duckprintspress

1. What are you currently reading?

• Demon Venerable Also Wants to Know vol. 1 by Cyan Wings: idk, I wanted to read a novel, and this just came, and it's a re-read for me, so I figured it'd suit my brain. I still love this one. Wenren E is such an aroace idiot.
• 盗墓笔记 vol. 2 by 南派三叔: ...84% done...

2. What have you recently finished reading?

I had a lot of books coming due and/or late to my local library, so I tried to get through a lot this week.

• Twittering Birds Never Fly vol. 1 by Kou Yoneda: oh, this is dark. I am intrigued. Modern BL about a (tw related to CSA and such) masochist CSA victim and his bodyguard who has erectile dysfunction after seeing his adopted kid sister getting raped by his dad.
• Yona of the Dawn vol. 33 by Mizuho Kusanagi: my "I don't like this plot line (affectionate)" is becoming an "I don't like this plot line (derogatory)". This is dragging.
• Paper Girls: The Complete Story by Brian K. Vaughan: I wanted to like this so so bad but that ending. Ugggggggggggggggggggggggh. At least two of my least favorite tropes, and not done well imo.
• Taproot by Keezy Young: this was short and sweet. I'd hoped for more "there" there, coming to it having read Hello, Sunshine, but it was sweet and fluffy and enjoyable, tho I doubt it'll stick with me much.
• Marriagetoxin vol. 1 by Joumyaku and Mizuki Yoda: I really have no idea how to tag Kinosaki's gender stuff.
• Painter of the Night vol. 1 and 2 by Byeonduck: I've wanted to read this for awhile based on what I'd heard about it, but now that I've actually done so... I think this is too rapey for me, I'm probably not going to read more. Like, I enjoyed the first volume a lot. And then the second volume made it clearer just what kind of story this was gonna be, and I looked at some reviews and it seems to continue in that vein, and that's not for me. I need a point to the whump to enjoy it.
• Tsumasaki ni Kourozu by Aki Aoi: m/m collection; I liked the first story about a mycology professor and his intern, and have already forgotten the other stories, oops.
• Anyhow, the Rabbit is Infatuated with the Puppy by Nie: another modern m/m. I liked this despite the age difference, but there was some awkward objectification and weirdness with the mc's boss and coworkers that I didn't like.
• Play Me Softly by Kakeru Tsukino: another modern BL collection; I would have liked this better if the second story wasn't 100% drinking-related non-con played off as totally normal and romantic. Like. Come on, guys, drunk people can't consent, this isn't news, don't tell me that's a sweet meet-fuck-cute.
• Leo Rising by Archive Bongiovanni: modern story about a person who has considered herself a butch lesbian and developed an online following as a result feeling trapped in ways that make it hard to consider/explore if she/he is actually a trans man. This would have been better if the mess the mc makes of her/his life actually got addressed, instead of being left for an off-screen aftermath.
• Saiyuki: Resurrected Edition vol. 1 by Kazuya Minekura: this is vol. 1 and 2 in one. I've wanted to read Saiyuki since like 2002 and I'm finally getting to. It's... interesting? One of my close college friends was obsessed, tho, and so far I'm not really seeing why? Guess I've got a ways to go tho.
• Golden Kamuy vol. 1 by Satoru Noda: I could swear I've seen people talking about this as being surprisingly queer in ways. So far I don't see it, but it was still super interesting. The author clearly did a ton of research and it really shows in the best possible way.
• Kisses, Macarons, and Lonely Pie by Hyougo Kijima: strange collection of m/m short stories, often with age gap or other power dynamic stuff going on. I rather liked this one, especially the main story about the professor and the intern.
• That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime vol. 17 by Fuse: hey, things are happening again! Sometimes so quickly I was confused.
• Eternal Covenant vol. 1 by Haejin: fantasy that's inching toward m/m, and there are hints that the mc is being abused tho it doesn't really show how so far? Idk, there wasn't as much here to grab me as I'd like, but I'm also curious where it's going. If I can find more I guess I'll read it?

3. What do you plan to read next?

Novel: my Libby hold on The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson came through yesterday. This is for reading club, so this will definitely be next.

Graphic Novels (physical ones from the library): next is Golden Kamuy vol. 2 by Satoru Noda. I only have 7 books from the library right now, and none are due until mid July, so I'll ease off on reading these a bit.

Graphic novels (digital ones from Libby): after reading all the above I finally got through most of what was due imminently; the only one I've got left due in under a week is Punch Drunk Love vol. 1 by MOSCARETO. For the rest... I'm kinda sick of feeling pressured to read, read, read because I have so many books on Libby; I'm gonna try to get through what I have and then not do as many holds, so instead I can vibe-read by just getting stuff when I feel like it. (I have said this before and then put in more holds anyway, but I'm gonna try not to do that again... time will tell...)