This Manga, above all, is an EPIC LOVE story. I suggest it for mature readers not only because of its sexual content but also due to the presence of mature themes such as death, betrayal, and sacrifice, which a mature audience might appreciate more deeply.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Manga as it was immensely satisfying to witness the relationship between Kyo and Misao evolve. Their backstory was incredibly sweet. It's refreshing to see their love conveyed through actions rather than mere words. If you truly loved someone, wouldn't you want to be with them constantly, touch them, kiss them, and plan your future with them at the forefront of your mind? That's precisely what unfolds here, and it's beautiful to read while empathizing with their struggles through these thoughts.
Kyo is a man of few words, yet his actions speak volumes about how much he loves Misao. He can be somewhat childish and jealous, but this kind of male character doesn't bother me since I believe it's very realistic to feel that way when you love someone so deeply. It was amusing to see Kyo get jealous, and the lengths he went to sometimes to make Misao jealous were hilarious. At no point does he hit her, attempt to rape her, or bully her, so I don't understand why he is often labeled as an ASS. He loves her and protects her! He teases her for fun, which adds to much of their banter throughout the manga. Again, it's very realistic for couples to joke, tease, and play around with each other.
Misao is not weak. Yes, she is protected by nearly all the male characters in the manga, but SHE HAS NO POWERS! She must be protected when attacked by demons. How could she fight back? She's a 16-year-old HUMAN girl without powers! Nevertheless, there's a moment in the story where she does fight back, which is highly admirable!
She is depicted crying frequently, but this isn't because she's weak. She cries because she's scared (Wouldn't you be if demons were constantly trying to kill and eat you?) She cries because she's compassionate, understanding the hardships that Kyo, her friends, and even her enemies have endured. She cries because she's AWARE of her own inability to assist those around her. The fact that she's AWARE of all this is refreshing. Additionally, she doesn't instantly fall in love with Kyo upon his arrival (I detest girls who do that), and she aids him through some challenging family and political issues in his village, so she isn't perpetually the damsel in distress.
Their struggle to be together forms the central theme driving the story's progression, but there's also some solid action and an intriguing plot surrounding Kyo as the head of his clan. The final ARC is the most EPIC and heart-wrenching but SO worth it. I couldn't stop reading and was on the edge of my seat until the very end.
There are also profound side characters with fascinating backstories, and even the villains aren't merely bad guys. There's considerable depth in this anime, making it challenging to grasp fully the first time around. However, I've read it three times, and every time I re-read it, I learn and notice subtle hints about characters and the story that I missed before.
If you're ready for a genuinely satisfying love story that transcends saying "I love you," holding hands, and ending with a kiss, then this is it!
Story:
I appreciate the approach taken in the manga. It strikes a great balance between comedy and seriousness. I admire how the brutality is prominent yet not overwhelming, never overshadowing the dark and serious tone of the manga. The way the author transitions between themes and connects them throughout the timeline is truly impressive.
Art:
While the art may not perfectly align with my personal taste, it is still attractively rendered and certainly won't cause discomfort during long reading sessions.
Character:
I enjoy how the author has given each character their own distinct personality and depth. They aren't merely there to support the main leads, which adds diversity to the overall setting of *Black Bird*. I appreciate how these characters seem to have lives beyond the central plot.
Enjoyment:
I genuinely enjoyed this manga. I'm confident that many readers who enjoy steamy content will also find it appealing. (If you're looking for a manga filled with plenty of licking and kissing, this one is definitely worth picking up!)
Black Bird is one of those manga series that you adore initially but eventually grow to dislike as the chapters start stagnating.
Story: 7
Black Bird centers around a teenage girl, Misao, who has the ability to see spirits and entities from the underworld. One day, she encounters Kyo, a demon man. It turns out this man was the boy who once played with her during her childhood. Back then, he promised to marry her, but shortly after, he vanished. Now, he's returned to claim what he believes is rightfully his.
The narrative begins with typical shoujo elements: boy loves girl, girl feels uneasy about the perverted boy, boy relentlessly pursues girl, girl pushes him away, boy demonstrates true love through acts of protection, and gradually, the girl starts to reciprocate his feelings. This pattern continues ad infinitum.
