Shonen-Ai Review: Loveless, Vol. 11 [Paperback]

I've finished "Loveless Vol. 11" by Yun Kouga.

Product Description

The long-awaited continuation of the best-selling series, a masterpiece tale of intrigue and innocence lost.

Ritsuka Aoyagi is alone in the world — never fitting in at school and alienated from his own past by a fragmented memory. When his beloved older brother is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to find answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names.

Ritsuka’s faith in his older brother Seimei is pushed to the limit when the unit named Moonless reveals sordid details of Seimei’s horrific past deeds. Then, while Ritsuka is still reeling, the unthinkable happens: Seimei returns to reclaim Soubi.

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

My Review:

Seimei orders Soubi to leave one day when he goes to meet Ritsuka after school one day. 

With the reappearance of Seimei, Ritsuka is finding clues that his older brother isn't the good guy he wants everyone to believe he is.   Seimei has been keeping a close eye on Ritsuka and his plans are kind of shady.

This is heart-breaking volume with great character development and background, new characters are introduced a few hilarious scenes to lighten the mood.

3/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Shonen-Ai Review: Loveless, Vol. 3: 2-in-1 [Paperback]

I've finished "Loveless Vol. 3 2-in-1" by Yun Kouga.

Product Description

The long-awaited continuation of the best-selling series, a masterpiece tale of intrigue and innocence lost.
Ritsuka Aoyagi is alone in the world — never fitting in at school and alienated from his own past by a fragmented memory. When his beloved older brother is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to find answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names.

Ritsuka’s determination to find answers brings dire consequences. While he’s confined to a chair at home by his abusive mother, Soubi uncovers a truth so shocking that it completely shatters his fragile sense of self.

*Contains volumes 5 and 6 of the series, along with never-before-seen bonus comics, artist commentary, and interviews.


Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

About the Author

Yun Kouga began her career as a doujinshi author and debuted in 1986 with the original manga Metal Heart, serialized in >Comic VAL. She is the creator of the popular series Loveless and Earthian, along with many manga and anime projects, including character design for Gundam 00. Her works Crown of Love and Gestalt are also published by VIZ.

Product Details
Paperback: 446 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (April 9, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421549921
ISBN-13: 978-1421549927

My Review:

This volume opens with Soubi recovering from his serious injuries and is in great pain despite his training.  Unable to handle the pain he goes to Ritsuka but before he can treat Soubi he takes off after having an unstable erratic episode.  This causes Ritsuka to be confused and tortured but he manages to decipher the codes that Sleepless left him and he visits one of the Septimal Moon members.

This series has intriguing and hilarious characters, magic, spells and danger, cat ears and darker storytelling.

3/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Shonen-Ai Review: Loveless, Vol. 2: 2-in-1 [Paperback]

I've finished "Loveless Vol. 2: 2-in-1" by Yun Kouga.

Product Description

The long-awaited continuation of the best-selling series, a masterpiece tale of intrigue and innocence lost.

Reads R to L (Japanese style) for teen audiences.

When his beloved older brother is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to search for answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names. Will Ritsuka’s relationship with Soubi ultimately lead to the truth or further down the rabbit hole than he imagined possible?

About the Author

Yun Kouga began her career as a doujinshi and debuted in 1986 with the original manga Metal Heart, serialized in Comic VAL. She is the creator of the popular series Loveless and Earthian, along with many manga and anime projects, including character design for Gundam 00.

Product Details
Paperback: 376 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (January 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421549913
ISBN-13: 978-1421549910

My Review:

Ritsuki is heartbroken by the death of his older brother who he adored.  He is determined to find the killer even though he has a mentally unstable mother who beats him.  People start to notice the bruises on his body and they start to wonder?

At school Ritsuki is bullied and his relationship with Soubi grows closer.  He starts to develop feelings for Soubi but doesn't know how to deal with them and he is trying to figure out how both of them are connected.

3/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Shonen-Ai Review: Loveless, Vol. 10 [Paperback]

I've finished "Loveless Vol. 10" by Yun Kouga.

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style).

When his beloved older brother is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to search for answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names. Will Ritsuka’s relationship with Soubi ultimately lead to the truth or further down the rabbit hole than he imagined possible?

Still reeling from his brother’s dramatic return, Ritsuka goes back to school in search of something normal. He’s joined by the Zero unit of Natsuo and Youji, who transfer in to keep an eye on him. But even their protection won’t be enough when a new unit named Moonless approaches Ritsuka with a dangerous and seductive proposal.

About the Author

Yun Kouga began her career as a doujinshi author and debuted in 1986 with the original manga Metal Heart, serialized in Comic VAL. She is the creator of the popular series Loveless and Earthian, along with many manga and anime projects, including character design for Gundam 00. Her works Crown of Love and Gestalt are also published by VIZ.

Product Details
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (January 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421543257
ISBN-13: 978-1421543253

My Review:

This volume has very beautiful artwork (just look at that cover) and it has an interesting storyline.  Some new intriguing characters are introduced in this volume and it's great to see a couple of side characters getting more book time.

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this shonen-ai to review, greatly appreciated!

Shonen-Ai Review: Loveless, Vol. 9 [Paperback]

I've finished "Loveless Vol. 9" by Yun Kouga.

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for T audiences.

When his beloved older brother is brutally murdered, Ritsuka is heartbroken but determined to search for answers. His only lead is Soubi, a mysterious, handsome college student who offers him an intimate link to his brother’s other life: a dark and vibrant world of spell battles and secret names. Will Ritsuka’s relationship with Soubi ultimately lead to the truth or further down the rabbit hole than he imagined possible?

Seimei is very much alive and has torn through the Seven Voices Academy like a whirlwind. As Septimal Moon struggles to right itself and keep its secrets from spilling out, a new enemy takes center stage: the unit named “Bloodless” wages a crippling psychological war, ending battles without spilling a single drop of blood. Yet Ritsuka and Soubi must emerge victorious against them — or lose Kio.

About the Author

Yun Kouga began her career as a doujinshi author and debuted in 1986 with the original manga Metal Heart, serialized in Comic VAL. She is the creator of the popular series Loveless and Earthian, along with many manga and anime projects, including character design for Gundam 00. Her works Crown of Love and Gestalt are also published by Viz.

Product Details
Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (September 11, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421543249
ISBN-13: 978-1421543246

My Review:

I highly recommend reading the first 8 volumes or else you will get confused who is who and what is going on like me.  

It's been 4 years since Loveless has been published since Tokyopop is no longer in production.  It is now published by Viz Media and the artwork is beautiful with some interesting characters.

4/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Manga in series:

1.   Loveless Vol. 1
2.   Loveless Vol. 2
3.   Loveless Vol. 3
4.   Loveless Vol. 4
5.   Loveless Vol. 5
6.   Loveless Vol. 6
7.   Loveless Vol. 7
8.   Loveless Vol. 8
9.   Loveless Vol. 9
10. Loveless Vol. 10 - January 8, 2013