To call the art exquisite is a massive understatement, because personally, I believe this is one of Asami's finest works. The expressions, the chibi forms, the backgrounds, the focal jewelry in question, and the painstaking attention to detail with costumes and furniture are all remarkable. Inevitably, you will be captivated by the rougish and mysterious Kaitou, while Ruri, who is tenacious and somewhat gullible, is depicted as a strong heroine, not just a dummy entranced by the crook!
So, Kaitou Crow is a practiced and notorious jewel thief who has set his sights on a particular piece, "The Doll's Eye," which Ruri's dad made especially for her. On a reconnaissance trip, Kaitou is accidentally spotted by Ruri, but to avoid a commotion, he silences her with a kiss. She quickly rebukes him (Go girl!) but is understandably impressed that a young boy should possess such mastery and cheekiness! As the story unfolds, they meet again and again, and despite Ruri's presence and her feeble attempts to foil his plans, he manages to steal every jewel he sets his mind to. While she becomes infatuated with him, he claims he cannot belong to one woman, so she decides to tame him! Will she succeed? Or will she only be left jewelry-less at the end of each encounter?
So much about this story is invigorating that it's hard to pinpoint specifics. Ruri proves to be very empowered with her strong will to be around Kaitou and her resolve to make him hers! Not one aspect of her is insecure or annoying. Kaitou's character is also intriguing in scenes where his player personality emerges when he beds a grieving widow, but also how he feels especially tender towards Ruri when he gently strokes her cheek! Eee, *hands on cheeks* Otaku overload! Over the three sequels, we see significant development on both sides, showing how the overly self-assured Casanova struggles with growing affections and the headstrong ingenue puts her foot down, refusing to compromise any longer, making it anything but a shallow storyline.
The dialogue was humorous in many places, accompanied by cute SD chibis, and intimate when the scenes demanded it. There's one hilarious panel at the end of each chapter. The absence of unnecessary smut or uncouth groping makes for an elegant and enjoyable romance, and a gripping cliffhanger leaves you greedy for the next volume! A well-deserved 9/10!
Two unrelated one-shots are also included.
Kuchizuke wa Amai Bara wa Kizuato:
Miori is a bit on edge because she has the flu and her period simultaneously, and in the market, she's hit by this tattoist Rei's shopping bag and gets wet. Out of the goodness of his heart, he takes her to his studio to dry off, but he's fascinated by her pristine white back, which he sees as an excellent canvas. However, Miori can't believe he would corner her half-naked like that! In a later exchange, she's enthralled by the tattooing process and changes her mind about him and getting a tattoo, but he still sees her as a minor and refuses to change his policy about tattooing a young girl (both tattoo and making love!).
Artwise, of course, Rei always looks the epitome of smoothness and adept capability, while Miori looks the part as a flustered schoolgirl taking in the edgy tattoo parlor for the first time. While some of the dialogue and scenes try too hard to emphasize the difference in maturity and level of sexual experience, at other times, it's too trite to swallow!
Funny moments include how he almost never calls her by name, which annoys her no end, as well as her exaggerated reactions to his nearness. The intimacy is subtle, while the romance between them is a bit underdeveloped and seems awkward, even unnecessary.
Some may enjoy this semi-coming-of-age story more than others. Personally, I think the plot is a tad childish, albeit racy. 7/10 (Coz the bishie is too damn hot!)
An Easy Mystery Better than a Kiss:
This isn't your average girl-meets-cute-boy, conflict, interaction, kiss, misunderstanding, make-up story. This short story has an interesting murder mystery plot intertwined with issues of friendship brought out. Chinatsu is a high schooler who likes to think she has good detective skills, but when she's faced with the apparent suicide of a close friend and tries to figure out what exactly transpired to cause that event, she realizes real life doesn't always provide organized clues or safe confines to run to in times of danger. Along this journey, she learns that her friend led a completely different life than the one she portrayed at school and was clearly suffering beneath her cheerful exterior. At this point, Chinatsu questions her growing closeness with Manabe, who has been suspiciously helpful to her all along.