Once the primary conflict is resolved, various subplots emerge, which can either enhance or detract from the story depending on individual perspectives. Initially, it seemed promising. The storyline revolved around the girl being attacked and subsequently rescued by the boy. She was also pursued and harassed by other men, situations in which the main character would always come to her rescue. These tropes work well if the author knows when to draw the line. However, in Black Bird, it feels like the introduction of new characters and subplots never ends, often at the expense of meaningful development for the central characters. I occasionally wish the author would cease introducing new characters and instead focus on the existing ones.
Art: 8
The artwork in this manga is undeniably attractive. Kyo, Misao's love interest, is an exceptionally handsome man. His dark demeanor coupled with a gentle face is a combination that makes many fangirls, including myself, swoon. The other male characters in the series are equally good-looking. Misao herself is very pretty; her round eyes give her an almost middle-school innocence.
Character: 7
I rated the character aspect a 7 because the author introduces an overwhelming number of characters through the subplots. Honestly, I struggle to keep track of them all. Often, newly introduced characters are forgotten in subsequent volumes or chapters. This is another significant flaw in Black Bird.
Enjoyment: 8
I must admit, I genuinely enjoy this manga. Kyo's romantic yet cruel chivalry elicits excited reactions from me during his intimate scenes with Misao. There are certainly some passionate moments in this manga, though nothing overly graphic. I wouldn't recommend this manga to individuals uncomfortable with frequent kissing, partial nudity, sexual tension, and even occasional blood.
If you're okay with these themes, then by all means, dive right in!
The story began so promisingly! I wish it had maintained that momentum for longer. It featured an intriguing storyline and mystery. However, once the school setting ceased to be the primary backdrop, the quality started to decline. The portrayal of six-year-olds was perplexing, as many others have noted—the excessive crying was particularly jarring. There were also numerous side stories (like the 60.5 chapters, which occasionally felt cute but mostly interrupted dramatic moments in the main narrative). That said, I appreciated the art style, especially how distinct each character appeared. I wished for more female characters, as I felt the protagonist was too isolated, lacking female guidance and support beyond her boyfriend.
<br />
My favorite part was when the school friends finally met the boyfriend.
<p>
Story (3): A 16-year-old girl can see spirits, and a demon falls in love with her. It turns out this demon is her childhood friend. The guy forces the girl to fall for him to save his race or else face doom... blah blah blah.
Art (5-6): The art is decent, not the worst I've seen. I've definitely seen better, but it's not necessarily painful to look at.
Character (1): Oh god, don't even get me started on the characters... Misao is an incredibly whiny, pathetic crybaby. She has to be one of the weakest female characters I have ever seen or read about. Yeah, sure, she's going through a lot, but seriously, she needs to get over it and stop being so damn insecure. She is the very reason why I'm considering dropping this manga. I seriously hope she dies or at least toughens up and stops crying every other two pages. Kyo is just a pervert stalker who often tries to molest her. Yeah, he's trying to protect her, but wtf. And I don't really remember any of the other characters due to their lack of importance.
Enjoyment (2): It started out decently enough, but as I'm getting further along, Misao is becoming more and more irritating and even more of a whiny crybaby than before. I'm finding it physically and mentally painful to proceed any further in this manga. And I hate dropping things; I usually try to finish them.
Overall (2): Reading this has probably been equivalent to jumping off a cliff onto sharp jagged rocks and somehow surviving, while slowly lying there and bleeding out to death. I'm sure I would prefer that way more than having to get through one more chapter of this crap.
Hmm, what can I say about Black Bird? Words escape me, yet here I am. Black Bird is the kind of story that typically I would relish (genre-wise), but somehow it just didn't resonate with me. It takes all the less appealing aspects of shoujo stories and bundles them together. Despite this, I still wanted to see it through to the end, which must indicate something about the manga, though I'm uncertain exactly what that is.
Story (4): The narrative was rather "meh." It's not the worst I've encountered, but there wasn't much substance to it. It was highly predictable. After reading about half of the story, I already had a good idea of what was coming next.
Art (6): I found the artwork to be fairly attractive. While it's not extraordinary or particularly memorable, it's clean and easy to follow. However, I wasn't fond of how large Misao's eyes were—they sometimes seemed to take up half her face. Additionally, I didn't care for most of her outfits. The art is decent, but it isn't strong enough to compensate for the weak storyline.
