Customer Reviews

Red (Yaoi) (Yaoi Manga)

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4 star:		(2)
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If you are looking for explicit Yaoi, this one is not for you. This period piece is a nicely done BL with an engaging plot and likable characters.

It centers on a run away prince who refuses to take up the throne because he is afraid of failing to protect those he love. Fortunately for him, he has 4 loyal friends. His two "body guards", a close boyhood friend of the common poor and of course last but not least the foreign assassin turned lover, are there to protect and care for him. All 5 guys are interesting characters, their interaction well done. One minister plotting to usurp the throne and a few surprising revelations of the characters certainly thicken the plot.

However I would have prefered there to be more romance even if this is a BL. Cetainly more passion between the prince and his assassin. The 2 body guards are an interesting pair too, their blossoming romance could have been better explored. The cunning body guard with a deceptively pretty face, the oldest character of the 5, certainly stands out. Maybe the mangaka tries to cramp too much into a stand alone story and the romance has to make room for the evolving plot.

Overall an engaging read as I like the deep bond among the 5 friends and the artwork is pretty. And I always like Japanese Yaoi period pieces.

I just wanted to post an agreement review with the only other review here so far. Sometimes a lone review isn't enough to sway me one way or the other.

Yes, this tale set in feudal Japan is interesting and engaging. I do sort of wish this story was in two volumes instead of one, because some of the sub-plots could have been expanded and there could have been more romantic scenes.

As the presentation stands, though, I didn't mind picking this book up on the cheap side. My attention was held by both the story and the art.