Customer Reviews

Allure: (Yaoi)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This one-shot story between an eye surgeon and his patient is most stirring and beautifully rendered. It has a emotional and sensitive plot and well developed characters. Those of you looking for explicit sex may be disappointed but I feel the sex scene is sufficient and more sex may dampen the effectiveness of this touching love story.
Kai, who lost his eye sight 10 years ago, recovered his sight through a cornea transplant. Hizuki is the surgeon who operated on him. Complicating the situation is the fact that the cornea's donor is Hizuki's dead lover.
A captivating set-up for a doctor-patient love story indeed as the grieving doctor ultimately finds love with the younger and extrovert Kai. Their love story is not smooth sailing as Hizuki, from a wealthy family, is very much influenced by a homophobic father during his young days. As for Kai, he has a possessive girl friend who will do her utmost to hold on to her love of more than 10 years, and who could blame her.
Hizuki finding the courage to pursue his love is one moving scene and the last chapter certainly adds to the emotional pull of the story. Strongly recommended for those of us who value emotional content more than sex in our Yaoi love story. And this mangaka's artwork is pleasing as I do prefer the boys to be tall and lanky.

Compared to Jazz, this doctor/patient relationship is much better. It is a very sweet story and the art is very good. On the downside, it is a little boring. There wasn't anything new or captivating enough for me to really want to read it a second time. All in all, it was a good read. I definitely liked that the relationship was very balanced and both partners were equally willing to engage in the relationship (which is something that is becoming increasingly more difficult to find). For me, it was just "okay", but if you just want a sweet, not to complex read, this might be just right for you.

This is one of my favorite yaoi titles ever! The art is gorgeous and it has a cute story. I love everything Yuri Ebihara does and this is one of her best. I highly recommend this for any yaoi fan.

Ten years ago, Kai suffered a freak accident that left him blind. Childhood friend Miharu devoted herself to helping look after him, going so far as to become a nurse in order to give her all in order to help him. One night as she was working, fate seemed to hand the pair a miracle. A brilliant young ophthalmic (eye) surgeon rushes in with his friend, having been in an accident. His friend dies, but Miharu convinces him to transplant the corneas into Kai, so that part of his close friend will live on and Kai can regain his sight. The operation is a success, but there seems to be a side effect, for as soon as Kai opens his eyes, his eyes are drawn neither to his doctor before him, nor to Miharu beside him, but to a figure further away, standing in the door. Dr Hizuki, the surgeon, whose presence causes the eyes to suddenly and unexpectedly weep. What is happening?


Taking place in winter and with a tsundere romantic interest, the book's chapters refer to the fairytale the Snow Queen, and the plot runs loose parallels. From the name of the male protagonist (Kai), to the shards in his eyes that alter his vision, to the romantic triangle and beyond, the theme may be similar enough that Kai himself recognises it, but it is far from a fairytale. Not only is it is set in the modern day, but the characters are not children. They are adults wrestling with issues only an adult can deal with. Far from being shallow, we get a glimpse of the inner turmoil and motivations of the four main characters, and develop a feeling of empathy for them, no matter how pathetic or selfish they may appear. I say four main characters, as without Kouichi, the liquor store deliveryman who first befriends the young Hizuki, the chain of events would never have happened. With themes of devotion, loss, and the eternity of love reaching from beyond the grave to give happiness to one left behind, this is a story that is sure to stay with you even after the last page has been turned.

Yuri Ebihara's crisp artwork sparkles forth from the smooth pages, with large, uncluttered frames that spring the images forth to the eyes as clearly as they surely must to Kai's own restored sight. The literary allusions are woven in without pretension, adding a sense of inescapable fate to the pair. Those familiar with the fairytale will also grasp the underlying sense of unease present, however, as in THAT tale, the Snow Queen was not merely a frigid, selfish woman, but a presence of evil, with the little girl Gerda representing all that is good as she comes to take back her love, Kai. Is our Kai now blinded by the circumstances of his getting his vision back and what he sees all an illusion, as Miharu believes, or is his Dr Hizuki shielding himself and his love against more hurt and loss? Only Kai can decide what is truth and what is falsehood, out in the gently falling snow.

****I would like to extend my thanks to DramaQueen for providing me with this review copy. The book carries an 18+ rating due to mature themes****