More Starlight to Your Heart: Volume 1

I'm not typically into romance type stories. I like a little more action and adventure but I couldn't help but love this story. The characters were intriguing and I happily followed the story of our clumsy heroine. I even noted some of her emotional growth early on which made me happy since some stories of this nature tend to drag on. By the end of the first volume I wanted to know more and searched for the second volume. This series is worth a look although I do find myself wondering if the company will ever release a third volume. If you don't mind waiting then I strongly suggest this series.

This is a love story. It makes no attempt to be anything else. Set during the Heian Era in Japan (an era that's proving as popular for manga/anime released in the U.S. as the Warring States), it's visually accurate (especially with regard to the clothing) and the story is just complex enough to hold an older reader's attention without confusing a younger one. The manners, customs, and behavior of the era are captured well, and the love story is--gasp!--believable! This isn't a case of unrequited love, or bad-boy-turning good/shy-victim-girl. Aogi and Akane love each other, they know it, Akane's mother knows it, her *brother* knows it. It's cultural prohibitions that are causing their obstacles. When I said this was a love story, I meant it on several levels. While the focus is Aogi and Akane, we also see Captain Tou's protectiveness and affection for his sister, Lady Naishinokami's love and concern for her daughter, even the devotion of Akane's servant Sayo. (We even get a few great moments with the hero-worshipping assistant lieutenant Gen and the 'snobby' omnyoji who is Tou's friend, though neither will admit it.) Good character-driven stories with strong historical settings are hard to find. Snap this one up.

Being a rather experienced anime/manga person myself, I have to say this manga is one of the best single manga I have ever read. I have enjoyed many different types of anime and manga, including Tenchi Muyo, Kenshin, Cowboy Bebop, .Hack//sign, Inuyasha (GAHHH!!!), Wolf's Rain, FLCL, and Excel Saga. As far as one manga goes, I enjoyed "Starlight" alot becasue I didn't have to read the entire series or even any other volumes to understand whats going on or to explain the characters. As far as characters go, It's difficult for me to choose a favorite as I like nearly all of them, which is a first as in all the other series I listed above I have disliked many weak or annoying characters. Most of the characters here are interesting and fun. The plot flow was nice and kept my attention, another thing some series lack.(*cough*Wolf's Rain*cough*) If I had to pick one thing about this manga that caught me the most, it has to be the setting. I love the historical Japanese setting, more so than in Kenshin, as this has less fight scenes that get exasusting to watch after awhile. The almost dreamy atmosphere of this manga was very relaxing as right before I read this, my anime world consisted mostly of the Kenshin Legend of Kyoto box set that is wonderful, yet nerve-wrecking to watch (Kenshin vs. Aoshi) and sometimes sad. (Poor Sojiro!) I was also getting a rightly amount of Wolf's Rain, which is self-explanitory to those who know it, and completely useless to those who don't. Anyway, awesome manga, I can't wait to read the second one, and sorry for rambling on and on.... Oh, and Hikoboshi was great, and this is coming from a dog person.

i loved this book. it was very interesting and funny. i recommend this book to EVERYONE! it was my first manga book, too.