Characters (3): The characters were the weakest link in this story. Misao lacks agency. It seems she rarely makes any decisions independently. Without giving too much away, the only time she appears to "decide" anything for herself, it's more like accepting the inevitable rather than making an actual choice. Throughout most of the manga, I couldn't help but think how much simpler things would be if Misao simply disappeared. It's not that I wished harm upon her... but I kind of did. Her infantilization was unsettling. She cried on almost every other page—excessive even by shoujo standards. I also never understood why Misao and Kyou loved each other. Misao doesn't have much personality, and Kyou spends most of his time with a poker face. It was frustrating that all of the "Great 8" were male. In one of the omake segments about the mangaka's life, she mentioned an editor suggesting that one of the Great 8 should be female, but the idea was rejected. Why? I really don't get it. The only female characters are Misao, her mother, her two friends, Kyou's cousin, Kyou's mother, Shou's female sidekick (who vanishes once no longer relevant to the plot), and the fox head's girlfriend (also disappears without explanation). There's also a girl in a side story (Zenki's sister), but she isn't part of the main BB plot since she has her own storyline. Many characters are introduced, left undeveloped, and then forgotten. They weren't even "put on a bus"; they just vanished.
In my view, characters are the cornerstone of any story. If you don't care about the characters, why should you care about their fate? I didn't care about the characters in BB, so the story lacked engagement for me.
Enjoyment (5): I believe fans of Twilight might appreciate this kind of story. There are many similarities. Misao is VERY LIKE BELLA, and not in a positive way. I read until the end because I wanted to know the outcome. It's akin to eating a box of chocolates, hoping at least one will be satisfying, and then feeling ill afterward because you consumed too much sugar, and none of them were good. I hoped Misao would finally do something other than being rescued and hating herself, but it never happened.
To be honest, I don't recommend this manga. I wanted it to be good, and I wanted to enjoy it, but it fell short in numerous ways. The notes from the mangaka included in each volume are heartwarming, and it's clear she put in a lot of effort, but ultimately, it was quite disappointing.
I've read the manga numerous times, hoping my perspective would shift. As I read mangas online, I haven't completed the series yet. However, I've made it through chapter 35 or thereabouts.
I genuinely can't stand Misao. I won't bother summarizing it since the summary is already out there. But let me tell you, I really hate Misao. "Kyo-kun! Kyo-kun! Oh! Kyo-kun!" Honestly, she drives me up the wall. She's feeble. She doesn't contribute anything other than being the damsel in distress and the "Holy Fruit." If you read it, you'll see what I mean. I feel that most female protagonists in Shoujo mangas—though there are a few exceptions—give an inaccurate portrayal of women in general. Not all women are weak, useless, cry endlessly, and depend solely on some impossibly attractive guy. But honestly, I just don't like her.
And it's not only her. I also dislike the story's plot. It has its interesting moments, and I was only reading it for Kyo because he's actually likable, but the plot itself feels lackluster.
So yeah... I didn't really enjoy it. Still, I recommend it anyway because I'm the kind of person who doesn't appreciate characters like that, but others might. So at least it's worth a try.
Let me start by expressing how I feel about this manga. This is potentially the best manga I have ever read. I realize others might strongly disagree, but when I delve into this manga, it resonates deeply with my soul. The storyline can be a little confusing at times for me, but it always evolves into something comprehensible. The artwork isn't overly intricate like in some other manga where there's so much detail in one section that it becomes overwhelming and interrupts my reading flow. Instead, the art here is beautiful and simple.
I think the characters are fantastic. While some may critique the behavior of the male characters in this series, I personally adore how seductive, forceful, yet gentle the main character (Kyo) is. I genuinely enjoy reading this series. What initially drew me in was the stunning artwork on the front cover. I actually started with Volume 2 because I saw the cover and thought to myself, "That looks like an amazing manga." Now, I'm actively building my collection of the series and have just purchased the latest volume, which is Volume 11.
