I seem to be talking about yaoi a lot lately; both on and offline, so I thought it would be a great idea to give people a dedicated post for sharing their favourite books, authors and artists with other readers.
I’ll start then, shall I?? These are a couple of the books firmly on my keeper shelf:
Totally Captivated series by Hajin Yoo
Technically this is manwha (Korean version of yaoi). I would strongly recommend to anyone that they read past the first book otherwise you might be left scratching your head. The second book will have you hooked and, by the time you close the cover on the sixth, you will be completely satisfied albeit sorry that it all had to come to an end.
The Crimson Spell series by Ayano Yamane
Best. Fantasy. Yaoi. Ever!! She’s going to be at Yaoi-Con! *SQUEEEE* Seriously, though, for those of you who love their stories with adventure, magic, quests, powerful and sexy wizards, honourable but cursed heroes, and nasty bad guys then this series is definitely for you. It’s bloody terrific.
So tell me… what are your faves? 🙂
PS – Don’t forget that if you’re curious about The Great Yaoi Swap you can just email me to find out more. 🙂
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
I liked the first Totally Captivated…
I am eagerly awaiting Crimson Spell since everyone raves.
The first book you ever sent me was Saihoshi, The Guardian by Kosen (who I think is Spanish, but whatever) and I totally fell in love with it. I confess I have not put it on the yaoi world tour cause I want it for myself. I even made myself a wall paper for my netbook by scanning some of the pages and fixing it up to make a wallpaper. I just ordered a book of his artwork and the book Stallion from Book Depository. Something about the art just works for me. But I think I'll like Crimson Spell as well as it's got that flowy style.
I was hoping there would be a sequel to Saihoshi starring Yinn, as he was more my type (smaller and thinner). LOL But no sign. That picture I just posted sold for 131 euros for Haiti relief. I see there is a Kosen website but it's all in Spanish so …. Oh, I liked the story too, not just the art. It was a fantasy epic battle kind of thing.
Anyway, I am still madly in love with that stuff although I have enjoyed others. Some authors make their mouths look like slashes, I don't like that so much.
Your right about the Totally Captivated… The first volume was my FIRST EVER yaoi, and boy was I confused. Looks like I should seek out volume 2.
Crimson spell is what I am reading now… I love Yamane's style!
Due to its rarity, I HAD to read Viewfinder AKA Target in the Finder. DId you know that Volume 6 has started?!!!!!! Awesomeness!
Miranda
Zowie, it's yaoi, ha, ha! I am so in over my head here because I know little or nothing about yaoi, but I did read The Crimson Spell upon a recommendation by E.H. over at Erotic Horizons. It was, whoa, very different from what I'd expected, but I liked it.
Stunning artwork. I know it was sort of fantasy oriented and I expected something Japanese like samurai, ninja, and tengu, but it looked a little more European like Brothers Grimm. The dialogue was really strange and minimal, like, “Crap!” and “Keep your hands off my stuff!”
I also found it so trippy as soon as I figured out I'd need to read from right to left after decades of getting used to it the other way around. 🙂
Val – I made myself a little reading cheat sheet on an old business card to help me remember the reading order, mostly to figure out where those darn “bubbles” should be read.
Kris gave me the wikipedia link on how to read yaoi. Not it seems normal to me. You just make an S and it works.
Haven't read (yet) Totally Captivated… I remember reading some scanlations of Crimson Spell ages ago, and I know I liked them. I love fantasy in all its forms!
Of all the yaoi/yaoi novels I've read thanks to the Great Yaoi Swap(TM) I fell instantly in love with another korean manwha, U Don't Know Me – nothing revolutionary about the story, but somehow it struck a chord – and I loved Rakun's drawings, the boys are hot… *leers*
U Don't Know Me was a good one Sarah. As you said, nothing revolutionary but a nice story.
Oooh, Chris, good suggestion!
