shojo manga

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Lenni Reviews: “I’m No Angel” Vol. 1, by Ai Yazawa

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

Modori is a first year high school student, excited to run for a spot on the Student Council. Her classmate, Akira, is also running, putting Midori in close quarters with her crush.

This was just not for me. Sometimes, slice of life doesn’t quite hit that sweet spot of mundane but still interesting enough to read. It felt too mundane for me, if that makes any sense. I think the characters aren’t engaging me like other slice of life series I’m reading right now. It’s not bad but I didn’t like it as much as I like other series by this creator. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Let’s Do It Already!” Vol. 9 by Aki Kusaka

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

Keiichiro is given an ultimatum and is disowned for one year. While Yuri is happy they can live together, it is a major adjustment.

I’m sure at this point, being disowned temporarily doesn’t really matter because clearly, these two are so in love, these punishments are not really punishments. The family is trying to enforce their rules while also being pulled into the orbit of this lovey-dovey couple. As this is the last volume, it wraps up on a happy note, and I’m glad it ended here. There are only so many times the dance of “we have to abide by the rules, we didn’t, fallout, resolution” can only go on so long before it gets old. This is a cute series. If you like YA romance, it’s not a bad one to pick up, especially if you like it silly. 3 out of 5.

 

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Lenni Reviews: “Magical Girl Dandelion” Vol. 2, by Kaeru Mizuho

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

After Tanpopo’s battle with Alice concludes, Peony discovers her connection to Shade.

Peony reacts as you’d expect, unwilling to accept that some fiends can be different. This volume expands the world and lore, using Peony and Tanpopo’s differing views on how to fight fiends. I’m sure we’ll get more backstory about why Peony is so gung-ho about killing fiends as we go. It was cool to see the two magical girls working together. They have the odd couple thing going on, and it’s interesting to see them use their abilities. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 7, by Alto Yukimura

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

Now that feelings are confessed, the skeletons and the underworld are all in a tizzy. Meanwhile, Aries and Athena continue a long-standing rivalry.

While Ares and Athena’s duel takes up a good chunk of this volume, it’s a fun bit of comedy. I think including Colette in it was a bit forced? I get that she’s the main character, but I would have liked to see the competition without her involvement, more than there already was. Just to get more of the gods interacting, maybe a bit of backstory about this rivalry from Athena’s perspective. Something to widen the world a bit now that Hades and Colette are officially a couple. It’s not bad, I was just hoping for something a little different. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 9, by Luka Kobachi

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

Final exams are over and with Winter Break in full swing, the friend group decides to have a Christmas party. Nanoha searches for a goal to work towards for after graduation. 

What Nanoha will decide to do seems to be a ball that just keeps getting kicked down the line in favor of more slice-of-life events like New Year’s or Valentine’s Day. Those scenes are fine, but the way things are going, it’s just gonna be a bigger problem later on. Also, the way it’s just tucked in between Christmas parties and cookie baking makes me wonder if this will actually be a thing or if it just fizzle out. Guess we’ll see. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite” Vol. 7, by Julietta Suzuki

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

Hina told Amanatsu she has feelings for him, and at first, she believes he brushed it off, but it’s clear he has feelings as well.

They do go on an actual date to see the Christmas lights, and I think Amanatsu is what the guy from Wolf Girl and Black Prince was trying to be. He can be aloof and snippy, but he’s not cruel and borderline abusive like Kyoya. Other than that, Hina’s inexperience with drinking blood causing the silly misunderstandings between her and Amanatsu was cute. It really softens the guy and puts a unique spin on this romantic trope. They’re a classic, adorable teen couple for a manga, and it’s still fun because they’re great characters. I still don’t like Rinya, taking advantage of Hina’s naivety when she’s vulnerable. I can’t wait for her to punish him in some way. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Magical Girl Dandelion” Vol. 1, by Kaeru Mizuho

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

Tanpopo Ohaniami is offered the chance to be a magical girl and fight the Fiends that plague humanity. But the Fiend that has been her companion her entire life, Shade, doesn’t want her to get involved in this dangerous conflict.

This is gorier than I’d expected. Fiends eat people, and it actually threw me off for a second to go from the cute stuff to a severed head and body horror. Now, I love me a twist on the magical girl genre, and this is a compelling start. We have our plucky main character, hard-ass magical girl veteran, a supernatural sidekick, and hints of something bigger at play. Everything I like in an opening volume. The art fits both the cutesy stuff and the horrific, with some impressive creature designs. Just be aware that while this isn’t Magical Girl Apocalypse (at least not yet), it’s no Card Captor Sakura. It gets dark. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Colette Decides to Die” Vol. 6, by Alto Yukimura

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

Menthe is unwell, and Colette tries to save her. Colette also journeys with Hadies to the Frozen Wastes, where she may confess her feelings.

I haven’t been mentioning much about the inclusion of the gods. Dionysus and Hermes have great chemistry, and while Colette is being her usual inspiring self and her romance with Hadies is progressing, spending time with those two was a nice aside. In the back of my mind, I am concerned about the inevitable conflict between Colette’s drive to be an apotheary and being in a relationship with a god who will inevitably outlive her. We shall see! 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Let’s Do It Already!” Vol. 7, by Aki Kusaka

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

Yuri’s been working hard at her part-time jobs to save enough money to throw a birthday party for Keiichiro, but he declines, declaring his birthday cancelled. When she tries anyway, it all goes delightfully wrong.

It’s adorable that Yuri wants to do something nice for Keiichiro, and even though it gets wacky in a way only this manga can, the overall feeling is positive and romantic. It’s silly, cute, and has some comedic beats that really work. Not much forward progress, but it was still fun. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 7, by Luka Kobachi

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

With their first fight resolved, Nanoha and Chidori enjoy the last of their class trip and return home. Mai not only still has a crush on Nanoha but also knows she is dating Chidori.

This series continues to be very light-hearted and sweet, focusing on people being true to themselves with no huge dramatic blowups. Even the tiff from the last volume wasn’t that bad, and it all worked out in the end. There are no real threats here, which makes me wonder if this will stay very slice of life or take an angsty turn. Since Nanoha and Chidori are enjoyable, either one could work for me. 4 out of 5.

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