Manhwa Review: Chocolat, Vol. 8 [Paperback]

I've finished "Chocolat Vol. 8" by Ji-Sang Shin and Geo.

Product Description

Kum-Ji takes pity on E-Soh and tells him where her heart truly lies. But speaking candidly with E-Soh doesn't automatically give her an opening to grow closer to E-Wan. Just when she decides that it's time for her to stop clinging to her fantasies and come back to reality, the band gets in a terrible accident. Some of the members are hurt badly, and there are fears that the band may not be able to carry on . . . Kum-Ji wants desperately to help her friends, but what can one girl do?! Find out in the long awaited conclusion of Chocolat!

About the Author

JiSang Shin and Geo are the creative team behind a number of popular manhwa titles, including Very! Very! Sweet, Chocolat, Rolling, and Sad Love Story.

Product Details
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (December 11, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316229091
ISBN-13: 978-0316229098

My Review:

Vol. 8 is an Omnibus which consists of Vols. 8, 9 and 10 in one manhwa.

Vol. 8

Kum-Ji's aunt gets married and everyone attends their wedding.  She also has a baby (he's very cute) and uses Kum-Ji as babysitter.

E-Wan becomes a model and shoots some pictures with Barbie (he makes a nice amount of money).

Wu-Hee wants to quit Yo-I because she thinks it's no longer fun but management convinces her to wait until the next album is recorded.

E-Soh bullys Wu-Hee and prevents her from quitting when she want too.

Yo-I get into a bad accident and Wu-Hee and E-Soh are hurt badly (Wu-Hee goes home to recover and E-Soh quits the band)

Kum-Ji visits E-Soh but he kicks her out (he starts spazzing out).

Vol. 9

Kum-Ji gets to see E-Wan again when he takes her to Jin's house to ask her if he should take a part in movie (though he will have to walk around naked, etc.)  She tells him if he doesn't feel comfortable then he shouldn't play the part.  He heard that she went to see E-Soh and asks how he is.

E-Wan and Barbie have a conversation and she is wondering why he refused the movie role.  He refuses to talk to her so she resorts to calling Eun-Sung on his cell phone to get E-Wan to talk to her.

E-Wan convinces Kum-Ji to help him find Wu-Hee's place (he GPS/direction prone).  They have a nice conversation with Wu-Hee and stay overnight.  E-Wan and Kum-Ji check out the stars but they are looking at each other.  The next morning they are forced to stay overnight again because of the heavy snow.

Kum-Ji confesses she like E-Soh but E-Wan was the one she wanted to sleep with (he becomes embarassed)

Wu-Hee embarasses Kum-Ji when she yells out to E-Wan that Kum-Ji's happy to stuck in the snow with him.  You can see him blushing in the chair while on his cell phone.

Kum-Ji is flustered that she goes outside and starts shoveling (not doing a good job) and E-Wan and Wu-Hee help her.  After Wu-Hee goes inside to make tea for all of them while E-Wan and Kum-Ji build a snow fort to rest.  Kum-Ji and E-Wan are lying close together when she falls asleep when he suddenly kisses her.  She punches him and they have a conversation where she accuses him of wanting to do stuff to her.  He admits he likes her and he wanted to do it so he did.

Wu-Hee visits E-Soh and convinces him to rejoin Yo-I.   E-Soh believes everyone abandoned him and he's scared of riding the bus.

Vol. 10

E-Soh rejoins Yo-I and is taking psychical therapy (he's in alot of pain since he rode his bike from where he lived).

E-Wan sent a castle he built and a journal to Kum-Ji by courier which she has to pay for.  She calls him on his cell but he doesn't pick up (he's driving) and she's getting upset.  She walks into a sign which E-Wan witnesses and they go to a park to talk.  They have a serious conversation and he convinces her he likes her.  They are now a couple.

E-Wan informs E-Soh that he is dating Kum-Ji and they have a serious conversation about why both fell for her and why E-Wan would be attracted to her.

Eun-Sung gets after E-Wan about him telling E-Soh that he is dating Kum-Ji.  E-Wan said it was considerate of him instead of him finding out later.  Eun-Sung comments that both E-Soh and E-Wan are love sick.

E-Wan has a serious conversation with Barbie and finally convinces her why they wouldn't work.  She has a very successful modeling career.

Jin quit DDL and is striking out on his own.  He makes a video with a song he wrote to his fans.

Wu-Hee is teaching kids about plants, etc.

Kum-Ji and E-Soh go to the same university.  She is also E-Wan's personal manager.

