But it's awesome so far!