price:$8.95
Digital Manga
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Delightful!) 『It's probably one of the best and sweetest yaoi novels I have read. Yes, we have doubts, jealousy, secret love, passion, lust, misunderstandings, all the recipe for a typical yaoi novel, BUT the difference lies on the characters and how vivid and convincing they are. I can't possibly stress enough how important for a novel is to have convincing characters who feel and sound *real* and their actions are based on human psychology rather than on some unfathomed whim.
As other reviewers have already talked about the plot, I won't repeat it here. I will only say that here there is indeed a story to be told, there is plot and convincing turns in it; there are characters deserving our attention and sympathy, as their feelings and thoughts sound genuine and speak truthfully straight to our hearts.
As for the sex scenes, well, they were realistic, tasteful, aesthetically perfect, describing a lot and yet setting the reader's imagination on fire for what was not yet "said".
Although the whole novel is written from Toru's point of view, there is a last chapter where we come to know Ryoji's feelings, doubts and thoughts. I think this chapter was the best conclusion to the story and the most satisfying ending Maki Kazumi-sensei could give us. I take it that Ryoji's final chapter was her present to her readers, and I'm really grateful to her for that.
If there is something that made me feel awfully sad was Keigo Kashiwazaki, a minor character in the story... You should definitely read it. It gives great insight and adds depth to the characters and their actions, so much that it is almost like a new work when compared to the original manga.
Last but not least Yukine Honami's illustrations were exactly right for "Desire".
I look forward to reading more of Maki Kazumi's work.
Zagklis M., Mrs』
(this is one of the good ones) 『forgive the shortness of the review... i've done so many of these now... -__-
art= superb story= excellent characters= wonderful, and fully fleshed out XXX= extremely well done
buy it.
also check out 'constellations in my palm'. (by the same person). it is another 5 star. ('rin' 1-3 was amazing as well, but i don't remember if it was the same artist. though it shares many of the same qualities.)』
(Oh so sweet) 『This is a truly sweet and satisfying yaoi novel. It reminds me a lot of the "Ring Finger" series of books but with a little more sizzle. And the English translation is so good! None of the awkward wording that permeates the Ring Finger stories. The characters are very young (16 or 17) so I'm a bit surprised with how sexually active they are but the sex scenes are tastefully written. Ryoji, the seme, is quite a "player" who surprises even himself with how strongly he falls in love with Toru, the innocent uke. The majority of the story is told from Toru's point of view, but, very interestingly, the last chapter tells it from Ryoji's perspective. I haven't seen this in any other yaoi novel. There are the usual twists and turns, the usual jealousy, but a refreshing sweetness. This is a good book for anyone who wants to have their heart warmed.』
(Exactly what I was hoping for...) 『Something about this story, the sweetness of the characters, the transformation and the depth of their feelings, the satisfying resolution, has kept it as one of my favorites for a while now. I don't know why it struck me the way that it did - I've certainly read enough now to compare. Many stories have stronger characters or more extravagantly drawn illustrations, more passionate encounters, more compelling stories. But something about this story, again, struck a chord in me. I adore it. I love them all. I wished it hadn't ended so abruptly (I always want more...), but I was satisfied.
To learn there would be a novel version of it was thrilling and I speculated what that would bring. More insight into the characters? More detail to their encounters? More story - a continuation of the story set out in the manga?
I am pleased to say that this novel delivered all of that and more. (Including some lovely new illustrations by artist Yukine Honami.)
Toru is sweetly confused, confounded by his love for Ryoji, and finds himself in a Catch-22: this could be his only opportunity to get close to the one he loves, but doing so could end up hurting him even more. Ryoji is a dog and a scoundrel who, in the end, realizes that his heart is in control more than his desire.
The novel takes us up the end of the manga, and then, sweetly, beyond, as their love is affirmed and reconfirmed and their passion for each other reaches its fullness. Again, I just adore these two. Others might see them as stereotypes - the shy, tepid uke, the selfish, scoundrel seme - but I see them as two boys who were already friends when they found each other and who now only want to make each other happy.
