Teen Shoujo Manga - Your Gimmick - Shoujo Manga Reviews

The Water Dragons Bride

December 1, 2023

Name: The Water Dragons Bride
Mangaka: Toma Rei

Volumes: 11 (Complete)
Licensed: Viz (11 Volumes: Digital (App) / Paperback OOP)
Type: Manga
Genre: Adventure/Action/Fantasy/Drama
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
One’s life can be changed in a brace of shakes. And little Asahi is unlucky in that: she suddenly finds herself in a strange world where people worship the mysterious water god. The girl is sure that the whole story about gods is just a mere fable but… why and to whom is she sacrifiсed to?

– Mangaupdates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 2/5

Opinion: I disliked this the whole way through and I’m so glad I read it in the Viz app and didn’t pay for the paperback copies.

The art is ok to be honest it isn’t my favourite. It’s a lot of white space and the characters have this kind of moon face I don’t like. It’s not terrible I just don’t like it personally.

The story just makes no sense because the Heroine is so damn vanilla. She doesn’t even have PTSD from being taken from her family and forced to live in the “past?”. She’s so meek and mild it’s boring for a series that is supposed to be akin to an epic adventure.

The world-building for the past world seems a bit inconsistent as well. Overall I just did not enjoy myself. I made it all the way through, but I’d recommend reading on the Viz App so you don’t waste money otherwise.

Final Rating: 2/5

Extra: N/A

Purchase:
Kindle
Google Play
iBook
VizManga App

Basara

November 24, 2023

Name: Basara
Mangaka: Tamura Yumi

Volumes: 27 (Complete)
Licensed: Viz (27 Volumes: Digital (App) / Paperback OOP)
Type: Manga
Genre: Adventure/Action/Fantasy/Drama
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
Basara is a post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure series and one of the most popular shôjo manga of the 90s in Japan. It is the story of how a young girl becomes “the child of destiny” and finds the strength to free her people and seek revenge for the death of her brother.

–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

Opinion: Another shoujo classic, but this one I definitely thought I would never get a chance to read! But thanks to the Viz Manga App it cost me 2$ to read the entire series, and honestly it’s such a great app.

So the art is not my favourite. I thought it would improve over time and it did a little. It’s not an age thing, but the style was VERY detailed and I honestly found it distracting. Some pages, especially with the action, it was so hard to figure out what was going on. I am obviously going gentle because of the series age but it could have been better.

The story! Ok so if you’re like me where romance is your number one priority at all times then this series isn’t for you. It has a really great long-distance romance with enemies to lovers, but there are not a TON of romantic moments.

Where this series definitely shines instead is in the action-adventure. I really loved all the friends our Heroine made along the way and the arc of the main villain. Some of the twists and turns were fun as well. I genuinely loved the ability to simplify and tackle really complex geo-political issues that are still relevant to this day and age. Who is good, who is bad, what amount of force is acceptable to achieve peace? I loved the messaging from beginning to end.

Otherwise some arcs were kind of boring near the end. The end wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped. The best part of the series was the first 3/4. I think it may have been better if it had ended earlier.

If you have the Viz Manga app I 100% recommend this series as a classic.

Final Rating: 4/5

Extra: N/A

Purchase:
Kindle
Google Play
iBook

Kiyoku, Yamashiku, Modokashiku

April 2, 2023March 24, 2023

Name: Kiyoku, Yamashiku, Modokashiku
Mangaka: Tachibana Oreco

Volumes: 5 (Ongoing)
Scanlations: V.05 Ch.22 (2023)
Scanlator: Lovesick Alley
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
Enjouji may look like a scary and fierce gyaru on the outside, but she’s a pure girl on the inside. The only one who would dare tease and argue with her is their school’s disciplinary committee chairman, Fujii. And there’s also one problem, his perverted attitude is too much for her to handle!!

–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

Kamisama Kiss

March 2, 2023September 6, 2021

Name: Kamisama Kiss
Mangaka: Julietta Suzuki

Volumes: 25 (complete)
Licensed: Viz (25 Volumes: Digital/Paperback) – (Complete)
Type: Manga
Genre: Supernatural/Adventure/Comedy
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
Momozono Nanami’s dad, a man with a penchant for gambling, disappeared after accumulating a huge amount of debt. Thus, she was chased out of her house by the debt collectors. When she met a timid guy being chased by a dog, he told her that he’d give her his house. She believed his persuasive talk, but when she went to his house… it turned out to be a shrine. Moreover, a guy with fox ears appeared, which made Nanami even more confused. What will become of homeless and confused Nanami?

–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 5/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

Bibliophile Princess

March 2, 2023August 26, 2021

Name: Bibliophile Princess
Mangaka: Yui

Volumes: 5 (Ongoing)
Licensed: J-Club Novel (3 Volumes – Digital)
Type: Manga
Genre: Historical/Drama
Age Group: Teen

Summary:
Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna a talking cat who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice in although only the fiancée of the Crown Prince, Christopher, in name, Eliana, is a noble lady that enjoys her life by reading books all day. One fateful day, Eliana ended up knowing that there was a noble lady that apparently the prince was all affectionate with. Instantly, she thought that a girl that actually loved the prince appeared!! And, while thinking about that, Eliana started to prepare for the approaching time of when her engagement would be cancelled…
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 3/5