Anyway, that's a bit off-topic. But if you're into those heartfelt, cute, and slightly awkward manga stories that you'd probably be embarrassed to show your mom, then this is definitely the manga for you. <p>
The standout aspect of Black Bird for me was my adoration for all the side characters. In comparison, I rarely felt much for Misao and Kyo unless it was during a cute moment between them. I genuinely wish Sagami and Ayame could have their own manga. The daitengu each had fascinating backstories that could easily have been expanded into their own tales. However, I'm glad they weren't spun off as they significantly enhanced the Black Bird experience, making it far more enjoyable.
The tengu orphanage babies are absolutely delightful in every way. Misao's parents are also top-notch!
I appreciated how the story shed a realistic light on the complexities of a human falling in love with a supernatural species. Many chapters depict Misao grappling with whether she's ready to give up seeing her family and friends so freely to move with the Tengus.
I detested Kyo's manipulative, obsessively rude moments, like wanting to force his partner to watch him kill someone. I also disliked Misao at times for listening to him! Why would she make herself watch that? She cried excessively, more than seems humanly possible.
I empathize with Kyo's brother's loneliness, but it doesn't excuse his prior behavior. This manga has one major issue: Rape/sexual assault moments are never acceptable! No matter how nice someone is afterward or over the next 600 chapters, attempting to rape someone, even the Senka, is wrong.
Raikou (he's a legendary Pokémon, by the way) needed to back off from Misao. That's all there is to say about that.
Conclusion:
If you dislike this manga for its story, you'll likely enjoy it for its characters, primarily the side ones, though the main characters have their moments too. Some of the kissing scenes are sweet.
The smutty scenes are relatively easy to skim over, so they're not a significant concern. The blood isn't overly gory unless limbs are detached, and only arms get detached! I do feel uneasy when Misao tries to cut her wrists or there's talk about drinking her blood.
The story is also incredibly humorous! Some of Misao's expressions leave me in stitches. One of my favorites is when she meets Sagami's wife, or when Kyo knees Zenki in the face. My absolute favorite is when Misao outsmarts a mean, former orphan girl in a rare shining moment.
One thing to note—if the almost-rape moments don't completely deter you, a later scene that could be seen as child abuse might. With context, it's understandable but still unsettling.
Overall, due to some smutty scenes, I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but it is an intriguing read. I finished it within a week because I was binge-reading it. The story will definitely keep you turning pages!
I really enjoy this series. It strikes a great balance between romance and humor, and the artwork is stunning.
Personally, I have a soft spot for passionate romances with a strong, protective male lead. While I appreciated the storyline, the reason I rated it an 8 overall is simply because the plot isn't particularly original, though it remains entertaining to me! If you're into romance with some suggestive moments, this is worth checking out. Viz labels it as "Teen plus," and I concur—it's not quite "adult," but it's worth noting that some teenagers might find it a bit "sexual." To be clear, there are no explicit scenes, but it's still evident when things go beyond a kiss.
I discovered this manga after reading Kamisama Hajimemashita. It presents a completely different perspective — while the main pairing in Kamisama involved the fox and the human, here we have the tengu and the human. Initially, I was enjoying it, but I couldn't get past chapter 20 without becoming frustrated by what felt like regression, especially since I had read Kamisama first.
Lesson of the day: Don't read both Kamisama Hajimemashita and this one back-to-back. If you're planning to read both, start with Black Bird instead.
In my opinion, I prefer Tengu over Youki/Kitsume — which is why I found the beginning of this manga more enjoyable compared to Kamisama.
Popular Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this Manga as it was immensely satisfying to witness the relationship between Kyo and Misao evolve. Their backstory was incredibly sweet. It's refreshing to see their love conveyed through actions rather than mere words. If you truly loved someone, wouldn't you want to be with them constantly, touch them, kiss them, and plan your future with them at the forefront of your mind? That's precisely what unfolds here, and it's beautiful to read while empathizing with their struggles through these thoughts.
Kyo is a man of few words, yet his actions speak volumes about how much he loves Misao. He can be somewhat childish and jealous, but this kind of male character doesn't bother me since I believe it's very realistic to feel that way when you love someone so deeply. It was amusing to see Kyo get jealous, and the lengths he went to sometimes to make Misao jealous were hilarious. At no point does he hit her, attempt to rape her, or bully her, so I don't understand why he is often labeled as an ASS. He loves her and protects her! He teases her for fun, which adds to much of their banter throughout the manga. Again, it's very realistic for couples to joke, tease, and play around with each other.
