Gorgeous Carat 1: Virtue of Darkness (Yaoi) (v. 1) [Paperback]

You Higuri (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2006

Welcome to turn-of-the-century Paris! Ball gowns swirl, champagne corks pop, and precious jewels sparkle all around the city--and in the amethyst eyes of one particular young man...Meet Florian, the only son of an impoverished noble family. When his family's 120-carat Flame of Mughal goes missing, Florian teams up with the stunning, mysterious Ray Balzac Courland to track down the dazzling gem. But the trail of clues leads the duo to an abandoned castle--and a deadly secret! A boys' love action-romance set on magnificent streets of gay Paree, Gorgeous Carat follows the swashbuckling adventures of Ray and Florian as they battle crime lords, backstabbing family members, and a possible attraction to each other.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Blu (February 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598161024
• ISBN-13: 978-1598161021
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting start...., September 1, 2006

By 

rjones2818 "Rex A. Jones" (Somewhere in Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gorgeous Carat 1: Virtue of Darkness (Yaoi) (v. 1) (Paperback)

This is the beginning of a new yaoi manga series. Set in late 19th century Paris, the story is quite interesting as we get to know the main protaganists. Florian is the youngest member on a down on their luck aristocratic family, and Ray is a userer who moonlights as a jewel theif. Florian is 'bought' by Ray as a way to cover the family's debt, even though they own a 120 caret diamond. The plot centers around Ray's (and others) attempt to get the diamond. We are led to believe that Ray is also after Florian.

All-in-all, it's a good story, with light hints of yaoi (which I'm sure will get heavier as the story progresses). There is a torture scene (which is why I won't give the story 5 stars).

I should mention that the publisher is Blu, which publishes the Earthian series (which I highly reccomend).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Slash title, not Yaoi or BL!, January 22, 2007

By 

Carolyn "Dedicated Yaoi Fan." (NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gorgeous Carat 1: Virtue of Darkness (Yaoi) (v. 1) (Paperback)

I've always wanted to see this series licensed (shame DMP picked up the sequel Gorgeous Carat Galaxy! Blu did such a better job!) and was glad to know the original color pages would be released with the book! Unlike most Yaoi companies who ignore the printing of the color pages and turn them into black and white.

But as you should know, this series is SLASH not official BL or Yaoi and that was how the creator intended it to be. Obviously the other people who picked up this series did not know that!
But Blu is bad with their listing of 'Yaoi' and 'BL' like DMP. This is a Slash Manga. Like Black Knight of there's, the 2nd volume in that series features a hetero couple. NOT YAOI.

It stars the infamous Phantom Thief Noir who is only 18 and his obsession with the amethyst eyes of his new - just bought - prey, Florian, a French Lord (whose 20). This volume focuses mainly on Florian accepting that he belongs to Noir and also getting punished for disobeying him. Also introduced to us is Soloman Sugar, the detective following Noir.

No matter how you look at the blerb of this series, it sounds like BL or Yaoi but I assure you, there're only hugs and almost kisses. Nothing hot and heavy, more toward the fact that the pair need each other.

The Art is gorgeous and the story fits in so well for old France. Even quotes like `Rideless Carriage' is used to describe a car.

I think this is a great series! I would suggest it to everyone!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional series, December 31, 2006

By 

starsniper (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gorgeous Carat 1: Virtue of Darkness (Yaoi) (v. 1) (Paperback)

You Higuri is known for her manga to tie into history and sometimes even old legend. Her exceptional artwork only adds to flair as she brings small parts of history alive for the modern reader (Whether her portrayals are accurate at all is a different topic, however. Her works are a piece of fiction after all) Her storylines bring what most yaoi manga seem to lack, a viable plotline and more to a relationship than just sex sex and oh yeah, more sex. Relationships like the one between Florian and Noir take time to develop, especially in Post-Revolutionary France. Although her stories do leave something to de desired, regarding the relationship between Noir and Florian, the complex and intricate story that becomes their relationship is just beginning to unfold.

If you're looking for hot man on man action at every page, stay away from Gorgeous Carat. There's likely not to be much, if any action at all, if I remember correctly. (Besides kissing and the norm) The series is shounen-ai at best, and manga companies ought to be writing that instead of just blantantly putting YAOI on the front of every manga cover that has two boys falling in love on it. After all, while the story of "Only the Ring Finger Knows" was sweet, it was the furtherest thing from yaoi besides the fact that two boys like each other. If you, however, enjoy You Higuri's artwork, don't fret. Ludwig II has lots of action that more than makes up for the action lacking in her other manga.

Give Gorgeous Carat a chance. It may be a little more dark than most people like, but everything does turn out pretty well for Florian and Noir in the end. If you like boys kising but also something with a little bit more of a plot than the average boy meets boy in school, then this series is definitely for you.