Boy Princess by Seyoung Kim

     Boy Princess begins comically when Prince Nicole is forced to pose as his sister, Princess Elena, and marry the neighboring kingdom's second prince, Jed. However he is soon sucked into the politics of his new kingdom and the brother rivalry between the crown prince and Jed. Jed and Nicole's relationship is tested and threatened by the crown prince's own desires to eliminate Jed. The story also includes the crown prince's relationship with the apothecary, Shahi, who is forced to stay in the kingdom as a hostage for his tribe's loyalty and forced into sexual acts. There is comic relief in the relationship that grows between Prince Glewhin, crown prince of the Erin Kingdom, and Princess Reiny, Jed's little sister. The story wraps up and concludes all relationships in a positive way with a one shot that shows the relationship of Jed and Nicole's reincarnations in a high school setting. Overall, the story is beautifully drawn and within the art it sucks the reader into an enjoyable fantasy realm. The pacing of the plot is well done and does not change direction so suddenly to confuse readers.
     However, even though the story was drawn out well the clothes have much to be desired. An example would be a picture of Jed in a rural setting where a dress-like tunic with no pants and a slit up the side. Not a dinky slit, like he might have torn it while chopping some wood. Oh no! This is a tear that goes all the way up the thigh. What was the author thinking? I don't know. I could see this if he was trying to seduce Nicole, but at the time he was chopping wood. I am pretty positive people, let alone princes, did not chop their wood like that. Not to mention, the relationship between Jed and Nicole started off interesting, yet became very boring by the end of the story. I was more interested about the relationship between Shahi and the crown prince, the back story about Jed's mother and father, the back story about Jed's mother and Shahi's mother, the relationship between Glewhin and Reiny; basically everything but Jed and Nicole, which is not so great if the story is supposed to be about their struggle to be together.
     Overall it was a good read. I would read it again, but it will take me awhile to get used to Jed's, or the author's, preference of clothes. I would rate it a 7.8/10.

Let Dai by Woon Soo-yoon

     What first caught my attention about this korean love story was the contrast between the main characters Jaehee and Dai and how their love for one another almost seems like an unhealthy obsessive desire fed by the pain their relationship brings to those around them. Jaehee is a normal college-bound teenage boy who is a good friend and son. When he first meets Dai, it was not under normal circumstances. While walking home he sees a young woman, Yooneun being mugged by the Furies gang. Dai, being the leader, hits Jaehee, however they feel a force pulling them together. After their first meeting Dai forces Jaehee to become a member of their gang, but when given the chance to leave Jaehee becomes unable to. From here on out the story has the opportunity to become cliche, yet it uses Yooneun, who develops a crush on Jaehee, to force Dai and Jaehee apart. Her relationship with Jaehee makes Dai extremely jealous and pushes him to a point where Jaehee has to make a choice: be with Dai or push him away. At first he chooses the latter, yet his choice makes him extremely ill and mentally unsound. He yearns and craves to be with Dai until finally they meet once again. The story is tragic since they cannot be together in Korea. However, in a way it ends happily, because they each find their own way back to each other.
     However, my biggest critique is why does Jaehee get back together with Dai, after the gangster leader tries to kill him? Wouldn't you stay away from an angry gangster leader who enjoys beating the teeth out of someone's head with a rock? And I've read the beginning at least ten times and don't understand how they go from victim and tormentor to lovers. Where does that happen? One minute Jaehee is getting his brains kicked out and the next Dai is kissing him. I don't understand! Although, my favorite character has to be Dai. His anarchy views on society and his actions, verging on sociopathic behavior, makes him an interesting character to trifle with. Not to mention, he does not care at all what people think about his relationship with Jaehee. Quite frankly I think he'd just flip them off or kick them in the face.
     Let Dai was a very good read, although long. However, there are so many characters effected by Jaehee's relationship with Dai. It's nice to see the different point of views on their love. I would recommend Let Dai as a second read and if any of you understand how Dai and Jaehee suddenly became lovers tell me! I really need to know! I give this story a 7.8/10

50 X 50 by Kunieda Saika

                                                          
     Have you ever waken up in the morning, naked, laying next to someone, who is also naked, that you've despised since high school? Neither have I, which makes for a very interesting introduction to the lives of  Kawanishi and Higashino in this story 50 X 50, and the denial they have for the love they share. What denial? Exactly. The story contains one shots about their lives together, discussing their issues with women and their "non-existing" attraction for one another.
     One ongoing theme is the drink binging Kawanashi and Higashino partake in after they've been dumped; they get really drunk, go to one or the other apartment, and have sex. Then they wake up, freaked out, and deny the entire event. The first time it happens, is funny. The reader sees kiss marks on the characters' bodies, hinting at hickeys, and Kawanashi covers his chest like a woman trying to hide her breasts, which is very funny since he is a man.
     Yet after the first few times this theme gets rather boring and the reader wishes they'd just end this silly relationship or become a couple. Seriously. By the end of the story I wanted to go sassy straight friend on them and yell "What, what, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". They aren't moving forward. They aren't growing and become boring characters. Not to mention, what starts as a love comedy turns into a pseudo- tragedy because neither man is able to fess up to his sexual preferences. So you're inlove with your enemy. Big deal. Your in love with someone of the same sex. Who cares. This is a Yaoi for God's sake, stop denying the attraction that is there! This theme, though, is what also makes the story very interesting and the characters funny, even though by the end of the story you want to smack them.I give the story a 6.7/10. Great plot, funny characters, yet needs some more growth. Not to mention, the ending just leavers a cliff hanger. What's up with that?