A Centaur's Life - Yay or Nay?

 

A Centaur's Life is a title penned by Kei Murayama, printed by Seven Seas in English with 18 volumes currently out but nearing 20 in Japan. This slice of life series follows a Centaur named Himeno and her two friends Kyoko and Nozomi as they go to school together, check out each others vaginas and deal with things most teenagers deal with, such as life, school, family, friends, relationships, pretty much what most people go through, except more around mythical creatures and animal folks.
Does have a bit of fan service as per the Shonen expectation of the story with shojo ai themes.

Outside of the about aspect of the story which you can read on the back of the volume, let's talk about how this manga made me feel, kind of like a psychologist appointment but minus the shrink.

The art is super cute, the characters super sweet and the story and themes are a bit interesting. I really enjoyed this series and what it has to offer, considering I did stumble across the anime back when my interest in it was a bit more there, unlike now where it's a dead horse. I also like the aspect of the fact that it doesn't revolve around humans which gives a bit of variety compared to some series which is basically different names but similar themes and stories.
So far, I love Himeno the most, she is such a sweet character that I just wish to be friends with cause she seems like that really kind friend that you just want to hang out with and possibly eat sweets while talking about boys or school.

It's definitely as series I loved to get but volume 1 is a bit of a pain to get while the rest are currently pricey thanks to the pandemic. Then again, it is an older Seven Seas title, which is notorious for being difficult to find new and sometimes even so when secondhand. 

This story has indirectly influenced my creation of a Centaur character for a future campaign, despite having level restrictions, I still am going to pull it off, it seems like quite a fun character to play as.
So, yes, want this series but it will be a pain in the buttocks to get but it will have to wait till more series get completed since my list is forever growing.

You can procure this series from: Book Depository 

VERDICT: Yay~!

I am Alice - Yay or Nay?

 

Ever wanted to read a series where Alice in Wonderland crossed over with Wizard of Oz? Want some body switching between a girl named Alice and a boy named Makoto? Then said guy in girls body basically  has a harem of hot guys from the world of Alice in Wonderland? How about Alice loving weapons? Then this is your kind of series!

Printed by Seven Seas back in 2014, this series penned by Ayumi Kanou and Visualworks, this shojo harem with a Gender Bender spin about a boy sucked into a book where he literally hits head with Alice and becomes her. It is complete both in print and digital within 3 volumes.

Basically, boy sucked into book, hits girl, trades places with girl and discovers the  world he is in, is no longer beautiful, with monsters running around with a corrupt King of Hearts. In order to restore it back to it's former glory, Makoto and Alice teams up with an assortment of characters who are very handsome men, some include March Hare and Mad Hatter.

When I first read this, it reminded me so much of the Alice in the country of X series.
How? Let me name a few that is similar, the cast of great looking guys as characters from Alice in Wonderland, all seem to have some sort of attraction to the Alice characters, they somewhat travel together and the harem themes.
How are they different? Alice in this series loves weapons of any kind, the Wizard of Oz vibes but instead of the Wicked Witch, we have a Wicked King and the addition of a male character, gender bend and the fact that the characters, in the end, may return home or maybe not, I haven't finished this series as of yet.

I really enjoyed the art, it is very cute, it definitely has the shojo vibes which I seem to be enjoying of late cause it's great to have those cute series that warms the cockles of the heart, pity we lack a lot of shojo these days unlike back when the companies weren't having a great time due to it being such a niche hobby compared to now.

I somewhat enjoyed the characters and story but being a first volume, I cannot completely say that I hate it but I fear it may be a bit rushed cause being a short series and all, since a lot of short ones end up feeling like that. I mean, Mad Hatter feels the same no matter what I read, which is a pity. Same with March Hare but Cheshire Cat, Dormouse and Tweedle Dum don't feel like the cliche that I got from other works and it was great, especially since Dormouse seems to have a bigger role in this series, despite being a sleepy head who is rather indifferent about things.

