Tai's manga / #manga(98)

the story is thoughtful but a bit slow paced. the art tho? STUNNINGGG. read it just for that. the author's previous manga was alot more stimulating story but this one which focuses on tattooing and art is more visually sumptuous. (both are beautiful tho. such excellent art why doesnt this mangaka have more work available...). i think this story woulda been rated higher by me if both men were as well developed as the blonde aka the top aka the tattoo artist was. we get alot of insight into him and he's got layers but the other guy aka the living art piece aka the bottom aka ??? like i cant even think of another way to describe him? he was rly beautiful and rly delicate and rly afraid of being alone and he was never given a chance by the writing to be more than that and thats a Shame. its a 3 star story but the art is 5 stars and i wish i could rate them both separately but i cant so 4 stars it is i giss...(the sex scenes are sexy n erotic tho so thats also a plus), if u find u like it maybe just buy it off renta since the translator gets pretty aggressive about how much they dont like the story after a while...bit distracting.

this is an older BL thats also pretty controversial tho unlike with Renai Fuyuki Todoki i actually agree with the main criticism here. which is why its 3 stars and not 4 despite me finding it pretty interesting over all. and ofc the art is stunning. just the detail work, the shading and expressive faces? also i gotta shout out the audio CD. like it cuts out some scenes (heresy!!) but the guy who plays Yoru has the most sultry sweet voice. its like somehow masculine and feminine at the same time? and also the way he whine moans "asaiiichii" during the sex scenes is going to haunt my dreams for weeks to come... ANYway the graphic assault that involves Asa and some random guys who have it out for him cause he slapped the wrong guy's sister. is a bit...unnecessary? like its so intense and doesnt really do much for the plot..it DOES change Asa's character to be less of an asshole but idk about this writer using a brutal rape to help Asa reflect on his actions like...unfortunate implications much? im not looking to my porn for ethics but this was just idk it felt very left field and this story coulda been so much more interesting if his internal growth came from something more organic and thoughtul than just a weird scene clearly meant to be kinky and sexy but just...didnt work at all imo. anyway this manga woulda been better without it but i didnt drop it since its interesting enough, the art is great and the ending is pretty decent. luckily it has a sequel series that seems free of scenes like this (im told...). so hopefully i'll like that one more.

stoooooopid

Its Good and You should READ IT. Anyway the relationship is actually properly developed. the sex is Hot and the guys are each interesting characters in their own right and not 2D cliches. their problems are like Real relationship problems and their happy ending feels so earned. all the sex is consensual and often enthusiastically so. we love 2 see it! (if you end up liking this one i also recommend 24 Hour Kiss, and Kore Mo Shigoto Desu aka Another Hard Day at Work because these 3 have a shared theme of workplace couples with a younger light haired top x an older dark haired Salaryman bottom. with the light haired top either being an engineer, a makeup designer or programmer. like...its like they exist in this very specific genre but they are all pretty distinct from each other and all of them are sexy and good. but anyway thats an essay for another day~ this one def has the coolest more "otokomae" style bottom of the 3 tho. with the other Ossan (uncle type) bottoms being more uncle-y lol. but in a sexy way! sexy uncles! anyway i havent written up my reviews for those two yet cause im lazy. i will eventually tho!)

i think i just love Scarlet Beriko like she gets how to make things EROTIC not just sexual. this actually has very little sex in it. like so little it hurts. because it is overflowing with sensuality and eroticism. and the Top and Bottom dont fall into boring usual archtypes and tropes. they feel like real dudes who just happen to have certain preferences of position. altho one of them is a virgin going in. anyway the catalyst for this Friends to Lovers romance (i will never get sick of friends to lovers u can fight me) is based around a very intense pantyhose fetish but as somoene who loves pretty legs and legwear (i have a ton of thigh high stockings, over the knee socks, tights and back seamed pantyhose myself...) i totally sympahtized with that black haired pervert. and some dudes rly do have gorgeous legs and its a CRIME more dont wear tights. but i digress! this was just a rly good story. about friends navigating their friendship, their desires, their eventual romance. and yes it is all very consensual, tho there is some of the usual Partner A is very enthusiastic about sex and Partner B is less enthusiastic but will go along with it anyway cause they love each other but people dont always have the same level of sex drive or feel the need to express their love sexually as frequently. the bits set after they graduate and start living together as an adult couple is very interesting and Realistic. which means its not all that romantic but it worked for me and i liked it. ymmv ofc.

really loved this one. that great mix of wholesome and super sexy that manga seems to do best.