manga reviews

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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: “Champion of the Rose” Vol. 1, by Cat Aquino & Dominique Duran

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

Princess Rosa’s brother tragically dies, making her hair to the throne of the Empire of Sagrada. As the largest kingdom in the Known World, Rosa looks forward to serving her people and the Dying God they all worship but instead, her father holds a tournament where the prize is her hand in marriage. Desperate to become queen and make real change, she enlists Rey as her champion. Rey is a swordsman from one of the kingdom’s colonies and only wants to earn enough money to return to his native lands.

It’s interesting that Rosa is a mixed-race princess of a kingdom fueled by colonizing others. She has to come to terms with what her kingdom has done to people who look just like her. She may have been relatively sheltered as a princess, but that doesn’t stop the whispers and judgment. Rey is a transman and a fucking badass, who literally and figuratively is infected by the evils done by those who’ve conquered his people. The combat is fantastically done. It’s ruthless and dark. It reminds me of Centuria, making this a damn good dark fantasy. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Scattering His Virgin Bloom” Vol. 2, by Aya Sakyo

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

Despite helping with Hana’s heat, Kaoru still hesitates to take him on as his mate. Kaoru’s sister, Marika as well as Hana’s brother Aoba, come into the picture to interfere in their budding relationship.

This was okay, but I feel like a bunch of stuff was set up and not followed through. The stuff with the siblings was not really an issue. Hana’s mother tries to set him up with a guy who’s a creep, yet is also involved with the coffee brand Hana works for. There were some really interesting ways for the plot to go, but we just get some smut and a shrug at the conflict before we get our happy ending. I don’t dislike it, but I gotta give it a 3 out of 5 for what could have been.

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Lenni Reviews: “Heroes” by Inio Asano

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is suggested for mature readers.

After defeating the Great Darkness, our group of heroes begin their journey home only to face the fact that the darkness is not something to be contained.

This reminds me of the Big City Greens episode: Montaged, only this is DEEPLY disturbing and sad. Trigger warning for SA of a child – implied, not graphic. It starts off silly:

Since those character names did get a chuckle out of me. But then it descends into death and pain. I felt unsettled by the end, which is likely the point given the quote in this book:

Have something upbeat to read after this. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Bug Ego” Vol. 3, by ONE & Kiyoto Shitara

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

Yuki joins Kokudo and Hitsujiya in utilizing these hacks but hers discharges electric shocks. She uses is to capture a strange attacker that appears to be a puppet.

Now we really get to see these hacks in combat and some consequences for not quite doing a hack correctly. It’s trippy and fun; you never quite know what’s going to happen next. I can see how random things can be in this book get annoying or distracting but I had fun with this. The art really shines when things get trippy and otherworldly. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Mao” Vol. 26, by Rumiko Takahashi

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

After Nanoka is abducted by Soma, she is forced to face him alone. Afterwards, Mao investigates a series of assaults by what witnesses say looks like a rat, leading him and Huakka locked in battle with Habuki and Sasuga.

The action is well balanced with the story progression in this volume. We’re getting more bits of lore and some great fight scenes with creative uses of the character’s powers. Takahashi has a great talent for giving this ensemble cast a fairly even amount of “screen time” and making it count. This is also less ‘monster of the week’ in format because everything ties back into the Goku Clan’s machinations. Very cool. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Kagurabachi” Vol. 9, by Takeru Hokazono

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

After Iori regains her memories, her father shows up, and Chihiro has to trust him to protect her while he faces a power that turns the hotel and everyone in it into a weapon.

Hakuri is at Kamunabi and gets a bit of “screen” time, but the main fight is Chihiro vs. Samura Seiichi, and it is pretty cool. There’s a lot of talking, and since Irori is there, Seiichi has to really think about his goal of eliminating sword bearers and fighting putting her in danger. I wish Hakuri had more to do, but this isn’t really about him. Seiichi is the main threat. It’s a fun and action-packed volume with a lot of heads flying off. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Centuria” Vol. 4, by Tohru Kuramori

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

Flying into a rage after Angvall’s death, Julian unleashes his power on Argos without thinking of the toll it would take on his body.

This volume also introduces The Supreme Lord (Argos’ father) and adds witches to those with special abilities. Clearly, Oracle Elstri has never heard of any stories where someone goes barreling toward their destiny while trying to avoid it because she is dead set on killing a child to prevent her prophecy. This makes her an interesting villain since she’s less of a zealot than her lord, who has some nuance to him. You’d expect the reverse. This is a cool world, and I can’t wait for this journey to continue. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Way of the Househusband” Vol. 16, by Kousuke Oono

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

In this volume, Tatsu:

  • Compares different types of rice
  • Tries a new robot cleaner
  • Goes to a bean and mochi throwing ceremony
  • Helps take care of his friend’s dog
  • Gives Miku a pick-me-up after a hard day of work
  • Helps clean up a friend’s bathroom
  • Helps An learn to ride a two-wheeler
  • Goes to have a BBQ with his friends
  • Takes Miku with him to the gym

There’s also a recipe for pig’s feet stew at the end, which is a nice addition, but this is more of the same antics as the other volumes. And it just makes me smile. Except for one thing that was off in tone from the comedy that I won’t spoil. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 9, by Alto Yukimura

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

Hedes offers his skeletons the chance to name themselves, while Colette covers at a clinic for a while until another roving healer can take her place.

One of the major plot points is Colette returning to the village where she was born and why she’s the only one left from it. I’m not ashamed to say this volume made me tear up. It’s absolutely tragic and maybe a little triggering for some post-COVID. It really goes to show how strong Colette had to be and still is. It took some doing to climb out of that emotional chasm, but this volume managed to do it and give some fun moments. What an impactful volume. 4 out of 5.

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