Ranked #897

Midnight Secretary (Manga)

Midnight secretary...actually this manga was the first Josei I read. But my opinion is based on my experience reading shoujo, seinen and mature titles, not on the shounen/action/martial arts titles I know what I must look for and what I should not expect.

Story:
He is charming, arrogant, lustful, irritating and well, a vampire. She is charming, uke (muahaha), strict, loyal and well, a secretary. The first impression is very important and you will get it very easy when they argue, even in the first chapter what a secretary should be - attractive jewel or productive employee. And since she discovers the secret of him being a vampire, she, as his secretary, decides that she manage his other needs (no midday appointments, gorgeous girls for meals, etc.) as well as his work needs. It is hard to say something more without spoiling T.T.

Art:
Great at times, but the details can be a little more, while keeping typical shoujo methods like the incredible "bubbles", or shining. Well, since this is josei they fit right, but I though that a little better backgrounds will contribute to the manga more than the fangirls fanservice. But the overall quality is very high, especially the moments of transformation, when Satozuka stops being a secretary and becomes woman.

Character:
Great characters, great development. They pass trough all stages of love like denial, fury, acceptance and mutual affection. In work they know what they are there for and at night they know it too. Humans have human troubles, but the vampires doesn't share them. They have other affairs, usually even more serious. And their behavior is pretty realistic.

Enjoyment:
If you want a funny gag manga you have to look elsewhere. There is some comedy relief, but most of the manga is serious, without the usual tear-jerking or laugh-inducing moments. If you don't like serious manga, have never had a job (you liked) before or never fell in love I doubt that you will understand it or enjoy it.

Overall:
This manga is precisely the sum of it's parts. Probably one of the best I have read at all. Serious, no unrealistic characters, developments or anything like it. So not everybody will like it. I recommend it to more mature or experienced (in mature/seinen/shoujo) readers. But the overall feeling is very good and it is easy to read. read more

This is a well-written vampire romance manga which has all the typical elements, including a fairly straight playing of the typical Japanese vampire type (not-undead, sunlight not instantly fatal, vampirism is not an infection, vampires are rich and successful). As a josei manga, this is written for a more adult audience and the initial setting is a workplace.

As in many good romances, the man and woman are not instantly attracted; she thinks he's essentially a slick, irresponsible man-whore (before she even finds out about the vampirism) and he thinks she's a tediously conservative and boringly professional secretary. Of course (since this is a romance) things change, but with a rewarding lack of ease and many difficulties on the way.

Heroine Kaya is an admirable young woman, and her character makes the story work. She's capable, brave, and stubborn, and most certainly not just sitting there to be rescued and swept away by a dashing hero. Said hero is proud and arrogant, but not in the end enough of a jerk to turn off the audience or leave Kaya's reactions to him unrealistic. read more