tsukineko's manga / #mental illness/instability(14)

Despite not being a BL, this sounds pretty good, and I think I should read it!

3.5 stars. This wasn't bad at all actually, although I wouldn't call it brilliant either. It was quite well drawn, and the plot retained my interest with a few twists and turns, and wasn't too cliché for the most part. (Well the anemia/low blood sugar thing was extremely cliché, but whatever.) Psycho brother notwithstanding, the characters were pretty realistic, which is probably my favourite aspect of this manga.

After this, read 'Code:'

Ten Count vibes?! One of the stories is about a 'clean freak'...

This was quite original, as far as yaoi manga stories go. It was also quite gripping - I actually found myself anxiously turning the pages, wondering what would happen to the mcs and their relationship. I was worried for the mcs, because they were obviously rather fragile, so I feared they might either break each other or break without each other - it was a dangerous balancing act at times. I'm glad they were able to grow a little healthier as their relationship progressed. That moment with the strelitzia plant was just so beautiful, and I'll admit that I shed a tear along with the uke! Plot: 4 stars; characterisation: 4 stars; smut: 4 stars; art: 3.5 stars. I would reread this manga. My main niggle with this work, is that the mangaka seemed to be hesitating between making it a twisted and dark story of unhealthy codependency and obsession, and a story of healthy, idyllic love that heals the mcs of their various issues. I think she was going for the latter, but at times their dark sides came a little too much to the forefront. However, perhaps it is precisely due to this that there was so much tension and suspense throughout.

The art is drop dead gorgeous, and it has the 'psychological' and 'tragedy' tags - yes please!

3.5 stars. Not bad. The first was the best - alone I would have rated it 4 stars. Coincidentally, (or not?), it was the only yaoi, the others being only barely shounen ai. I would reread the first story, but not the others.