Mary Jan 05, 2015
Honest, intelligent news and reviews for manga romantics
Oh, ho! It’s the new year and time for new manga! What’s coming out on shoujo shelves for the month of January 2015?
One new series this month – Meca Tanaka’s Meteor Prince. Wow, Goong has been publishing a long time. Thanks to Yen Press for not ever dropping it! Plenty of continuing series to catch up on as well. I’m most excited about the next volume of Kiss of the Rose Princess. What are you most excited about?
Amidst the fallout from the king’s decision to make Prince Yul the crown prince, Chae-Kyung and Shin make plans to get back together. Meanwhile, Yul struggles to get to the bottom of his mother’s involvement in the accident that may have cost Chae-Kyung dearly. When he confronts her, the Daebi reveals a shocking secret from seventeen years ago that will set into motion events that will change their lives forever!
Story and art by Park SoHee.
To get better acquainted – and, in some cases, reacquainted – with each other, the residents of Ayakashi Hall spend the last weeks of summer break at a seaside vacation spot. Between beach basking and tests of courage, Ririchiyo slowly warms to her new cohorts, but the one resident who never seems to betray his emotions is Miketsukami – and the group is determined to fix that! Will her efforts to unmask Soushi expose the truth of who he is – or rather, who he is not?
Story and art by Cocoa Fujiwara.
Fearing her absent father will return and discover her rose choker missing, Anise commands her knights to do a search for the necklace. Before they can set out, new transfer student Haruto Kisugi appears. He and Anise were friends back when she was living in Osaka, but her four knights – especially Kaede – do not trust him.
Story and art by Aya Shouoto.
Strange accidents always seem to happen around Hako Natsuno – so much so that she’s been dubbed “The Queen of Bad Luck.” It’s hardly surprising then that a naked alien prince falls from the sky to tell her that out of all the girls in the universe, he’s come to Earth to mate with her. Does this mean Hako’s luck has changed, or…?
Story and art by Meca Tanaka.
There are as many people on Earth as there are stars in the sky. From the unique marriage traditions of a faraway tribe, to the unusual relationship between a fox and a chick, to the tale of a complicated royal succession, Milkyway continues to mark her place across the bright stars of people’s lives, loves, tears, and laughter.
Story and art by Sirial.
A trip to the mountains means unexpected surprises and adventure for Takeo and Yamato – especially when they get lost! As night falls, will they spend the evening together alone? More importantly, who will be the first one to make a move?!
Story by Kazune Kawahara and Art by Aruko.
It’s almost Christmas, but Chitoge’s not in a festive mood, because her mother, Hana Kirisaki, is visiting Japan for the winter holidays. Chitoge introduces her false boyfriend to her workaholic mom, who then decides to test his mettle – by making him work as her secretary! While laboring away, Raku can’t help but notice the strained relationship between Chitoge and her mother. Is there anything he can do?
Story and art by Naoshi Komi.
Yuuki Asuna was a top student who spent her days at cram school and preparing for her high school entrance exams – but that was before she borrowed her brother’s virtual reality game system and wound up trapped in Sword Art Online with ten thousand other frightened players. As time passes, Asuna fears what will become of her life outside the fantasy realm – the failure she might seem in the eyes of her peers and parents.
Unwilling to wait on the sidelines for more experienced gamers to beat the game, Asuna employs her study habits to learn the mechanics of gaming – and swordplay. Her swiftness impresses Kirito, a pro gamer who invites Asuna to join the best players on the front lines. Is Asuna ready to swap class rankings for player rankings and join Kirito?
Note: Alternate retelling of Sword Art Online’s Aincrad arc from Asuna’s point of view.
Story by Reki Kawahara and Art by Tsubasa Haduki.
Have you gotten your children to read manga? I read your post on how Heart of Manga was born, and immediately connected. I love reading, and it was in 6th grade that I discovered Tokyo Mew Mew, Naruto, Vampire Knight and Fullmetal Alchemist. It all started with Pokemon on TV for me though haha. I am in college now and still love manga and anime, and feel as if shoujo is finally getting a bigger audience. Some of my male friends gave shoujo a try and they enjoyed it!
I even discovered the beauty of language through manga, and now I am teaching myself Japanese and Russian. I feel as if manga has opened my eyes to other cultures and ways of life, and I hope that if and when I do have children, they can be readers and appreciate all ways of life too.
Thanks for sticking around as a blogger, and for a mom, you are really cool! I wish my parents could support this, but they don’t. Oh well. 🙂