Maki Kazumi's simple, but beautiful novel is an equal match for Ms. Honami's simple, beautiful drawing style. The story they tell makes me hungry for more, makes me want to know what happens next... 』 『With a few simple words uttered by his best friend Ryoji-Toru's world flips upside down. It doesn't help that Toru has secretly been in love with Ryoji for some time. But whereas Ryoji wants a purely physical relationship to satisfy his curiosity-Toru wants more. Can the two ever come to terms with how they really feel about each other?』
price:$2.59
Yaoi Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Yaoi Hentai Volume 4) 『It was alright not as good as the first two but I like owning sets.』
(This is yaoi (M/M) HENTAI, and it delivers what it promises) 『I just had to review this book, as apparently all other reviewers bought it with very wrong expectations. I recommend it to only very hardcore yaoi fans. If you liked the previous volumes of the series, do get it: it has one of the best artworks in the whole series. There are five stories in the volume: 1) "Desert Longing" story (the title / cover art) has absolutely gorgeous artwork by my favorite Western/global yaoi artist, M.A.Sambre (art is even better than in "Dark Prince"). Very explicit, tastefully drawn sex scene, with no other "plot". 2) "Uptight Can Be Good" is a caricature, funny, with monster size "tools". Art is caricaturish, not for everyone, but fits the comedic side of the story pretty well. (This story is definitely for mature readers: not just in the sense of explicitness, but also plot-wise. It has "Family Guy" type of humor). 3) "Forbidden Magic" - art is pretty, Japanese-manga style, with clean lines. Rather sweet story. The characters do look young, but this is due to the particular style of the artist (they surely looked much older than "12-year-old" (citing from the previous review), and definitely didn't look like "children" to me). 4) "Not Expecting U" has good, pretty art, which reminded me Kosen a bit. Unexpectedly deep story (well, not really deep, but this is hentai yaoi. By the way, many Japanese manga published in the US feature much less in terms of the plot, and no "explicitness"). The story is about the re-union of two lovers, their re-kindled love, and all the wrong and right choices people make in life. Men are quite masculine (without being "too much"), and the art overall is quite erotic. 5) The Trach / tentacle monster in the lab setting. Amusing, as always.
』
(Looks are deceiving...) 『Don't let the artwork of the cover fool you. It is only the first story of the book that has great artwork. The story of a soldier and an erotic dancer is first. A very short but hot tale of sexual tension and desire.
The next is a tale about guards in the forest taking advantage of jungle men.... terrible art with absolutely no plot. A lot of orgy scenes that aren't even worth getting excited for. Very disappointing from the first story.
The third story is about 2 wizard boys, probably 12 years old. One boy wants to practice dark magic by a powerful and sexy sorcerer. The second boy doesn't want him to go because he loves him. All in all, a very cliche "boy leaves boy to be with sorcerer, but comes back because he loves his friend." Bland, boring, but has somewhat decient art. Shota haters beware.
The 4th story is about rekindling past love. Two lovers come together after a breakup and well.. "make up" for their problems. One finds out something about the other and how his life is differnet and he doesn't want to change and well.... you get what I mean. Good art, but didn't hold my interest for long. If you love over-the-top monster cocks, you will like this one.
The last story is probably the worst. You can't go wrong with a horny tentacle monster, raping everyone in sight. The plot of course is simple as this: Tentacle monster caught raping a boy by a scientist, tentacle monster wants the scientist, scientist gets raped. Repeatedly. But wait! It gets better! The scientist actually likes it! WOw! Who knew?
...
Only 2 stars because of the first story. It shouldn't even get that. Very disappointing. I HIGHLY suggest getting something else instead of spending money on this worthless crap.』
(Waste of Money) 『I looked at the cover and thought of desert love, dark haired beauty meets another and passion is lit. How foolish I was. The artwork is horrible! The storyline useless! But that's not all the other shorts are just as useless and ugly as the first. Everyone should just do themselves a favor and ignore this book it's not worth the time.』
(omgwtf) 『This is quite possibly the worst art I have EVER seen on any manga. Seriously, this art is so bad it boggles the mind! Who drew this stuff?! A blindfolded monkey? The Yaoi Hentai series has never been known for the artwork, but this volume takes it down to the next level. I see no need to buy this manga full price, there should be plenty of inexpensive used copies soon.』 『Volume 4 of the sexiest yaoi anthology going brings in all new talent, including famous comic creator Donna Barr! Stories include a nobleman succumbing to pleasure in the desert and a space general losing control of a prisoner for even more pleasure. A young sorcerer in training wants to be initiated by the darkest sorcerer in the world. And finally - Trach the tentacle monster is ticked off! His fellow sex monsters are being rounded up to be used in vile sexual acts... Where does he sign up!』
price:$3.63
Digital Manga Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours 『Hiroto, a student at an all-boys' school, listens as his childhood friend, Satoshi, confesses that he is falling in love with Nao, an upperclassman in their school club. But Hiroto is perplexed that the object of Satoshi's affections is Nao - the same Nao with whom Hiroto spent an evening!』