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Jun 21, 2010
Story: When I was reading this, I was slightly wondering if the manga was based off the novel "Faerie" rather than it's original series as its own novel. When I convinced myself it wasn't that book, I really began enjoying the series. The story starts out with Runa getting hit in the face with a volleyball while she was drooling over yakisoba, and that instantly gained my favor. But on the actual story part, I found overall interesting. I sorta flinched when I saw that the faeries have an animal counterpart, but Michiyo's art has definitely improved from Mamotte! Lollipop, so my fears went right
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over my head. (If anyone has read that series, you would know that Ryu's design is pretty simple and the cat that Sun summons is overall average, so I wasn't looking forward to Michiyo animals in this series) In the first volume, Runa has to save her friend Sae from an animal faerie named Kamachi. This is achieved by the end of the volume, so I am wondering what's going to happen to keep this series going. But this isn't the usual faerie story, I haven't seen any shiny wings yet, and the third eye was pretty interesting for a faerie story, so I have a feeling that this series will develop its own breed of "Faeries." The one thing I wished from this first book was that they revealed more on the Jewel of Everlasting Time, since Kamachi was so bent on getting it, and he just goes back to the Faerie world at the end of the book. It didn't feel right that he just gave in after one attack by Runa.
Art: It's cute, I'll give it that. But it's painfully apparent that characters with toned hair don't get much attention on the hair detail that the inked and non-colored haired people do. Some scenes, such as when they draw Runa in Fox Faerie form, are a bit disappointing since it's their clothes and then just a magic toned background. Because it felt more like an easy peasy drawing, I couldn't take those scenes as seriously. But the clothes tend to be suiting for the characters, and I love how Michiyo drew Runa's outfit like a Tales of Pirates Voyager when she turns into her true form. The character designs are pretty decent too, I just hate how Mokke, Sae, and this other nameless character all look the same, and the only way to tell them apart would be to stare at the hair tone. I found that to be a huge hindrance on the designs.
Character: Runa gained my favor easily because of the yakisoba incident, but she was a little like Amu from Shugo Chara by the way that's she's a little kid and still hesitant on change. Runa wasn't nearly as painful as Amu for me though, she didn't pull the "Oh, woe is me, I have to save somebody" crap that they did in Shugo Chara. Runa's hesitation on issues in the story were perfectly understandable, and it helped the story more than just bowing and accepting her fate. When it comes to Mokke, I can't tell if he's supposed to be an idiot or not. He just waltzes up to Runa asking if she's the Legendary Child, and to me that felt hopelessly retarded. He doesn't act as bad throughout the rest of the series, thankfully. Suneri's the regular sister, and we don't get a big dose on Sae, Mit, and Mana, since one got kidnapped, and the other two are just "there." Also, like I said before, Mokke, Sae, and the nameless dud all looked the same, so I was greatly disappointed in that regard. Kamachi was a blessing to the story. His appearance isn't dreadfully scary, but a typical shojo fan would be utterly creeped, and all the ink in the backgrounds where he'd appear would make him seem even scarier. Like I said before, I just hate how he up and left at the end after he was so determined to get this jewel. The last thing is Tai, he was another blessing. He gave off the immediate air of "Mystery," and all the ink and tone on him really added color to the pages. It was a shame he didn't appear much.
Enjoyment: If you are a hard core shojo fan into a manga like Kamichama Karin, don't read this series. It gets so much more serious than that, and while there is some blushing, there isn't any real romance yet. But I'm also not really looking for it in this series, since Runa's only in fourth grade. If there is romance between Runa and Mokke (or Tai, it's not really clear who it might be yet), I want it to somehow tie in with the plot, otherwise people will be complaining how young girls don't know love. Also, hard core shojo fans wouldn't like the blood, I was overjoyed about this part though. It was not like Michiyo to draw so much, but it felt so much more serious and intense when she inked all that blood in the fighting scenes. There is that moment of comedy, so you don't have to feel tense all the time during this book.
Overall: I'm looking forward to the next book. This book is quite the refreshment from Mamotte! Lollipop, so it keeps readers quite hooked now that Michiyo can draw tense magical battles. While I was reading this, I kept comparing it to Panic X Panic (because it was similar in the way that there were demons(?) that caused trouble for Mitsuki and Kakeru). This book puts the other to shame, since Panic X Panic is just a playful series like Kamichama Karin, pick this up before you read the other.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 2, 2010
(Some spoilers may follow)
Story: I personally think that this series does a great job at blending drama and battle scenes together wonderfully. What I really like about the plot is how the characters are fighting against Noir, clusters of negative emotions from people, which ends up becoming a character development scene most of the time for the main characters (anyone who has read my Kamichama Karin Chu review will know that Karin made me sore, so I appreciate development). What I like even more is how the Noir can be encased in objects, so the characters don't always fight humans. Every battle I've seen in
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this series so far is meaningful, and I'm looking forward to see how this series ends.