Oh, Crimson Spell is gorgeous! If you enjoyed it, you should definitely check out her Viewfinder series, if you can find it. Very different, and much darker, but just as enthralling. There's also her “A Foreign Love Affair” which is a bit lighter in tone.
The problem, I think, with finding English editions of the first batch of Japanese yaoi releases is that so many of the publishing companies that licensed the books have had financial problems since. Because the licenses then remain in limbo, no other company can pick them up, but the original company isn't producing the books either. IIRC, that's what happened to the Viewfinder series, as well as books by another mangaka I'd recommend highly, Minase Masara — lovely clean-lined artwork, and great stories.
Lessee, who else… (can you tell I'm a big fan of yaoi? *laughs* This is a topic that gets me to unlurk…) If you're looking for artwork that's a little bit different, I'd recommend taking a look at Miyamoto Kano's books. The stories are usually on the bittersweet side. Mika Sadahiro is also a good one, though she does touch on edgier themes sometimes, which aren't for everyone. Hiiro Reiichi also has pretty artwork — “Romantic Illusions” is very cute.
If you can get past the `scandal` of allegedly tracing magazine spreads etc., for her art, there's Youka Nitta's books. “Embracing Love” was one of the first yaoi mangas I ever saw (in Japanese), and it's still one of my favourites. “The Sound Of My Voice” and “The Prime Minister's Secret Diplomacy” are also great (sadly she's on hiatus now, so all the projects are stalled).
Another highly recommended mangaka would be Naono Bohra. Gorgeous art, slightly rough and sketchy. Awesome stories, and she has some great comedic moments (she also turns the traditional younger “uke”/older “seme” rule on its head a lot of the time, which is fun). I think “A Youkai's Hunger” is the only thing of hers out in English so far.
I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I send the comment *laughs* but I hope that list helps!
So far Crimson Spell 1 & 2 are my favorites. It's the first one that I've read where I loved both the story and the graphics equally. I'm planning on getting her Finders series as well.
I liked the Totally Captivated 1 but was confused by the story so I'll keep reading since you say it gets better. I knew there had to be a reason that it was so popular.
I think another one I liked was U Don't Know Me. Good stuff.
Crimson spell is very good indeed as is Yamane's other work.
I also very much like Junjo Romantica, the manga because they are more explicit and the anime because the humour shows so much better.
I have one yaoi novel here that I have not send of either, Immoral Darkness. The story itself is not that special, a teacher who forces himself on a student. But the way that it is written (or translated) appeals to me very much.
Recently I got a manga which was written in a western style. That was so weird!! I could not get into it
Chris: I did too, but a number of readers get stuck there and don't try the rest of the series, hence my 'make sure you stick with it otherwise you'll be missing out'.
Tam: *writes down no slashy mouths for Tam*
Saihoshi was good, you thief you. 😉 I remember that the artwork was great in that especially the fight scenes.
Miranda: Definitely try the second volume of Totally Captivated. With each book you learn more about the background of the main characters and their relationship develops. It's worth it. Trust me. 🙂
I've still got to get to the Viewfinder series. It's high up on my list of 'to dos'.
And no hentai or underage for me, please. 🙂
Chris it seems like the hentai is MIA 😦
Hmm. It might've gotten picked up by Customs along the way???
Val: Yes, the artwork of Crimson Spell is stunning. I just reread the first two volumes the other day and fell in love with it a little more. *sigh*
There are a heck of a lot of contemporary stories in yaoi that's for sure and, yes, it can be a bit of a shock to come across something that you would consider to be a western-style fantasy. Having said that, anime and manga more broadly is littered with fantasy; from high to Japanese mythological to paranormal to science fiction. One of the reasons why I love it so.
Val, Chris & Tam: I remember the Wiki link. I also stick post-its everywhere saying 'wrong turn, go back'. LOL.
Why would they do that?? This is NL!
I loved the Crimson Spell books too and am eagerly awaiting book 3 to come out in any language other than Japanese and German :).