E-Wan has a very successful solo career.

5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manhwa to review, greatly appreciated!

Manhwa in series:

1. Chocolat Vol. 1
2. Chocolat Vol. 2
3. Chocolat Vol. 3
4. Chocolat Vol. 4
5. Chocolat Vol. 5
6. Chocolat Vol. 6
7. Chocolat Vol. 7
8. Chocolat Vol. 8

Manhwa Review: Chocolat Volume 3 (Chocolat (Yen)) (v. 3) [Paperback]

I've finished "Chocolat Vol. 3" by Shin Ji-Sang and Geo.

Product Description

Kum-Ji just wants to get close to her idol, DDL. Unfortunately, her plan quickly backfires because it was exposed by Yo-I, their rival. Kum-Ji finally decides to resign from her official position in Yo-I's fan club. But before she is able to do so, E-Soh of Yo-I confesses that he has a crush on her. On top of that, even E-Wan of Yo-I also shows interest in her. What is she going to do now?

About the Author

JiSang Shin and Geo are the creative team behind a number of popular manhwa titles, including Very! Very!
Sweet, Chocolat, Rolling, and Sad Love Story.

Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Ice Kunion (August 2, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8952744802
ISBN-13: 978-8952744807

My Review:

In this volume Barbie sets up Kum-Ji to get beat up and her friends come to rescue her.  Unfortunately they all get beaten up and Kum-Ji has to go to the hospital with a head injury.  She got punched in the face and hit a wall.

Meanhile Yo-I are just about to go on stage for a concernt when E-Wan needs to go to bathroom.  E-Soh quickly looks for Kum-Ji's phone among E-Wan's clothes but doesn't find it.  E-Wan comes behind him and show's him Kum-Ji's phone while asking him, "were you looking for this?"  Then they have a conversation about E-Wan bringing the phone onstage and that Yo-I's image is their clothes.  E-Wan reminds E-Soh that he should worry about his own image.

After the concert is over E-Wan is checking out Kum-Ji's phone and commenting that no messages were received today.  When all of a sudden there is a ping and her reads it.  He starts running and yelling for Kum-Ji's aunt to read this message on Kum-Ji's phone.  She asks him why he has Kum-Ji's phone but he tells her to just read this message and what it means.  Pretty Boy has sent a message asking Kum-Ji she got to the hospital since she got hit pretty hard.  Her aunt calls the hospital and finds out that Kum-Ji has a head injury and she is fine.  Her and E-Soh go to the hospital when E-Wan asks E-Soh to give Kum-Ji back her phone.  When E-Soh visits Kum-Ji at the hospital he hugs her and tells her he's glad she's fine.

The next day Yo-I have just finished having their photos taken when E-Wan asks E-Soh, "how she is?"  E-Soh asks, "her?"  E-Wan replies, "her."  E-Soh says, "Kum-Ji? She's fine but she won't say what happened".  E-Wan replies back, "I'm glad she's okay."  Then E-Soh starts asking why are you so interested in Kum-Ji for ex:  carrying her phone around, etc.  E-Wan replies back, "one of our fans got hurt and I wanted to know how they are?"  E-Soh tells E-Wan he better not fall for Kum-Ji and E-Wan asks him why are you afraid?" 

I will update some more later on tonight, so please check back, thanks!

5/5

Manhwa Review: Chocolat Volume 2 (Chocolat (Yen)) (v. 2) [Paperback]

I've finished "Chocolat Vol. 2" by Ji-Sang Shin and Geo.

Product Description

Kum-Ji thought that she was willing to do anything to get closer to her favorite boy band, DDL, even if it meant that she had to join a fan club of their new rival group, Yo-i. But it is getting harder and harder to deal with E-Soh of Yo-i, the only one who knows about her little secret. And now, E-Soh drops a bomb on her when he admits that he likes her? What will Kum-ji do when she finds out that the boy with her most cherished secret likes her?


About the Author

JiSang Shin and Geo are the creative team behind a number of popular manhwa titles, including Very! Very! Sweet, Chocolat, Rolling, and Sad Love Story.

Product Details
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Ice Kunion (April 19, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8952744721
ISBN-13: 978-8952744722

My Review:

Kum-Ji is still contending with E-Soh's blackmail demands when he drops a bomb on her - he admits he likes her.

Kum-Ji finds out that E-Wan's mother has died and he is going to the funeral (we learn that she was ill in the head and left her son by himself).  He meets his dad and they have an argument and his father slaps him one.  His dad commands him to get changed and to behave himself.