Art: There's tone all over the place, but it gives all the pages such a nice shade. Rei draws very soft and luscious wings, so it's nice to see Air, Blissful, or Soleil on any page. What I think would be really good for this artwork is if it was a tad shinier during the happier moments, that way it'd look like those had more meaning. Also, I'd like it if Tsukasa's flames LOOKED like flames, it took me a while to realize that's what they were. It tends to look like a shaded towel's coming out of his glasses.
Character: Shun is supposed to be the typical teenager (minus the electricity power part), but I actually like him so much better than Takeya from DearS or that Keichi from Ah! My Goddess. The author gave him an adorable quality of being easily embarrassed, and how he doesn't like to get involved in anything (in these scenes this quality tends to be funny). I also enjoy Air's love of the shiny, and how she can be such a timid and sensitive girl, just like a toddler. Sanari throws me for a loop, since she's a normal ditsy school idol. The worst part about her is that (you can't avoid seeing it) her boobs GROW and then SHRINK. If you read two chapters, you'll see. Finally, Tsukasa is a fun guy to have in any chapter, since even though he's serious, his own battle scenes are hilarious. He uses his glasses as a weapon, so he can't see what he's hitting, therefore ensuing comic cheer. Overall, I love all the character in this series.
Enjoyment: With everything put into one, you can't deny this series's enjoyment. It's got a bit of everything for everyone. Romance between Shun and Sanari (though I support Shun and Air), Fantasy battle scenes of electricity and flames, drama about old friends long past, you name it (besides gore, there's blood, but not that much).
Overall: It's a shame I can't find this in stores anymore, it's not that old. I believe each chapter is only going to bring better and better developments, though the fact that it ends at book three worries me. I fear it might have a rushed and complicated ending. Hopefully, my fears will pass me by when I get to read it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 2, 2010
(Some spoilers may follow)
Story: This part about the manga made me cry when I saw the ending. I call the ending the "Koge-Donbo Middle Finger." That's exactly what it was, a boy (Suzune) comes from the future to prevent it's horrors from happening, only for Karin and company to have to go back in time so they never meet Suzune, and that somehow resolves the future and makes everyone happy. I believe it could have been a good story, since there isn't much manga out there about gods, and the art was so pretty and cute. Unfortunately, it was a crazy shojo manga, that acted
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like it belonged in an anime (Every chapter felt more like an episode filler). One thing about the manga that bothers me even more is how some of the actual god battles (such as that in volume 3) only took 5 pages or so. Anti-climatic, I call it. The last thing that bothered me about the story was how Rika supposedly needed the "Seeds of Chaos," but Koge-Donbo never explained WHY. I failed to comprehend how they were needed at all, and why Karin, Kazune, Jin, and Micchi were fighting against those seeds, when all Rika needed was to use the ring of Zeus to awaken her father inside of Jin. The worst part is that this series was supposedly made to answer questions left from Kamichama Karin, the prequel. The only question I had answered was "Why was Kirihiko so obsessed with power?" Besides that, I only had even more questions at the end of this series. At the end, I was baffled, confused, and slightly insulted.
Art: It's a known fact that Koge-Donbo uses chibi style too much, but when she wasn't drawing chibis, her art came alive in every page. There were some points when I was wondering why she was using chibis, the scenes did not call for them most times. I believe they should be reserved for a select few scenes per chapter, like 7-10, not 20+. But with all the tone that Koge-Donbo used and all the ink, it really made the pages some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen her do.
Character: Kazune and Jin were wonderful in this regard. They both loved Karin deeply, but by the end of the book, instead of just wanting her for themselves, they realized that it'd be better for Karin if she ended up with the other if it meant she'd be safe. It was very timely when they realized this too, Koge couldn't have picked a better time. Suzune was also good at showing development, when he went from being a helpless little toddler and turned into the god Cupid to protect his daddy. Karin's supposed development confused me. When Suzuka takes control of her body, Karin's furious about it, but then all of a sudden decides to be nice to Suzuka and have them both "go together to her body." That kindness appeared from nowhere, so I don't know where Karin learned to be nice like that (she's very loud throughout the entire series, and she really doesn't change at all).
Enjoyment: Because of the fault of the chapters feeling like episodes, it actually enjoyable through each chapter. Unfortunately, it's almost always the same: Rika plants a seed, Karin and company destroy it, the end. It nearly got tiresome, then a plot twist came in volume 4, and now even though they're still fighting seeds, they are also now fighting against their foes. All the crazy, romantic plots within each chapter though got even more tiresome, and it got to the point where even Karin needing to kiss Kazune in a play didn't seem like much at all. Even the bonus at the end of volume 7 felt more like a filler, and nothing was really solved in it, besides knowing Karin and Kazune have yet ANOTHER obstacle in their love.
