I had a love-hate relationship with the first season of Maria Holic. It was like a train wreck - I knew how awful it was going to be, but I couldn't look away. At the same time, it had be cringing and unable to stop my incredulous laughter. And it ended on a major cliff hanger.
Season 2.. it is more like a complete filler season. It didn't progress the story line, and (for me) it lacked.. something. I think it was a (slighly) coherent story. It was so incredibly episodic, and it lacked the progression between Kyoko and Maria. I kinda wanted that. But,
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Oct 1, 2011
The Change!
(Manga)
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This manga is ok. It isn't that funny. The characters aren't that engaging. The art is fine. The story is logical, and hangs together, but nothing about it is particularly *exciting*.
I was expecting to enjoy it more as I am liking a lot of gender-benders at the moment, but this one just never really caught me. 
Jul 29, 2011
Akuma de Koibito.
(Manga)
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This volume consists of 3 short stories - the first is 3 chapters and about a boy who "bullies" the girl he likes. The other two stories are one chapters (one about a direction-challenged housekeeper who cleans the wrong house) and the other about a serious sophomore and an energetic senior.
The first story is ok - nothing special, and quite typical, but the art is cute. I found the two short stories to be *very* cute and I enjoyed reading those. Overall a quick read, and you don't have to invest much - time or emotion. 
Jul 17, 2011
Natsume Yuujinchou
(Manga)
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Why is there no review?
I really enjoy the story of Natsume. It is, I guess, a supernatural slice of life. It has a gentle feel, and it manages to tweak on all the emotions - I laugh, I cry, I sigh, I feel angry, and through it all, I enjoy the story. There are underlying themes of loneliness, but ultimately, I feel that is about finding your place in the world. Our protagonist, Natsume, can see spirits (yokai). This has been a bane in his life, as when he was young people thought he was a liar. This wasn't helped by the fact that he moved ... 
Jul 16, 2011
La Suite D'amour Du Chat Noir
(Manga)
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I didn't enjoy this at all.
The art was pretty enough, but the stories just werent *nice*. Which is what I much prefer. If you like your romance with a bitter-sweet edge, or a touch of melancholy, this may be the short story collection for you. The stories themselves, although rather short, had a sense of completeness. Simililarly, the characters were rather well drawn - I just didn't like them!! 
Jul 14, 2011
GetBackers
(Manga)
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I cam to Getbackers from the anime. A shoujo girl at heart I couldn't believe that my anime club was showing me this series about battling. And yes, it is a series about battling, and retrieving, and all that jazz. But at its very heart it is about relationships, and friendships, and honour.
The story follows the Getbackers, Ban and Ginji. There is an underlying sense of the story moving towards and end, with some completion in mind. Whilst there are a few episodic adventures, the stories are primarily multi-volume, intense and detailed. You learn a lot about the people, their histories, and their friendships. ... 
Jul 11, 2011
Pheromomania Syndrome
(Manga)
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I have been really enjoying this one. I am a sucker for the combination of a girly guy and a boyish girl (e.g. ai ore), especially when the boy is so masculine.
There is a lot of nose-bleeding in this one. It is part of the humour though, and that is what makes this one special - it is really rather funny! Ho-chan's imagine spins out of control in the most of amazing way, and I can't help but laugh. Keishi is.. an intense little man, manic for Hotari. I have had no trouble with the pacing, although the story is somewhat episodic. This however, ... 
Jul 11, 2011
Ai no Kotoba
(Manga)
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This one is just ok. Admitedly, I base this on two chapters only, but it has the feel of Momoiro Heaven, although Momoiro Heaven is much more enjoyable. The main girl is a bit feisty, the main boy perverted. It is a commonly used and often enjoyable character combination.
In this case though, I just have no interest in the characters. Thet aren't nice, engaging, or interesting. With so much shojou out there, the mangaka needs to have hooked me in the first couple of chapters. Altohugh it may improve as the story goes on, at this point I would say find something different. 
Jul 11, 2011
A Wolf Warning
(Manga)
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I like this one. It has the same feel as a range of manwha I am reading, and it has the same type of characters - stupid girl who is loved by smart boy who treats her bad because he can't show it, a love-rival in the form of a mafia boy, a jealous little sister with a brother complex, the other rival who is a beautiful princess who can behave in public.. we have seen it all before. It is, however, refreshing to not have a jjiang as the main character.
So although it is the same, the antics of the incredibly stupid Han Summer ... 
Feb 26, 2011
Shi Hwa Mong
(Manga)
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Finally - another manwha I enjoy!
I really struggle with the manwha - I can think of 3 off the top of my head that I enjoy. And there are two main problems 1) the similarity in the story line (think new girl falls in love with school gang leader and there are most of them) and 2) I can never keep the characters, or the character names straight in my head. (this is totally my issue, and nothing to do with the writing, but it still makes it hard to follow the story). so - Shi Hwa Mong. A story about triplets who were raised in ... |
