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Maiden Rose Volume 1 (Yaoi) |  | Author: Fusanosuke Inariya
Artist: Fusanosuke Inariya
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
Buy New: $10.36
as of 9/5/2010 12:02 CDT details
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  reviews
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Pages: 200
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 1569701628
Dewey Decimal Number: 741
EAN: 9781569701621
ASIN: 1569701628
Publication Date: May 18, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Two soldiers from warring countries are bound by a pledge as master and servant. Taki Reizen is a Commander of sublime beauty, shouldering the fate of his nation. Called "Mad Dog" because of his rough temperament, Klaus has sworn his loyalty to him as a knight. Despite this, those around them are cold and disapproving, full of various misgivings. For all their genuine feelings, what will come of love made cruel by the violence of war?
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| Customer Reviews:
A Rosy Dream Comes True July 9, 2010
Teh_N_Mochi (TX, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Since I was one of those yaoi fangirls who incessantly begged DMP to pick up the license for Maiden Rose when it didn't pan out for Drama Queen, I feel I definitely owe them a review here. I would like to thank June (DMP imprint) for a job well done in bringing the first volume of Maiden Rose to the US market. This title has always been close & dear to my heart due to the beautiful art and refreshing story line. The translation is well done - making what I believed a very complicated plot told in an advanced complex level Japanese language easy to follow in English.
Maiden Rose is about love & loyalty. Taki & Claus are soldiers who were desperately, deeply in love with each other but unfortunately, they come from two different countries who are at war with each other. So their dillemas were should they be loyal to their respective countries or to each other.
Maiden Rose is about duty & devotion. Since Taki is a ruling heir to his country, he has a duty to follow the custom of remaining being their deity's vassal by being "pure". He needs to uphold this image to command the respect & obedience of his troops since he was so young. However, these are not what Claus want of Taki when he swore his allegiance to be Taki's knight. Claus expected equal reciprocation in love - to be given & shown freely in return for his devotion to Taki. He was not aware of all the pomp & restrictions that were inherent with Taki's position in his country.
I have read a lot of romance & yaoi stories, Maiden Rose is definitely a jewel to collect. It is a pleasure to read. The dialogue is well done - it could have been any original English war time comics. The only thing that would have made it even more stellar is if the translators & editors would have studied the actual English used in 1930s where this story is supposed to take place even though the places are imaginary. Kudos for June to adhere to the integrity of the art - Inariya Fusanosuke's art is indeed top notch. I would highly recommend anyone to pick up a copy of this book - I definitely have felt it is worth every cent of the price!
long awaited - and worth the wait June 24, 2010
faolin (New England)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
When the first volume of Hyakujitsu No Bara was released in Japan, it drew a lot of attention in the Western BL community - the elegant and lush art, the military setting, the flashbacks with ceremonial robes and equipage. I bought two copies of the Japanese book, even though I had little idea what was going on. Soon enough, Maiden Rose was licensed - but publication fell through. Many voices cried out in disappointment.
Now DMP's June imprint has filled the void, and it's a worthy release. The paper quality isn't what it could be, but it is quite good, especially considering the industry's cutbacks and financial issues. No color inserts, but the volume itself is larger than the original Japanese book, and the printing is clear and sharp. I don't read Japanese, so I cannot comment on the translation, but the English version reads very smoothly. I was especially impressed with the military content that is so important to the story; I'm a bit of a history geek, and the battlefield terminology is realistic, not watered down.
And the art. Oh, the art. I'll purchase every manga Fusanosuke Inariya releases, sight unseen, just to get more of those fluid lines, expressive eyes, and manly curves. The English-language release is uncensored, too, so you get everything Inariya intended. Don't overlook the short extra at the end, which casts the Asian characters as cats and the Western contingent (primarily Klaus) as dogs. (Klaus insists, "I'm not a dog, I'm a wolf." And he is. He is.) Inariya shows a keen sense of humor here, as well as the elegant sexiness showcased in the main story. Makes me wish it were feasible to print a parallel retelling with the animal versions. 'S good.
This is a very nice release for a much-anticipated title. It's well worth having on your shelf, and generally self-contained (for buyers wary of investing in new series with no guarantee of complete publication). I'm so very, very pleased with June's treatment of Maiden Rose. I'm ready for vol. 2, please.
The best release so far this year. Do not miss this one! June 5, 2010
R.Parklane (Tokyo, Japan)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Last year the best Yaoi release was Toko Kawai's CUT (Yaoi). This year it has to be Maiden Rose, even if 2010 is far from over.
Shroud has given an excellent and comprehensive review on this one. I will not attempt to go into the plot as it is needless. Suffice to say Maiden Rose is one very intense, harsh, brutal, poignant yet realistic and totally spellbinding story. I could not put it down once I started and find myself captivated, sometimes holding my breath, as the story progresses and the relationship between Taki and Claus enfolds. I love these 2 complex characters and their love is possessive, passionate, raw yet painful and poignant. The sex may come off as non con initially but not so if one is to delve deeper into Taki's complex personality and painful struggles with his own demons. I would say there is elements of SM in their relationship. However you look at it, these violent traits in their love really reveals so much of the contradictions these 2 men are battling within themselves.
The artwork is excellent whether it is in the battlefield or the sex scenes. The sex is very explicit and hardcore, which I totally appreciate in a true Yaoi. And I like the underlying atmosphere throughout the whole story, almost dream-like in some of the flashbacks but realistic, harsh, poignant and merciless in the current story. My only complaint is I find the few kids sort of distracting to the whole heavy tone of the story but also realizes the role they play, providing a few light moments in this otherwise deeply intense Yaoi.