Overall: This series is more for the blind shojo fan. If you think a lot like me, you wouldn't like this series. I've already read all the chapters online, so I'm definitely putting off buying the books. I must say, after reading Pita-Ten and then reading Karin, I was very disappointed in Koge-Donbo.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 1, 2010
(Spoilers follow)
Story: This one is definitely to my liking. It has a very interesting plot, a girl being dragged into the past because of what happened in the past, trying to find seven blades to a historic sword, unaware she is a blade herself. Then it gets into a woman who wants to make a new sword, and a man who wants the sword in order to be free from his 1,000 year old cage, and it just gets very intriguing. I'll admit that the story can get confusing at points, but all that needs is for the previous page to be read. As of
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volume 8, the story has gotten so tense, it pains me to wait until September for the next book. The battle scenes and suspense have reached an all-time high.
Art: It's got a bit of everything. The chibi's are to die for at times, the girls in it are cute, pretty, or drop dead gorgeous, nothing else. The boys are all great too (except the "mad monk" but he wasn't made to be a main character). What I found interesting though is the lack of toning in the characters, not one has toned hair, and only a few have toned clothes. The lack of shade is balanced out though with the ink Kara enjoys putting in her pages.
Character: Eun-Gyo is a peppy rebel, No-ah is an easily irratated bishie, Ho-Dong is a wise-guy adult trapped in an kid's body, what's not to love from the three main characters? Poong is also another character I adore, since he brightens any mood with his carefree attitude and playful actions, and he's also one of the more shifty fellows. I also enjoyed Sook-Chung's very brief presense, and I was sad to see his untimely fate. Finally, I hate Hwa, since she's a bit of a crazy lady in deadly love, but I'm looking forward to seeing her more. I believe she shows a good amount of character development. To round it all off, all of the characters have something to make them special, but they all have their part in the story, and all of the have their own turmoil that relates to the plot.
Enjoyment: Every volume it takes a step into harsher battles, more revelations, and more questions, so it keeps the reader anticipating the next volume. Once you see one turmoil unfold, you are getting ready to see a new one. I literally had to buckle myself in for the ride this manga gave me (since I was in the car XD ). Some of the pages in volumes 7 and 8 I can't stop looking at since it's just so tense and exciting. The excitement isn't just put in there for fillers either: all of the scenes flow nicely with the development of the story.
Overall: This series is my first manhwa I read, and I must say it's got to be the greatest "first" you could have with something like this. This series is just so gripping, I'll be going to Borders later only to cry to see that volume 9 isn't there. If you want a great fantasy with some romance but a great focus on the story, this is THE manwha for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 1, 2010
Story: It starts out pretty well for a romantic comedy--serious plot, light-hearted tone, and realistic emotions. When it got to the point where Hibari was married and Ageha could tolerate Hibari's marriage, I believe the story lost it's plot. When I was reading in the middle of volume two, I was curious to find out why this story was occurring (for a different reason rather than just Yukari and Ageha's love story). In volume 5, when Hibari gives birth to her baby that started the whole book in the first place, it lost what little story plot it had left. When it came to
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Ageha's love problems, I found them very relatable, and I enjoyed how Mitsuya acted as a sort of "cupid," trying to fix the couple's problems. But at times, I was just as frustrated as him when Ageha or Yukari would be "love-illiterate." Also, in volume 3, Ageha was worried about Yukari's feelings towards part timers. Then, in volume 5, the author brought that problem back, and I smacked myself in the head, thinking "Didn't we cover this already?!" At this point in the series, I believe it's just going to be more emotion swinging and still a small lack of plot until these two finally get together.
Art: The art and pen work I believe is very elegant, and there's not a scratch out of place. I believe if the hair got more lines, it'd be perfect, but I'm not complaining. The clothes also look beautiful, and that's important for a wedding manga. Overall, it's just about perfect.
Character: They are all quite memorable, but the author has me guessing on who this "Kana" is. From what I've seen, she hasn't appeared yet, but if she keeps dropping hints, I feel it will bring out the characters appearance quite well. Mitsuya's the typical perv, but he's also the "cupid," like I said earlier, so his role is quite apparent. Yukari is amusing, since he's just like a little girl in love, but also the timid bully that doesn't really know what affection feels like. Ageha's the typical teen, but that's what makes her memorable, since she has relatable problems. Overall, they're quite decent.
Enjoyment: The lack of enjoyment for me is mainly because of the lack of plot. I personally think that good stories need a conflict, conclusion, and only a little epilogue. To me, this series has bam wham resolution, then tons of extras.
Overall: Considering all of what I've said, it's an okay series. I won't be scurrying to find the next book when it comes out, but I won't just stop reading it either.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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