Customer Reviews

Black Bird, Vol. 2

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Have you ever questioned whether you should buy a volume 2 because volume 1 was so good? Well have no fear with this volume 2, it is as excellent as the first! The situation is still the same as the first book with Misao as the heroine protected by Kyo the tengu, who is a teacher at her high school and the leader of his demon clan (he lives 2 separate lives). I loved how easily this book went from the last volume into this one, and of course there was a very small review on a few pages in the beginning about her situation (but every book I've read has done that, and she did not go overboard on it either which I very much liked).

The book explained many things that needed to be explained such as why Misao lost her memory, why Kyo was so attached to Misao, and why Kyo became head of the clan and not his brother which was older. The book moves along at a comfortable speed, having Misao's feeling come out in an appropriate timing. In my experience, some books just keep having a person question their feelings for so long that it becomes just sickening. But this book did not do that. Kanoko Sakurakoji did just perfect and explained everything in ease, which is hard to do as a book writer. She has a true talent in creating a story in a natural and realistic fashion. I mean realistic in timing-wise, relationship-building, and having things come out in the open when they should. This volume is more sexual (but nothing ever truly happens) than the first novel, and everyone should know that this is truly meant for older teens. But it is a great book, which goes to show why I am already signed up to get the third and fourth volumes!

I MUST WARN, IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS STORY (to save the surprises within Volume 2) DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!

First off, I must say how much I loved the graphics throughout the entire volume. She draws each character with a perfect expression (I'm somewhat of an artist myself) and according to his/her mood. The only thing which I did not like throughout the entire volume was three things: how the cover did not compliment Kyo's face (he's much more handsome), she needed to explain more about what the spiders and snakes have to do with anything, and I wished that Kanoko Sakurakoji would have gone more into more detail about what the thunder had to do with the more demons coming (she never went on with that from the previous volume).

What I did love was when Kyo's vassals arrived, they were so handsome that I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Kyo even gets a bit jealous over the attention that they gave her in the beginning, and the attention that she gives them later. But Kyo is still Kyo: he is always on a mission to make serious moves on Misao by kissing her all the time, holding her, and there also was a scene where he seriously tries to get her to fully give herself to him by pulling her into a bedroom (it was so funny how Misao reacted!!!), but Misao being her strong self did not give him the benefit.

Kyo's brother is in this novel, and he is hard to understand at first why he reacts to things the ways he does, but the novel does explain that in a later chapter. He has the power of spiders and snakes (and probably more things), but the author did not go into too much detail about them, which was disappointing. Misao does get some of her memory back, and then realizes how much at that time she has always loved Kyo, and she tells him that she loves him. In fact she ends up surprising Kyo often! This book is just full of romance, funny situations (I mean hysterical by the way!), Misao slapping Kyo because his moves on her, jealousy, and suspense. Truly, even in this novel, you never know what is going to happen next, and I love it!

This is an adorable novel with a hint of maturity. I like seeing Kyo at school, but I really want to see more of the demons and Kyo's demonic side... which we got a peek at in book 1. This book is rated teen so obviously there are going to be sexual references as well as more mature and adult content.

I really liked seeing the angst and hatred between Kyo's brother (whom he took the clan away from) and the clansmen. Yes it's like a harem but so is alot... think Ouren High School Host Club, all the yaoi, Bound Beauty, the Devil within... exc. The character in my eyes is a slight cry baby, but then again I might be too if I get attacked, blood drunk, claimed as a bride, memories shot, kidnapped and all around chased.... hmmmm I might be a bit of a crybaby. What I am interested in is seeing where this story goes. In Bloody Kiss the hero and heroine get together at book 2... so maybe no book 3? But in most manga it takes a while... that's the entire plot line build up. So while they didn't 'officially' get together in this book, it seems like the choice to go forward was made and I'm curious to see what trouble and enemies come in the next books. Overall it's a fun series and one worth reading.

Great series. I love this book, and the writer seems to draw you into the story. Sad that we have to wait months between books. :( Great read if you are looking for sci-fi, sexy-type drama.

Black Bird Volume Two opens with a host of new characters, Kyo's vassals, the Eight Daitengu. Misao doesn't stick around long, too troubled by her feelings for Kyo and her doubts about why he wants to marry her. Naturally, she gets into trouble, but not before meeting someone who strangely reminds her of Kyo. After being saved by Kyo and walking with him, she goes back to see the rest of the gang, discovering that the strange man is Sojo, Kyo's older brother. The older brother who ought to have been clan leader. With that, dynamics are dramatically changed, and Misao comes to wonder many more things, like about her memories and Sojo. Revelations come about both which shake her perceptions. The rest of the Eight Daitengu also bring up things she hadn't seen as much before, especially about Kyo's feelings. Just when it looks like Misao has everything figured out, her father comes home, and with books that shake her foundations once again.

