Sleeps In Sunbeams's manga / #yaoi(1525)

Completed story This may have been 10 chapters but 2 were a repeat and they were all quite short so this was a quick read. It was a little too fast paced, and Sudo’s trauma was not really dark or weird enough to have triggered such a severe reaction to food. I really enjoyed the yandere elements but would have appreciated seeing that drawn out a little more to really give that element a chance to shine. It made for a good twist though. Overall, entertaining but not great.

CW: Non consent Two short bondage stories. The first is pure, traditional yaoi smut. No consent, forced pleasure, sadist seme. The second was age gap with 46yo sadistic seme and the much younger man he wanted to bind to his side through sex but at the same time he felt conflicted for thinking that way.

CW: Drugs, murder, promiscuity, suicide references, dub con This story goes straight to my favourites pile. Both Noah and Mason/Haley were wonderfully complex characters, each with a backstory that had elements of heartbreak and which had much to do with who they were in the present day. I loved the sadistic behemoth Noah. He was such a mix of frightening power and fragile vulnerability all wrapped up in a beautiful physical shell. His PTSD and long term mental health struggles were a believable backdrop for his dangerous personality. And for all he was seriously obsessed and possessive he tried very hard to ensure that he didn’t give in to his darkest urges. As for Mason/Haley, I loved his expressions, and the art of his character with blue eyes and black hair. His protective side, his fierce independence, and his reactions to the money offered in his acting roles lol. Together, they were a favourite pairing and I loved their story! Available on Tapas Based on a novel

CW: Violence, dub con, abuse, degradation This was a surprisingly good story. Misaki and Haru’s story spans roughly 8 years and shows a lot of growth in both the characters and (imo) the mangaka’s approach to and understanding of, a relationship with someone who is strongly masochistic. When we first meet the MCs Misaki was just discovering his affinity for pain, how he was able to make it become intense pleasure and the unhealthy ways he fulfilled this need. Haru was not a sadist so much as inherently short fused and reactively violent. Their relationship began with violence because giving and receiving it met different needs in each other but it was a very unhealthy relationship. Over time, it evolved and changed into something that suited them. For Haru, having someone who was in his corner seemed to bring out his “lovey dovey” side and he became aware that he didn’t want to hurt the one he cared for, but the one he cared for needed that. And, tbh, at times Haru did too. I really liked that each looked into what real S&M was about, healthier ways to satisfy those deep needs and seemed to really prioritise their partners needs. I also liked the hints that other random Ms out there seemed to instinctively recognise the S in Haru. He had a strong presence as he matured. They weren’t perfect (not even close lol) but they grew into an unexpectedly stable pair and they went from mutually toxic to a loving pair.

Stalker x Happy go lucky Promiscuous guy Naruse enjoyed the perks of uni life. Man or woman, he sought pleasure in the moment. When his moment was intruded upon by 3rd year engineering student Yoshino, Naruse became intrigued by the calm personality before him. But Yoshino was more intense than Naruse anticipated, and Naruse needed was faced with a dilemma of falling for someone who may he as broken as he was. I liked the story and for all it was a tale of obsession and stalking, it wasn’t really toxic or disturbing. The characters made sense and they were a dichotomy of sexily endearing and toxically wholesome.

Ongoing; Volume 1 completed. It’s sexy scenes and beautiful art in this story. Charles is a senior high school student who has a self-imposed one-way competition and a dash of sexual tension with his classmate, Kai, the president of the student council. One boring day, Charles unexpectedly picked up a magical grimoire that opened a portal to another world. Charles and Kai set forth on an adventure like no other in an unknown land and have to work together to find a way back home.

CW: Rape. Caution as this is hardcore uncensored smut as the villain gets a taste of his own medicine (pretty much literally). No romance or soft feelings but the art is pristine and the smut well executed. Sphynx is a brand new villain who specializes in technology and science, constantly wreaking havoc around the city. Thankfully, Defender, the city's superhero, is always there to foil his villainous plans. Defeated and eager for revenge, Sphynx infiltrates a research facility and discovers Defender's weakness-only to find out it is completely something else that unlocks Defender's secret abilities.

Ongoing I am currently up to ch 15. The adorable Felix has been deeply infatuated with a college jock named Marko from the moment they met. But all he has done so far is stalk Marko’s social pages and soccer practice and yearned from afar. That was until he was challenged by his roommate and friend Jinwoo. Inspired to make his move, Felix confesses to Marko, and something unexpected happens...

Misa Nanase is a normal senior high school student except for the fact that she is a self-proclaimed ultimate-mega-ultra-omnipotent fujoshi queen of the intergalactic multiverse. One fateful day, she saves an old lady from getting hit by a car. In return, the old lady gives her an ocean green pendant and mentions that she can make any wish using it. Later on, the curiosity of the fujoshi gets the best of Misa...and she wishes to become a guy!

Completed story Cute little story of Prince Ike’s sojourn to make a name for himself and become a hero. Any good human would believe that a personal quest to take out the demon king would be a worthy quest, but Noah, Demon King of Mano is not that easy to kill. Firstly, his guards knock Ike out. Then the Demon King takes him in to care for his recovery. Even worse when Ike wakes and persists in his plan, the Demon King proves too elusive to even touch. But it’s all over for Ike when he falls for the gentle gardener king who treats him like he is precious. This was a surprisingly fluffy story about love in unexpected places and I loved how even the scariest monsters had a reasonable side.