~ RECS ~ YAOI MANGA ~ T-Z ~

THREE AND A HALF

mangaka : Sadahiro Mika
details : hard yaoi | NC-17 | smut, voyeurism, bdsm
summary : A collection of one-shots in varying measures of fun and perversion, but all smutty.

comments : Quite an eclectic mix of works in this manga. Some of the stories are more interesting than others, so I'll highlight the better ones. There's a one-shot called [Vanilla Boys] which is about internet sex and it's good if you can take a bit of NCS. There's another one called [Torso] which is about this young man who obsesses over the torso of a mannequin until he finds a man who has a body which resembles the mannequin. The rest of the one-shots are not bad as well but you gotta read to find out. ^^ Although I prefer the sensei's other works, if you enjoy her style in general, this manga is quite worth the read.

THREE WOLVES MOUNTAIN

mangaka : Bohra Naona
details : hard yaoi | NC-17 | wolves, graves, humour
summary : A lonely and reticent gravekeeper, Susugi, stumbles across a boy and a wolf in 'his' graveyard one night. Turns out they're rather like werewolves, except the elder brother Tarou takes the form of a wolf, and Jirou, the younger one, can assume human form. Things take an interesting turn when Jirou developes a big crush on Susugi, and Susugi finds his own iciness thawing under Jirou's warmth and earnestness.

comments : Bohra-sensei's artwork is an acquired taste. It's not conventionally beautiful, but once you get hooked, you're beyond cure. *nod* Her style always looks like she drew it in a rush. ^^;; At any rate, this manga is wonderfully hilarious (her humour is one of the best things about her works), and the romance is so quirky you'd fall in love with it. The sex is hot, of course, and just a tad bit kinky (wolf boy, remember). But the couple is just addictive. Jirou is the cutest wolf-boy ever, and Susugi is just wonderfully grumpy! Also, not forgetting (how can we ever forget him!) the cranky humour of big bro Tarou!

TRIAL LOVE

mangaka : Takatsuki Noboru
details : yaoi | NC-17 | salarymen, humour
summary : A cute, sweet story about Kiriya, a reticent man who's just broken up with his former lover, and Hiura, the newbie at work who looks up to Kiriya. After an unexpected kiss, they decide to try for a relationship. Kiriya basically is looking for someone to satisfy his sexual needs, but to his surprise, Hiura turns out to be much more than just a sex partner.

comments : Have I mentioned that Takatsuki-sensei draws really pretty art? ^_^ But in addition - and this is what makes her manga enjoyable - she comes up with simple but really likeable story plots. As for this particular one-shot, there's a mini-twist to the story regarding Hiura's performance in bed that I feel makes the story just that little bit cuter, lol.

UMI NI NEMURU HANA

a.k.a : [Sleeping Flower]
author : Nakamura Shungiku
details : yaoi | mild R | pirates, treasure-hunting
summary : The young and brash head of a bunch of pirates, Sakaki, runs into a mysterious, beautiful (and extremely high-strung) samurai, Mikage. Strangely, Mikage owns the other half of a treasure map left by Sakaki's grandfather, and Sakaki is determined to find out why. Along the way, Sakaki becomes totally fascinated with Mikage, but at the same time, he has to deal with the attentions from his best friend, the stern but darkly sexy Juurou.

comments : I was more fascinated with the lovely art than the storyline at first, I'd admit it. Since the story is set in the period-era, the setting has a rather quaint feel to it. Pirates, samurai, angsty personal backgrounds, etc. The human drama is the centrepiece. You have Mikage trying to resolve his past, Sakaki trying to resolve his birthright *and* Mikage, and of course, Juurou standing by Sakaki. It's all pretty intriquing. And did I mention the lovely art? It's pretty in a clean, consistent and sweet way.

UNDER GRAND HOTEL

author : Sadahiro Mika
details : hard yaoi | NC-17 | prison, rape, violence
summary : Sen, a Japanese man, is sent to the prison known as the Under Grand Hotel, where is he is likely to remain for much of his future. There, he has to fend for himself, and inevitably, runs into the sexy but cruel bastard of the prison shutcall - Swordfish. Sen resists Sword's advances at first, but eventually gives in to his own feelings and his need for safety. And thus begins the couple's very rough and very painful relationship in the UGH.

comments : The setting of the manga is what really made me sit up and take notice from the start. It features an American prison, and from the art and plot, mirrors real-life prisons reasonably accurately. The UGH is not a pretty place and its denizens are not the sweetest, even the wardens are depraved. Sword and Sen makes a hell of a explosive couple and go through as much as s*** as you could ever get in a prison with prison politics, the in-fighting, the rapes, the violence, and everything else you can think of.

