Customer Reviews

The Crimson Spell, Vol. 1

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was already a huge fan of Ayano Yamane's Finder series when I heard that this was getting an English release. I was a little skeptical that it wouldn't hold up to the quality of Finder. Thankfully, it was as good if not better! Yamane's art is exquisite, as always, but the storyline is even more developed than the first volume of Finder. Prince Bald has been cursed by his crimson sword to turn into a beast at night. He journey's to the magician Havi, renowned for breaking curses. Havi demands Bald accompany him on a journey to locate magical artifacts as payment for breaking the curse. But, Havi never counted on Bald's "beast" being so sexy and lusty! There is a lot of hot, explicit sex and the plot has a lot of action also. The rabbit "familiar" is a nice touch, and has the potential to add more humor in subsequent volumes.

I'm fortunate enough to have both volumes in Japanese (though I have to rely on scanlation), and still I can hardly wait for the next volume in English. A wonderful hard yaoi title; highy recommended!

This was my first yaoi purchase pretty much ever, so I was a little nervous about what I was getting. Was it hardcore and no plot or softcore with a heavy plot? I was pleasantly surprised to find a nice balance between the two when I opened the cover of "Crimson Spell."

Ayano Yamane has a gift when it comes to drawing gorgeous men, especially so in the case of Prince Vald (earlier versions print his name as "Bald," but I believe this has since been corrected) and Halvir the wizard, or Havi, for short.

The plot is simplistic at first, deepening as the two men find themselves growing closer and closer, though not ithe way one expects. Prince Vald's curse forces him to turn into a monster, and the beast is only appeased through bloodshed or, you guessed it, sexual gratification (because this wouldn't be a yaoi otherwise <3). Since Havi is the only other hot hunk around, you can assume what goes on between them......without Vald's knowledge. Dun dun dun!

Everything ties in with a quest to find a cure for Vald's curse, including conquering a dragon, taking in an animal spirirt, fighting bandits, and even being captured by an entire army of semi-wizards! The story leaves off with a cliffhanger, but it was so awesome, I have no problems waiting for a sequel.

Now, the artwork itself is absolutely stunning, and I still can't get over how well Ayano Yamane illustrates hands and facial expressions (among other things, heh heh). Clearly this is an author who takes pride in what she does, and handles anatomy as professionally as possible.

Of course, let it be known that the sex scenes are pretty hadcore, as well as uncensored. That's right, uncensored. This turns some people on more than others. For those of you who could care less about the sex, I refer you to the cute plot and side adventures.

All in all, this is the perfect addition to any yaoi fan's collection. Easily one of the best purchases I ever made. I hope every one who purchases this yaoi enjoys it as much as I did.

The adventures of the occasionally transforming Prince Baldrigr who becomes a sexy demon which the magician, Havi can't resist, though they embark on a quest together to cure him of his curse. Add in the cute little helper, Rulka, a bunny-like familiar along for the ride who can also transform into a lascivious young man, and you have a winner: humour, adventure, magic and blood galore.


The artwork is some of the best and most consistent I've seen, the storyline is very believable, entertaining and stronger than most of the fantasy genre of yaoi graphic novels without the unnecessarily confusing or purposely convoluted add-in's a lot of them have. A number of stories in one volume all interconnected, so you get lots of bang for your bucks. Definitely, definitely purchase this book if you are into 'hard' yaoi, it's exquisite in it's way, a wonderful edition to this theme, and I wouldn't part with this at all, and will be on the look out for next in the series.

The only drawback I saw in this english edition was from the publisher's end, in that a number of the pages along the side were 'cut off', meaning words and artwork partially chopped.

This fantasy Yaoi from this renown mangaka is a must-have. Her artwork is superb as I have a wonderful time admiring her marvelous drawings of demons, horses, magical creatures, swords clashes, magical battles, the hairstyle and costumes. And of course her men are simply gorgeous.
The plot is fast paced, imaginative, engaging and the sex hot. Bald, the accursed prince, is the pure and courageous uke while Havi, the sexy and brooding magician, is the devious seme. When Bald turns into a demon, this couple is sizzling hot and most luscious. And I like the slowly evolving love between magician and prince as Havi's lust turns into love.
Add in one very cute flying rabbit, who is able to assume a pretty youth form at will, we are in for one enjoyable read as we follow this threesome's encounters and adventures.
There are humorous moments too, expressed by some lively caricatures or chibis. As for the bonus short erotica at the end, Yaoi Press should learn from this mangaka the art of drawing tentacles sex!
My only complaint is the book size is slightly smaller than the usual Japanese tankoubon. Maybe this is the same size as the Japanese version but it is a pity when the beautiful artwork is restrained somewhat by the page size.
Looking forward to Vol 2 which was released in Japan in March.

