Midare Somenishi

Author: Kazuma Kodaka
Rating: 17+
4/5 Stars
Notes: Yaoi, adult content
Extra: If you would like to read online, Sakura-Crissis.net offeres a scanlated version of the manga for download.

Synopsis

Set in ancient Japan, Shirou and his little brother Fujimaru are travelling through a forest where they are attacked by bandits and the bandit�s leader has taken a special liking in Shirou and forces him to either become his �toy� or watch them kill Fujimaru. Of course, he would do anything to protect his brother so he joins the bandits. The problem is, behind his back, Shirou is constantly being defiled while Shirou himself is at the mercy of the bandit�s leader.

Review

I usually don�t like Yaoi, but I think that Midare Somenishi was a pleasant surprise. The story has a lot of sadness and sort of has a dark tone. I think that there is plain yaoi (which I am not a fan of) and tasteful yaoi, which Midare Somenishi is.

The characters are really developed (considering how short it is), but I think the artwork is really nothing out of the ordinary. The first and last chapter weren�t all that great, but everything in between was. I think if the story had ended on the fourth chapter (though it would have been extremely short), it would have been slightly better and the fifth chapter wasn�t really needed.

The story had a few very short romances, and they were all very touching. What else can I say about the animations? Well I think the more �feminine� characters were very �beautiful� but the �masculine� characters weren�t quite as attractive.

There�s a lot of death in this manga, and it is definitely for a more mature audience.