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A review by rereader33
Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 5 by Julietta Suzuki
2.0
This was better than the last two purely because the artwork was pretty, but that's it. I'm dropping this series, but I want to rant, so here we go:
I want to start off by saying that if you like this series now or you liked it when you first read it years ago, good. I DID like this series (at least the first seven volumes) years ago, but unfortunately preferences change as people experience more series with similar tropes or concepts. And THAT is the biggest problem with this series; Kamisama Kiss is fine if this is your FIRST shoujo fantasy romance, but it doesn't hold up in comparison to other titles because it's so simple in everything it does. The characters are bare-bones shoujo protagonists, the setting and worldbuilding are easy for new readers to digest but do nothing for readers already familiar with yokai and Japanese folklore, and the romance is just NOT INTERESTING.
I know a lot of people will get pissed because I'm being so harsh and many may say, "you're taking this too seriously, it's just a lighthearted rom-com, stop being so critical!" and to those people I say "you're absolutely right, but that's doesn't mean I have to like it." Everyone has different preferences and it's difficult for me to brush off all the problems I had with this series because "it's not supposed to be serious" and "it's a fun, relaxing read" because I've seen this story done multiple times but INFINITELY better. I'm not saying you or anyone else can't enjoy, but please be respectful of my preferences.
Now that that's settled, I am going to give a list of manga that are romances between human and yokai/mythical creatures on the off chance you want to give them a try:
In/Spectre
The Ancient Magus's Bride
Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts
Noragami
Kakuriyo Bed and Breakfast for Spirits
Toilet Bound Hanako-kun
I want to start off by saying that if you like this series now or you liked it when you first read it years ago, good. I DID like this series (at least the first seven volumes) years ago, but unfortunately preferences change as people experience more series with similar tropes or concepts. And THAT is the biggest problem with this series; Kamisama Kiss is fine if this is your FIRST shoujo fantasy romance, but it doesn't hold up in comparison to other titles because it's so simple in everything it does. The characters are bare-bones shoujo protagonists, the setting and worldbuilding are easy for new readers to digest but do nothing for readers already familiar with yokai and Japanese folklore, and the romance is just NOT INTERESTING.
I know a lot of people will get pissed because I'm being so harsh and many may say, "you're taking this too seriously, it's just a lighthearted rom-com, stop being so critical!" and to those people I say "you're absolutely right, but that's doesn't mean I have to like it." Everyone has different preferences and it's difficult for me to brush off all the problems I had with this series because "it's not supposed to be serious" and "it's a fun, relaxing read" because I've seen this story done multiple times but INFINITELY better. I'm not saying you or anyone else can't enjoy, but please be respectful of my preferences.
Now that that's settled, I am going to give a list of manga that are romances between human and yokai/mythical creatures on the off chance you want to give them a try:
In/Spectre
The Ancient Magus's Bride
Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts
Noragami
Kakuriyo Bed and Breakfast for Spirits
Toilet Bound Hanako-kun