ki_2831's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
zoet's review against another edition
4.0
This review will be the same for all of them-- excluding book seventeen and eighteen-- as I'm going to briefly review books 1-16
I've wanted to read this manga for quite some time, and once I started reading it like a few weeks ago. I couldn't stop. Despite what anyone says, I love this manga. I love the artwork. I love the main character's romance. I love the plot line. And I love all of the characters that make up this manga. There's a lot of people who've said that Hime-sama, the main character in this series, isn't independent, but that she's insufficient and relies on Kyou-sama, which is why this manga isn't good enough to read. Well, okay for one, that's all controversial. And secondly, I don't like my handfuls of dependent girls that can't do anything, in the other genres of books that I read, one example of one of those girls would be, classically, Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey.
(I read that series because I wanted to see what all the hub ba baloo was about-- and you can find my reviews here: Fifty Shades of Grey--> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/400339480 and Fifty Shades Darker--> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/405485208)
Anyways, and since I know what an insufficient girl looks like, I'd just like to get it clear that Himi-sama (or Misao-san) is not one of them. Misao-san wants to be with Kyou so strongly and she wants to be a part of Kyou's life so much because. She. Loves. Him.
obviously.
Not because she's dependent on him. She lived the majority of her life without him. And she didn't die. So? And then for the things that she actually is depend on Kyou for? Like the youkai coming after her because she is the senka? Now that. You actually can't blame Misao for being dependent on Kyou for that because Misao, as a human, can't do anything about that.
Misao differs from girls like Anastasia Steele because as you advance in the stories you blatantly see that Misao wants to help Kyou and the family she has acquired through being the senka and being protected by the great eight. She doesn't want to just sit by and watch people fight her battles. She's strong and independent enough to identify that that's not what she wants and that if she can help in any sort of way- she'll do it.
Beyond that issue-
This anime has a really great romantic factor in it. Beyond the artwork which I absolutely adore (honestly, it's really hard for me to get into an anime or a manga if the artwork is half-assed and illogical like ... a man's arms are past his knees... like that's just weird) the relationship between Kyou and Misao is bitter sweetly adorably and just a relationship that makes my heart cringe. Kyou worked hard for ten years, moving past his older brother, just so he could become the head of the family and he could marry and protect Misao and not let her marry his brother Shou, who she'd been arranged for initially, and whom seemed as if he had many dark secrets of his own.
And Misao who only wants to make Kyou happy and is happiest around him, even though that means she'd have to give up her friends and her family who relentlessly stay by her side.
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I just remember smiling so much in response to Misao and Kyou because they really are just a sweet couple- the couple that you have hope for in all the shitty relationships that take place nowadays.
And then, as a whole, the manga's premise is very interesting as it creates a new and interesting world of clans and dark spirits sharing the world among humans.
I definitely recommend this ^^
Happy reading folks
-Zoe
I've wanted to read this manga for quite some time, and once I started reading it like a few weeks ago. I couldn't stop. Despite what anyone says, I love this manga. I love the artwork. I love the main character's romance. I love the plot line. And I love all of the characters that make up this manga. There's a lot of people who've said that Hime-sama, the main character in this series, isn't independent, but that she's insufficient and relies on Kyou-sama, which is why this manga isn't good enough to read. Well, okay for one, that's all controversial. And secondly, I don't like my handfuls of dependent girls that can't do anything, in the other genres of books that I read, one example of one of those girls would be, classically, Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey.
(I read that series because I wanted to see what all the hub ba baloo was about-- and you can find my reviews here: Fifty Shades of Grey--> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/400339480 and Fifty Shades Darker--> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/405485208)
Anyways, and since I know what an insufficient girl looks like, I'd just like to get it clear that Himi-sama (or Misao-san) is not one of them. Misao-san wants to be with Kyou so strongly and she wants to be a part of Kyou's life so much because. She. Loves. Him.
obviously.
Not because she's dependent on him. She lived the majority of her life without him. And she didn't die. So? And then for the things that she actually is depend on Kyou for? Like the youkai coming after her because she is the senka? Now that. You actually can't blame Misao for being dependent on Kyou for that because Misao, as a human, can't do anything about that.
Misao differs from girls like Anastasia Steele because as you advance in the stories you blatantly see that Misao wants to help Kyou and the family she has acquired through being the senka and being protected by the great eight. She doesn't want to just sit by and watch people fight her battles. She's strong and independent enough to identify that that's not what she wants and that if she can help in any sort of way- she'll do it.
Beyond that issue-
This anime has a really great romantic factor in it. Beyond the artwork which I absolutely adore (honestly, it's really hard for me to get into an anime or a manga if the artwork is half-assed and illogical like ... a man's arms are past his knees... like that's just weird) the relationship between Kyou and Misao is bitter sweetly adorably and just a relationship that makes my heart cringe. Kyou worked hard for ten years, moving past his older brother, just so he could become the head of the family and he could marry and protect Misao and not let her marry his brother Shou, who she'd been arranged for initially, and whom seemed as if he had many dark secrets of his own.