Misao is not weak. Yes, she is protected by nearly all the male characters in the manga, but SHE HAS NO POWERS! She must be protected when attacked by demons. How could she fight back? She's a 16-year-old HUMAN girl without powers! Nevertheless, there's a moment in the story where she does fight back, which is highly admirable!
She is depicted crying frequently, but this isn't because she's weak. She cries because she's scared (Wouldn't you be if demons were constantly trying to kill and eat you?) She cries because she's compassionate, understanding the hardships that Kyo, her friends, and even her enemies have endured. She cries because she's AWARE of her own inability to assist those around her. The fact that she's AWARE of all this is refreshing. Additionally, she doesn't instantly fall in love with Kyo upon his arrival (I detest girls who do that), and she aids him through some challenging family and political issues in his village, so she isn't perpetually the damsel in distress.
Their struggle to be together forms the central theme driving the story's progression, but there's also some solid action and an intriguing plot surrounding Kyo as the head of his clan. The final ARC is the most EPIC and heart-wrenching but SO worth it. I couldn't stop reading and was on the edge of my seat until the very end.
There are also profound side characters with fascinating backstories, and even the villains aren't merely bad guys. There's considerable depth in this anime, making it challenging to grasp fully the first time around. However, I've read it three times, and every time I re-read it, I learn and notice subtle hints about characters and the story that I missed before.
If you're ready for a genuinely satisfying love story that transcends saying "I love you," holding hands, and ending with a kiss, then this is it!
I appreciate the approach taken in the manga. It strikes a great balance between comedy and seriousness. I admire how the brutality is prominent yet not overwhelming, never overshadowing the dark and serious tone of the manga. The way the author transitions between themes and connects them throughout the timeline is truly impressive.
Art:
While the art may not perfectly align with my personal taste, it is still attractively rendered and certainly won't cause discomfort during long reading sessions.
Character:
I enjoy how the author has given each character their own distinct personality and depth. They aren't merely there to support the main leads, which adds diversity to the overall setting of *Black Bird*. I appreciate how these characters seem to have lives beyond the central plot.
Enjoyment:
I genuinely enjoyed this manga. I'm confident that many readers who enjoy steamy content will also find it appealing. (If you're looking for a manga filled with plenty of licking and kissing, this one is definitely worth picking up!)
Story: 7
Black Bird centers around a teenage girl, Misao, who has the ability to see spirits and entities from the underworld. One day, she encounters Kyo, a demon man. It turns out this man was the boy who once played with her during her childhood. Back then, he promised to marry her, but shortly after, he vanished. Now, he's returned to claim what he believes is rightfully his.
The narrative begins with typical shoujo elements: boy loves girl, girl feels uneasy about the perverted boy, boy relentlessly pursues girl, girl pushes him away, boy demonstrates true love through acts of protection, and gradually, the girl starts to reciprocate his feelings. This pattern continues ad infinitum.
Once the primary conflict is resolved, various subplots emerge, which can either enhance or detract from the story depending on individual perspectives. Initially, it seemed promising. The storyline revolved around the girl being attacked and subsequently rescued by the boy. She was also pursued and harassed by other men, situations in which the main character would always come to her rescue. These tropes work well if the author knows when to draw the line. However, in Black Bird, it feels like the introduction of new characters and subplots never ends, often at the expense of meaningful development for the central characters. I occasionally wish the author would cease introducing new characters and instead focus on the existing ones.
Art: 8
The artwork in this manga is undeniably attractive. Kyo, Misao's love interest, is an exceptionally handsome man. His dark demeanor coupled with a gentle face is a combination that makes many fangirls, including myself, swoon. The other male characters in the series are equally good-looking. Misao herself is very pretty; her round eyes give her an almost middle-school innocence.
Character: 7
I rated the character aspect a 7 because the author introduces an overwhelming number of characters through the subplots. Honestly, I struggle to keep track of them all. Often, newly introduced characters are forgotten in subsequent volumes or chapters. This is another significant flaw in Black Bird.
