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thereadingwren's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
stacieladams21's review against another edition
Yeah, not for me. I had high hopes for this series but there was a sex scene that was very non-consensual. Also the age gap was tough. I’m curious how it ends but I will probably just read a synopsis.
hollyrebeccasmith's review against another edition
3.0
At first I liked it, but I'm not sure I'm on the ship of the main character and his butler anymore...
nordicreads's review against another edition
4.0
A slow start to a great series.
I've read the Blue Morning series before and I'm rereading since getting a hold of the final volume.
The thing about Blue Morning is that it's not quite a slow burn romance, with a heavy focus on the external events surrounding the characters. Centered around the time Japan was transitioning from a feudal system to a more modern culture of commercialism, there's a great deal of politics, intrigue, and power plays involved.
Personally, I love that! I love how detailed the backgrounds are, and I love following the intricate maneuvering of various characters through twists and turns to gain the upper hand. In service of that, this first book really serves most to set up the characters, plot, and setting, so there is little work done on the chemistry. Honestly, we only really get a couple of kisses and that's about it. But what the series sacrifices in a slow start it makes up for later when things get really interesting.
I'd say if you're looking for a BL that has some story to it, then do read at least a book or two more.
That being said, if you're looking for something with less plot and more action, then maybe give this a miss. Things definitely get steamy in later books, but my favourite aspect has always been that the characters are characters--it always feels like they're motivated but their individual lives and desires that I like how, despite their wishes, there is a degree of realisation that duties, and the reality of their circumstances, limit what kind of lives they can live.
I've read the Blue Morning series before and I'm rereading since getting a hold of the final volume.
The thing about Blue Morning is that it's not quite a slow burn romance, with a heavy focus on the external events surrounding the characters. Centered around the time Japan was transitioning from a feudal system to a more modern culture of commercialism, there's a great deal of politics, intrigue, and power plays involved.
Personally, I love that! I love how detailed the backgrounds are, and I love following the intricate maneuvering of various characters through twists and turns to gain the upper hand. In service of that, this first book really serves most to set up the characters, plot, and setting, so there is little work done on the chemistry. Honestly, we only really get a couple of kisses and that's about it. But what the series sacrifices in a slow start it makes up for later when things get really interesting.
I'd say if you're looking for a BL that has some story to it, then do read at least a book or two more.
That being said, if you're looking for something with less plot and more action, then maybe give this a miss. Things definitely get steamy in later books, but my favourite aspect has always been that the characters are characters--it always feels like they're motivated but their individual lives and desires that I like how, despite their wishes, there is a degree of realisation that duties, and the reality of their circumstances, limit what kind of lives they can live.
heyjudy's review against another edition
3.0
~3/5
I heard quite a few good things about this, and it made me intrigued to pick it up. This is a historical series, about high class society and characters. I will admit that I see interesting thought put into it and possible plot points that are intriguing. But it was also kind of not interesting to me.
I must admit that I’m not a historical reader, I don’t really care about the society politics here, or the hierarchy between the main characters. And because of that, most of the plot in this volume didn’t interest me. There was a lot of discussion on those things, and just bleh to me.
I was more interested in the characters and relationships, and the romance. And there wasn’t much chemistry to me. I didn’t feel Akihito’s feelings for Tomoyuki, and I didn’t see the attraction between them at all. So all the hints and tried sexual moments just made me feel uneasy and I didn’t care for them.
I wanted to like this, but I really didn’t. I really wish I had, too, since I've heard such good things about this series.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
I heard quite a few good things about this, and it made me intrigued to pick it up. This is a historical series, about high class society and characters. I will admit that I see interesting thought put into it and possible plot points that are intriguing. But it was also kind of not interesting to me.
I must admit that I’m not a historical reader, I don’t really care about the society politics here, or the hierarchy between the main characters. And because of that, most of the plot in this volume didn’t interest me. There was a lot of discussion on those things, and just bleh to me.
I was more interested in the characters and relationships, and the romance. And there wasn’t much chemistry to me. I didn’t feel Akihito’s feelings for Tomoyuki, and I didn’t see the attraction between them at all. So all the hints and tried sexual moments just made me feel uneasy and I didn’t care for them.
