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Still debating if I will Overall enjoyable.I'm a little weary to read the second one though. I enjoy the story, thought it was pretty cool. Like the romance scenes as well.
It wasnt easy to get throught that part but it sure makes it an interesting read.The way the characters unfolds pleases me.The thought that keeps bugging me is the idea of a "bishonen" pretty boy undercover detective.I somethimes wished there is more revealed about Andou's hidden desire but I guess that is left for the reader's imagination.I love the color page illustration and the rest.This one is a keeper. I agree with the other reviewer, how the author goes into details about police system of Japan.I wondered how much research the author did.
It's mature and raw, and it demands full attention from its reader.It has incredible back story, a vast display of Japanese Criminal Justice intuitive, and intelligent dialogue and motive for its characters. This is the only yaoi series I have ever enjoyed, and I have tried numerous titles. S is a rarity, a definite must-buy series of novels for yaoi fans and manga readers alike. There are times when I am blown away by how smart these novels are, how well-crafted they are for their genre. If you're looking for nothing but plot-less sex, this series is not for you. There is sex, yes, but so so much more.S is a deeper, more involved story that takes its time to develop characters, their relationships, their surroundings, and all the events that are tying them together.
The "S" in the title is short for "spy" and Shiiba's spy (informant) in the story is Andou, who is a member of the local crime syndicate. It is very detailed but it has some delicious sex scenes that are beautifully written.
The rest of the story includes ten black and white illustrations scattered throughout that are well drawn and the men are drawn in a masculine fashion. The book itself has a sexy cover along with a VERY erotic color illustration as the very first page of the book.
"S" is a novel about a police detective undercover in the red light district known as Shinjuku. If you like a little story to go with your [.]., then this is the story for you.
There is a second volume to this story that was just released (and that I have eagerly waiting for me) so we'll get to see more of this one including volumes 3 and 4 that have yet to be released (but are available for pre-order on Amazon.com). Our main character is Masaki Shiiba, a 28 year old detective specializing in intelligence gathering specific to arms trafficking.
The story revolves mainly around Shiiba, Andou, a Chinese arms dealer and a "mysterious" stranger Shiiba first meets on an elevator.
Shiiba loses his S and has to cultivate a new one. He works with an informant know as an S, or spy. Fortunately, a reader can skim these parts since they aren't critical to understanding Shiiba's job, or his purpose. They give the reader a little something more than you find in a traditional novel.My only real issue with this, and all yaoi novels, is the price. That is certainly the case here. However, I realize that the market for yaoi novels isn't large and the cost of translating these from Japanese can be high. I enjoyed this story very much, and consequently ordered a few more yaoi novels to try.Unlike yaoi manga, there is room for much more story and relationship development in a prose novel. In the end, I think the story is worth the cost especially if you can get the books with Amazon's four for three promotion.
The only problem I found was that the author was a little too detailed about the workings of the police and government bodies associated with crime investigation. In yaoi, one man is the bottom (uke) and one the top (seme). I read a lot of M/M fiction, both erotic romance and other genres that feature such relationships. Munechika would make a great S, only Shiiba doesn't like him. I found the bureau relationships and conflicting names confusing at times.
In M/M fiction, most gay men like to "switch" between top and bottom in the sexual relationship. Munechika is kept deliberately mysterious to help build suspense around his actions concerning Shiiba, and it works beautifully. But that aversion covers up a secret attraction.For the first in a series, this was very well done. I also read a ton of yaoi manga, but this is only the second "yaoi novel" that I have read (the other was Ai No Kusabi The Space Between Volume 1: Stranger (Yaoi Novel)).
Another bonus is the illustrations sprinkled throughout the novel, some of which are quite steamy. Also, unlike Ai No Kusabi's first volume, this includes some graphic sexual situations, though they don't occur until more than halfway through the book. So, the price is pretty steep considering a mass market is less than $10, and 4 volumes of a yaoi novel comes to nearly $36. I really could've used a hierarchy diagram. I can't wait for VII, but it's nice to not be left hanging waiting for the relationship to begin.
Shiiba is a well developed character with a enough back story to make him believable. All of these together would equal about one mass market paperback, given their page counts. Overall, I highly recommend S. S looks like it will be at least 4 volumes, possibly 5. For those wondering, the main differences (that I can see) between yaoi novels and M/M fiction is the inclusion of illustrations and the relationship dynamic, specifically the carry-over of the uke/seme roles.
The story has a lot of action, and twists. Readers can easily identify and sympathize with his vulnerabilities. Shiiba is a detective in Tokyo Metropolitan Police investigating arms smuggling/crimes. The plot has a lot of detail, and the ongoing backdrop of a police investigation provides a good atmosphere for a tense romance.
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