365 Days of Manga, Day 41: Yurara

YURARA (Yurara no Tsuki, “Yurara’s Moon”) (ゆららの月) • Chika Shiomi • VIZ (2007-2008) • Hakusensha (Bessatsu Hana to Yume, 2002-2005) • 5 volumes • Shôjo Occult Fantasy Romance • 16+ (mild language, mild violence, sexual situations)
Yurara, a girl with the ability to see spirits, one day meets two guys with similar abilities: affectionately pervy, dark-haired, fire-themed Tendo, and cold, light-haired, water-themed Yako. But meek Yurara has a spirit inside her too, a woman’s ghost who can possess her and turn her into a powerful, beautiful woman. A four-way love triangle ensues. Yurara flirts with spookiness but is ultimately an empowering feel-good romance, with a typical Shiomi heroine whose main concern is keeping the guys from fighting each other and making sure that no one (including ghosts) gets hurt. The romance and comedy elements read well, but the scary scenes are perfunctory and the shojo action art is generic and impersonal (in a style similar to Night of the Beasts).
** (two stars)
Ah, another Chika Shiomi paranormal romance, another girl fought over by two mysterious guys distinguished by hair color…
Today’s winner is Christopher H. of California. Congratulations, Christopher!