S+M

Are you tired of love triangles where one hero obviously has the edge and even before the underdog has confessed, you know who’s gonna get the girl? Are you equally frustrated with seeing the heroes unequally matched with one being sweet and gentle but unable to move the maiden’s heart while the other is brash and unkind but the word soulmate oozes from his very being? Do you finally want a shoujo romance where the triangle in love triangle is somewhat equilateral rather than horribly bent in one direction? Well then this story is IT for you! Our heroine Ryou has the hugest rack you can physically imagine,and is OF COURSE frustrated about this unwanted asset because it brings her unpleasant attention from horny boys all over! But there isn’t any time to bother about that right now! She needs to study for her high school entrance examination, and who should show up to tutor her but a very lovely, very upstanding and (unfortunately) very disinterested Misaki-kun who studies at her dream school. So obviously, he insists on completely silent and hanky-panky free tutorial sessions. All Right! Ryou will just grind her teeth and get to work. But then why is the next day’s session so drastically different with a relaxed, playful even slightly sexual atmosphere?! Hey wait a minute, does Misaki-kun secretly like her? No! That can’t be! The title is pretty self explanatory as far as the plot goes but don’t take it too literally, there aren’t actually boys who like to inflict pain or get hurt in this. Well, there are… but it isn’t too overt! S+M is about sadism and masochism in relationships, it’s about a pair of boys named Misaki and Shingo, it’s about the girl named Ryou who can’t make up her mind between these two equally delicious bishies and it’s about So Many SMutty deeds that happen along the way! (S…M… get it?! Probably not. ) Story: Seriously original in Shoujo Universe and very well executed in a novel, realistic and somewhat head-on fashion. There are no princes in this story, neither are their thuggish delinquents, every character has their dark traits as well as their merits. Length is perfect for this story, though it will many wanting more. Twists and turns aren’t always predictable, a welcome change. There are also many revealing side stories littered about which throw light on the leads and the events which shaped them. Dialogue: While there is no comedy to lighten tense scenes, unexpected twists lend drama and peak interest in the plot. There will rarely be a moment when you think “Damn, this is going nowhere… next!” However, the last volume unexpectedly includes a lot of physical humor with hilarious twisted poses and childish puns. Smut: Good, but it’s not all that’s going on, there is a story to be told here too. Though when you do finally get down to the smut, there isn’t anything dreamy or gentle about it! Not with a chest that impressive! Uhh, a particular scene was disturbing and left undealt-with later on (You’ll know what it is when you reach it), but it was central to plot development, so it’s not like the author is just being perverse for smut sake. Art: Very dated in the overall look and feel though the actual characters are drawn in light strokes which lends a bit of an ethereal feel to them. Nothing groundbreaking in how the bishies or shoujos are drawn, so you’re probably not going to get wet dreams about these boys. The backgrounds and panels are mostly bare unless a location change is in order. Limited, almost threadbare expression, though never lacking in relaying emotions. Overall, art isn’t why you should be reading S+M as there is very little to leave a solid impression here. Characters: The heroes actually have reverse tsundere characteristic. The player is actually gentle and concerned while the prince is a bully- rough and selfish. The shoujo is a huge disappointment to feminists everywhere, not coz she’s conscious of her boobs, no we’re allowed to feel the way we like about our bodies, but for constantly being whiny, weak willed and easily swayed. Well, if she were decisive, there wouldn’t be much of a love triangle, but this one seriously lacks self respect! Hmm, so then if it’s got such mediocre elements going for it, why should you read S+M? Because it is one heck of a smexy, un-put-downable, whirlwind read which makes you cringe and gasp when cruel or unbelievable events transpire, grin wickedly when Prince Charming doesn’t fall for the heroine right away (“That’s right! Make her work at it!”), and sigh when the underdog gets a sweet kiss… all feelings central to a good shoujo romance!