The Devil's Boy
This school was like Lord of the Flies meets the devil for sheer survival of the fittest and destroy the weak themes. The bullying was insane level cruelty, I could really understand why a demons offer would be irresistible for anyone and it did make me want the demon side to win. In this story, the humans were the cruelest of all. I loved the art, the fight scenes got progressively more exciting and I thought the ending was great.
Risky Society: God Bless My Justice
The 4th Guard
One of those yaoi that set the benchmark
Red River
An epic graphic novel set in the time of the dominance of the ancient Hittite Empire. The FL started as a 15 year old school girl from Japan who was forcibly transmigrated many thousands of years to the past and the city of Anatolia. There she met Prince Kail and found herself falling for the roguish playboy whilst becoming embroiled in the murderous schemes of the Dowager Queen. This story spans years and along the way Yuri is in the thick of political intrigue, war, kidnappings and revolution. I liked how she became stronger as a woman over time. Always a little impulsive and reckless but gradually tempering that with maturity. Yuri was charismatic and I appreciated that she wasn’t restricted by her gender in her ability to be a powerful woman in her own right. The romance plot line was very sweet. Yuri and Kail were devoted to each other and for all the prince wanted to keep Yuri tucked away and protected he never stood in her way and valued her opinions and independence. The secondary characters were great, from the twin bodyguards to the enemy leaders and generals to the dowager Queen. There were some heartbreaking moments that had me crying, but overall this was a really entertaining romantic adventure that I loved.
Saver Manhwa
This was a rather epic adventure story with many characters to follow. The FL Ley, was a strong willed girl flung into a world of turmoil and war. She was the unknowing child of a prophecy that would have her at the centre of battle and pivotal for the outcome. Masquerading as a man, Ley gathered allies and made enemies along her travels. Among them was Lucian, a king ready to fight for his embattled lands. He was the main romantic lead, a man she dreamt about before meeting and one who loved her and vowed to make her his queen. Unlike many of the comments I have read here about the ending, I thought it was good. The majority of time was spent winning the war and the battle was appropriately intense and drawn out. Her time back in the real world was short, but there was no need to spend time there; she had changed and grown and basically just had to say goodbye and let go the angst of her past. Then she would return and all the things promised by Lucien would be in her future. Plus, all those good friends made along the way. A story with lots of action, character growth and friendships but lighter on the romance (there were priorities of war after all), this was a good read if you love reading about a genuinely strong and independent FL who spends most of the story being perceived as a man.
Tokyo M-Mesu Hard-Boiled
It’s a wildly crazy ride when assassins Keith and Neo get hired to do a hit together. The story is short and fast paced, filled with action and hot sex between killers. Definitely one to read if you like your guys with a bit of a psychopathic edge and just enough humour to add to the story.
Eien O Sagashite
A romance with a touch of mystery and danger. Grieving after her mother’s death, Honor is helped by Trace with his gentle words and kind approach. But soon, Honor’s life is about to be turned upside down and the only one she will feel safe with is the one who lied to her, Trace.
Renai Tripper
3 cute little short stories, all done in the old art style. The first was a time travel and reincarnation story, the second a Romeo and Juliet style of thwarted high school lovers, and the final was a Japanese girls ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’ with the mysterious handsome Chinese man. The stories were mostly lighthearted even if some of the themes were serious, simply because the FLs were often a little clueless yet determined.
Trap of Desire
Based on Mary Calmes, “All Kinds of Tied Down” novel, the first in the Marshals series. Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones has a reputation for being calm and collected under fire. These traits serve him well with his hotshot partner, Ian Doyle, the kind of guy who can start a fight in an empty room. In the past three years of their life-and-death job, they've gone from strangers to professional coworkers to devoted teammates and best friends. Miro’s cultivated blind faith in the man who has his back… faith and something more. As a marshal and a soldier, Ian’s expected to lead. But the power and control that brings Ian success and fulfillment in the field isn't working anywhere else. Ian’s always resisted all kinds of tied down, but having no home—and no one to come home to—is slowly eating him up inside. Over time, Ian has grudgingly accepted that going anywhere without his partner simply doesn't work. Now Miro just has to convince him that getting tangled up in heartstrings isn't being tied down at all.
Red Hood