I read a book recently in the Yaoi swap called Age Called Blue, which I loved for its darker storyline and expressive penmanship in the drawings. It was so different from the lighter, fluffier plots that can be found in Yaoi. I also liked U Don't Know Me.
Ingrid – Oh, it was on the way to you? Alas. 😦
Tish said she sent it off. As I am first on the list I assume to me. But it has yet to arrive after 2 months.
Sara: U Don't know Me hasn't got to me yet. I just checked it out on goodreads and everyone loves it. So unfair. 😦 *must not break down and buy it beforehand*
“Haven't read (yet) Totally Captivated”
Just remember my warning! 😉
Cat: *scribbling down recs like crazy*
Thanks Cat! I've been busily checking these out online and already see a few that I know I'm going to be unable to resist especially Naono Bohra's work. I'm a fan of those who play with the power roles in yaoi.
Embracing Love has to be one of my favourite series, despite the Hugo Boss (I think?) scandal. It's such a shame that it resulted in the stop to the translation of the entire series to English. I think that it's one of the best explorations of a day-to-day relationship of a gay couple that I've read in any genre, let alone yaoi.
Lightbulbs went off when I read what you said about the licenses. I hadn't realised that was why some of the earlier yaoi are unavailable. It also helps to explain the 'honour system' promoted by some of the scanlation groups.
Thanks again!
Tracy: I think you'll have major difficulty finding copies of the Viewfinder series. Based on what Salina was saying last week, they are very rare and cost a small fortune. I'm crossing my fingers that there may be an exciting announcement about a re-release at yaoi-con, but I won't hold my breath.
Ingrid loves her Junjo. 😉 How many volumes have you got of it so far?? The anime version is fun. I think that's how I got Tam hooked. LOL.
Chris: No underage for me either. Squicky!
Ingrid & Chris: I think Chris might have been referring to the fact that Oz Customs has been going through a lot of my parcels lately, which has been adding weeks/months to the arrival of some of my books. I hope the buggers get an eyeful!!
Jenre: “I loved the Crimson Spell books too and am eagerly awaiting book 3 to come out in any language other than Japanese and German :)”
Word! EH and I were discussing this last week. It's pissing me off that Book 3 has yet to be translated to English. Grrrr.
Age Called Blue looks interesting. Two people before it gets to me though. I think this post may have been a mistake. My patience, which is not good at the best of times, is stretched thin. LOL.
Also, looks like it's best to avoid sending underage or hentai to the US at all, from recent Customs arrests…
Really?? Links plz.
I sent the link to the yaoi swap group a few weeks back…
Veri: buffi
You did? Oh. I guess that means you're not going to repost them here then…
LOL – like I could find the link again. 🙂
Your google fu the fritz??
My absolute favorite has to be Viewfinder. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Asami & Takaba. I have the series in Japanese (I read the scanlations on my laptop and just look at the pictures in the books, but I can pick out Asami and Takaba's names tho).
Thanks Miranda for telling me abt the new chapter that just came out!
Second favorite is Totally Captivated which I discovered on Netcomics where you pay 25 cents to read a chapter. I didn't know it was Manhwa and was reading it all wrong but it was still captivating tho. And was really awesome when read the right way :). I had to buy the whole series.
When I left the States, I had to go through customs in 2 South East Asian countries and was afraid my (meagre)collection of Yaoi would be confiscated (and my picture splashed in the newspapers, you never know!). I can't imagine what they'd think if they were to look through ViewFinder Volume 1 with the explicit bondage noncon scene – no shining cones here 🙂 (I heard this volume is banned in Germany).
I am partial to Yaoi with Yakuza content. A Gentleman's Kiss, Yakuza in Love, No Money etc. So hot!
Salina
*sigh* We're down to the last 5 minutes of the hour long meow-off before kitty feeding time, so my nerves are a bit frazzled.
Here.
Salina: I like yaoi featuring Yakuza too. I'm hanging out for the 2nd book (well, I hope there is a 2nd book) to Satoru Ishihara's God of Dogs. I thought the first was terrific.
