Kanoko Sakurakouji

Black Bird, Vol. 2

Briar's Reviews

Way back in my high school days I was OBSESSED with this series. Seriously, I was attached to this series and got super upset when I couldn't get the final volumes at my local bookstores. It broke my heart! For years, this manga series collected dust on a bookshelf in my house. 

Welcome to quarantine cleaning and reading! Where I pull out old books to reread and review, and then lend them to all of my friends. It's great. Honestly, I recommend it.

This series does not hold up for me. While I used to think this was romantic and like a chase, it seems kind of creepy now. It's a little rape-y in nature, yet I still want to read it and see where it goes.

If you're looking for an immature fantasy romance, this is it. It's not to be taken seriously, as it's a manga about a girl who can bring prosperity to a clan if they marry and sleep with her. Honestly, it's a goofy plot but it does make for an interesting read. 

As an adult woman, I'm a little creeped out though. The boys get to gawk at pictures of Misao in her underwear and more men want to rape her. It's creepy AF. Like, we almost get a full rape scene. Wasn't this for a middle grade to YA audience? My local bookstore recommended it to middle grade readers. Yeah, you read that right. Middle grade. I was told at the time I might be too old of an audience for it at 15. 

Overall, this book is fine if you don't mind rape-y and sexual jokes. I personally didn't like them, but back in my youth they went over my head and I thought it was funny. Being older, it's different. Know what you like to read is basically my warning. This book knows it's audience.

First time around back in high school: 5 out of 5.
Adult me: 2 out of 5.

Black Bird, Vol. 3

Black Bird is a weird series for me. I read it back in high school and was OBSESSED with it. Throughout the pandemic I worked on cleaning my house and found my entire collection collecting dust. So, why not read through it again? It's a manga, gives me something to do and would be great to jump back into the past. But I don't enjoy it now? It's so weird. So, so weird.

My negatives:
1. This book includes more potential rape for Misao. The rape theme seems to be super consistent throughout the book.
2. Drugs too, maybe? Like, can't Misao catch ab real?
3. Storyline didn't move too much, but at least I got to see some different characters.
4. This book feels less like a romance and more of a very possessive, Fifty Shades of Grey-esque supernatural attempting to be erotica sort of book. It's kind of weird.

What I like:
1. The artwork is cool.
2. Different supernatural creatures.

Overall, I am going to finish this series out because I have most of the books (I paid full price back in high school for it so I'm getting my money's worth) but I just am not digging it. There's definitely a market for this book but it's not for me.

Two out of five stars.

Black Bird, Vol. 4

Black Bird, Volume 4 by Kanoko Sakutakouji is a step up from the previous three books in this series. Let me explain why:

So this series is quite controversial, if I'm being honest. Depending on how you look at this book, it can be quite toxic. If you can put aside that some of the things in this book are creepy, then this specific book starts getting better and is way more of a romantic, fantasy manga that you are seeking. The rape-y comments in past books are kinda weird. Their relationship dynamic is kinda strange. But, you also have to think about where this was made and when - that doesn't make anything okay if you are trigger or think it's not okay, but it's a point of contemplation.

So....

This book was way more romance, action and drama. I honestly thought this book stepped away from the creepy factor and was way more engaging. I want to see the actual romance! I want to see the struggles of the fantasy world that has been created. That was exactly what I wanted out of this series and I can remember why I adored it so fondly when I read it the first time around (when they initially were published). 

The illustrations in this series has always blown me away. It's one of the big reasons I jumped back into this book. The art is just magnificent and I truly hope Kanoko has found many jobs using their artistic abilities because WOW. 

Overall, this series is taking a step in the right direction and I'm impressed by it. I am anxiously thrilled to continue on reading to see where the story goes.

Four out of five stars.

Black Bird, Vol. 5

Black Bird, Volume 5 by Kanoko Sakurakouji continues the intriguing and mysterious story of the tengus.

I really hope more information comes out soon about the Senka Maiden. It is getting a little annoying hearing the 'don't do this or else...' line. Just tell us what's gonna happen or find something else in the plot to focus on. 

I am glad that Kyo's brother is beginning introduced. That will bring in more drama and interesting plot lines for the books. Misao and Kyo's relationship needs to develop a little bit more. I'm hoping this book speeds it up a bit! Luckily, I feel like this volume is a step up from the first couple that weren't grabbing my interest. Add in the incredible manga illustrations and you've got a story headed in the right direction.

Three out of five stars.

Black Bird, Vol. 6

Onwards I go with my nostalgia trip!

This one was interesting - Misao was ready for battle against Sho. Will the tengu save Misao? Will she get her memories back? How is Sho so evil yet she used to like him? So many questions! I am intrigued if I'll be able to actually finish this series. I think I'm missing the last book of this entire series out of my collection. I will continue to work my way through them though!

The rape-y vibes are kind of weird for me, but I am liking going back through these. Especially since I don't one hundred percent remember what happened. 

Three out of five stars.

Kanoko Sakurakoji

He loves her blood, but does her love her?! Reads R to L (Japanese Style) T+ audience. There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life! Misao knows her relationship with Kyo is dangerous, but she's used to being the one in peril! Will she be able to stand it when the tables are turned and Kyo is threatened? As leader of the tengu clan and boyfriend of the Senka Maiden, Kyo gets a lot of attention in the demon world, and very little of it is good. From the wrath of a reincarnated dragon to the hatred of a demon hunter, Misao must face the fact that she isn't the only one at risk in the relationship. But how can she just stand by while Kyo is threatened?!

Black Bird

Black Bird continues to pull me in and remind me of the nostalgia of binging this series in high school. Amusingly enough, this book has the receipt from when I pre-ordered this book from my local book shop. I couldn't believe it was still legible! But there it was, showing my adoration from my high school years. What a trip down memory lane!

This series goes up and down for me. One volume I'm super into it, and one volume I'm not. This one had me superglued the entire time. There's a new dude coming in to try to break Misao and Kyo up. Who, where, why, how?! I need all of the answers. I'm pumped to continue reading this series to see where it takes me. You finally think you're over a hurdle like Sho or the kitsune, and suddenly another terror comes our way!

This book was way more fast paced and brought a bit more romance into this fantasy/romance series. It's a great read, as long as you realize there are some tones of sexual harassment in this series. So, trigger warning to those who are sensitive to these topics.

Overall, this book was a great jump away from chapter books and into the world of art and manga.

Four out of five stars.

Black Bird, Vol. 11

Elizabeth Garza

I'm kind of starting to lose steam with this series but I'm still interested enough that I want to finish it.

Eva O

Black Bird, Vol. 10

Black Bird, Vol. 9

Chesca

Courtney

He loves her blood, but does her love her?! Reads R to L (Japanese Style) T+ audience. There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life! Raiko, the demon hunter who has been staying at Misao's house, is determined to save her--even if that's the last thing she wants! Kyo won't allow a threat to Misao to go unchecked and plans to take care of the problem in his own special way. Misao, however, hopes that she can broker a peace between Raiko and Kyo before things get out of hand. But when Raiko's attempts to "free" Misao fail, he hatches a devious new plan that will use Misao's bond with Kyo to destroy him!