Category: Reviews

Lullaby of the Dawn by Ichika Yuno

Lullaby of the Dawn by Ichika Yuno

by Lys ♥ 1 Comment

EN Title: Lullaby of the Dawn
JP Title: ๅคœๆ˜Žใ‘ใฎๅ”„
Romaji: Yoake no Uta
Author/Artist: Ichika Yuno
Publisher: Tokyopop/LoveLove
Publisher Rating: 16+
EN Publication Status: Ongoing (5+ volumes)


Setting: Fantasy
Content Notes: Non-explicit sexual content, child sexual abuse (from characters’ memories)

I remember seeing Lullaby of the Dawn for the first time on Hoopla, which has a handful of Tokyopop’s BL titles, and being pulled in by the art. Around the time volume 4 released, I finally decided to start reading it. After catching up, I was stunned to hear that it’s Ichika Yuno’s debut work!

Story Overview
Lullaby of the Dawn is set on an island closed off from the rest of the world due to strange creatures that come from the black sea that surrounds it. Only the chosen known as the Kannagi have the powers to defeat them night after night. Picked as children when their hair suddenly turns white, they are slow to age… But they are doomed to a short life, as the fighting in the sea turns their skin an inky black until it consumes them entirely. Feared by the people, they live lonely lives.

The story begins with Alto, a young boy who moves in with his aunt, meeting Elva, the Kannagi of the South. Unaffected by the rumors of the Kannagi, Alto wishes to help Elva. When Alto isn’t attacked by the black sea, Elva allows him to stay. Several years pass and Elva lives beyond the average age of a Kannagi, with his cursed black skin retreated to his fingertips. With the change happening only after Alto’s appearance, they begin to wonder why. The mystery of the island begins to unravel as the two seek answers, and their relationship begins to change as well…

Review
With an intriguing mystery at the heart of the story, Lullaby of the Dawn has been a highly captivating manga. The truth of the island begins to unravel with each volume at a steady pace, building up in a way that keeps readers wanting to know more. The romance between Elva and Alto is also extremely sweet after they recognize their feelings for each other. Ichika Yuno’s combination of strong storytelling and breathtaking artwork has helped captivate many BL fans in Japan, and the manga ranked first in overall pick for the BL Awards in 2022! Lullaby of the Dawn has truly become one of my favorite BL series, and it’s one I could even recommend to non-BL readers because of its strong storytelling. Volume 6 just released in Japan, and I am very eager to read it after all the reveals from volume 5! The English version has a current release date of November.

To address the content note I mentioned, volume 4-5 reveals the Kannagi in the past were exploited for their abilities and often sexually abused as well. Elva too experienced similar abuse by the people who took him in before he became a Kannagi.

Here is a partially animated PV for volume 1! I would seriously love to see this series animated one day.

One last thing to add: Lullaby of the Dawn was featured in MyAnimeList’s You Should Read This Manga 2025 in the Unique Art/Story category! Ichika Yuno wrote a comment for it.

Pink Heart Jam beat 1 by Shikke

Pink Heart Jam beat 1 by Shikke

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EN Title:ย Pink Heart Jam beat
JP Title:ย ใƒ”ใƒณใ‚ฏใƒใƒผใƒˆใ‚ธใƒฃใƒ  beat
Author/Artist:ย Shikke
Publisher:ย SuBLime
Publisher Rating:ย Mature
EN Publication Status: Ongoing

Setting: Contemporary, university
Content notes: Explicit sexual content

Background Information
SuBLime recently released Pink Heart Jam beat, the sequel to the two volume series Pink Heart Jam. For those unfamiliar with the story, it follows the romance between freshman Yuki Haiga and his senior Ryo Kanae. Haiga joins his university’s rock music club and finds himself drawn to Kanae, a cool guitarist and senior. At an outing with a club, he’s dared to visit a brothel meant for gay men. Haiga, who had been wondering about his sexuality decides to seriously visit one. But when he picks out a place and allows the staff to pick a member for him, he runs into Kanae! After hearing Haiga out, Kanae decides to help Haiga explore. But on campus, Kanae and Haiga’s relationship returns to simply being junior and senior. As Haiga continues his visits and also gets to know Kanae outside the brothel, he finds himself falling in love. Kanae too begins to recognize his own growing feelings and quits being a sex worker. In the end, Haiga confesses and Kanae accepts.