This is definitely one Yaoi title worth owning! The story is about beautiful Prince Vald (in my version it IS Vald and not Bald, someone must have clued them in that Bald was an uncomplementary name)who gets cursed and seeks out Havi a sorcerer to rid him of the demon which takes over his body each nite as he sleeps. Havi agrees, and unbeknownst to Vald, Havi drains the demon of energy by having sex with him in the demon state. A relationship between the normal Prince Vald and Havi eventually grows, which provides more depth to the story. Let's cut to the chase here. Upon opening the book, the first person you get to see is Prince Vald, who is SO beautiful (and manly) that you go "wow." At this point I know it will not matter too much about whoever else might show up in the book, after watching Prince Vald fell demons, I am quite sure I could happily watch this guy hump a tree. Then we meet sorcerer Havi who is easily as impressive. Refreshingly there is no soft simpering uke. Both characters are strong. There is almost no lead up to the first sex scene, you turn the page, and Havi has an unbelievably hot demon form of Vald, (complete with the sexiest tiger stripes I have ever seen)tied down and goes right to it. It shocks you at the very least with just how unexpected and how hot it is. The storyline can be a bit contrived, but I'm an intelligent woman an frankly it was wonderful. This is a keeper!

The best word for this book is Beautiful. The art is amazing and the story is great. I love it and I cannot wait for the second one!

Love, love, LOVE it!

Every manga by Ayane Yamano is a masterwork. And Crimson Spell is no exception. The drawings are beautiful, the characters lovable and the sex so hot that it burns the pages. Bald in his demon persona is the hottest thing on earth but then, I have a thing for intricate tattoos. And it's not all about fantasy stuff and wizards, fighting and demons, there is also humor there and the chibis are so funny looking that you just have to laugh.

I fell in love with Ayano Yamane's art when I started reading her Finder Series, but that story is clearly a drama/romance. With The Crimson Spell, the author lets humor invade the drama with interesting effect. It's really funny seeing the comic deformation of her breathtakingly beautiful characters. Anyone who likes yaoi with humor will enjoy this story.

Of course I had to get this book when I found out it was by the Target in the Finder mangaka. I sort of think that this one may be older than Target. It seems a little more stiff than Target is, especially her chibis. But it was still really good.

We have a cursed prince and a wizard helping him, but I think the wizard is trying to steal the prince's sword. He tries to get it when the prince sleeps, but the curse is that the prince turns into a demon when he sleeps. A sexy one. The only way the Wizard can calm the demon down is to do him. So we get a story where the two main characters are going at it from the very beginning, and yet there's still romantic tension since the prince doesn't remember anything that happens to him in demon form. YUS!

I love it that the demon gets addicted to the sexin. He like goes into withdrawals when the wizard gets too sick. It gets so bad that the prince is pouncing on the wizard when he's in human form. Like part of his demon side is showing but the human side is still in control. BEST SCENE EVER:

Wizard - What's wrong with you?!
Prince - Sorry, Havi. Just be still... Good man. Just cooperate and it will be over quickly. Don't worry. I have the wealth to support you when I get back home.

Waii! I was dying. There's a bonus story with the main characters at the end that was the hottest part of the book. Giving someone an aphrodisiac and then putting a curse on their wiener so they can't (ahem). That was cool enough as it was, but you also got TENTACLES!

I'm totally getting more of this series. Linky time: Finder Series 1: Target in the Finder (Yaoi), Finder Series 2: Cage in the Finder (Yaoi), One Wing in the Finder 3 (Finder Series).

P.S. Does anyone else hope that the bunny gets some?

This is my second yaoi graphic novel and if continue like this I will spend a lot of money to buy other.

I have read only the first on the Finder series, so I don't know how it will continue, but I have the feeling that The Crimson Spell has a more complex plot.

Bald is a cursed prince and searches the help of Havi, a magician. During the night Bald turns in a beast and Havi placates him using sex, but the morning after Bald doesn't remember nothing. They travel together first to a shrine and then to a city of magicians to find a way to break the spell.

Bald, in human form, has no idea he could love a man, but he begins to feel something for the handsome magician. Both are very young and very beautiful.

Sex is explicit and violent (means that Bald has very sting nails and is a fiery beast...) but graphically speaking I have found more explicit the FInder series. Is not a complaint, mind you... the scenes are still gorgeous and the stripes of Bald (like a tiger or tattoo tribal) are very sexy...

There is a funny element in the form of a magical rabbit who happens to be able to turn in another handsome man.

Another positive point is that all the manga is about the main story and in the end, even if is foretold a sequel, the story is complete and satisfying.