draagon's reviews
416 reviews

Someday I'll Fall for You, Vol. 2 by Tomo Kurahashi

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Kazuma and Chiaki are adorable. I love the natural way their friends-to-lover relationship has progressed. I also appreciate that this volume (lightly) tackled the topic of how scary it is to go through life's transitions compounded with explaining to your friends and family your new dynamic with your best friend. The way the volume ended was lovely. I really hope the publisher picks up the sequel series. 

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 25 by Sorata Akiduki

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A fantastic conclusion to this arc. I love how everything culminates with Zen showing up on horseback, highlighting his royalty and rising power. The way Eisetsu gets welcomed onto Zen's side, as well as how he shows how much Kageya meant to him, is truly beautiful. There is tension with Ryu desperately trying to open that door when he realizes Kageya's intentions, and the Obi shows up just in time and asks whether he needs help breaking down that door. There are numerous great scenes in this volume. 

Bless, Vol. 2 by Yukino Sonoyama, Yukino Sonoyama

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I think this volume is well written and I see what it's trying to do, but it just doesn't resonate with me, neither the characters nor the messages. It may be because I couldn't care less about make up, though there are other manga I read about hobbies I couldn't personally care less about that I enjoy. It could also be that both of the main characters are dealing with hang ups that I've never really had to tangle with. I've never been taller than my peers and thus stood out, I've never wanted to wear clothes that other people said I couldn't pull off, etc. I read these things happening, I understand logically how they affect the people involved, but I just don't feel any sort of connection. It's strange because this is a beautiful series with good art, but so far I just feel kind of... meh about it. I'll give it a few more volumes to see if this feeling changes.

WIND BREAKER, Vol. 18 by Satoru Nii

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The way this manga makes high school boys beating each other up a thoroughly emotional and heartwrenching experience. You can literally see the ache in Sakura's eyes as he comes to the realization he might actually lose this fight and let down all of his new friends. I really hope he's not going to  accept Endo's offer and give into the deep part of himself that believes he doesn't deserve anything good. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of Umemiya's fight in future volumes. 

Red River (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 2 by Chie Shinohara

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I didn't expect to be hit so hard by the author's note mentioning how she traveled to Syria in 1993. As someone reading this work for the first time in 2025, it's saddening to think how much the world has changed, and in many ways not for the better.

That aside, this was another absolute tornado of a volume. Yuri is falling deeper for Kail despite knowing she will need to return to her time eventually, and Kail is slowly returning those feelings in full. The way Yuri can think on her feet to solve problems is impressive. As some very real threats come to the city where she has been kidnapped to, she still puts precedence on helping as many people as possible as she sees the suffering around her. I don't think the 15-year-old who was transported will be the same girl once she returns home to peaceful Japan.

I really love how much action there is in this series. It's so addictive to read and the pages fly by despite being a 3-in-one. There are a few scenes that are a bit... icky, but these are the very real consequences for these characters and the world, and it's clear how much research and thought the mangaka put into incorporating this period of history into her work. Yuri may be constantly being kidnapped and taken against her will, but she somehow manages to turn the situation into her favor despite facing literal lions. It's framed as her love for Kail that keeps her going, but I would rather think that she is simply that desperate to live. I'm very much looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 24 by Sorata Akiduki

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Eisetsu and Ryu are definitely the most interesting characters in this arc. Ryu just because he is clearly going through tribulations that will undoubtedly change his view on life and how he interacts with the world. Before embarking on this adventure, he'd been pretty secluded in small, safe bubbles with repetitive work that he found challenging yet enjoyable. Now, he's being left alone to deal with royalty and all its subtle rules and fleeing from assassins when he hasn't ever trained to protect himself. My heart goes out to the guy, but I can't deny makes for an excellent and engaging read. Then, there's Eisetsu, a royal so different from the ones we've met so far. He is in some ways similar to Zen, or at least how he was in the past. He plays along with the rules of royalty with reluctant submission, finding small pockets where he can protest against being used merely for his name. He's wary of getting close to others, unsure of how far he can trust them and anticipating their backstabbing at any moment. Yet, he still yearns for connection, for someone to want him for him, not for his name. He got that to an extent in Kageya, yet she didn't fit the "royal" bill, so he was forced to lock her away, and in turn locked away his own heart. How typical and satisfying it is to see Shirayuki and Obi work together in their own way to pry open that long closed off heart gently. It's beautiful, and I think very indicative of what makes this series such a fulfilling read.

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture, Vol. 4 (Light Novel): Thus, the Gates to the Spirit Realm Open by Mikage Sawamura

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love the tagline of this volume, and it fits well with how the story is ramping up. The first chapter explores the supernatural phenomena of curses and how just by believing one is cursed, all the bad things that happen to someone end up being attributed to that sole cause. It was a very interesting look at how, essentially, our minds can play tricks on us, and it ended with a very important revelation! But then the second chapter is where the biggest meat of the story happened- the doors to the spirit realm are indeed opening! Uncle Wataru was an excellent addition to the cast, I’m so glad Akira had someone like him looking out for him in the past. I loved the scene near the end with Akira and Naoya at the airport, it really illustrates how far their relationship and dependence on each other has come. And then that bonus story! So many juice revelations, I really can’t wait for the next volume! 

The Otaku Love Connection, Vol. 1 by Chu Amairo

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

Yeah... this series isn't for me. I got tired of the schtick quite quickly and I really really hated how the main characters treated Kuji and Makoto simply as objects to be worshipped. I guess it may be because I've never really been into "oshi" culture myself and never had that kind of obsession over another person that I found this sort of relationship terribly toxic and unrelatable. I don't think it's funny when strangers speculate on the inner workings of others' relationships, who is the "top" or "bottom" should be no business of anyone outside of the two people involved in the relationship. I will definitely not be continuing with this series. I did like the art, so +.5 star.

It Takes More than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love, Vol. 1 by Karin Anzai

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was an interesting first volume. While I'm not the biggest fan of one character being set on a pedestal and worshiped by others simply for their looks, I do think that is what this manga is trying to examine and criticize, though it doesn't quite get to that point in this volume. I like that Sana is very self-actualized and realizes that she is drawn to pretty faces and doesn't mistake that fondness for love. I want to know more about Udo and why exactly he has given up on getting an education and is just wasting his life away in deserted stairwells essentially. It's touched on a little in this volume, but I'd like a more thorough exploration of his homelife and past relationships that led to this point -- I think that could be interesting. I hope these two characters don't fall for each other too quickly and are allowed the time and space to examine themselves as individuals before trying to become a couple. 

Queen's Quality, Vol. 21 by Kyousuke Motomi

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another beautiful volume. Kaede's story is heartbreaking with little blips of hope found in the children who brought some light into her dark world. Both Tsubame and Fumi had an undeniable massive influence on the choices that Kaede inevitably made, for better or for worse, and vice versa. Unfortunately, it is made very clear that Fumi's biological father is a terrible person whose one goal in life is to look for cracks in other people that he can take advantage of to further his own goals. The ending of this volume is heartbreaking, but I know that Fumi can make it through and process this with the help and support of her newfound family.