Twittering Birds Never Fly by Kou Yoneda

The sexually masochistic yakuza boss, Yashiro, isn't the type to warm up to others easily. But when Chikara Doumeki, his newly hired bodyguard, catches his interest, he reconsiders his "hands-off" policy with subordinates. As Yashiro's invitations fail, the yakuza boss finds out his bodyguard has a very personal reason for staying at arm's length.

Yakuza themed books are always popular yaoi fan community. It's dark. It's sad. Sexy and interesting at the same time. This book is so emotional and deep. It's rated 5 out of 5 in every review sites in Japan. 

My Rate: 9 (amzn.to/4fQGbXq)

When I first saw the Anime adapted from this manga, I was hooked. The fact that the anime has a cliffhanger ending, pushed me to buy all the volumes in the series. Yes, it's dark, yes, it's hardcore, and yes, it's very romantic. The love of Doumeki for Yashiro is without limit, and Doumeki is a pure character in the midst of a dark and dirty world. Yashiro on the other hand, see sex as a way to escape from the horror of his life, but actually he yearns for a sincere love. A love that he harbors for his highschool friend, but on the contrary of other similar situation, the fact that his friends has found happinness with someone else, is not a reason to hate him. And that is a proof that Yashiro's love is pure as well. It's strange to talk about being pure in this series, but trust me, it's like that. It's a given to say the graphic is outstanding, and the few color panels are beautiful as well, I would really love to see the whole series adapted as an Anime.

Given by Natsuki Kizu

 

Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music -- and to each other -- always brings them back together again.

My Rate: 9 (amzn.to/4fQivSQ) (both drama series than anime are really nice too)

Given is a very highly emotional story. Dealing with teen suicide, with unanswered questions, with the inability of let it go, or maybe, with the realization that you have not to let it go, but just to accept things. If you start this series with the idea of reading of the high school romance of Uenoyama and Mafuyu, maybe you will be a little disappointed. True, there is a love story, and yes, they will end up together, but Yuki, Mafuyu suicidal ex-boyfriend, will always be there, through till the end, so much that the last "words" are his own. He is the pushing force of Mafuyu, while Uenoyama is Mafuyu's companion through the travel of life. The graphic is lyrical and ethereal, well suited for the mood of the story. There are happy endings but also not so happy ending, maybe some of them are worthy of a separate series.

A Home Far Away by Teki Yatsuda

In the winter of 1990, a young man name Alain finds himself lost and searching for direction. He currently cannot find it at home nor through the church. But when he meets Hayden, a free-spirited cook, he at least finds someone he can relate with. He may not know where his life is going but at least he has someone to lean on. But Alan's new life, filled with new feelings and many new challenging experiences, may force him to find his path on the road...

My Rate: 9 (amzn.to/42x9h7C)

While I can understand that this manga is a very good one, it's also one that I will probably never read again. Big spoiler: it's a tragic ending, something that, well, you are probably expecting from the story, but that in a way, you are hoping didn't come, since this is a romance after all, and you want for your characters to be happily ever after. Not here. So yes, beautiful graphic, intense and original story, but not one I want to read again.