The story itself is, like I said, a mix between Alice in Wonderland of the aspect of going to another world with the eccentric cast from the series with Wizard of Oz as Alice and Makoto ends up travelling to meet King of Hearts to fix a problem and get back home, along the way, gaining a party of said eccentrics to deal with monsters and other challenges as they deal with their own agendas that may or may not have anything to do with the main characters tasks.

I do confess I have a weak spot for the Kings valet, who you see at the end of the first volume, yes, it's probably the glasses, it's a weakness, like catnip to cats. Besides, you find out who he really is near the end of the volume too and I was like "KNEW IT!" when I found out. I mean, it is kind of obvious who it could be by just the cast I just mentioned.

This is a yay but nay  kind of series for me.
I'd like to have it but due to age and the fact that it's a Seven Seas title, like Alice in the Country of X, I'd probably have to get it secondhand due to possibly being an arse or expensive to buy brand new. It does not boast confidence within me, so as bad as this sounds, if I can find it cheap and as a complete set, I'd probably get it that way, it's not a series I'd actively seek despite enjoying it as much as I did.
Doesn't help it too much when I have a few series similar to it but it's still a nice edition to a collection.

You can get it here: Book Depository

VERDICT: Maybe - it's a yay if I can find the lot easily.

Nana to Kaoru Appreciation Post

 

Anyone who knows me knows that this is a series I wished was translated into English so I could feel more supportive of the industry, that and how much I have adored this series since I first read it.

Now I gave up with waiting. I decided to hell with it and get the Japanese editions of Nana and Kaoru (Nana to Kaoru), also grabbed Black Label and Last Year as well cause might as well get as much as this series as I possibly could.

There is no regrets here but I now feel a drive to actually better what little Japanese I know into an ability that would allow myself to fully immerse into my favourite series.

I do plan to buy other series that companies either won’t print or license into English cause why should I keep waiting for something when I can support the original publication? Also, there is something about owning the original form of a manga in it’s original language.

It doesn’t help that these are absolutely gorgeous and I am in love with them. It's a pity that you can't get these in English but you can basically get them in German, French and I think Spanish, so quite a few European countries. Heck, I noticed it gets asked for quite a bit and I wish it got noticed cause despite the S&M themes, it's a rather cute series that focuses on relationships and personal growth and development as well as giving a much better view of how S&M and BDSM works, unlike the other series that got printed which didn't start off with consent, looking at you Pleasure and Corruption. Don't get me wrong, Pleasure and Corruption is not a bad series but it's not a great representation of Bondage either. 

So, Nana to Kaoru (Nana and Kaoru) is an 18 volume series by Ryuta Amazume where it's about a 17yo Kaoru who has a love for S&M and Bondage, who is in love with his childhood friend Nana, not only that but he imagines doing such things with her. Until one day his mother hid his gear with Nana to try and get him to study. Nana, who is having a rut with her studies, decided to peek into the bag, she pulls out the leather one-piece and tries it on, pondering why it seems to fit her, without realising she accidentally locks herself into it, of course, she doesn't have the key! Embarrassed, she goes to the one person who can get her out of it, Kaoru. This starts a S&M comedy about a boy and a girl who uses these themes as a way to develop themselves and their relationships, not just around them, but between themselves.

It has a lot of ecchi and fan service in it but the one aspect I love the most is the romantic and slice of life themes that the story embodies. It's just a pity people see it and go "ewww" without reading it. Sure, it has some strong themes (urinating in public, bondage, pet play) but it also focuses and shows the development of relationships and characters within the story. It starts off like a cliche but it becomes something so sweet and sensual that it's an utter shame that this doesn't have an English print.

Though, now I don't care if it does get one (if it does, I'd get it just to sit with the Japanese) but I am super thrilled to have this series thanks to my partners help, he knew how long I wanted these and we finally found two sellers that had the lot. I am eternally grateful for having a series I love. It's the year of dreams coming true~!