I wanted to like this, but I really didn’t. I really wish I had, too, since I've heard such good things about this series.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
jasmiinaf's review against another edition
2.0
I'm rather picky with yaoi and maybe that's why I didn't like this that much. The art was nice but the story was way too boring and would need some humor.
ellelainey's review against another edition
5.0
On my 3rd or 4th re-read of this book...and it is still beautiful, still wonderful, and still makes me feel all gushy.
The build-up of the relationship, the underlying tension for the first half of the book, and the way Katsugari doesn't obviously age but the small things remind you how young he must have been when Akihito was little, are all special little nuances I love.
Yes, there is potential dub-con if you squint, but I think considering Katsugari's character, he'd be more than willing and able to shove Akihito off and tell him where to shove it, if he wanted to. Yes, I do think he went through with it out of duty to the Kuze name, at first, but in the panels that followed the first kiss, I feel like I can see his confusion over Akihito's obvious affection and how he doesn't want it to be like this, but he's been pushed to his limits. I feel like we can see the conflict in Katsugari. But the one panel that really seals the deal for me - proving this is more than duty and that Katsugari is knocked sideways by what happened - is the panel of the morning after, when he's in his dishevelled clothes, outside the house, looking like his entire world has been shaken. Then, his conversation with the Countess reveals it more starkly, because even she can see the change in him.
Knowing what follows - as I've now read all but the final book - I feel like this is the start of something beautiful beginning to form. For Akihito, his passion made a nightmare of something he'd dreamed of for so long, but he can't let it go because he feels it's the only way Katsugari will ever be his, and he's so helplessly in love, so helplessly sheltered from love and passion, that he doesn't know how to properly express it. Not surprising, considering his two role models: his father and Katsugari, who are both a bit two-faced about affection. But it's also the beginning of Katsugari opening his eyes to his listless, orderly life and how he's never known the kind of passion Akihito shows him before, and how it's completely shaken his life, his feelings, and his beliefs.
Ugh, so much UST and amazingness to come...I can't wait for the final volume.
The build-up of the relationship, the underlying tension for the first half of the book, and the way Katsugari doesn't obviously age but the small things remind you how young he must have been when Akihito was little, are all special little nuances I love.
Yes, there is potential dub-con if you squint, but I think considering Katsugari's character, he'd be more than willing and able to shove Akihito off and tell him where to shove it, if he wanted to. Yes, I do think he went through with it out of duty to the Kuze name, at first, but in the panels that followed the first kiss, I feel like I can see his confusion over Akihito's obvious affection and how he doesn't want it to be like this, but he's been pushed to his limits. I feel like we can see the conflict in Katsugari. But the one panel that really seals the deal for me - proving this is more than duty and that Katsugari is knocked sideways by what happened - is the panel of the morning after, when he's in his dishevelled clothes, outside the house, looking like his entire world has been shaken. Then, his conversation with the Countess reveals it more starkly, because even she can see the change in him.
Knowing what follows - as I've now read all but the final book - I feel like this is the start of something beautiful beginning to form. For Akihito, his passion made a nightmare of something he'd dreamed of for so long, but he can't let it go because he feels it's the only way Katsugari will ever be his, and he's so helplessly in love, so helplessly sheltered from love and passion, that he doesn't know how to properly express it. Not surprising, considering his two role models: his father and Katsugari, who are both a bit two-faced about affection. But it's also the beginning of Katsugari opening his eyes to his listless, orderly life and how he's never known the kind of passion Akihito shows him before, and how it's completely shaken his life, his feelings, and his beliefs.
Ugh, so much UST and amazingness to come...I can't wait for the final volume.
jay_mack9712's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
niovski's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As a fan of period pieces in general, this was right up my alley. This volume was a lot of set-up and laying down the foundations of the protagonists circumstances but I enjoyed it. I also didn't expect it to be a enemies to lovers scenario but it certainly piqued my interest and I'm excited to read more.
bookswithcesco's review against another edition
2.0
This was a pretty good introduction to the series, I found a lot of the parts confusing for the first 3 chapters and it really only made sense in the end, looking forward for the story to come together in future volumes.