You're the first person I know who has actually read Yakuza in Love! Is it any good??
Chris: Ta lovey and EEK! scary. My defense when Customs calls is that it isn't kiddie or bestiality pron and I'm over 18 so they can go to hell!
*ahem*
Yes, it's true. I've practiced my defense on the Mumma and the bearded baby brother.
Maybe I'll just ship Jr Escort straight to you, Kris…
Been there. Done that. Don't feel the need to go any further. Meh.
It's going on its journey unread, I believe.
Grr. My post about Junjo Romantica was a dud. I loved the anime and read the books on-line.
I found an anime on xtube (don't ask) which I can't remember the name but it's two 15 min. shorts and one is the story of the pet sitter who finds a guy in a closet dressed like a bunny who's a sex slave. It's definitely as explicit as the book, hence xtube. I know the book made the rounds of the yaoi group.
A wonderful blogger friend who has an awesome WTFactory theme mailed me my first Yaoi books. I was so excited I can't even remember the titles as I immediately started reading (the wrong way. I really enjoy the Yaoi manga photos on rain on roof.
Chris: Send it to KC. She said she wanted to try something more explicit. 😛
Tam: “I found an anime on xtube (don't ask) which I can't remember the name but it's two 15 min. shorts and one is the story of the pet sitter who finds a guy in a closet dressed like a bunny who's a sex slave. It's definitely as explicit as the book, hence xtube. I know the book made the rounds of the yaoi group.”
I remember that! Tish sent me a copy of it on DVD too. Damn. What was that…
Found it! Sensitive Pornograph.
KC: “A wonderful blogger friend who has an awesome WTFactory theme mailed me my first Yaoi books.”
Gee, I wonder who that could be. 😉
Everyone starts reading the books the wrong way round. That's why most of 'em have a 'that's not how you read manga' page right at the back. LOL.
At one point in my life I was a total anime geek. There was a cable channel that would play movies at absurd hours of the morning.
I've never read yaoi and I'm not sure if I'd like to. I'd love to get into manga, but I don't even know where to start. All I know is that I don't like art that looks like those ridiculous cartoons on tv. I want awesome art. I'm a snob…what can I tell you? lol
Maybe you'll corrupt me though. It wouldn't surprise me in the least. heh
*snicker* My veri word is bumborti. ha!
Bridget, if you don't want to read m/m, there's no way in hell that I'm even letting you catch a glimpse of yaoi. It is very explicit. VERY. *waggles eyebrows*
What kind of anime did you watch?? You'll probably find that the majority of them were originally manga and then adapted to film. For eg one of my all time faves, Fruits Basket, I have in both DVD and manga form. The manga goes up to volume 21 (I think it is) and completes the story arc. I luff it.
I have volume 7 of Junjo here.
Another one I like is Ai no Kusabi. I have only seen the anime though.
And Okane ga nai!
Just be sure I checked, I got 8 and 9 too already!
Ingrid: LOL! Well, I can hardly talk about obsession since I just admitted to woning all 21 volumes of the Fruits Basket manga. *g*
I've seen both Ai no Kusabi and Okane ga Nai too! The first one I watched at your recommendation. It was a terrific sci fi. I really enjoyed it's dark themes.
Owning! Not woning. *sigh*
I love Wild Rock by Takashima, of course The Crimson Spell 1 & 2 but A Foreign Love Affair is great too. The second story in that book, The Love Guide, I like even better than the first. I love Hinako Takanaga too. The Devil's Secret and her You Will Fall in Love/Drown In Love series with Haru and Reiichiro and Man's Best Friend. U Don't Know Me was great and Love Control 1&2 by Hasukawa.
Yellow is one of my all time fave's and Fake and Kisuna and anything by Yamane and Hard Rock and… well I'm an easy to please pervert so really I should list things I don't like. The list would be shorter…
On Amazon the 1st and 2nd books in the Finder series are $28.99 – 35.00. Book 3 moves up to $299.00 for the used copies!!