About Jan

http://dearauthor.com/author/jan/

reads any genre as long as the books aren't depressing. Her preferred reads these days are in manga format and come from all manga genres, but she especially likes romance, doubly so when there are beautiful men involved. With each other. Her favorites among currently-running English-translated manga series include NANA, Ze, Ouran High School Host Club, Junjou Romantica, Blood Alone, Vampire Knight, Skip Beat, Silver Diamond and anything by the holy triumvirate of BL: Ayano Yamane, Kazuma Kodaka and Youka Nitta, including any scribbles they might do on the backs of napkins.

Posts by Jan :

REVIEW: Manga: Sorcerers, Demons, and Smut, Oh My:  The Crimson Spell by Ayano Yamane

REVIEW: Manga: Sorcerers, Demons, and Smut, Oh My: The Crimson Spell by Ayano Yamane

The Crimson Spell by Ayano Yamane. Published by Kitty Media. Retail: $11.99. 1/2+ volumes. Rated: Mature (this title is adult-only, sexually graphic yaoi (MxM).) Dear Readers, This is my favorite manga release of 2007. There are some with loftier ambitions that I might admire more, like Town of Evening Calm, but when it comes to(…)

REVIEW:  Manga Review: Epic Adventure and Romance: Basara

REVIEW: Manga Review: Epic Adventure and Romance: Basara

Basara by Yumi Tamura. Published by Viz. Retail: $9.99. Rated T+ for older teens (frank sex and violence. The sex isn’t graphic but the violence can be.) 25/27 volumes published, complete in Japan. Dear Readers, Some long running romance manga series are drawing to a close this month, and all deserve mention here.This column is(…)

Manga Review: Romance for Boys: Ai Yori Aoshi

Manga Review: Romance for Boys: Ai Yori Aoshi

Ai Yori Aoshi by Kou Fumizuki. Published by TokyoPop. Retail: $9.99. Ratings: T+, older teens, for most volumes (many sexually suggestive situations a.k.a. fan service – the cover gives you a taste for that), Mature for the last volume (tasteful sex between the h/h). 17/17 volumes published. Dear Readers, Two long running romance series have(…)

Manga/Anime Review: A Great Present for Kids of all Ages: Princess Tutu

Manga/Anime Review: A Great Present for Kids of all Ages: Princess Tutu

Princess Tutu created by Ikuko Ito and Junichi Sato. Released in English by ADV. Entire 26 episode series available at Amazon for $28.49. Manga adaptation available but really, don’t go there. Dear Readers, I’m cheating today. This blog is for book reviews, things you read. And so I’m going to review an absolutely terrible manga(…)

REVIEW:  [Manga] Writers and Romance: Sorcerers and Secretaries by Amy Kim Ganter

REVIEW: [Manga] Writers and Romance: Sorcerers and Secretaries by Amy Kim Ganter

Sorcerers and Secretaries by Amy Kim Ganter. Tokyopop. $9.99. Ages 13 and up (kisses). Reads left to right. 2 volumes, complete.   Dear Ms. Ganter, I don’t try much Original English Language (OEL) manga or American graphic novels, because the stories don’t normally appeal to me, and one big reason is that they’re often written(…)

REVIEW:  The Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair

REVIEW: The Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair

Dear Ms Sinclair, You really love Star Trek, don’t you? Not that I hold that against you. I love it too, including the original series (TOS) with Kirk where men were men and women were, well, sometimes they were clouds of energy that sucked the very life from you, but at some point they could(…)

REVIEW:  Manga: The Complete Guide

REVIEW: Manga: The Complete Guide

Manga: The Complete Guide, by Jason Thompson. Del Rey. $19.95. 592 pages. A-.   Dear Mr. Thompson, I can’t even imagine the effort it took to put this book together. I heard that you read one to two manga series a day, and upwards of 900 of them total to write the reviews within. The(…)

REVIEWS (shorts): Some Halloween Manga Suggestions

REVIEWS (shorts): Some Halloween Manga Suggestions

Dear Readers, Here are some suggestions for slightly spooky romantic manga for Halloween. Vampire Knight by Matsuri Hino: I enjoy this one even though in many ways it’s a very typical shoujo (girls) romance series. The very polished artwork raises it a notch above many series, and there’s something about the main characters’ love triangle(…)

REVIEW:  The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson

REVIEW: The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson

Dear Ms. Ibbotson, I’ve long been a fan of your adult novels. They have a way of showing even the most mundane things in a magical light, and that always makes me realize there’s a bit of fairy tale in everyone’s life. Your books set in Vienna are some of my favorites, because the city(…)

REVIEW:  Manga Review: Cipher by Narita Minako

REVIEW: Manga Review: Cipher by Narita Minako

Cipher by Narita Minako. Published by CMX. Retail $9.99. Rating: Teen (some heavy issues, but little to no sex or violence; I’d say high school age personally). 7/12 volumes released in English, complete in Japan. Dear CMX, I think you are my favorite shoujo manga publisher. I’ve only tried a few of your series, and(…)

Manga Review:  Fushigi Yuugi

Manga Review: Fushigi Yuugi

Fushigi Yuugi by Yuu Watase. Published by Viz. Retail: $9.99 18/18 Volumes released in Englis. Rated T+ for older teens (sexual situations, attempted rapes, pretend rapes, lots of death). D-.   Dear Readers, Imagine if you will being stuck in the middle of the Gobi desert, thirsting for anything to drink, when you come upon(…)

REVIEW:  Law Students in Love: Manga Review: Ichigenme…The First Case is Civil Law by Fumi Yoshinaga

REVIEW: Law Students in Love: Manga Review: Ichigenme…The First Case is Civil Law by Fumi Yoshinaga

Ichigenme…The First Case is Civil Law, by Fumi Yoshinaga. Published by 801 Media. Retail: $15.99. 1/2 volumes released. Rated 18+ (Mature content, graphic sex between males showing at most some blurred [Japanese self-censored] naughty bits, NOT FOR KIDS). A-. Dear Readers, A law education in Japan is slightly different than one in the US. Students(…)

REVIEW:  Manga Review:  High Fashion and Coming of Age: Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa

REVIEW: Manga Review: High Fashion and Coming of Age: Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa

Paradise Kiss, by Ai Yazawa. Published by TokyoPop. 5/5 volumes released. Retail: $9.99. Rated OT 16+ (sex scenes, but only showing what you’d see on network TV.)   “The basement store was removed from the main road by a maze of side streets. To reach it, one had to go down a flight of stairs(…)

REVIEW:  Roses in December by Fiona Glass

REVIEW: Roses in December by Fiona Glass

Dear Ms. Glass, I started reading this book out of curiosity and couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t expecting much. I’ve purchased a few gay “romances” and most let me down in one of two ways. Either they’re erotica that has left romance and character out for the most part, or they’re just not written(…)

REVIEW:  Harlequin Manga Reviews Take 2: The Good, and the Bad and Ugly

REVIEW: Harlequin Manga Reviews Take 2: The Good, and the Bad and Ugly

Never Kiss a Stranger by Madeleine Kerr and Mayu Kasumi.Retail: $7.99.Rated T for Teen, 12 and up, lots of sweet kisses only.1 of 1 volumes.D. Three Wishes by Darlene Scalera and Matsuri Akino.Retail: $7.99.Rated T for Teen, 12 and up, lots of sweet kisses only.1 of 1 volumes. Based upon A Man for Megan, 1999.B+(…)