Customer Reviews

Spirit Marked (Yaoi)

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

 

 

I ordered this manga off amazon for both the fantasy elements of the plot synopsis and the yaoi content, and was more than pleasantly surprised at what I found. This manga is well worth the price, with a fast-paced storyline and beautiful illustrations on every page. Plus, a fantasy-genre yaoi! Spirit Marked has visually well-defined character designs -- a welcome treat in itself. The undercurrent of sensuality entangling the main characters(Tatsuki and Keo)was constantly engaging throughout the story, and never dull. Shogun's advancements were an equally fascinating dynamic woven into Spirit Marked. There is a fair amount of sex in this manga, and the scenes were well detailed and interesting without being exaggerated or falling into the realm of the bizarre or worse, of the tedious. I will, however, stress for inquiring minds that this is nowhere near hardcore yaoi, althrough a few scenes included are definately of the sort that you wouldn't want, say, dear old Grandma to see.

---Rating Breakdown---
Storyline: 4/5 (Althrough very well done, the story seemed to move alittle too quickly in places).

Yaoi Content: 4.5/5. Steamy scenes and character interactions. Good detail, but a qualm some readers might have with Spirit Marked is that while there are some pretty graphic scenes here, lower regions are rarely shown(as another character is usually blocking the view somehow, etc, not for lack of detail in the scenes).

Artwork: 5/5. I am very much in love with the illustrator's character designs. No complaints here!

Characters: 4.5/5(There could have been more character development, but then again, I'm definately one to nitpick.)
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Clockwork Heart: This bonus story in the back of the manga is much more wobbly plotwise than the main attraction, but a fun (very quick) read nonetheless. As the previous reviewer mentioned, the ending felt slightly abrupt. My rating: 3/5
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Spirit Marked became a new personal favorite of mine(in both the manga genres of yaoi or fantasy)the moment I began reading it. I'll definately be buying the author's next yaoi title upon its release.

Court

This is by FAR the best manga put out by this site! The art is amazing, and the storyline is riveting. It keeps you wanting more, and also keeps you guessing! I love the main character. Just the way he's drawn and his characteristics are just amazing! I can really tell this is a well thought out story, but there is one thing I didn't like. I wish it were longer!!! The story in the back is also a bit short, and seems to be cut off (as if something is missing). It's a bit "gushy" and "romancy" but it's not so bad.

I can't wait for the artists of this book's second manga to come out!

I really liked this story, and pretty much everything produced by this talented yaoi manga-ka. Yishan Li is one of my favorite Western /global yaoi artists (together with M.A. Sambre, artist of "Dark Prince"). Yishan Li's art style is exquisite, with clean and delicate lines. The fantasy setting of the story is very engaging, and sexy as well. No frontal nudity, but yaoi scenes are numerous, hot and passionate.
And yes, I've read a lot of yaoi by Japanese and Korean authors/artists, many of which I also liked. But this is very much comparable to very good artists working in the genre, worldwide (i.e., including Japan and Korea). Highly recommended if you're looking for something beyond just "explicit", with sweet fantasy plot.

Meh story, pretty artwork. Tatsuki's entire family is slain by an evil (but shockingly beautiful) male demon. He swears vengeance but is waylaid by a leopard/man who "marks" him with a temporary tattoo of the leopard people (apparently his "spirit" has been marked). As he heads off to wreak revenge on the demon-man with the pretty face he is further waylaid when he's kidnapped by a traveling circus, whipped by a fat man (who thank the good lord of yaoi doesn't rape him) and is forced into slavery. Some guys just can't catch a break, eh? There he meets another young slave named Keo who stars in the acrobatic show. After Tatsuki watches Teo fly through the air with the greatest of ease in his tight little costume, they fall madly in love and run away together. They have steamy sex in the forest that is totally blocked out by various body parts (grrr), as is the way with most of this yaoi. Turns out Keo is marked by a beast too. Damn, what are the odds? Because of this they have to go through some trial to become shaman's or somesuch for the forest folk but meanwhile Tatsuki is having bizarro dreams of the demon who is trying to seduce him. More weird and confusing things happen, the demon does bad things to Tatsuki and sweet little Keo and it ends at an abrupt and confusing happily ever after. Was it all a dream or no? I'm so confused. Why do I read these? They make my head spin. The second story is a total stinker. It's about a boy and a clockwork boy who get all kissy face for no other reason than they are the only two boys on the planet (why? who knows). There is no substance to this story AND the artwork is just not very good.

I was really disappointed with this title. This book does not even come close to Japanese yaoi titles. The art is child like, and the story is weak. You don't like the characters, and you cannot get into the story. The sex is there, but it holds no meaning since you don't care about the characters.
I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. This book was a waste of my money, and I doubt I will buy from this publisher again.


Jet

Being a long-time reader of Japanese, Korean, and sometimes even Chinese manga (manwa), I was incredibly disappointed in this piece. In truth one of the worst yaoi I have ever read. While the art is well done and evokative the plot is barely that: a plot. Character development is minimal and no true relationship is developed or expounded upon, and the characters seem ready to jump each other without much reason. The attempts at creating an interesting fantasy fall short, and there are rather weak attempts at giving meaning to the entire work. The end result is a work that smacks of common, raunchy American short erotica (which often seems little more than porn) coupled with manga-inspired art.

For those who like smut and care for little else, you may definately like it (though the nudity is more subdued than some other yaoi), but for those of you who come to this expecting romance or entertainment apart from the smut, I recommend avid avoidance.

If your looking for someing interesting AND explict keep on looking. the main story wasn't as intrigueing as i had hoped at all. And i felt nothing for the characters in the story.

had a nice story, and the art work wasnt as bad as some that this publisher has produced. will retain in my collection but I do warn other yaoi seekers to maybe look elsewhere.