Gentle Cage

This has to be one of my favorite yaoi novels so far, and I've read quite a few. While it does have the racy sex scenes I've grown to love, it also has a well developed plot. It starts out with the mild mannered Itsuki Hashimoto braving a winter storm to deliver some important papers to a grumpy sculptor named Tokiwa Masatsugu. As the story progresses a hefty bargain Itsuki made with Tokiwa's old mentor is revealed and old flames are rekindled. With suspense, a bit of mystery, as well as plenty of romance, this book is a must read for any yaoi lover.

This was my first Yaoi Novel and I really enjoyed it! The plot is very good, if somewhat twisted at times, and it is revealed slowly but not slowly enough for the story to get boring. The author tied everything together well. The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful. The emotions portrayed by Tokiwa (one of the main characters) are very powerful and very raw...he is a bit "beastly" at times and kind of scary but sexy. I liked that the calm Itsuki, the other main character, was such a contrast to him. The different type of art they create suits their characters. I'm an artist so the fact that the two of them were artists was what first attracted me to this book. This is definitely a classic in my collection and I want to read it again. Cute guys, good story, nice pictures-a definite favorite and must buy!

Itsuki and Tokiwa were friend when Tokiwa was still a struggling artist. Even if young and without money, Tokiwa was a proud man and also a persistent one; his interested for Itsuki went beyond friendship and he told so to the boy. He was gently wooing the man when sudden and serious family issue forced Itsuki to accept the proposition of an older artist, Yamabe, to become his personal assistant in all for all, almost a pet for the man to play as he please. Itsuki was forced to stop to seeing Tokiwa without giving the man a reason. Years later Itsuki knocks to Tokiwa's door: Yamabe is dying and the old man wants to make Tokiwa the full recipient of all his possession. Tokiwa includes in them also Itsuki, and with the help of an injury who forces Itsuki to accept Tokiwa's hospitality, Tokiwa takes Itsuki in captivity. Day after day Tokiwa destroys the doll image that Yamabe built for Itsuki, but at the same time treats the man no more than an object, arriving also to rape him. The rape is dealt as always in the japanese yaoi world, Itsuki protests vehemently against Tokiwa forced seduction, but in the end his body betrays him, arriving to crave Tokiwa's touch. In this novel maybe the contrast is more heavy, since Itsuki's mind doesn't accept Tokiwa, and almost till the end Itsuki continues to refuse Tokiwa's attention. The book is pretty interesting, I don't know how much realistic... the idea of an adult man who is treated like a doll only for the pleasure of eyes is quite unbelievable; plus Itsuki's behavior is a bit too submissive, first with Yamabe and then with Tokiwa, sometime it makes me want to scroll the boy and push him to react in some way. There is a lot of sex, Tokiwa and Itsuki's relationship is very intimate, above all since Tokiwa is forced to take care of Itsuki in all the most intimate moment when he is injured; but even if a lot, the sex is almost detached, not very graphic. Maybe also for this reason, when Tokiwa forced Itsuki, it is even more strong and unsettling.

One thing I never expect when I see a 'June' published novel is good proofreading/editing. To the point I go crazy. This was one nice change about this novel. I didn't see any spelling mistakes or just words that shouldn't have been there. This story is probably the best I read in the yaoi novel genre. I really liked it because the story really played out well, and the characters were well developed. It also has a sense of time, in their lives. When often reading these novels you were just enjoying the characters and the story is over. This was a nice change. It wasn't a hurried read, but enjoyable. I would recommend this to anyone who likes this genre wholeheartedly. ^_^

This yaoi novel are very satisfying in my opinion.. With lots of angst, and of course characters development (which is in my opinion are very important in a novel), and how like the love story evolved. With really nicely developed plot of the story. Not so hurried. You won't left wondering with questions like "What? That was it?.. Every pages are so entertaining and never been a bore. And of course it has my typical type of a seme (somewhat brute), wink. But dont let it discourage you. This is a keeper!!!