Gravitation: Voice of Temptation

Compared to the first Gravitation novel offering, Voice of Temptation holds up pretty well. Eiri is actually in this one, at least. The story is also a lot more interesting this time around. Shuichi is leaving on Bad Luck's first national tour, and Yuki is being aloof as usual. Two weeks into the tour Shuichi goes home to spend a night alone with Yuki, but finds the novelist missing and a mysterious note and some bad intelligence from various sources lead Shuichi around Osaka in search of his lover. Misunderstandings and hijinks ensue. Nothing about this book is surprising. There are a few funny moments and all the characterizations are true to the original manga, but one is left wanting the visual medium and finding the written word lacking. Gravitation is meant to be enjoyed by being seen and novels, no matter how well written, are invariably going to fall short. It's not that Jun Lennon does a bad job. She (assuming it is a woman) is obviously a talented writer, and her work in screenwriting shines in this novel in the accurate and detailed descriptions of the gang's zany antics. For those who are hoping for some more graphic depictions of Shuichi and Eiri's "love," this volume has a better offering than the last one and one suggestive illustration near the end of the book, but nothing really graphic. So, if you're interested in "yaoi" content, you will be sorely disappointed. For die-hard Gravi fans, reading this one is quite a bit more worthwhile than reading the first novel was, though I wouldn't recommend spending your hard-earned money on it if you are not devoted to the series.