VIBRATOR COMPANY

mangaka : Sakurai Shushushu
details : hard yaoi | NC-17 | sex toys, general wackiness
summary : Fujishima and Okazaki both work at the Takarara Corporation, which simply put, churns out the latest, most exciting SEX TOYS! Follow the two men's (who also happen to be lovers) journey as they labour at coming up with new toy designs, battle other sex toy companies, and even embark on a journey to find the Ultimate Sex Toy. And oh, our lovers also find time to engage in smut - loads of it.

comments : Do not be deceived by the picture of the salarymen. This is single-handedly one of the wackiest manga I've ever come across. It is also very high on the smut-factor, which shouldn't be surprisingly really, considering its main theme of bishounen and sex toys. I feel like I just have to rec this manga simply because it is so...UNREPENTANT. I'm not sure I came across another manga that is so gleeful with the smut. Just read it and feel your eyes pop out. Or die laughing at the names that the companies gave their sex toys. And you thought light sabres are just for Star Wars junkies. ^_~

WHITE BREATH

note : taken from manga titled [Raspberry]
author : Kirico Higashizato
details : yaoi | R | drama, angst, ncs
summary : After his parents perished in a fire when he was just a child, Shunsuke has been living with the Honjyou family, who were best friends with them. In particular, Shunsuke is especially close to Chihiro, his childhood playmate. However, over the years Shunsuke has been growing steadily more withdrawn and Chihiro is at his wits' end. What secrets are driving he and Shunsuke apart, and could the two once best friends ever find middle ground again?

comments : I particularly like this story in the manga. It is only two chapters long, but the story's packed with quite a bit of drama and intrique. The backgrounds of both boys form the backdrop for the mystery and violence surrounding their respective families. And in the midst of it, the bittersweet, angsty relationship between the pure, innocent Chihiro, and desperate, sullen Shunsuke is palpable. The art is not too consistent, but very expressive. All in all, this is a neat, engaging little story.

WHITE GUARDIAN

author : Duo Brand
details : yaoi | R | ships, battle, drama, romance
summary : A young and raw soldier of Landa joins the navy in order to see for himself the greatness of General Sei who had been commander of many a hard-fought battle. Reality proves bitingly different when Sei turns out to be a shadow of his former self. Can this young soldier, who has secrets of his own, transform the disillusioned Sei back to his once-great self?

comments : A great manga which succeeds in delivering action, angst and romance while going at a snappy pace. I really like the navy-battle setting, which provides a unique backdrop to the development of the couple's relationship. The characters are intriguing with great characterisation. Sei is a charismatic but complex study of both chivalry and angst, while the young soldier is naive but noble in bearing. Characters aside, the art gets a little inconsistent at times, but it doesn't distract from its loveliness.

WILD FISH

author : Reiichi Hiiro
details : yaoi | R | pretty mermen, pretty humans
summary : Kagetsu, a blonde and beautiful merman, saves a just as pretty human man, Kai, from drowning. Then Kagetsu falls so deeply in love with Kai that he decides to go up on land and pursue his love. Kai doesn't reciprocrate at first, but then slowly understands that his heart has already chosen Kagetsu. ^_~ The side story involves Kagetsu's older brother Sakuya, a lovely dark-haired merman with microphobia (fear of dirt/dust), whose heart and body choose none other than the scruffy next door neighbour, Toba!

comments : For one thing, I absolutely love the Japanese rendition of mermaids/mermen. They have the standard flowing hair and pretty tails, of course, but they also have gills at their necks, which I find absolutely fascinating. Ok, fangirling over. This manga is very adorable, and both couples are loveable, in their own ways. The mermaid setting is a nice touch, but it really is an excuse to showcase really lovely mermen. The personal idiosyncracies of the characters are also hilarious, and cute.

WILD ROCK

mangaka : Takashima Kazusa
details : yaoi | heavy R | pre-historic, loin-clothed men
summary : Emba, soon-to-be Chief of the Forest Clan, is appointed the task of seducing the child of the their biggest rival, the Chief of the Lakeside Clan. However, that child turns out to be a really thoughtful and sensitive Yuuen. And what do you know, they start to fall in love for real! Side story is about the two fathers of our main couple - I suppose you've guessed the true nature of their 'relationship'!

comments : This manga is a gratuituous attempt to display gorgeous men in amazingly-skimpy pre-historic garb. Hello, loincloths anyone?! ^.^ Don't bother with plot, and just go with the flow. Ok, if you do care about the plot, it's not actually THAT vacuous. There are 2 really sweet love stories in there. But I say, read this for the really beautiful art (and men! never forget the men!) and refreshing setting! Hey, how many pre-historic story settings have you ever come across? So just enjoy it, lol.