Kum-Ji arrives at the designated place and is surprised to see Barbie (she is E-Wan's #1 fan) there too.  E-Wan arrives and he starts yelling at them and insulting them.  Kum-Ji has had enough and she whacks him with her bag and he is surprised (I was laughing at this part because he really looked scary with one eye glaring out of the hole in the bag).  Barbie vows Kum-Ji will pay for hitting her E-Wan!

Kum-Ji is waiting for her aunt when E-Wan calls her over to help him with his costume.  They have a very enlightening conversation about loving someone unconditionally for no reason.  I believe he has a new respect for her after this conversation and this is the set up for the love triangle.

E-Wan calls Kum-Ji on her cell phone and in return he will introduce her to Jin her idol from DDL who is the hospital.  Kum-Ji doesn't fare well since she goes into fan mode and has trouble talking to him and she is fumbling around.  When she and E-Wan finally leaves he starts on her again about liking Jin, etc. and does she really think she has a chance with him.  She finally has enough and yells back at him and slams the door in his face.  I was laughing again because of the facial expression he had when she was yelling at him.

Also Kum-Ji forgot her cell in Jin's room and he calls E-Wan about it. E-Wan keeps her cell.  Kum-Ji realizes she forgot her phone and calls her cell and confesses her love for Jin.  E-Wan starts ragging on her again and tells her to come get her phone with all she has.  She does and beans E-Wan with paper but Barbie witnesses this again and she vows once again that Kum-Ji will pay for hitting her E-Wan.

DDL performs a concert and after E-Wan checks Kum-Ji's phone for messages and laughs when he realizes she is texting him with swear words.  Eun-Sang comments that this isn't like him and why he doesn't he just return the phone to Kum-Ji since she's just a kid.  E-Wan says it's fun and besides it makes him forget his problems.

5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manhwa to review, greatly appreciated!

Manhwa in series:

1. Chocolat Vol. 1
2. Chocolat Vol. 2
3. Chocolat Vol. 3
4. Chocolat Vol. 4
5. Chocolat Vol. 5
6. Chocolat Vol. 6
7. Chocolat Vol. 7
8. Chocolat Vol. 8 - December 11, 2012

Manhwa Review: Chocolat Volume 1 (Chocolat (Yen)) (v. 1) [Paperback]

I've finished "Chocolat Vol 1" by Ji-Sang Shin and Geo.

Product Description

How far would you go to meet your favorite boy band? Keum-Ji was little late getting under the spell of the chart topping boy band DDL. Unable to join the DDL fan club, she almost gives up meeting her idols until she develops a cunning plan, becoming a top member of their rival fan club for a brand-new boy group, Yo-I (Chocolat). This way she can always be near Yo-I at all their concerts. Funnily enough Yo-I always seem to play the same shows with DDL. It's almost the perfect plan except it's really complicated being a super fan for one band when your heart lies with another. Follow the adventures of Keum-Ji in this full-blown romantic comedy as she tries to keep her scheme together.


About the Author 

JiSang Shin and Geo are the creative team behind a number of popular manhwa titles, including Very! Very! Sweet, Chocolat, Rolling, and Sad Love Story.

Product Details
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Ice Kunion (November 2, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8952744535
ISBN-13: 978-8952744531

My Review:

Kum-Ji was late in becoming a fan of the boy band DDL and wasn't able to join the fan club so she is stuck being one of the normal fans.  Instead she joins the fan club for their rival Yo-I and now she just needs to pretend she is a fan of Yo-I and use her fan club status (also her aunt works for Yo-I) to be at events that both Yo-I and DDL are at and to be near her favorite Yo-I Jin.

Yo-I member E-Soh finds out her secret and uses that to blackmail her in doing everything he wants or says and she also has to contend with jealous fan club members.

I thought it was funny how E-Soh would make Kum-Ji jump through hoops and it was a delight to see and hear E-Wan's foul mouth.  You never know what might come out of his mouth.

Hmm I don't know why everyone thought Kum-Ji was ugly though she could manage a better hair style.  I didn't think she's ugly!

5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manhwa to review, greatly appreciated!

