Honey and Clover - Yay or Nay?

 

Honey and Clover is a 10 volume series by Chica Umino, which is printed by Viz medias Shojo branch, Shojo Beat. It is a Josei series with a male protagonist driven series that is aimed at a female audience, which is not a common theme these days, which is such a pity.

I honestly don't particularly like this series despite it deviating from the norm. I don't particularly like the fact that the characters don't look their age, it really throws me off sometimes. I do like how refreshing it is to have a main character as a male, which is not often seen outside a few titles like Hatsu*Haru and My Love Story.

Not particularly fond of the art style either, maybe that's just me but it's not something I'd enjoy looking at for long periods of time. It gave me a headache at one point, could be the art or me trying to keep figuring out the story, who knows.
The characters are okay, Morita being the only outstanding one to me in the end while the others didn't really leave a lasting impact, not even the main protag had a redeeming thing about him that would make him stick out.

There is a typical love triangle trope going and it's not enticing for some reason, feels kind of forced and in some instances, kind of creepy.
Like the story seems interesting but lack of hook and how disjointed it felt made me reconsider it further. It didn't seem to flow or it reminded of someone randomly thinking back on a memory rather than how a story should feel. 
Sure it got good in some parts but it feels off, not something I'd peg for myself but others may enjoy it, so do consider looking into it.

I rather have the story follow the guys more than anything else, it would have been far more interesting, which is a huge bonus for this story since it kind of does it, in a way. It would set it apart from other Josei and Shojo series that are slowly coming out these days. Heck, the years ago there was more variety, which is such a pity it's not happening now while people are dealing with corvid and have a strong fanbase compared to when I first started.

This is probably not a series for me, it probably end up in the section of series I assumed may like if I read more but end up resenting spending so much on it. Other titles like this includes Ao Haru Ride, Sand Chronicles and We Were There, they started off good but I stopped enjoying them before long, which was such a disappointment but it can't be helped, like people, you can't like everything.
Honestly, the more I read, the less interested I had become to the extent it was basically a chore to even read said volume. I'd hate to think that if this volume felt tiring to read, I dread to think what the other 9 volumes would feel like.

You can find some copies at Book Depository

VERDICT: Nay~

Girl's Last Tour - Yay or Nay?

 

Girl's Last Tour is a post-apocalyptic manga where two young girls, named Chiro and Yuuri, whom travel their small part of the world while reflecting upon humanity since it has seems to have met it's demise in a previous war. It's a complete series with 6 volumes done by Tsukumizu, which has a printed version by Yen Press.

It's a cute series and very interesting in the aspect of two girls surviving in a world gone cold and empty but from the progression notes I have made, I wasn't won over from the beginning nor the middle, I think I concluded that I don't see myself owning it nor progressing further than reading the library copies. The sense of indifference is strong with this series indeed.

It is lacking that spark that would win my interest over and it's that something that I long for in series I wish to own, that thing that makes me want to rush out the door or to the phone where I would order it or even consider having it on my shelf. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting but I am not very interested.

 This series reminds me of School Live!, another Yen Press title, in the regards we are following young girls in a world in crisis but unlike School Live!, I didn't get into this series. I like the fact it's a bit of variety in the field of same hum dum series but I can't get pass the fact it lacks that spark for me.

The art is simple but deep.
The characters are interesting, even the thick as a brick wall character suited this theme of the story where it makes a lot of sense at the lack of education.
The story, interesting but I went on enough about it as it is.
Only parts that kill me is anything to do with heights and stuff falling from them. I couldn't stomach it and it must have helped me decide this series fate since I sense it may be a theme that may keep occurring.

You can check out the series here: Book Depository 

VERDICT: Nay for me

Beastars - Yay or Nay?

 

I know, it's shocking, a rather recent title that I actually picked up to check out compared to the others on the list, which some are fairly old while others came out in the last 5 years.

Sitting at ongoing 21 volumes in Japan with 6 out in English from the publisher Viz Media, this series is the opposite of A Centaur's Life in a way that the characters are more Anthropomorphic creatures where we follow their lives in a school slice of life shonen where herbivores and carnivores co-exisit until one decided that it's time to eat one of their prey instead of working together type of deal.

This is probably going to be a short piece since I didn't quite enjoy it as much as others do or would like me to do. Nothing against the series, it's enjoyable but not quite me.

The art throws me off and not my particular cup of tea, the story really makes up for it and I really enjoyed that and the characters, they are full of life and very interesting as they navigate a world where the rules from ours is somewhat thrown out when in regards to the hunter and prey dynamic, even though the whole issue does weigh heavily on the characters, even the rivalry or drama between species within their own groups play a role in making the story very rich.
Then again I believe the main character, whom is a wolf, would probably end up hooking up with the rabbit but that's just me guessing and totally forgetting the names of the characters. Legoshi is the wolf, right? I am, I like to play at not knowing but I did genuinely forget the Rabbit girls name. 

Honestly, I'd only consider getting this for the story but it's not something I'd rush out to get unless I do so under a deal or bundle option. It's worth checking out if you want something a bit different or want a rich but somewhat dark story.

You can get it here: Book Depository

VERDICT: Nay unless I find a deal