Enjoyment: 8
I must admit, I genuinely enjoy this manga. Kyo's romantic yet cruel chivalry elicits excited reactions from me during his intimate scenes with Misao. There are certainly some passionate moments in this manga, though nothing overly graphic. I wouldn't recommend this manga to individuals uncomfortable with frequent kissing, partial nudity, sexual tension, and even occasional blood.
If you're okay with these themes, then by all means, dive right in!
<br />
My favorite part was when the school friends finally met the boyfriend.
<p>
Art (5-6): The art is decent, not the worst I've seen. I've definitely seen better, but it's not necessarily painful to look at.
Character (1): Oh god, don't even get me started on the characters... Misao is an incredibly whiny, pathetic crybaby. She has to be one of the weakest female characters I have ever seen or read about. Yeah, sure, she's going through a lot, but seriously, she needs to get over it and stop being so damn insecure. She is the very reason why I'm considering dropping this manga. I seriously hope she dies or at least toughens up and stops crying every other two pages. Kyo is just a pervert stalker who often tries to molest her. Yeah, he's trying to protect her, but wtf. And I don't really remember any of the other characters due to their lack of importance.
Enjoyment (2): It started out decently enough, but as I'm getting further along, Misao is becoming more and more irritating and even more of a whiny crybaby than before. I'm finding it physically and mentally painful to proceed any further in this manga. And I hate dropping things; I usually try to finish them.
Overall (2): Reading this has probably been equivalent to jumping off a cliff onto sharp jagged rocks and somehow surviving, while slowly lying there and bleeding out to death. I'm sure I would prefer that way more than having to get through one more chapter of this crap.
<p>
Story (4): The narrative was rather "meh." It's not the worst I've encountered, but there wasn't much substance to it. It was highly predictable. After reading about half of the story, I already had a good idea of what was coming next.
Art (6): I found the artwork to be fairly attractive. While it's not extraordinary or particularly memorable, it's clean and easy to follow. However, I wasn't fond of how large Misao's eyes were—they sometimes seemed to take up half her face. Additionally, I didn't care for most of her outfits. The art is decent, but it isn't strong enough to compensate for the weak storyline.
Characters (3): The characters were the weakest link in this story. Misao lacks agency. It seems she rarely makes any decisions independently. Without giving too much away, the only time she appears to "decide" anything for herself, it's more like accepting the inevitable rather than making an actual choice. Throughout most of the manga, I couldn't help but think how much simpler things would be if Misao simply disappeared. It's not that I wished harm upon her... but I kind of did. Her infantilization was unsettling. She cried on almost every other page—excessive even by shoujo standards. I also never understood why Misao and Kyou loved each other. Misao doesn't have much personality, and Kyou spends most of his time with a poker face. It was frustrating that all of the "Great 8" were male. In one of the omake segments about the mangaka's life, she mentioned an editor suggesting that one of the Great 8 should be female, but the idea was rejected. Why? I really don't get it. The only female characters are Misao, her mother, her two friends, Kyou's cousin, Kyou's mother, Shou's female sidekick (who vanishes once no longer relevant to the plot), and the fox head's girlfriend (also disappears without explanation). There's also a girl in a side story (Zenki's sister), but she isn't part of the main BB plot since she has her own storyline. Many characters are introduced, left undeveloped, and then forgotten. They weren't even "put on a bus"; they just vanished.
In my view, characters are the cornerstone of any story. If you don't care about the characters, why should you care about their fate? I didn't care about the characters in BB, so the story lacked engagement for me.
Enjoyment (5): I believe fans of Twilight might appreciate this kind of story. There are many similarities. Misao is VERY LIKE BELLA, and not in a positive way. I read until the end because I wanted to know the outcome. It's akin to eating a box of chocolates, hoping at least one will be satisfying, and then feeling ill afterward because you consumed too much sugar, and none of them were good. I hoped Misao would finally do something other than being rescued and hating herself, but it never happened.
To be honest, I don't recommend this manga. I wanted it to be good, and I wanted to enjoy it, but it fell short in numerous ways. The notes from the mangaka included in each volume are heartwarming, and it's clear she put in a lot of effort, but ultimately, it was quite disappointing.