Manhwa in series:

1.  Chocolat Vol. 1
2.  Chocolat Vol. 2
3.  Chocolat Vol. 3
4.  Chocolat Vol. 4
5.  Chocolat Vol. 5
6.  Chocolat Vol. 6
7.  Chocolat Vol. 7
8.  Chocolat Vol. 8 - December 11, 2012

Manhwa Review: Chocolat, Vol. 4 (Chocolat (Yen)) (v. 4) [Paperback]

Chocolat Manhwa Review

Product Description

Kum-Ji thought the band was going to Miami, but she ends up stuck in the smelly countryside! To make things worse, the water snakes attack her! Ah - the dream of the beautiful beaches of Miami has all blown away! Moreover, when she open her eyes, she finds herself in the arms of E-Wan! E-Soh gets jealous as can be, while Kun-Ji can't make her heart stop beating so fast! Find out more about their love triangle in this fourth book of the series!

About the Author

JiSang Shin and Geo are the creative team behind a number of popular manhwa titles, including Very! Very! Sweet, Chocolat, Rolling, and Sad Love Story.

Product Details
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (November 15, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 8952744993
ISBN-13: 978-8952744999

My Review:

Kum-Ji finds herself with the band in the countryside at the farm of Wu-Hee grandparents.  E-Wan is his usual self by teasing Kum-Ji (I have always loved their interactions).  Then they decide to go swimming when Kum-Ji gets scared by a water snake and faints.  E-Wan gets upset and goes to rescue her by carrying her on his back to the cabin.  When Kum-Ji wakes up she panics and tells E-Wan to let her down but he doesn't.  She resorts to biting him and he finally drops her while she starts insulting him.  E-Soh is pouting with jealousy in the background (He vows to fight for E-Wan to win Kum-Ji's heart).

While everyone else goes to collect watermelon to eat Kum-Ji borrows someone's cellphone to call her friends.  She goes up to the attic where she encounters E-Wan and he berates her that she stole his phone.  He starts talking to her and reaches to touch her hair but she moves away.  Then he allows her to use his phone and she falls asleep.  E-Soh comes back and sees E-Wan's shoes and he panics.  He starts calling him when E-Wan comes down the stairs annoyed and taunts E-Soh that he was sleeping with Kum-Ji in attic.  E-Soh  panics again but reasons with himself that nothing happened between them that E-Wan was just toying with him.

Also in this volume we see more jealousy between E-Soh when Kum-Ji tells E-Wan there was a phone call/text message with a mushy saying.  E-Wan gets annoyed and says that was a private and for his eyes only while E-Soh leaves in a huff.

Kum-Ji goes to the library with E-Wan and E-Soh to use their computers when they are recognized by some fans.  E-Wan happens to notice them and rushes E-Soh and Kum-Ji but not before their picture is taken.  Thankfully E-Wan covers up Kum-Ji's face so it won't make it a problem when the picture is published online.  They manage to escape and Kum-Ji finally confesses to herself that she's in love with E-Wan but she's not happy about it.

Wow this issue had tons of action and romance with bits of jealousy.  The artwork is beautifully illustrated as usual.  I highly recommend this manhwa if you enjoy love triangles with a klutzy heroine and two hot guys after her.

5/5

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press for sending me this manhwa to review, greatly appreciated!

Manhwa in series:

1.  Chocolat Vol. 1
2.  Chocolat Vol. 2
3.  Chocolat Vol. 3
4.  Chocolat Vol. 4
5.  Chocolat Vol. 5
6.  Chocolat Vol. 6
7.  Chocolat Vol. 7
8.  Chocolat Vol. 8 (Final Volume) - December 11, 2012

Manhwa Review: Chocolat, Vol. 5 (Chocolat (Yen)) (v. 5) [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Manhwa Review

I've finished "Chocolat Vol. 5" by Ji-Sang Shin and Geo.
Product Description

E-Soh can’t take E-Wan’s attitude towards Kum-Ji anymore. But what can he do? Nothing, especially when the girl says her heart’s not moving towards him. Does he really have to give Kum-Ji up? Meanwhile, even after admitting her feelings, Kum-Ji is still confused about what to do. Later, when Kum-Ji hurts her ankle during a run-in with Barbie’s gang, E-Soh takes her to the hospital. And Kum-Ji can’t stop feeling sorry for what she said …

Product Details
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (June 24, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0759530076
ISBN-13: 978-0759530072


My Review:

I highly recommend reading this series from the first volume or else you won't know what is going on or who everyone is.

This volume opens where we left off in Vol. 4 with E-Soh and E-Wan practicing dance moves.  They are having a conversation and fighting over Kum-Ji.  It gets pretty heated and their manager Ho-Tae and bandmate Eun-Sung have to separate them.

