LGBT fiction

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 12, by Luka Kobachi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Nanoha decides that vocational school in Osaka is the path for her, but that means Chidori’s school in Tokyo is three hours away. While making plans, they enjoy the last school festival for the literature club.

While this volume moves quickly from point to point – we’re up to November again by the end of it – it’s really an adorable set of slice-of-life stories. We get a bit more backstory about when Nanoha first saw Chidori and was trying to befriend her. Our main couple is surprisingly mature and in love. It’s very sweet. However, it was strange to see Chidori with long hair. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Sunshine in Hades” Vol. 1, by Puling

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Cerberus is a slave, champion gladiator, and a prime chance for his owners to breed him out to produce more like him. But he’s a virgin. Cerberus enlists the help of Phaethon, a priest of the sun god to teach him how to please a woman, only to grow closer to the priest as time goes on.

Cerberus, of course, has total golden retriever energy in a rottweiler’s skin, while Phaethon is the “I don’t fall in love until I totally do” type. The intrigue around them makes for some interesting plot points that give what is a predictable yaoi something a bit more unique. It is VERY suggestive and the art favors the tiddies:

This dude is a cup size up from me, I swear… It’s not bad, I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on the next one. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Perfect Buddy” Vol. 1, by daki & Lash

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*This book is rated 18+

Seo Hyunsoo has only physical relationships with men and is devoted to his routines but when he catches Baik Youngchan  masturbating in a public bathroom, the man throws a wrench in Hyunsoo’s ordered life.

While they have a typically comedic and antagonistic relationship, Baik’s protective golden retriever energy is so much fun. He’s clearly more on the ball than Seo gives him credit for. Seo’s background with his former job gives some nice context to his deadpan attitude and why he gives in to all this extra work. I’m looking forward to learning more about why he was transferred and how these “enemies” come into play in the plot. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “At 25:00, in Akasaka” Vol. 1, by Hiroko Natsuno

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*This book is rated 18+

Shirasaki Yuki has landed a huge acting gig and his costar is superstar actor Hayama Asami. Yuki is nervous about his performance in a gay drama and asks Asami to help him.

While not the most original premise, it’s very tender in the way it executes it. Asami, while indulging this wild proposition, is quite respectful of Yuki’s boundaries and since their chemistry is good, they’re easy to root for and I’m hoping for their happy ending. The art is fairly standard but good and the smutty bits fit well into the plot. It’s pretty spicy but also sweet! 3.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Pink Candy Kiss” Vol. 5 by Ami Uozumi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Ema is trying to reconcile her feelings for Takora because her husband, Hario, loves her so much. Takora considers the consequences of confessing her feelings.

This volume isn’t bittersweet; it’s just sad. There’s no way for them to be together without ruining Ema’s marriage, and I really wonder what the last two volumes are going to bring. I will spoil that Ema finally did stand up to her shitty mom, which was so damn satisfying. I don’t want yet another tragic lesbian story, but it’s clear this is not their time. Maybe this will end up like Bingo Love and end up together without hurting Hario. I guess we’ll see. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “May I Have a Taste?” Vol. 2, by Amidamuku

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Minoru is gravely injured trying to save Yamadera after he risks his life trying to become a vampire. An older vampire, Mire, comes to assist Minoru.

I like that the world is expanding. I don’t like Yamadera, so spending time with any other character is a net positive. We do get some backstory for Mine, another new vampire, Itachi, and introduce Mei, who reminds me of Kiku from Call of the Night. I’m glad what seemed to be a predatory version of Ko annoying Minoru, who just wants to live his life, is shaping into something more. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Forest of the Rabbits” Vol. 1, by ENJO

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Shunta and Tamaki were childhood friends who reconnect in high school. While Shunta realized his attraction to his friend early on, Tamaki’s tumultuous upbringing has him clinging to traditional expectations. But Shunta doesn’t want to waste any more time before fulfilling his dream of dating Tamaki.

This is rough since it starts with them as young kids, and Tamaki is clearly not only neglected by his mother, but he’s also exposed to things a child shouldn’t because his mother is a sex worker. We are pro-sex work in this house, but not with your child in the next room or watching your clients as they go in and out of the home. That’s a dark cloud lurking behind this budding romance, making it hard to enjoy Shunta being a goofy simp for his crush. I almost don’t want them to get together until Tamaki has had a few months of intense therapy to deal with his clear trauma. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “A Man Who Defies the World of BL” Vol. 5, by Konkichi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Our main character is still dodging various BL tropes but Hataro keeps popping up and threatening to break his avoidance streak.

I like the idea of this new unknown element but it took quite awhile to get there. Not that I want this to fall into the “gay for you” or “bi awakening” trope, since our MC is straight with no desire to change that. I think it’s more interesting if he stays straight while navigating this strange isekai because those two are BL tropes as well. But still, where is this going? Is he going to try to escape this world? So strange… 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Eat” by Nagabe

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Professor Lufria, a wolf, has a reputation as a strict, no-nonsense teacher. The only thing that breaks his composure is his secret kink: a desire to not only watch others eat, but to be eaten himself. Lufria is usually able to control his urges, but when one of his students, Gulla, bites him, his secret is revealed.

Yeah, this is pretty weird, but I got what I paid for: weird. It’s interesting to see odd desires explored, particularly with the extra layers of taboos: a carnivore wanting to be eaten and the herbivore craving meat, and a teacher/student relationship. There’s also a bit about how past traumas can impact physical intimacy later on in life, but that’s very brief. I think this needed a second volume to really dig into the subjects it’s trying to touch on. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance” Vol. 3, by Shinnosuke Kanazawa

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Amata knows he should reveal the truth, that he’s the Lolita Aki has been hanging out with, but he doesn’t want to lose this budding friendship.

Since this is a light-hearted slice of life, I doubt the outcome of this confession will be a shock to you if you’re familiar with the genre at all. I do, however, wish to spoil the fact that Mitsu, the local stray cat, is adorable, and I am totally okay with her not only having her dedicated moments but playing a role in Amata and Aki’s friendship, especially now that everything is out in the open. It’s just cute, wholesome, and fun to read. 4 out of 5.

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