Rasetsu 4
Posted: February 3, 2010 Filed under: Rasetsu 2 Comments »Chika Shiomi – Viz – 2010 – 7+ volumes
Every volume of this series that I read brings me just a little bit closer to going back for Yurara. There’s not much incentive to reading the prequel, since I do not like Yako and most of what I like about this series is Rasetsu herself and the rest of the characters. But I find myself pretty pleased with every volume that I read, and I look forward to the new ones. There are still some things I don’t like about it (it’s very episodic, and while I like the stories, it feels like it would be much better if it carved out just a bit more story to tell alongside the romances and Rasetsu’s situation), but what would be huge detractions in other series are just part of Rasetsu’s charm.
I was sweating some of the early chapters in this volume. As we started to get hints of last volume, Rasetsu is leaning towards Yako. I rarely find myself in a situation where I’m not rooting for the main couple, since they are usually the best and most sympathetic characters. But… Yako is very standoffish and not nearly as charming as Kuryu, plus Kuryu is clearly taken by her. I wonder if we are supposed to know nice things about Yako that carry over from Yurara, but as it stands, he’s not the real winner between the two men in Rasetsu’s life. Kuryu is funny and very considerate, plus he’s got the best powers. It’s hard to see him get tossed aside in Rasetsu’s world in favor of Yako. But the calculating part of my brain says shoujo heroines almost always go for their first crush, and is Yako really going to come back from a series where he seems to have had his heart broken and not wind up with a happy ending? Bah. The scales balance out at the end of the volume, and I sincerely hope they are tipped in Kuryu’s favor after what happened on the last page, but things have also been set up to tip them back towards Yako. I am enjoying this way too much and am far too girly at heart.
The stories in this volume differ a little from the usual assignments. Most of them contain a lot of character development and backstory. One develops the romance between Yako and Rasetsu, one sees an increase in Yako’s power, one shows us Kuryu’s past, and another deals with Rasetsu’s demon putting in an appearance. There is only one real client, but his story feeds directly into the story of Kuryu’s past.
Great stuff. It’s still not quite A list, but I’m enjoying it immensely as a supernatural-tinged romance. I’m definitely on board til the end at this point.
This was a review copy provided by Viz.
I adore Yako so I want the EXACT OPPOSITE OF YOU. hee. Yako used to be a little more mischievous than he is now but he was always kind of stand-off-ish (but since he’s had his heart broken I’m more than willing to cut him some slack).
I find Kuryu kind of creepy because he’s made it clear he’s willing to let Yako be hurt….particularly if Rasetsu’s safety is involved (and I mean, it isn’t like Kuryu is TORN about that, he’s just clearly, “oh, Rasestu needs me right now, tough luck Yako.”)
Can’t wait to read this volume (this and Bound Beauty are my guilty pleasure supernatural-romances right now).
Haha, I figured I would probably be a bit more sympathetic to Yako if I’d known the backstory and more about his heartbreak, rather than it just sort of being mentioned offhanded like it was in this series. I think I may just wind up snagging Yurara since it’s only four volumes and I wound up liking this so much. I’d be surprised if I wound up liking Yako more, though. I’ll be honest, I sort of also like Kuryu’s “ditch-everyone-else-go-to-Rasetsu” attitude since it sort of adds to his slightly evil and cavalier attitude.
I haven’t checked out Bound Beauty yet, but I really, really need to. I’d heard Her Majesty’s Dog was really good, but the plot didn’t really sound like my kind of thing. Bound Beauty really does, though, and I’m dying to read something by that author.