365 Days of Manga, Day 130: Stolen Heart

STOLEN HEART (Sono Toki Heart wa Nusumareta, “Then/That Time, a Heart was Stolen”) (???????????) • Yukine Honami • DMP (2007) • Houbunsha (Hanaoto, 2002) • 1 volume • 18+ (language, partial nudity, graphic sex)
As the author admits in her dust jacket notes, she doesn’t bother to name her characters. She’d like you to call the aristocratic main character “Bitch” and his criminal nemesis “Mean Guy.” The two characters meet when “Mean Guy” roofies and rapes “Bitch” in his quest to find his missing brother. Then it’s roofie and repeat a few chapters later. This time, “Mean Guy” at least sticks around for a cuddle and some storytelling as he explains that his missing brother was used as sexual chattel in some aristocrat’s country home before “Mean Guy” found him. The second half of the book is made up of two shorts, “People Are What They Seem” (horny high schoolers) and “Kiss Scandal” (gay American congressman gets it on). Neither is worth the time to it takes to read, although “Kiss Scandal” is marginally amusing in its naiveté. (Review by Hannah Santiago)

Today’s review is by my good friend Hannah Santiago. Meanwhile, today’s winner is Jared B. of Oregon. Congratulations, Jared!