I enjoyed the novel and its intriguing plotline and sympathized with the characters' fears, a rare feat for a one-shot. Dialogues are succinct and add to the story, whose length doesn't feel too short. No unnecessary drama ensues. Some twists you'll expect, others keep you at the edge of your seat. Artwise, another masterpiece, while the humor factor is replaced with the underlying anxiety every character faces. 9/10
Popular Reviews
So, Kaitou Crow is a practiced and notorious jewel thief who has set his sights on a particular piece, "The Doll's Eye," which Ruri's dad made especially for her. On a reconnaissance trip, Kaitou is accidentally spotted by Ruri, but to avoid a commotion, he silences her with a kiss. She quickly rebukes him (Go girl!) but is understandably impressed that a young boy should possess such mastery and cheekiness! As the story unfolds, they meet again and again, and despite Ruri's presence and her feeble attempts to foil his plans, he manages to steal every jewel he sets his mind to. While she becomes infatuated with him, he claims he cannot belong to one woman, so she decides to tame him! Will she succeed? Or will she only be left jewelry-less at the end of each encounter?
So much about this story is invigorating that it's hard to pinpoint specifics. Ruri proves to be very empowered with her strong will to be around Kaitou and her resolve to make him hers! Not one aspect of her is insecure or annoying. Kaitou's character is also intriguing in scenes where his player personality emerges when he beds a grieving widow, but also how he feels especially tender towards Ruri when he gently strokes her cheek! Eee, *hands on cheeks* Otaku overload! Over the three sequels, we see significant development on both sides, showing how the overly self-assured Casanova struggles with growing affections and the headstrong ingenue puts her foot down, refusing to compromise any longer, making it anything but a shallow storyline.
The dialogue was humorous in many places, accompanied by cute SD chibis, and intimate when the scenes demanded it. There's one hilarious panel at the end of each chapter. The absence of unnecessary smut or uncouth groping makes for an elegant and enjoyable romance, and a gripping cliffhanger leaves you greedy for the next volume! A well-deserved 9/10!
Two unrelated one-shots are also included.
Kuchizuke wa Amai Bara wa Kizuato:
Miori is a bit on edge because she has the flu and her period simultaneously, and in the market, she's hit by this tattoist Rei's shopping bag and gets wet. Out of the goodness of his heart, he takes her to his studio to dry off, but he's fascinated by her pristine white back, which he sees as an excellent canvas. However, Miori can't believe he would corner her half-naked like that! In a later exchange, she's enthralled by the tattooing process and changes her mind about him and getting a tattoo, but he still sees her as a minor and refuses to change his policy about tattooing a young girl (both tattoo and making love!).
Artwise, of course, Rei always looks the epitome of smoothness and adept capability, while Miori looks the part as a flustered schoolgirl taking in the edgy tattoo parlor for the first time. While some of the dialogue and scenes try too hard to emphasize the difference in maturity and level of sexual experience, at other times, it's too trite to swallow!
Funny moments include how he almost never calls her by name, which annoys her no end, as well as her exaggerated reactions to his nearness. The intimacy is subtle, while the romance between them is a bit underdeveloped and seems awkward, even unnecessary.
Some may enjoy this semi-coming-of-age story more than others. Personally, I think the plot is a tad childish, albeit racy. 7/10 (Coz the bishie is too damn hot!)
An Easy Mystery Better than a Kiss:
This isn't your average girl-meets-cute-boy, conflict, interaction, kiss, misunderstanding, make-up story. This short story has an interesting murder mystery plot intertwined with issues of friendship brought out. Chinatsu is a high schooler who likes to think she has good detective skills, but when she's faced with the apparent suicide of a close friend and tries to figure out what exactly transpired to cause that event, she realizes real life doesn't always provide organized clues or safe confines to run to in times of danger. Along this journey, she learns that her friend led a completely different life than the one she portrayed at school and was clearly suffering beneath her cheerful exterior. At this point, Chinatsu questions her growing closeness with Manabe, who has been suspiciously helpful to her all along.
I enjoyed the novel and its intriguing plotline and sympathized with the characters' fears, a rare feat for a one-shot. Dialogues are succinct and add to the story, whose length doesn't feel too short. No unnecessary drama ensues. Some twists you'll expect, others keep you at the edge of your seat. Artwise, another masterpiece, while the humor factor is replaced with the underlying anxiety every character faces. 9/10