What I read in April: Digest Version, part 2 of 3

b Dawn of the Arcana 1-3:   Yes, volume three ends about where I would have liked volume 1 to end, but I have been reading a lot of shonen lately, so maybe that's why I feel so frustrated at all the meandering and wasted time and space setting up the main conflict.  Where volume three leaves off makes me look forward to its future potential for awesome.

b A Devil and Her Love Song 1-2: "You may be right.  Who I am isn't the same as who I want to be.  I need to start accepting that."  This one is kind of tough to read sometimes but worth it.  The author does tend to smack you over the head with references to the title that might make you cringe.  The main character has a lot of issues interacting with other human beings, and that's always awkward to see.
As a non-people-person, I often made friends with this kind of misfit because they were usually quite interesting and no one else seemed to want to put forth the effort.  There are still some unbelievable extremes in terms of outlying characters, but I think the author's still sort of trying to find her legs, and I suspect this one will be a keeper, too.  It has these moments of greatness.  One reviewer complained that who she would end up with in the love triangle was a foregone conclusion, but I disagree.

b Itazura Na Kiss 4-5: Again, these are people I would hate in real life, but that's why God gave us fiction books.  Our plucky (obnoxious) young heroine vacilates back and forth about her love for him and his love for her.  Hints are dropped.  Fiances are picked up out of nowhere, and silliness occurs.  Also a near-heart attack.  Exciting and simple romantic comedy of errors that's alarmingly addictive in small doses.

b Kitchen Princess 7: Guess what?  There's cooking!  Also a former rival becomes a big fan, and I hate the dad even more than ever!  What is his problem?  He sticks out in this manga like a sore thumb.  Yes, lots of stuff is ridiculous, but it is totally understandable.  This guy's hatred and behavior do not fall under that category.  I am waiting for whatever ridiculous shojo explanation is forthcoming.

b Kekkaishi 31: I should just stop reading these until I get all of them and then have one massive, massive marathon of awesome.  There are so many tiny plot threads and connections that I am totally missing due to my terrible book memory.  Oh, Kekkaishi, how I love your dark and mysterious and complicated shonen goodness.

b Kieli 6: The Sunlit Garden Where It Began (Part 2): Not surprisingly, this was a downer.  Harsh, dude.  And creepy.  And very, very sad.  Part of the growing sadness is the knowledge that one of the characters is dying, and the likelihood of any romantic future is fading nearly as fast as said character.  I am going to cry a lot when this character dies down the road.  And every time this character does something right or makes a choice to open up and share and be honest and have a real relationship with the other main character, it will be another twist of the knife because time is short, and the relationship is so, so doomed.  I really like this series for all its flaws, and I'm rooting for an impossibly happy but satisfying ending but would put up with a quietly tragic one if the remaining character is able to go on and live a good life because the time spent with the dead character.  Is that quite convoluted enough to avoid spoilers?  : )

b Kuro Gane 5 of 5: Hm.  This "ending" felt really abrupt but not totally enraging.  The journey will go on, but not the books.  This was a really odd series with interesting brush-stroke art, a fascinating sort-of steam-punk boy and his dog/wandering ronin storyline, and some great amoral characters.