Not to be missed by all true Yaoi fans. Kudos to DMP for bringing this to us and I do believe it is uncensored which is greatly appreciated.
Hyakujitsu no Bara June 1, 2010
Wolfsong (Chicago IL)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Maiden Rose is an intense story of war, brutality, passion... and love, the latter at first being hidden amongst the story's other extremities. The plot of volume one has already been described far more in-depth and eloquently than I ever could, so I'll get straight to why this is my favorite yaoi and even manga in general to boot.
-The art: Gorgeous, exquisitely detailed, and best of all, original in the most refreshing way.
-The story: One of the best I have ever come across in the yaoi genre. It is intense as it is complex, as beautiful as it is harsh and brutal, and with a lot of genre cliches flipped on their heads.
-The imagery: I absolutely adore the antique-y feel to this one, from the military uniforms, to the equipment, the vehicles... if you are as much of a fan of vintage imagery as I am, this will be major eye candy for you.
PROS AND CONS OF JUNE'S RELEASE:
Though the story is more than enough for this title to be worth it, here are the good and bad points of June's release of this title...
PROS-
-Larger format size than the original Japanese tankoubon. We all know bigger is better!
-It appears to be completely free of any kind of censorship.
-The translation is smooth and flowing and the dialogue easy to follow. I believe I came across one instance of a potential typo, but aside from that I'd rate the translation as being 'very good'.
CONS-
-Klaus vs. Claus... It's a minor issue, really, but I do hope that the correct spelling is offered in volume two.
-This isn't necessarily a 'con' because the presentation is average for English yaoi releases, however readers with only the English edition on their shelves will be missing out on some beautiful color images found on the inside of the original tankoubon's dustjacket(June's release lacks one). The same goes for the gorgeous, glossy color insert that was just printed matte in black-and-white in June's release. No biggie, but worth mentioning.
All in all, with story/plot and art especially considered, I can't recommend Maiden Rose enough.
The Heart of the Rose Bleeds Red May 31, 2010
The Kimi-Chan Experience
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Inariya Fusanosuke sensei weaves a tale of love and war that is multilayered and poignant. Her characters are memorable; from the young cadets idol worshipping the officers to the single appearance of the battle wounded swordsmith, to the main characters of Taki and Claus, each one is fully realised. The emotions fairly leap from the page; the cold, calculating single minded fury during battle, the gut wrenching fear of loss, the desperation of a lonely love, and the confused resolution of a man trying to retain his desires and perform his duties are all wonderfully presented. This is no mean feat, as Taki in particular is a complicated character. During the intimate scenes with Claus, we see his desperate anger, seemingly refusing to yield given what his words are, but contradicted by his own actions. It is no wonder Claus is conflicted and driven nearly mad as it is like being offered a banquet and discovering the food is half cooked and stone cold.
Not that Claus is a simple person to understand either. Just why was he and his sister taken to Taki's land as children and told they are bound to the noble house there? And why does no one else, Taki included, seem to know about it? Is Claus truly a traitor to his homeland, or is he playing both sides? These are tantalising questions that are posed as events unfold, holding key parts of the plotlines yet to unfurl. Answers that possibly no one should know, least of all the Maiden Rose. Or would knowing these answers present the key to happiness?
The art is unabashedly and refreshingly original. Claus and the older officers are manly men, showing their ancestry clearly. Claus is a square jawed strapping blonde man, while Taki and his countrymen clearly show their Oriental heritage with their narrow jaws, almond shaped eyes, and high cheekbones. It makes a strong departure from most other titles in the genre who typically have features that could be from almost anywhere. It adds a dimension of realism and immediacy to the scenes that unfold, and clearly drawing the battle lines as they appear, with the Us VS Them visually punctuated. It also serves to underscore Claus' alienation as the foreign knight struggling to maintain his personal identity while being gazed upon with suspicion due to his origins despite his obvious undying personal sense of devotion.
Nor is just the character art praiseworthy in design. The battle scenes are well executed, with a sense of violence and immediacy. The scenes within Taki's tank are particularly well done, showcasing the vintage equipment in wonderful detail. The fluid lines show the rapid movements of Taki as he turns his head to utter his commands and those who rush to obey his utterances, as well as the violence of Claus' movements as he assaults his lover. The pictures seem to move in themselves, drawing the eye naturally along as the story unfolds frame by frame.
The first volume plunges us headlong into the melee, assaulting the senses with a barrage of action and emotion. Thankfully the translation from the original Japanese is very smooth, maintaining the delicate nuances without which the central plot point of the pathos of the relationship with the seemingly un co-operative Taki actually being in conflicted complicity, and Klaus' attempt to have Taki face himself and acknowledge the truth of their relationship in private at least, would be completely lost. Likewise the lack of annoying censoring in a title aimed at adults is quite welcome. If you blush or offend easily, be warned: the sex scenes are shown in full detail, with anatomy and bodily fluids on full display. With the well thought out plot, fully fleshed out characters, beautifully rendered art, and faithful presentation to the English speaking market, Maiden Rose promises to be a series that will keep the reader returning to see how the war, between two countries, as well as two men's hearts and their sense of dutiful obligations, fares.
***I would like to thank Digital Manga Publishing for my review copy. ***
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