Boys Next Door Reviews

Rating: ♦♦♦♦

Angst, guns, violence, sex and a computer on the moon set on destruction. Oh, and bastardized Egyptian myths. I don’t think they could have fit any other plot devices in this series if they tried. You would think with a mix like this, the story wouldn’t work, but it does. Just like every other story by Tateno. I get pulled into the eroticism of the story and it all works together.

Nozomi’s on the run after Coyote’s betrayal, but ends up getting sucked back into the intrigue and mystery surrounding Isis–the computer on the moon I mentioned. Nozomi believes that Coyote didn’t feel anything for him, but we all know that’s not true. Throw in an extremely hot sexual torture scene and you’ve got a confirmed couple ready to take on anything to save the other one–even if it means sacrificing one them to save the other.

I can’t say enough good things about this series. Like all of Tateno’s works, it grabs you viscerally and doesn’t let go. One of the best things that June has done has been to license and bring over her works!

Rating: ♦♦♦♦

I think part of the reason that I like this series so much is because Misaki is such an average guy. He’s in a position to interact with people who are not average and is bemused as to why Misaki reacts the way he does. I don’t know why it’s taken me ten volumes to come to this conclusion. Something in this volume just made it stand out very clearly to me. There was a scene where Misaki gets to meet one of his favorite manga-ka, an artist who’s drawing a series about a chef, and Misaki reacts in a sane yet fanboyish way.

It’s something I would do if I ever got the chance to meet one of my favorite artists. And, looking back on the series, I realized that what makes it so endearing is watching this average guy react to these insane situations. His normality is being skewed to match the insanity around him and he’s just struggling to keep up. It’s very cute and will keep me reading this series for a long time to come.

So, in this volume we have more family drama, Usami getting jealous, trying to make deadlines, and tons of Misaki just trying to be Misaki.

If you’re not already a fan of this series, I’m not sure what’s stopping you from giving this one a try. It’s lovely, happy and just cute enough to be endearing without crossing the line into being saccharine and overdone.

Rating: ♦♦♦♦

I must admit to being a fan of Locke’s before she was discovered by Torquere Press. Hell, I like her writing so much that some of her fan work is on BND! Anyway, enough of my fangirl babbling!

Meet Ryzel. Ryzel is an incubus. He is sexy with his long hair and unearthly stamina. Now, meet Quinlin. Quinlin is a psychically gifted human and a delightful, if bitchy, treat for Ryzel.

After a hot one-night stand, Ryzel and Quinlin can’t stop thinking about each other. It doesn’t make sense at all to either of them. Can Quinlin really be the lover of an energy-feeding sex demon? And, does he want to be? What will Ryzel have to give up to keep Quinlin by his side? Fortunately, meddling parental figures, friends and even enemies help the duo figure out what is going on between them.

Honestly, Blind Desire is devilishly fun. I wanted more, though! It seems to me like the story could’ve had more external conflict to push Ryzel and Quinlin together. The bond they share is great, but I just want more angsting. Suffering makes the sex even better, in my opinion. Not that I’m complaining about the plentiful–hey, we are talking about an incubus here–sex scenes, mind you!

Now, this is the first published piece for Locke. I think this is a great start too. There is a well thought out setting, enough humor and a generous amount of pretty boys humping in this story. Perhaps we’ll see a sequel to Blind Desire in the future?

Rating: ♦♦♦♦

I had kind of forgotten just how much I liked this series. It’s slightly insane, kinda hot and well drawn. It’s just the thing I’m looking for in a manga.

This time around, we get some of the back story of Setsu and just how it came to be that he started watching over Akio’s family. It’s kind of a creepy tale and incredibly engrossing. We also get to see some of Setsu’s struggles between his spirit side and the human face that he shows to the world around him.

Why haven’t we seen more from this artist? I would love to have more stuff like this brought over rather than stacks of school-boy fluff that are utterly forgettable. I want plot that’s more than just ‘guy meets other guy, they screw–happy ever after.’ Sadly, that’s what I see more and more of being released.

Rating: ♦♦♦♦

This was not a comfortable book to read. I don’t think many books about teenage alienation are really that comfortable. The books that ring the most true are the least comfortable to read. I know I tried to bury those feelings of confusion and insecurity, so having a writer dredge them all up again doesn’t make for the most pleasant of reading.

That’s not to say that it isn’t an engrossing read. It’s just not something to pick up when you want something light and happy or to help you forget your troubles.

The story revolves around Jeff, a young man in his freshman year of high school, who’s just starting to come to terms with his sexuality, and the relationship that blossoms between him and the star of the football team, Brett. Jeff is asked to tutor Brett. Well, asked is a bit too nice of a word. Jeff is told that he either tutors Brett or fails gym and gets turned into fresh meat for the ‘jocks’ to pick on.

Brett isn’t what Jeff expects and a friendship develops. Then, develops into something deeper than friendship. However, the town isn’t ready for people who are open about their sexuality and Brett has a lot to lose if his relationship with Jeff is made public knowledge.

It’s a sweet story, even though parts of the relationship made me a bit uncomfortable. For a good part of the story, Brett looks at Jeff as more of a devoted pet instead of a person who’s capable of making his own decisions. Their relationship does evolve and I definitely remember that slavish devotion from my time in high school. Then again, it’s not the most comfortable thing to read about.

My main problem with the writing is more of a pet peeve rather than an actual issue with the writing. When I’m reading fiction, I hate it when writers quote pop culture or make references to specific songs or TV shows. When I’m reading fiction, I have this imaginary world in my head. When the author lists a certain song that I’m familiar with, it jolts me out of my imaginary world because it doesn’t fit.

I much prefer more generalized references where I can substitute my own idea of what the characters are listening to/watching in my mind. If the author states that the characters are listening to loud, angry music, I’ll insert my own favorite flavor of loud, angry music. The authors version of loud music and mine most likely do not match.

And, that’s okay. Some people enjoy finding those pop culture references, but they drive me up the wall. I guess I would just rather use my imagination than have everything laid out for me.

All in all, it’s a sweet story and one that may just ring true to a lot of people out there.