More (what else?) Mirage

Ugh, I stayed up too late finishing book 7. Feel kinda out of it. But that didn't stop me from finishing book 8 today, which was the end of this Hojo arc. The story is basically the same as the anime.

In reading this series and looking for some historical (and other) information to help me understand what's going on, I found some helpful sites.

Samurai Archives has a good amount of information on the sengoku daimyo, including short bios of the major players, maps of the regions at the time, big battles, etc. Being a history nut, I had fun looking up people I've heard of through historical dramas, manga and anime, etc. in addition to those who appear in Mirage.

Youkai Village with info on various Japanese supernatural creatures.

I don't even want to know how much research the author had to do to write this. It's mindblowing, being able to bring together fascinating historically based fiction, psychic action and yaoi angst together in such a complex way...

( More Mirage fangirl babble )

Oh yes, and for people interested in learning a new (and probably totally useless) Japanese word, check out this very informative weblog entry about the meaning of the word mahoroba. It is in the title of book 6 of Mirage of Blaze (yes, lately everything stems from that evil sucking hole of addiction I’m wallowing in right now). :D

Eiki Eiki, Taishi Zaou, and Tsuda Mikiyo manga

I decided to take a break from Mirage insanity so I made a list of mangas by these artists. Basically the FMA Alchemist's Handbook being posted on yaoi_daily made me flip through my Eiki Eiki and Taishi Zaou stuff. I think I actually own almost all of their manga...

By Eiki Eiki

Renai Koufuku Ron is a very odd manga that is going to be a very angsty series, but there’s only been one volume out for a very long time. It has to do with the heir to a wealthy family who tries to be perfect but is actually a bit of a deviant. He becomes fixated on a transfer student, and when tragedy befalls the student he closes in for the kill. Frankly, the first volume is just an introduction and there are things hinted at but not much revealed. I wish the next volume would just come out already. Eikyuumu-no-Saiden had scanlated the first chapter but they disbanded, so I guess no one is doing it now?

Dear Myself amused me. I like the panic of the main character waking up one day to find out he had lost his memory several years back and had now regained it--and that he was gay. He and his partner make quite a cute couple, and their “first time” after he had regained his memory (and lost his memory of his lover) was very fun to read. Scanlated by Storm in Heaven.

World’s End is the more serious sequel to Dear Myself which is also an excellent read. I don't think this is being scanlated.

Train Train is a comedy. It's about a train station where a bunch of very odd (and good looking) people work at. The main character is the typical cute, clueless type, and the story revolves around zany antics. I don't think this is being scanlated.

Yuigon I didn't much care for. It's a more serious story, but neither the characters nor the story drew me, even though it had a good angst quotient. I don't think this is being scanlated.

I don’t own Prime Minister, but I think I never bought it because it looks like it’s a shoujo title and not BL (a bit of a summary). :P AtoZ Manga Translations is scanlating it.

I know I own Color with Taishi Zaou, but I don't remember really caring for it. It is a sweet, slightly sad story, I think. Desperate Love is scanlating it.

By Taishi Zaou (aka Tsuda Mikiyo)

Electric Hands is a really fun manga. I love two of the three stories in it and, well, I really like the art. :D Scanlated by Hochuuami.

I know I own Koi wa inamono myouna mono but I have no memory of the story at all. I know I like it, but I can't find my copy...Well, Peccatore Sanctuary is scanlating it.

By Tsuda Mikiyo (aka Taishi Zaou)

Family Complex is the story of a family of beautiful people...everyone other than the main character, the second son. Lots of likable characters, amusing situations, nice art...I enjoy reading this a lot. I don't think anyone is scanlating it.

Kakumei no Hi (Day of Revolution) is another fun story about a boy who discovers he is in fact biologically a girl. He ends up becoming a girl instead of living as a boy, and antics ensue, mostly with regards to his former buddies who compete for his (er, her) affections. It is being scanlated Pander Nation.

Princess Princess has characters from Family Complex and Kakumei no Hi, who end up at an all-boys school with an odd tradition of "princesses." They are boys who dress as girls and act basically as cheerleaders and idols to the masses. I don't think this one is being scanlated.

Oh yes, I rather like Secrecy, the scanlation being posted on yaoi_daily now. I have both volumes and it's a story I pick up every so often and reread.

This took much longer than expected. :P Well, good break for me, I suppose. Now back to Mirage...