Synopsis
beat picks up three years the last chapter and before the epilogue (after Haiga returns from senior year band camp trip). Despite living together, the two barely see each other because of their schedules. Kanae often works late hours while Haiga struggles to figure out his career path before graduating. Kanae, who knows isn’t the greatest at giving emotional support, wants to support the stressed-out Haiga better. Haiga also wants to be with Kanae more, but doesn’t want to add on to his busy schedule. Haiga also finds himself jealous, after hearing misinformation about Kanae and a friend from Kanae’s older brother. But everything gets set straight in the end after Haiga follows friends’ advice to be open and talk with Kanae. Haiga soon graduates, and gets a surprise performance from Kanae’s band that disbanded after the members graduated, the Cigars.

Review
When I first read Pink Heart Jam, I really appreciated how Shikke she wrote Haiga and his desire to understand his sexuality. I really appreciated the realistic feel of the story, and I was glad to continue feeling it in beat. I enjoyed reading about Kanae and Haiga balancing and navigating their own lives and their relationship in this first volume. The two are a very loving couple, and they resolve tensions calmly and quickly, especially with Haiga’s worries over Kanae’s possible past relationship with Hayashida, his friend and former bandmate. I do feel writing about established couples and their obstacles can be difficult do well, but Shikke is able to continue Kanae and Haiga’s story in a way that keeps readers engaged. With serialization continuing in Japan, I’m excited for the second volume! I look forward to more of SuBLime’s work on the title as well. I really have enjoyed all their other titles they’ve brought to English fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and SuBLime for the DRC!

Pink Heart Jam beat ranked first in the 2025 BL Awards for the Series Category! The first part of the series also placed 3rd for the BLCD (audio drama) Category. Here’s the illustration Shikke drew to commemorate it~

Shout Loud My Heart by Youga Rayri

Shout Loud My Heart by Youga Rayri

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EN Title: Shout Loud My Heart
JP Title: ใ‚ทใƒฃใ‚ฆใƒˆใƒปใƒฉใ‚ฆใƒ‰ใƒปใƒžใ‚คใƒใƒผใƒˆ
Author/Artist: Youga Rayri
Publisher: Kodansha
Publisher Rating: 18+
EN Publication Status: Complete (1 Volume)

Setting: Contemporary, university
Content notes: Explicit sexual content

Synopsis
University student and guitarist Gen rarely notices the people surrounding him, uninterested in most people outside his friends. But when a vocalist from another band captures attention, Gen finds out that he’s actually one of his classmates! Mika, who’s known as Mike to most, and Gen quickly become close despite Gen’s grumpy attitude and technically being in “rival” bands. When he notices his music changing, he begins to realize his feelings run deeper. Meanwhile, Mika finds Gen’s blunt honesty and demeanor refreshing. With the two falling for each other but not knowing what to say, it’s through music that they are able to convey their honest feelings.

Review
I absolutely love band stories! There really is something so special about connecting and communicating your feelings through music. In the scene where Gen checks out Adam’s (Mika’s band) performance, Youga Rayri wonderfully depicts how Mika’s voice charms him. Despite being a single volume BL, we a glimpse into the characters’ lives and friendships of the characters, which I found really nice. It’s actually through a lot of interactions Mika and Gen have with their friends that help push them to recognize their feelings for each other. But because it’s a single volume BL, the development feels extremely quick! A second volume would have been really nice to give it a bit more depth. I also want to note I that really enjoyed the localization of the dialogue! While I haven’t read it in Japanese, it felt very natural to read and suited the characters given their ages in their early 20s.

Overall, I do recommend the story for those looking for something light and who love band settings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC! Shout Loud My Heart releases on June 17.

Love on the Horizon by Machi Yamashita

Love on the Horizon by Machi Yamashita

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EN Title: Love on the Horizon
JP Title: ใ‚ใ—ใŸๆ„›ใ‹ใ‚‚ใ—ใ‚Œใชใ„
Romaji: Ashita Ai Kamoshirenai
Author/Artist: Machi Yamashita
Publisher: Kodansha
Publisher Rating: 16+
EN Publication Status: Complete (2 Volumes)

Setting: Contemporary, university
Content Notes: Non-explicit sexual content

Kodansha released volume 2 of Love on the Horizon just last week! I was pleasantly surprised to see it included extra stories, including a doujinshi (self-published comic). When I found this out, I went and nabbed a copy from my local comic shop.

