Kanoko Sakurakoji

The dramatic tension was really racheted-up a notch with this volume, along with the pressure placed on Kyo to wed and bed (emphasis on the later) Misao. Kyo agrees to take Misao back home to his village with him, even though they both understand that if they do not fulfill the prophetic "joining" than Kyo could be removed from his position as Lord of the Tengu and replaced with his traitorous (and probably insane) older brother Sho. In an attempt to thwart this, the Eight Daitengu (sort of show more a bodyguard for Kyo) and Kyo devise a plan to reveal Sho as the insane (and thus completely unsuitable candidate for clan leadership). However, it doesn't go as planned, leaving both Misao and the entire Tengu Clan in mortal peril!

*** I greatly enjoyed this volume, the cliff-hanger ending forced me to immediately move on to Volume 6! The tension, both personal and professional (the rivalry for the position as a sort of CEO of the Tengu Clan is similar) for Kyo and Misao was very well-written. I really liked that though their relationship was a focal point of the story, it really wasn't in the forefront of the volume. The political machinations of Kyo and the Eight Daitengu against Sho was awesome! Also, Sagami's wife, is hilarious in her response to Sagami's return to the village (along with everyone's response to the scene, "Look up!")

*** The humor was another strong point to this volume. show less

Dear Reader,

After finishing four books in the Black Bird series, I’ve come to understand something about Kanoko Sakurakouji: She’s a damn sadist. She loves those horrible cliffhangers that make a reader want to face plant a desk. And yet I can’t get enough!

I really can’t.

I just sjdsfhdsfdldhfg *sob* I’m so addicted it’s painful.

I need to learn her secrets.

❥ ❥ ❥

*breathes deeply* I will try to finish this review without spontaneously combusting.

Some things you should know show more about the fourth volume of Black Bird:
1.It starts with a nice and spicy make-out scene between Kyo and Misao. Nothing shows a promising read with some heavy breathing in the first scene. ©_©
2.The Tengu men are a horny bunch. Though if you’ve been reading my reviews of the previous stories, you’ve probably realized this. Just thought it was worth repeating. I’d totally get along with these dudes if they were real peeps. Why can’t fictional characters be reeaaaal? *sob*
3.After Kyo completely whoops the last Kitsune leader’s ass, a new heir to the throne appears. An heir whom happens to be Kyo’s best friend, Tadanobu. Did I mention they met when Kyo accidentally dropped his porn stash on Tadanobu’s head? It was bromance at first glance!
4.In the first two novels, Misao is this timid, shy creature that took great pleasure in slapping away Kyo’s roaming hands (and I take great pleasure watching her slap him around, it’s just too funny), but in the last couple of volumes, we see she is emerging from her timid shell, and expressing some bad-ass bravery. Stupidity as well, but let’s not pretend these two personality traits are in any way mutually exclusive.
5. Misao makes a new friend! She stumbles into one of her father’s folklore students who can also see the supernatural creatures that Misao has always been plagued by. It’s totally friends for life . . . until she meets her new friend’s boyfriend. ::sad face::
6.May cause irreversible addiction if not read in moderation. One Curvy Blogger is not responsible for any damage/fees associated with a Back Bird addiction. Read at your own risk.

Did you make any sense out of this review?

No?

Good.

Sorry not sorry.

Impatient and addicted,
☃ One Curvy Blogger
read more reviews and bookish posts @ onecurvyblogger.com show less

Now, now, I'm a sucker for these kind of manga. I love Kimitachi E (and should seriously write reviews for that manga sometime given I found it to be really worth my time), and even though this manga was an impulse buy when I casually visited a comic book store the other day, I find it was worth my time.

The plot is simple enough: Misao is a bubbly 16 year old girl in modern Japan who has a little problem: she can see ghosts and spirits and they bother her... a lot. Pretty much they chase show more after her pretty much wherever she goes, and everyone thinks she's a ditzy scuttlebrain without knowing her little secret.

On the day of her 16th birthday, the regular little ghosts that usually bothered her have been replaced by fearsome demons known as youkai who either want to kill her and eat her body to presumably become immortal, or ask her hand in marriage and bring great honor to their families.

Both decisions repulse poor Misao who pretty much got the short stick of a crappy deal.

And this is where the expected romance comes in. Kyo is a powerful yokai from a birdman demon family and he is trying to win her heart by taking advantage they used to be friends when they were children. The problem is, Misao's pleasant memories with Kyo have been seemingly erased and she only remembers the day he left her life for no apparent reason. Kyo is however too saucy and perfect to ignore for long. Incredibly hot, powerful, refined and determined to protect Misao's life at all costs, whenever she gets injured by a rogue yokai attack, he doesn't think twice before rushing to her side and uh.. licks the wounds from her body to cure her.

Huh?

Yup, this manga seems to get a bit close to the raunchy side, but the licking scenes are more for comedic effects and to increase tension because Misao doesn't know if she really loves Kyo or hates him instead.

The artwork tries to stay simple, but it expresses just what is needed. I really liked how the mangaka drew Kyo's resting kimonos. If there was only one thing that made me forfeit the 5 stars, it was that the story seemed to jump a lot into introducing new characters. I would have liked a more linear story a la Fruits Basket. It felt like the mangaka wasn't really sure if this manga was going to be a hit and wanted to move the plot forward by introducing other love rivals (and Kyo's hilarious cousin Taro who always calls Misao "Princess"), in case the comic became canned without notice.

However, this is clearly the sort of romance manga that I enjoy reading, and like always, Panini Manga has not left any space for disappointment. Good translation, quality paper and binding, all makes the relatively steep 85 MXN price tag worth it. If I find a comic book store near where I live that will be keeping up with this manga, I'll probably continue purchasing it in order to read the whole series (whoa! it has 18 volumes!). If you like manga like Kimi Tachi E and Fruits Basket, Black Bird will likely be up your alley. show less

The dramatic tension was really racheted-up a notch with this volume, along with the pressure placed on Kyo to wed and bed (emphasis on the later) Misao. Kyo agrees to take Misao back home to his village with him, even though they both understand that if they do not fulfill the prophetic "joining" than Kyo could be removed from his position as Lord of the Tengu and replaced with his traitorous (and probably insane) older brother Sho. In an attempt to thwart this, the Eight Daitengu (sort of show more a bodyguard for Kyo) and Kyo devise a plan to reveal Sho as the insane (and thus completely unsuitable candidate for clan leadership). However, it doesn't go as planned, leaving both Misao and the entire Tengu Clan in mortal peril!

*** I greatly enjoyed this volume, the cliff-hanger ending forced me to immediately move on to Volume 6! The tension, both personal and professional (the rivalry for the position as a sort of CEO of the Tengu Clan is similar) for Kyo and Misao was very well-written. I really liked that though their relationship was a focal point of the story, it really wasn't in the forefront of the volume. The political machinations of Kyo and the Eight Daitengu against Sho was awesome! Also, Sagami's wife, is hilarious in her response to Sagami's return to the village (along with everyone's response to the scene, "Look up!")

*** The humor was another strong point to this volume. show less