With the introduction of new characters, mostly Kyo's vassals, we get a great chance to see what Kyo is really like, and Misao is eager to learn. Although her fears are still very present in this volume, she allows herself to go over the possibilities to the point of her curiosity getting her into trouble. Most of the vassals serve as comic relief as well as eye candy, and we get to see a bit of Misao's friends and father.

This volume has much drama, but the introduction of the new characters brings a great deal of comic relief that the last volume needed. The drama is equally intense, as is Misao's angst. The series appears to be on an upward path, and this is definitely worth your time.

Volume 2 built beautifully on volume 1. I can't wait to get the next book! Beautiful art, great story, and has proven to me manga is not so lame after all! Thank You Kanoko Sakurakoji!

After buying the first one and reading it I had to make a mad dash back to the book store to get the next 2!
I am so into this story. The charicters are wonderful, the story, ( to me ) is excelent! A MUST read for any Manga fan :D

I am in love all over again with this manga. The second volume is much better than expected now I have high expectations for the third can't wait for it to be delivered.

I absolutly loved black bird 1 so i was nervous that volume 2 would fall short,but all my fears vanished as soon as I read the words host club tengu! This story still rocks and I love the vassles,I am a huge fan of harem comides such as Ouran High school host club,so that was agreat touch.The romance between Kyo and Misao is brilient!!Kyo is still the HOTTEST manga charector ever!!!!! And Misao is still clueless,but in this volume she becomes a little more aware of her feelings for Kyo. I definetly recomend that all readers be 13 or older because there is violence and plenty of sexual refrences(like when Kyo's phcycopatic older brother kidnaps Misao with the intention of raping killing and finally eating her) All in all it is still the best manga out there. SO BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!

The demons' prophecy is appallingly clear: "If a demon drinks her blood, he is granted a long life. If he eats her flesh, he gains eternal youth. And if he makes her his bride, his clan will prosper..." Needless to say, the "her" in question--one Japanese teenager named Misao Harada--is having none of it. Little beasties (and at least one decidedly big one) that only she can see have been tormenting her since childhood, and prophecy or no prophecy, all Misao wants is a normal life. That is, until the hunky head of the Tengu clan Kyo flaps in, determined to make her his bride.

In this volume, Misao and Kyo have reached an uneasy détente. She has not agreed to marry him, and he has definitely not given up on her. Slowly but surely, though, she is becoming a willing part of his world. She meets, for example, Kyo's loyal entourage and his not so loyal big brother. The latter's motives are not entirely virtuous, and Misao, desperate to retrieve the pieces of her childhood that have gone missing, ends up in a very sticky situation that nearly gets Kyo killed. Danger strengthens their nascent bond--could it be that Misao is falling for Kyo?!

Mangaka Kanoko Sakurakoji (Backstage Prince) continues delivers the goods with the second volume of Black Bird. While the first volume was hardly more than a bodice ripper with lots of suggestively drawn bodice ripping and little in the way of actual intimate relations, the story here begins to flex its ambitions as new characters are introduced and past histories are revealed. There is something here besides sex appeal--though there is plenty of that as well--and the way it all combines into a near-perfect package secure in its own modest, pulpy pleasures is surely what earned it the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award.

Indeed, it's hard to take Black Bird too seriously. Misao is your standard shoujo manga heroine who never seems to have bothered to grow a backbone, while Kyo is the Tengu with the heart of gold who never quite seems to know how to take no for an answer. This is a recipe for tasteless, even outright offensive, dreck when done poorly, but perhaps because the plot leaves just enough opportunities for the undoubtedly destined couple to redeem themselves in the eyes of the readers, the manga steers deftly clear of creative disaster.

Besides, there is in the way of plenty of pretty pictures and comic relief to compensate for any narrative flaws. Readers who enjoy the art style of Natsuki Takaya (Fruits Basket, Phantom Dream) should love Sakurakoji's smooth-faced bishounen lounging in stylishly traditional Japanese domestic settings and costumes. And like Takaya, she too has a penchant for bawdy humor and sight gags. All in all, Black Bird is sure to be a hit with teenage girls in the market for stories about sexy supernatural beings who won't settle for anything less than the least likely of, well, teenage girls. Recommended.

-- Casey Brienza

I liked the first volume of Black Bird enough to order the second one. Unfortunately the story now seems a bit unsettling. A group of Kyo's clan members (all good-looking men, or boys, of course) shows up and now it's starting to seem very Fruits-Basket-like with the demonic characters all flocking around the heroine, heroine in danger, demonic characters rescuing her, etc. (The author, or maybe the translators, even make a joke about "Tengu Host Club.")

Also, the sexual references are stronger in this one, and it's not quite clear to me, but at the end it appears the heroine is so immobilized by lust that she simply allows Kyo to take her. But I'm not certain about that. Anyway, it's not entertaining to me anymore so I won't be continuing with Black Bird.