Synopsis
Love on the Horizon follows two university students who are both in the same club and neighbors. Because of that, helping his upperclassman Yu get home safely after a party regularly became Nagi’s job. Ever since the first time Nagi helped Yu, who clung to him in his sleep, Nagi has been secretly staying and falling asleep beside Yu and quietly leaving later on. When Nagi quietly confesses one night, Yu hears him and returns his feelings. The story then follows the two navigating their new relationship, as both are rather beginners at dating. While Yu has dated in the past, this is the first time he’s truly fallen in love! Volume two continues on months later into their relationship. The two work at deepening their relationship, including the sexual aspect of it. And with Yu’s graduation around the corner, the two have to figure out their plans for the future. Unsure if their goals line up for each other, both hesitate to bring up the topic.

Review
Tensions in the story ease rather quickly, with the two able to eventually convey their thoughts and understand each other without much conflict. The bonus chapters are also sweet, especially the “Atami Trip” story which was originally released last fall as a doujinshi. With BL, it’s common for extra stories to be self-published and sold at doujinshi events. Sometimes authors will host mail orders as well, but they’re generally they have a limited aprint run. Some do have digital versions for sale later on, but it depends on the author. This is the first time I’ve seen extra stories that were originally doujinshi published in English alongside the main story, so I’m really grateful they could be included!

This comic is great for readers looking for a short and sweet slice-of-life. Each chapter is a like a little episode, which string together to give glimpses into Yu and Nagi’s lives. Machi Yamashita’s soft linework gives extra warmth to an already feel-good romance.

Sharing another illustration to end the post. Volume 2 ranked eleventh 2025 BL Awards Emotional Category, so Machi Yamashita drew Nagi and Yu as thanks!

Love in the Palm of His Hand by Rinteku

Love in the Palm of His Hand by Rinteku

by Lys ♥ 1 Comment

EN Title: Love in the Palm of His Hand
JP Title: ใ‚ซใƒกใƒฌใ‚ชใƒณใฏใฆใฎใฒใ‚‰ใซๆ‹ใ‚’ใ™ใ‚‹ใ€‚(ใ‚ซใƒกๆ‹)
Romaji: Chameleon wa Tenohira ni Koi wo Suru. (KameKoi)
Author/Artist: Rinteku
Publisher: Square Enix
Publisher Rating: Older Teen
EN Publication Status: Ongoing (3+ volumes)

Setting: Contemporary, university

Love in the Palm of His Hand by Rinteku truly has been one of my favorite BL titles I’ve been reading. Rinteku beautifully conveys the themes of communication and wishing to connect with others with her characters Fujinaga and Keito and their developing relationship.

Story Overview
College student Fujinaga initially meets Keito, who had fallen asleep on him, on the train. Not realizing Keito thanked him for waking him up in sign language, he thought Keito was a foreigner. But when they meet again on campus, Fujinaga learns Keito is deaf. Despite knowing no sign language, Fujinaga’s background as an expressive actor–so expressive to the point of getting little jobs–helps him be able to guess what Keito is signing. Fujinaga’s persistence in making sure he understands Keito and his aptitude for sign language earns him admiration from Keito. Meanwhile, Fujinaga makes sure Keito can understand them when they talk, never minding if he has to repeat himself. Keito notes this, having grown up with many hearing people giving up communicating with him when he can’t understand. These two young men who had difficulties connecting with others begin to form a bond that eventually blossoms into love.

Review
Everything about this manga has blown me away. From the characters’ personal and relationship development to the artwork… I really have been loving it all. Rinteku’s ability to convey movement in the artwork is phenomenal. I’ve found myself really rooting for Fujinaga and Keito, both as individuals and a couple! I’m especially invested in seeing Fujinaga develop more as an actor. Keito has also begun to move toward some goals in vol 3, which just released in Japan last month. I’m definitely excited to continue following along with the series!

Love in the Palm of His Hand is currently serializing in English digitally on Square Enix’s manga reading application Manga UP!, with volume 1 releasing on May 20. As of today, the serialization on Manga UP! has just started releasing chapters from volume 3.

Closing out this post with illustrations Rinteku drew to celebrate the release of volume 3 and volume 2 getting third place in the 2025 BL Awards Emotional Category! (I’ll definitely write up about the BL Awards and Chill Chill in general in the future.)