Then we see Eun-Sung and E-Wan in their room talking.  When Eun-Sung asks E-Wan why he provoked E-Soh until he broke E-Wan replies back about one incident in his childhood.  He was on the beach one day when he saw an anemone and he started torturing it by poking it at first then putting small rocks in his mouth.  He finally ended it's torture by squashing it (how cruel).  He then refers E-Soh and Kum-Ji as anemones.

Then we see Kum-Ji arriving at the studio looking for her aunt but she's not their.  She sees her aunt's fiancee the studio's president and he invites her to have some tea.  After he gives her a cheque for $100,000.00 which she is very happy to get.  On her way home she is accosted by a gang of girls hired by Barbie to hurt and humiliate her.  They start pushing her around and the gang leader whips out a pocket knife.  We don't see what is happening.

Meanwhile Kum-Ji's mom starts calling her cell and when she doesn't pick up she phones her sister Yoo-Jung.  E-Soh overhears her talking that Kum-Ji hasn't come home and not picking up her phone.  He's beginning to worry.  Then E-Soh gets a text message from Kum-Ji which worries him more.  Later he gets a phone call from her and he asks her where she is.  She says she is the park where they met before and he goes rushing out.  He finds her and is shocked and worried and asks her what happened?  She starts saying things and he realizes Barbie was involved.  He takes her to the hospital where we find out she has sprained ankle, bruises and cuts on her face, her hair was chopped off and they dug into her scalp.

E-Soh calls their manager to borrow some money to pay Kum-Ji's hospital bill.  Eun-Sung overhears and asks about the hospital.  Then we see Kum-Ji and E-Soh in her hospital room when Ho-Tae arrives with Eun-Sung and E-Wan.  They are surprised that it's Kum-Ji and they were worried it was E-Soh in the hospital.  E-Wan starts talking to Kum-Ji and saying that's she's always getting in trouble.  Kum-Ji starts yelling at him and saying, "it's none of his business!"  He replies back, "I'm an idiot and why should I care it's not my business!" and leaves.  Kum-Ji is sad and we see she really wanted to see him but not like that. Ho-Tae pays the hospital bill and everyone leaves.

Then it's the next day and Yoo-Jung tells her sister that Kum-Ji fell asleep and is okay.  Kum-Ji is wearing a wig and she thanks the wig stylist.  She goes out for the day with E-Soh and he confesses to her he can be a normal with her.  They get their picture taken and E-Soh isn't happy about it since it can cause trouble.  We find out the photographers are his parents and they have come to see him.  He tries to get away but is caught and he takes them and Ho-Tae to dinner.

Then we see E-Wan has come home and he thinks he is coming down with a cold so he declines dinner.  He goes to his room when a cell phone rings and we find out it's E-Soh's (he gets a couple of messages).  When E-Soh phones his call E-Wan picks up and E-Soh asks him if Kum-Ji might have called him?  E-Wan starts yelling, "I'm not your personal messenger" and hangs up.

We see Kum-Ji walking when Barbie pops out from behind a tree.  They start talking when Barbie slaps Kum-Ji pretty hard and starts saying some things.  Kum-Ji finally has enough and snaps.  She starts pulling Barbie's hair, throws her around and punches her.  Finally they finish their fight and they come to an understanding.  The we see Kum-Ji outside the window of E-Soh's place and she is phoning his cell.  She also is banging on the window and is surprised to see E-Wan.  He asks her for a favor and get him some cold medicine.  She goes and gets the only one that is bitter and he says he can't take any Chinese medicine.  Then we see him debating rather to take it or not and in the background Kum-Ji is saying please take it.  He finally decides not to take it and she is about to leave.  E-Wan says E-Soh should be back soon so she stays but he never arrives.  Time goes by slowly and before long it's been awhile.  She is about to take off when E-Wan says you are going to leave you are out all night don't tell me you are tired?"  So she decides to stay and she notices E-Wan playing games, watching TV, chatting on his phone and thinking.  Suddenly he touches her face and says you've been fighting again" and she pulls away.  She starts saying things and stops in the middle of a sentence.  E-Wan tells her you can't just stop like that and she then confesses, is it okay to like you?"

Then the volume ends!

5/5

Other manhwa in series:

1.  Chocolat Vol. 1
2.  Chocolat Vol. 2
3.  Chocolat Vol. 3
4.  Chocolat Vol. 4
5.  Chocolat Vol. 6
6.  Chocolat Vol. 7
7.  Chocolat Vol. 8 - Dec 11, 2012 (final volume)

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada and Yen Press for sending me this manhwa to review, greatly appreciated!