tsuki wo yomu kimi by togake ally and illustrated by kamon

[insaneneko]

Tsuki wo yomu kimi by Togake Ally and illustrated by Kamon is not very good. It's not bad either, it just does some things that I think are bad writing. And irritate me. There's this one plot point in this that I see far too much in BL that needs to just die. I only mention it because it's about the Shinto gods, specifically Amaterasu's brothers Tsukuyomi and Susanoo and their torrid, angsty gay love. I was just irrationally amused by these people who come out of the dry texts of my Japanese studies acting really foolishly in pure BL fashion. The art works well with the subject.

The story in a nutshell: Tsukuyomi, the calm and reserved, and Susanoo, the wild and brutish, are attracted to each other. Unfortunately, they can't communicate with each other honestly (I think the author wanted to emphasize that they are just very different, but I think the main problem is that they simply fail on so many levels), do lots of very unhelpful things, and drive each other away (and piss off or worry the other gods). The author decided to do a "twist" in the end that had me rolling my eyes, but they eventually find happiness together.


A whole lot of bad things happen that culminate in Susanoo getting killed by another god. He wakes up in the underworld and hanging out with his mother. But why is Tsukuyomi also around? Turns out he's not only the moon god but the god of the underworld! Something kept secret from all the other gods! He'd kind of set up Susanoo to die so that he could have Susanoo all to himself in his own realm even as he'd been portrayed as the victim throughout the latter half of the book. I am amazed at how many BL books I've read where the pure-hearted victim turns out to be the master manipulator with absolutely no foreshadowing. Ugh.




The fiery Amaterasu with her calm brother Tsukuyomi.







I'm amused that Tsukuyomi and Susanoo still have their hair in those buns even after wild hot sex. That they are having while sneaking around the other gods.




Amaterasu being fiery again--I like how she's drawn by this artist. I like her, despite her flaws.

Comments

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Wow, nothing like warping your own history! XD

Though I remember reading about Susanoo before. A poem about an eight-tiered cloud or something.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I remember the story of Susanoo getting kicked out of heaven after acting out, it's one of the main legends you learn. But I love the novel's idea of making his acting out due to Tsukuyomi leaving heaven for the moon. XD;

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Wonder if these mangaka ever dabbled in Greek mythology.....