I genuinely can't stand Misao. I won't bother summarizing it since the summary is already out there. But let me tell you, I really hate Misao. "Kyo-kun! Kyo-kun! Oh! Kyo-kun!" Honestly, she drives me up the wall. She's feeble. She doesn't contribute anything other than being the damsel in distress and the "Holy Fruit." If you read it, you'll see what I mean. I feel that most female protagonists in Shoujo mangas—though there are a few exceptions—give an inaccurate portrayal of women in general. Not all women are weak, useless, cry endlessly, and depend solely on some impossibly attractive guy. But honestly, I just don't like her.
And it's not only her. I also dislike the story's plot. It has its interesting moments, and I was only reading it for Kyo because he's actually likable, but the plot itself feels lackluster.
So yeah... I didn't really enjoy it. Still, I recommend it anyway because I'm the kind of person who doesn't appreciate characters like that, but others might. So at least it's worth a try.
I think the characters are fantastic. While some may critique the behavior of the male characters in this series, I personally adore how seductive, forceful, yet gentle the main character (Kyo) is. I genuinely enjoy reading this series. What initially drew me in was the stunning artwork on the front cover. I actually started with Volume 2 because I saw the cover and thought to myself, "That looks like an amazing manga." Now, I'm actively building my collection of the series and have just purchased the latest volume, which is Volume 11.
Anyway, that's a bit off-topic. But if you're into those heartfelt, cute, and slightly awkward manga stories that you'd probably be embarrassed to show your mom, then this is definitely the manga for you. <p>
The tengu orphanage babies are absolutely delightful in every way. Misao's parents are also top-notch!
I appreciated how the story shed a realistic light on the complexities of a human falling in love with a supernatural species. Many chapters depict Misao grappling with whether she's ready to give up seeing her family and friends so freely to move with the Tengus.
I detested Kyo's manipulative, obsessively rude moments, like wanting to force his partner to watch him kill someone. I also disliked Misao at times for listening to him! Why would she make herself watch that? She cried excessively, more than seems humanly possible.
I empathize with Kyo's brother's loneliness, but it doesn't excuse his prior behavior. This manga has one major issue: Rape/sexual assault moments are never acceptable! No matter how nice someone is afterward or over the next 600 chapters, attempting to rape someone, even the Senka, is wrong.
Raikou (he's a legendary Pokémon, by the way) needed to back off from Misao. That's all there is to say about that.
Conclusion:
If you dislike this manga for its story, you'll likely enjoy it for its characters, primarily the side ones, though the main characters have their moments too. Some of the kissing scenes are sweet.
The smutty scenes are relatively easy to skim over, so they're not a significant concern. The blood isn't overly gory unless limbs are detached, and only arms get detached! I do feel uneasy when Misao tries to cut her wrists or there's talk about drinking her blood.
The story is also incredibly humorous! Some of Misao's expressions leave me in stitches. One of my favorites is when she meets Sagami's wife, or when Kyo knees Zenki in the face. My absolute favorite is when Misao outsmarts a mean, former orphan girl in a rare shining moment.
One thing to note—if the almost-rape moments don't completely deter you, a later scene that could be seen as child abuse might. With context, it's understandable but still unsettling.
Overall, due to some smutty scenes, I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but it is an intriguing read. I finished it within a week because I was binge-reading it. The story will definitely keep you turning pages!
Personally, I have a soft spot for passionate romances with a strong, protective male lead. While I appreciated the storyline, the reason I rated it an 8 overall is simply because the plot isn't particularly original, though it remains entertaining to me! If you're into romance with some suggestive moments, this is worth checking out. Viz labels it as "Teen plus," and I concur—it's not quite "adult," but it's worth noting that some teenagers might find it a bit "sexual." To be clear, there are no explicit scenes, but it's still evident when things go beyond a kiss.
<p>
The artwork is stunningly beautiful. The characters are incredibly appealing (reminds me of the Host Club).
The storyline is quite captivating. The concept is refreshingly unique.
The protagonist is very relatable and ordinary.
There are numerous suggestive scenes that add to the enjoyment.
In short, this manga is incredibly sexy, and I highly recommend giving it a read.
Lesson of the day: Don't read both Kamisama Hajimemashita and this one back-to-back. If you're planning to read both, start with Black Bird instead.
In my opinion, I prefer Tengu over Youki/Kitsume — which is why I found the beginning of this manga more enjoyable compared to Kamisama.
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