S, Volume 2: A Love Bite

Detective Shiiba Masaki has been working with his S (an informant with ties to the yakuza), Munechika Keigo, and is starting to fall for him. Meanwhile, he takes on a new assignment, helping a colleague of his, Nagakura, who has his own problems related to S work.

I enjoyed this a lot better than the first volume. There's far less info-dumping and the detective plot is more interesting as well. In particular, the introductions of Nagakura and Mao give us another perspective on a detective and his S, and I really wished there was more to their story. Having this second pair as a comparison, it really makes Shiiba and Munechika's relationship seem quite reckless, and S work an incredibly risky endeavour.

There's more character development show more as well, although as with the first volume, I feel like while the author does sometimes stray beyond the typical yaoi characterizations, she never goes too far. However, there's a certain scene between Shiiba and Munechika at the end of the 6th chapter which reveals another side of Munechika which I really did not like. I mean, I guess I shouldn't be surprised since this is a typical yaoi development, but I'm really disappointed to see it in this story, especially when it seemed like the author was beginning to step outside of the usual tropes. Aside from that scene, though, this was a quite a good read and a pleasant surprise after a lackluster first volume. show less

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. Munechika's character kind of did a 180, chalked up to "frustration" and it was just inappropriate for the cause and the character. Also, Shiiba is getting annoying with his whole identity crisis and toxic masculinity. It's a common yaoi trope - "gay for only you" - but Shiiba's inner monologues about it all instead of just having an actual conversation with Munechika is frustrating for both Munechika and the reader.
These are easy reads with an interesting premise so I'm blasting through them quicker than I normally would with books but I think I'll be done after the 3rd one if the characters don't develop a little more.