Our Kingdom, Volume 5

I love Our Kingdom. Some people dislike the sub-story of Shigure and okumiya, but i adore it! I also love Rei and Akira. In some ways this series is a bunch of fluff but it has some underlying messages and can touch the heart deeply. Issues of self-worth are complex and compelling story lines. This series though fluff and sometimes one wonders what the plot is, but for the most part its a fantastic tale of blossuming love and friendships and people coming to understand one another and growing past terrible history. A deeply romatic and touching series, even with all the weird humor in it. This series cracks me up and alternately makes me cry. The authors creates a complex and multi-layered story. I love and adore Our Kingdom.

Awesome book.. I just randomly found this series while browsing for new manga to read and stumbled upon this seires.. Fell in love instantly.. Have to say Wasn't really into yaoi at first, And if u ain't this is definitely not for u, but the story line and the romantic plot just draws u in that it doesn't matter... Great series but warning can be addicting.. JUst ask my paycheck.. Worth the buy and read.. Great characters.. Plus also provides a good laugh..

Finally, after a four volume build-up, everyone gets physical (funny..I hear Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On" in my head every time I think about this volume). I liked parts of this volume but I have a few complaints. It seems like the manga-ka wanted to give everyone a nice happy ending (well maybe not Raoul). I guess that's why she paired up Yuji and Sagiri (and, no, I don't think the little bit of flirting Yuji did in the previous volume was enough background to make this believable - Yuji flirts with everyone!!). I just didn't buy it. While she approached it a little better than others (reading Sagiri's internal monologue did help), I still wasn't convinced. Although it did give us more insight into Yuji's character (which I greatly appreciated). And I have never bought the Shigure-Okumiya pairing either. What's to like about Shigure?!! He hasn't brought anything meaningful to the story. In fact, I don't even care enough about his character to say I don't like him. Basically, I don't feel as if we were ever given enough information on Shigure or Sagiri (or Okumiya for that matter) to like either character (or care what happens to them). I'm all for everyone having a neat, pat ending (except Raoul - what happened there?! I liked him!!) but I don't feel we ever really got to know these side characters very well. Because of this, I would have preferred spending more time on the Rei-Akira storyline in this volume and not have the side characters consummate their relationship just yet. The previous four volumes I've read over and over again. This volume (which has the naughty bits that I've been waiting for) doesn't interest me enough to read again. In fact, I wish I could have just read it in the bookstore rather than actually buying it. And what happened with Tamaki and Hiyori?! Here was a pairing I was actually interested in but, besides a few teasers in previous volumes, this storyline never went anywhere! No fair!! The manga-ka says in her afterword that she would like to continue the story (please don't string me along like Eiki Eiki did with "Art of Loving" - please continue this series). If this so then I guess I'll see you in Volume 6 (woo-hoo!!).

The waiting is over! In this volume, our 2 boys and 4 adults finally declare and consummate their love. Vol 5 is divided into 4 stories, all equally enjoyable, fast paced and engaging. The first story of course deals with Rei, Akira and Raoul as the development of their relationship reaches a boiling point. Misunderstandings, angst and a little "violence" ensue as Akira tries to act as a pacifier between Rei and Raoul. The 3 boys' characters are well expressed here, contrasting each other nicely. The second story focuses on my favorite adult couple, Okumiya and Shigure. This may be shorter but by no means less enjoyable. Shigure is his adorable and guileless self. It is easy to sympathize with this character as he tries to measure up to his elder brother's and Okumiya's expectations. His brave declaration of love for Okumiya is quite delightful. Okumiya, my type of "cool" seme is of course relentless in his pursue. The 3rd story is on Sir Yuji and Sagiri. Here we are given glimpses of Sagiri's and Yuji's pasts, which mold them into what they are today. Maybe the mangaka could have delved into their pasts better. On the other hand, if she did that, the plot might lose its lightheartedness and no longer resembles a Sir Yuji's quirky plot. The 4th is a stand alone story involving a teacher, who is constantly starving himself on cheap food or do without in order to save, and a pupil gifted in cooking. The plot is humorous and the teacher quite adorable as he is "trained" to pay for his food. This mangaka's artwork is unique but gorgeous. And I do like her caricatures which add such fun to her stories. Overall I find Vol 5 the best so far.