Rasetsu, Vol. 1

Rasetsu is apparently a spin-off of Yurara, but I haven't read that, so apologies if I miss any references. Rasetsu is the title character, a girl marked by a demon who plans on carrying her off once she turns twenty. The only way to stop him is to find her true love by that time, but Rasetsu believes it to be hopeless, though she appears to think of it as little as possible, preferring to work and eat her current love, cake. She works at an exorcist agency with Yako, who she got fired from his job at the library in order to get him to work at the agency, and Kuryu, who doesn't do much but seems to have powers which he's hiding. Also featured are the Chief, who senses spirits by hugging people, and Aoi, who helps around the office. In this volume, we get acquainted with the characters, learning about Rasetsu's mark and her resemblance to Yako's lost love. The team vanquishes several ghosts and is learning to put up with each other, as well as ignoring Rasetsu's horrible eating habits. There's nothing particularly special about the art style, though it does look nice. This makes for a good light read, though don't expect too much substance, or, at this stage, romance. Still, it's worth a read.

I was very skeptical about this manga but actually this one of the best I've picked up to read and can't wait for the next volumes to be available! Girls you will not regret picking up this manga! Great characters, amazing detail, great story line and I get a kick out of the romance comedy!! Haha this is the best !

I like the other series Yurara, too, (despite some of the slightly-cliched plot points) but this series is even better! The characters are just fun, very unique and enjoyable to read. I've owned the book about four days and have read it at least four times. It's well worth the read. The only thing I'm upset about is that I want book two, and I'm not happy that I have to wait until Sept. to get it! Go read. You'll really like it.

For those that may not know Rasetsu is a spin off story from the series Yurara. It is not really necessary to read Yurara before Rasetsu because the tie in is explained in Rasetsu. That said on with the review . . . Rasetsu appears to be just as much fun as its predecessor. The blend of quirky office moments, a touch of horror, and supernatural suspense keeps the reader entertained and engaged. The characters are interesting to see develop. The individual supernatural powers are different. Granted there is the usual I can see ghosts bit, but other powers are an exception from the norm. For instance, one character can speak a word or phrase such as "shut up" and the effected person cannot speak. Another character hugs people in order to discover what problem the person has come to the agency with. My only complaint with the work is that it is predicitable. Our heroine has been marked by a demon who will kill her so that she will be his on her 20th birthday. The only way to stop this? Find her true love - how Disney. And by the first volume we know which bishouen character that is. Also plot so far is rather episodic. It is just one ghostly job after another. However in the last chapter there is a rather interesting development that can only be determined if you have read Yurara. If this development is what I think it is then the work isn't focusing on our heroine. I hope that my guess is right because that would make the plot that much more interesting. The art is pretty to look at and is standard for most shojo manga.

I wasn't expecting "Rasetsu" to be any good. I'd already read about half of the prequel, Yurara Vol. 1, and hadn't liked it much. I was afraid that "Rasetsu" would suffer from the same cliched plot and unconvincing romance. However, the preview chapter in "Shojo Beat" magazine was interesting, so I decided to give it a chance. And I found that "Rasetsu" is indeed an improvement upon "Yurara." First of all, the plot is better. The heroine, Rasetsu, was attacked by a demon several years before the start of the series. He promised to return on her 20th birthday to claim her as his bride... unless she can find her true love before then. Since then, Rasetsu's been working with a group of exorcists to get rid of ghosts for clients. One day, Yako enters the store looking for help with a problem at the library where he works. He's surprised by Rasetsu's appearance, because she bares a striking resemblance to the ghost he was in love with. He somehow gets roped into working with Rasetsu and the others against his will. The characters and romance were better here, too. Rasetsu is a feisty heroine with a crazy addiction to sugar, and I liked the strength she shows in facing her problems. Yako still plays the strait guy, not wanting to get involved in the antics but getting dragged along anyway. I'm glad to see him get a second chance at romance. Yako and Rasetsu aren't the best of friends, but they get along. They find out more about each other during the first volume, though nothing's really happened between them yet. Then there's Rasetsu's partner, a man who can use kotodama, or spirit words, to fight angry spirits. He seems light-hearted, but there seems to be more to him than he lets on. The other characters are also good, especially the chief. He likes to goof off, but he can be serious when he needs to be. I also liked the mystery in this manga. Rasetsu obviously has some sort of connection to Yurara, and it seemed pretty obvious to me what it is, but there's still the problem of how (er, you might have to read it to get what I mean). The art is ok. It's as sparkly as that in most shojo, but it's appropriate. It fits the characters personalities. Overall, this is a solid beginning to the series. I'll definitely read the next volume.