In These Words (Yaoi Manga) (Guilt/Pleasure)

From the synopsis, I expected this to be a dark story: a serial killer is willing to talk, but only to the police psychiatrist who helped orchestrate his capture. What I didn’t expect was the violent sexual imagery (since it’s listed as yaoi, I had anticipated Asano having a lover & romance outside the case). The book opens with a prose prologue, which is unusual in manga/yaoi. However, it was an excellent tool to give the reader background to set the stage. Soon after he agrees to interview the killer, Asano begins having horrific nightmares of being violently raped by him. And the first such nightmare immediately follows the prologue, in explicit detail. Thereafter, the story shifts between the actual interviews and Asano’s nightmares – all violent, vivid and extremely graphic.

I would not classify this as yaoi because it is not a love story; not even a so-called rape fantasy. I think this manga would be better classified as horror. Though they are nightmares (and not “really” happening), the sexual situations are disturbing, and involve bloodshed. This manga is not for the faint of heart. However, the graphic rapes do fit the serial killer storyline. I gave this five stars, not as a yaoi romance, but as a horror novel. Though the ending was predictable, I am still interested in reading volume 2. Especially considering this closes on a cliffhanger. Overall, recommended to those looking for a dark, edgy manga, but those expecting romantic yaoi should consider themselves warned. ( )