Maverick's Mate [Brac Pack Manga Book 1] by Lynn Hagen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Read from February 11 to 13, 2014 — I own a copy, read count: 1

2 Stars for the Story Massacre and Mood Killing Effect

I am going to be very frank as usual. Here goes...

The artwork was substandard. It was unrefined and unprofessionally done - typeface too small, non-standardized font size plus bad choice of font type. Besides that, I have also caught a few typos. >_<

I have actually read the novel version of this story and happened to loved it. I have a soft spot for bratty mates with their growly domineering wolves. I am sad to say that this manga has marred the original story and everything I ever held dear in it.

Weak storyline presentation with appalling paneling skill made the story confusing and frustrating to read. On top of that, the dialogue was annoying - it was like kids speech pattern. Another thing that I hated most about it was the way parts of the story was recklessly chopped off which only further the confusion. New readers of this story would undoubtedly be lost and annoyed. I could still follow it all because I have read the novel version of it prior to tackling this manga adaptation.

What about the sex scenes? Well I... cringe a lot during the sex scenes. Nothing erotic or sexy about it. Errr there's much drool exchange too. Ugh.

Yes, I am very disappointed and wouldn't be recommending this manga to anyone especially the manga fans. I hope there will be vast improvement in the next installment of this series. For Lynn Hagen, I would add another star since I loved the original story of hers (not the mutilated version in this manga). I wish I could go beyond that but I am having a hard time finding redeeming features within its pages.

Honestly, I am grateful and happy that the author and publisher of this series has decided to produce a manga adaptation, yet I am disheartened by their selection of an inexperienced manga artist for such an important project. Not only would this compromise the project, it would also reflect badly upon the author's work.


A book cover comparison between the manga and the novel version:

I am quite fond of the novel cover. I liked how Cecil looked.



BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Maverick's Mate Brac Pack Manga Book 1 - Explicit Version
Series: Brac Pack Series
Author: Lynn Hagen
Cover Design: Emma Nicole
Art Design: Nekito-ototo
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Type: Manga
Genre: Yaoi, Boys Love, Gay, Contemporary, Romance, Supernatural/Paranormal Fantasy
Tags/Keywords: wolf shifters, wolf mate, mating, biting, claiming, anal sex, oral sex, possessive lover, domineering loving seme, rebellious uke, bikers, insta-love

Description:
[Siren Everlasting Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, werewolves] EXPERIENCE THE START OF LYNN HAGEN'S CLASSIC SERIES IN A WHOLE NEW WAY!

Maverick Brac has formed a pack of his own, naming them the Brac Pack. With fourteen men under him, they all have one thing in common, the preference for men.

Cecil Walter was living a life no one would wish on their enemy in an abusive relationship with his partner with no way out. Getting away from pack problems and a migraine, Maverick indulges in his one secret love, Chai tea. While in the coffee shop trying to forget the world outside exists for five minutes, Maverick has found what he never thought to have, his mate, his very human mate.

Rescuing Cecil from his abusive boyfriend to finding out who in his pack is trying to take Cecil’s life, Maverick has his work cut out for him, but the largest challenge is getting Cecil to come out of his shell and be the man he once was. ** A Siren Erotic Romance.




* Reviewed on February 12th, 2014



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Hoshi no Yakata by Maia Tori
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 STARS and more for the Orgasmic Awesomeness

This is one of those unforgettable ones for me. Imho, it's the best BDSM manga so far. The images are nosebleed inducive. Sexy like hell. Highly kinky too.

Though be warned that this is HARDCORE and might scare those who are faint-of-heart.

What we get to drool about in this manga:
★ ～ Sexy half clothed men in various leather get-ups. Imagine leather bar, body harnesses, whips, cat-O
★ ～ Chastity belt/implements
★ ～ Whipping/Flogging/Canning
★ ～ Candle wax torture
★ ～ Piercing (on page)- every sensitive spot imaginable or unimaginable.... OUCH
★ ～ Sex Slave Training
★ ～ Various Form of Restraints/Bondage (it was so imaginative - I love it!)
★ ～ Various Gags (not the funny kind)
★ ～ BDSM Dungeons
★ ～ Cages for humans
★ ～ Body Branding
★ ～ Shibari/Japanese Rope Bondage
★ ～ Coffin/Boxed-up/Confined in box/Storage
★ ～ Water Torture
★ ～ Sensory Deprivation
★ ～ Breath-play
★ ～ Various Sex Toys - Anal plugs, didoes etc

OH NOES! WHAT ELSE HAVE I FORGOTTEN??? The list is too long already. I could only say that it's all the above and many more that got my adrenaline pumping hard due to its intensity. Pervy me has read and reread it countless times already and planing for more sweet time with it still.



Here's a tamer-safe-enough-to-post-here picture on one of the Sensory Deprivation used on the slaves:

[Poor thing was left hanging in a room like tat for quite some time. They use a catheter on him too]
*Just in case the picture wouldn't show or you would love to see a bigger version of it, click here.

BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Hoshi No Yakata
Alternate Title: 囚われ人の行き先 / Palace of Stars
Related Series: Hoshi no Yoru ni Furete (Prequel)
Author: TORI Maia
Artist/Illustrator: TORI Maia
Year: 1999
Type: Manga
Volume: 5 Volumes (Complete)
Genre: Adult, Drama, Psychological, Smut, Yaoi, BDSM
Categories: Androgynous Male Lead / Androgynous Protagonist / BDSM / Bondage / Brothel / Dark Ambience / Domination/Subordination / Male / Prostitute / Possessive Lover / Sadomasochism

Blurb:
Hoshi no Yakata centers around the employees of a suburban S&M club. The characters are beautiful, the storylines are charged with angst, and the artwork is very explicit.

The stories takes place at Hoshi no Yakata, a humongous Euro-style mansion, and Airenrou, another club located a few hours' drive from Hoshi no Yakata.

Name of the 5 volumes in the series:
1) Hizamazuite Kutsu ni Kiss wo (Kneel Down and Kiss my Boots)
2) Kedamono wa Ori no Naka (A Beast in the Cage)
3) Yokubou no Mitsuryousha (The Poacher of Desire)
4) Toraware Hito no Ikisaki (The Prisoner's Destination)
5) Doreitachi no Jouken (A Slave's Condition)

[*Note: The above info on the manga was sourced from Mangaupdates.com]



P/S: Please excuse this poor excuse of a review cos I have read it ages ago. No fear tho, I plan to reread it once again soonish.

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