And Misao who only wants to make Kyou happy and is happiest around him, even though that means she'd have to give up her friends and her family who relentlessly stay by her side.
I just remember smiling so much in response to Misao and Kyou because they really are just a sweet couple- the couple that you have hope for in all the shitty relationships that take place nowadays.
And then, as a whole, the manga's premise is very interesting as it creates a new and interesting world of clans and dark spirits sharing the world among humans.
I definitely recommend this ^^
Happy reading folks
-Zoe
annelives's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one better than the last one. Although I'm kind of sick of the Sho plot line. And to be honest I don't get Misao's feelings towards him. She's scared of him and yet she is concerned for his welfare too.
He tried to rape her not once, but twice in this series. And sure he saved her life, but I don't think it makes up for the abductions and near rapes especially when he put her in the dangerous position to begin with.
It's hard for me to relate to Misao or even really like her. She has moments when I think she may not be so bad and then she starts crying again. (Seriously I think there might be more scenes where she has tears in her eyes than not.)
I can't say I like Kyo all that much either. He's borderline sadistic. Some of Kyo's dialogue is something you might expect from the dominant in BDSM erotica. Their relationship is not of equals. Maybe this will change as the story progresses, but I doubt it. I mean he is a demon.
I like the 8 Daitengu best. I find myself interested more in these supporting characters' stories than the main one. Some of their story is also being told in the extras which is probably why I like the bonus stories so much. The ones in Volume 9 and the first one in Volume 7 were especially good. The bonus story in this one was actually a Kyo/ Misao, but I really liked it.
For my full series review on volumes 1-16 please visit http://perksofbeinganotakuwallflower.blogspot.com/2013/10/black-bird-by-kanoko-sakurakouji.html
He tried to rape her not once, but twice in this series. And sure he saved her life, but I don't think it makes up for the abductions and near rapes especially when he put her in the dangerous position to begin with.
It's hard for me to relate to Misao or even really like her. She has moments when I think she may not be so bad and then she starts crying again. (Seriously I think there might be more scenes where she has tears in her eyes than not.)
I can't say I like Kyo all that much either. He's borderline sadistic. Some of Kyo's dialogue is something you might expect from the dominant in BDSM erotica. Their relationship is not of equals. Maybe this will change as the story progresses, but I doubt it. I mean he is a demon.
I like the 8 Daitengu best. I find myself interested more in these supporting characters' stories than the main one. Some of their story is also being told in the extras which is probably why I like the bonus stories so much. The ones in Volume 9 and the first one in Volume 7 were especially good. The bonus story in this one was actually a Kyo/ Misao, but I really liked it.
For my full series review on volumes 1-16 please visit http://perksofbeinganotakuwallflower.blogspot.com/2013/10/black-bird-by-kanoko-sakurakouji.html
mmwiseheart's review against another edition
4.0
A lot happened in this volume and it kind of feels like I read two instead of one. It’s given me a lot to think about, and I’m unsure about where this story line is going.
woody425's review against another edition
4.0
I feel as though this volume was a builder for the next volume, was still good though!
slipperbunny's review against another edition
3.0
I'm actually getting bored with Black Bird, nothing seems to be happening really. I'm still going to continue reading it because I like most of the characters, but I just wish something will happen soon. But I gave three stars because of Kyo's dad and the story of how Kyo's mom died.
batmayne_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
joanarcherknight's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sevairi's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5
It's been some time since I was last reading Black Bird, it's kind of nice to come back to. The volume cover is absolutely gorgeous, if you ask me, and the chapter covers even more.
Lord Yoh was an interesting character. I really enjoyed his sudden appearance, as he revealed some of their family's past. The events he reveals to Misao actually end up being important to the plot of this series.
Sho also returns in this volume, and damn, does he ever look good in an eye patch.
I don't know if I like Kyo or not, to be honest. He obviously loves Misao and tries to do all in his power to keep her safe, but at the same time, he appears to be somewhat abusive toward her. In this volume, he even tells her that sometimes he wants to make her smile and treat her nicely, then other times he wants to be mean to her and make her cry.
I don't get it.
I also gave this an extra star purely for the last page alone.
It's been some time since I was last reading Black Bird, it's kind of nice to come back to. The volume cover is absolutely gorgeous, if you ask me, and the chapter covers even more.
Lord Yoh was an interesting character. I really enjoyed his sudden appearance, as he revealed some of their family's past. The events he reveals to Misao actually end up being important to the plot of this series.
Sho also returns in this volume, and damn, does he ever look good in an eye patch.
I don't know if I like Kyo or not, to be honest. He obviously loves Misao and tries to do all in his power to keep her safe, but at the same time, he appears to be somewhat abusive toward her. In this volume, he even tells her that sometimes he wants to make her smile and treat her nicely, then other times he wants to be mean to her and make her cry.
I don't get it.
I also gave this an extra star purely for the last page alone.