YANNACHAU KURAI AISHITERU

a.k.a : [I Can't Stop Loving You]
author : Takakura Rou
details : semi-hard yaoi | heavy R | supernatural, romance, lime
summary : Handsome blonde high-schooler Kyouji is sweet and hugely popular with the women. The one thing that he has trouble working out is his relationship with his possessive and high-strung lover Yuu. It also doesn't help that Kyouji's night job is exorcising evil spirits and Yuu can see spirits anyway. Throw in several errant spirits, a Kyouji-besotted girl cousin, and the couple's dismal attempts at trying to consummate their relationship (has to do with Yuu ^_~) and you have one heck of a manga!

comments : Definitely one of my favourite yaoi manga out there. First of all, the supernatural dimension already adds many interesting possibilities. Secondly, the couple themselves are very engaging characters. They have their own quirks and traits, and are both loveable. One thing I really appreciate about the dynamics of their relationship is that the boys don't fall into the standard seme-lusting-after-uke convention. Here, uke Yuu is as protective of Kyouji, as Kyouji is of him. It is just GREAT reading about a couple whose mutual feelings are so balanced. Thirdly, the art is beautiful and the humour charming. ^_~ Go read it already!

YUUWAKU NO KAORI

mangaka : Toyama Mako
details : semi-hard yaoi | NC-17 | salarymen, angst, romance
summary : Straightfoward and simple-minded Shina, a part-time florist and waiter, is also good friends with Michiru and her brother Kanae. Now Kanae has a habit of patronising the cafe Shina works at every morning without fail. One day, Shina witnesses a quarrel between Kanae and a man, and questions start popping up. So, is Kanae gay? And is Kanae coming onto him?!

comments : Honestly at first glance, the manga doesn't seem very eye-catching. The art is pleasant and consistently good, but not among the most beautiful I've seen. The story doesn't sound brilliant either. And surprisingly, those are some of the best things about this manga. The story is just so simple. The couple is likeable and feels real, which I attribute to the real-life elements that the mangaka captured in this story. These men have jobs and fears and petty selfishness, they face both discrimination and support from the people around them, and they fall in love through it all.

ZETSUAI

mangaka : Ozaki Minami
details : semi-hard yaoi | R | heavy angst, violence
summary : Little Nanjo Koji is at the soccer field, and watches mesmerised the sheer vitality and fury of another kid as he slams a ball into the goal. This marks the beginnings of a lifelong yearning for Izumi that Koji would embark on. Years later, Koji has risen to be a singing star, and Izumi a future soccer star. When Koji passes out drunk in an alley, it is Izumi who finds him. From then on, Koji is obsessed with Izumi and tries as hard to win Izumi, as Izumi tries to fend him off. This game of chase between them reaches dangerous proportions when Izumi's bloody past comes back to haunt him, and Koji's shady family background comes into play.

comments : This is a yaoi classic, and my summary does no justice for the kind of emotional level that this work is on. Ozaki-sensei has given her work a good name. 'Zetsuai' is not a real Japanese word, but one that means 'Desperate/Doomed Love'. And that is exactly what the manga is about. The kind of pain, yearning, violence, angst and emotional abuse that the couple goes through in fighting and loving each other is honestly, unparalleled in all the manga I've read. At some points, I can't even follow the characters' thoughts anymore, so twisted they are. At the same time, I highly recommend this manga for those who really enjoy deep/emotional characterisation (be wary of the angst though!), as well as clean, pretty and very stylised art.

ZETTAI UNMEI HOUTEISHIKI

author : Fuwa Shinri
details : yaoi | R | angst, romance
summary : Photographer Tomoyuki has a sudden reunion with the friend and protected young master he left behind three years ago, Tamaki. Not only has Tamaki grown up, the young man wants to rekindle their close friendship of before. Only thing is, Tomoyuki seems completely unwilling. Not knowing that his yakuza family has a part to play in separating them, Tamaki persists, until a confrontation with a gangster suddenly unleashes all his blocked memories and he remembers exactly what had driven he and Tomoyuki apart.

comments : Fuwa-sensei always comes out with sensitive, satisfying works. While this manga is not one of her best works, I do appreciate the thought she has given to her characters and stories. You can tell she does not just use plot devices for the heck of it, not something that can be said for all mangaka. She does the childhood trauma very nicely in this manga, and gives Tomoyuki and Tamaki - as well as Tamaki's caring but way too controlling elder brothers - quite a life of their own. By the end of the manga, you feel like you've come a long way with the characters. That's how gratifying it is. ^_~

~ recs ~

~ top ~