So it did come in today!

[heavenly_pearl]

My Right Stuf order came in today! Yay! I didn't think it would, since when I checked the tracking, it said the package was still in Dallas, but I guess they just forgot to update it for a couple of days.

Of course, I had to read all the new manga right away. ^_^

Some random thoughts:

Legend of Chun Hyang - I kind of wish I had done a little more research on this before I ordered it. I was under the impression that it was a one-shot manga, but while there is only one volume out, it turns out that it was a series that CLAMP had dropped. Such a shame, too. The artwork is gorgeous, and I was really starting to get into the story. Chun Hyang and Mong Ryong had the potential to become one of CLAMP's most dynamic couples. *sigh* I wonder why it was even released in English. I mean, I know anything with the CLAMP name on it is bound to sell -- heck, that's how they got me *laughs* -- but it just seems cruel to put out an incomplete series with only two chapters and a side story that has little hope of ever being continued (unlike Legal Drug and X, which are just on indefinite hiatus).

Oh, well. I guess it's good that there's only one volume, at least. I would have been mad if I had bought a bunch of volumes, only to discover it would never be finished. But one volume isn't much of a waste, and the first chapter does work pretty well as a standalone story. I'll just have to hope against hope that CLAMP decides to resurrect it someday.

The One I Love - The other CLAMP one-shot I got, which is a true one-shot consisting of twelve different stories, accompanied by essays explaining the inspiration behind the stories. Really sweet. That's really all I have to say about it. ^_^

Fruits Basket Vol. 19

So, Momiji's finally grown up, huh? He looks pretty good in the boy's uniform. *laughs* Ayame and Mine are such a great couple. I never really thought much of them until the chapter in this volume, but now... I've got to go see if there are any good fics about them. We also got to finally meet Kakeru's girlfriend, Komaki, who was the daughter of the man who ran into Tohru's mom, killing them both. I think I rather like her. ^_^ In fact, I may use them for one of my  15pairings claims, instead of one of the others I had been planning to use. The Kureno/Akito pairing seems like a prime candidate for cutting. I was definitely not looking forward to writing a story featuring Akito, who I cannot stand.

The best part of this volume, though? Kyo embracing Tohru throught the sheet. Sooo cute!   

Someday's Dreamers: Spellbound Vol. 5 (last volume)

I cried. *sniffles* It was a little expected that Nami would use her magic to let Ryutaro and his little sister Sumomo talk to their dead mother, since that's basically what Yume did for Oyamada-sensei at the end of the first series, but that didn't make it any less emotional. Speaking of Yume, she actually made a cameo appearance! That was a nice surprise, making the two series seem a little more connected. My one disappointment with the ending is that there wasn't much closure with Nami's friends and their various romantic subplots. In fact, at the graduation ceremony, it's just randomly mentioned that Nami's rival Kayoko just suddenly ran off to New York for reasons left unexplained. That was a little weird, but, oh, well. The rest of the story was good.

Oh, I want to read the new series now! *laughs* And I'm still hoping that this series will someday be animated. Please?

Comments

[sea_thoughts]

Yaaay, The One I Love! The artwork in this book is so delicate and beautiful. Plus, the stories are almost philosophical at times.

*is strenuously avoiding spoilers until she gets her own copy*

[heavenly-pearl.livejournal.com]

Indeed. ^_^ I loved how the first story was presented in full-color; that was very cool. Sometimes I did think some of the girls had weird proportions, but in the "author's notes" comic, the artist did say it was her first time drawing non-chibi characters, so I guess that is forgivable. It was still very pretty.

I think my favorite story was the second one, where the girl doesn't care for the word "cute" unless it's her boyfriend who is the one that's telling her that she's cute. For lack of a better word, it was really...cute! *laughs*

- Yumeko -

[sea_thoughts]

My fave is the one where the girl's in a real rush to get ready and cursing the weather - "WHY DID IT HAVE TO RAIN TODAY?" She throws on the first clothes she finds, runs to meet her boyfriend and he says "I forgive you, because you look particularly cute today." HA. XD

[demandingvoice.livejournal.com]

I stalked the bookstore until #19 showed up on the shelves. Both my boys read the series as well...so I feel like I'm getting my money's worth. Julia is not happy with me that I won't let her read the series. (yet)

[heavenly-pearl.livejournal.com]

Aw, poor Julia, missing out on the FB goodness. :( But it is probably best to wait until she's a little older. I'm sure she'll find it worth the wait. ^_^

- Yumeko -

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

CLAMP is one of those unstoppable forces. There's talk, lately, of putting Rayearth in one of the SRT games; I think it's only a matter of time, at this point.

[heavenly-pearl.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised it hasn't shown up in one of the games, yet.

- Yumeko -