Sunday, July 25, 2010

Reviews on Parfait Tic and C-Blossom

So, just thought I'd share my thoughts on two series. C-Blossom is a series I recently read, and Parfait Tic is a series I recently reread.

C-Blossom Case 729
Artwork: 7/10
Some of the action scenes were a little confusing for me. Maybe it's just because I don't read action a lot :D. All in all, it wasn't that bad, to be honest, it just didn't appeal to me, because I am a shoujo manga reader haha. I think the style can be likened to Death Note? Hair is definitely similar, eyes are kind of.
Plot: 8/10
I liked the premise, and it was really interesting. The situation kept me really on-edge, so it definitely is exciting, and I liked certain surprises. However, I take off points for the ending. First off, I would have liked to see the series filled out more. I realize that it is a spinoff, but still, two volumes is a little short for the content. Secondly, the ending was very open, which in the case left me rather wanting.
Characters: 9/10
I really thought the characters were portrayed very realistically, and I think each character was very dear to me as I read.
Overall Appeal: 8.5/10
I really enjoyed this series. It is a very short (2-volume) series, and it starts off immediately. I really enjoyed the story itself, if not the artwork. I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoy reading action mangas, but not so much to big fans of romance.

Note: it's marked as shoujo on mangafox, but I disagree. It's kind of shounen as well. So boys, don't be scared. :)

Summary (From Condensation)
Matsumiya Kana’s world is turned upside down when her father is arrested on charges of embezzling from the Ministry of Defense. She decides to escape the trauma by transferring to a private boarding school, but trouble follows…

Megane bishounen Kisaragi Kou gets Kana to open up to him, but what’s this?! He isn’t really who he says he is? And who’s the dude in the trucker’s cap lurking outside her window? Welcome to C-blossom -case729- a series with action, intrigue, and well…a plot.

Parfait Tic
Artwork: 9/10
It's very cutesy, typical shoujo. I LOVE the facial expressions though, especially chibi versions. Overall, the artwork is visually appealing, but I enjoy it most for its comedy.
Plot: 6/10
There's a lot of repetition, and back and forth, which is typical for shoujo. Fortunately, I don't think it's *too* repetitive, but it is rather redundant. I don't really enjoy this manga for the plot, though. There are other things to recommend it.
Characters: 8/10
I take of points for the female lead D< (This is inevitable whenever I read shoujo lmao). She cries like EVERY panel! I think sometimes she's cute and quirky, but other times it's just annoying. I give full points to Ichi though (ICHIIII~~ MY LOVEEE~~~ jk). Daiya as a character is well-constructed (no personal preference though XD). No, but seriously, the guys are complicated, and I like that. Fuuko is too simplistic. (This would offend her haha).
Overall appeal: 8.5/10
I've taken points of mostly for plot and Fuuko's annoyingness, but if you ask me, I'm not going to stop reading this manga. I love it for so many other things (ICHIIIII~~~~), like (ICHIII~~~) its comedy. It really cracks me up all the time, and the author has a very good sense of humor. Fuuko sometimes really amuses me when she's not being annoying. Ichi/Daiya are really cute and funny. I think that the plot gets better in the future, though...

Not really the best shoujo out there, but really good if you like a laugh; I really like it!

Summary (from MangaFox):
Fuuko is a happy and cheerful girl. One day, two cousins, Daiya and Ichi, move into the apartment upstairs. Cold Ichi and mischievous Daiya gave a very bad first impression! All three are going to the same school as well! How will Fuuko's high school life turn out?

If you're interested, be sure to read these series and let me know what you think!

4 comments:

  1. I haven't read C-Blossom but I have read, though I have not finished, Parfait Tic. To tell you the truth, I wanted to strangle the maganka at the Ichi/Fuu part. I don't want to spoil it, but for those who have read the story, you know exactly what I'm referring to. Honestly, is it me or was it too melodramatic. I feel that it didn't need to be this dramatic. It was extremely good until the damnable part, then it went downhill from there. I've been debating about re-reading it. Your post has made think about this story once again. Perhaps, the second time around, I can see things that I missed before. I am curious...Hmm...Maybe, I shall see it in a new light. Maybe...

    Thank you so much for all your work. I'm so happy that you've picked up Ingenuo. I started to re-read it again. I had given up hope of seeing this completed. I really do appreciate everything you've done.

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  2. I agree with you Kat, about Parfait Tic being repetitive...that's the reason I never finished it, though I might pick it up again some day.
    As for C-Blossom,I too am a shoujo/josei fan only and very rarely read other genres, but I actually bought it at my local bookstore last year, because the art was somewhat interesting and I had read other works by the author as well. It's not your conventional, romantic "shoujo", as the characters are quite "dry", dark, problematic, not flawless, and it focuses a lot on their psychological aspects, but it was a nice change in my reading habit. I would also recommend you some of the author's other works - they all have very interesting plots - Coelacanth, Veins and Mayonaka no ariadne (it's really too bad some of them aren't completely scanlated)

    Thanks for your releases of Ingenuo, it's my favourite manhua :)

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  3. ARGH, I'M SORRY! I just had to comment because I saw your review on Parfait Tic - and I have to say you're extremely generous with those points ;_;

    I respect your opinion... but in my opinion, Parfait Tic is one of the worst shoujos. Ever. Repetitive plot (she keeps jumping back and forth between the guys), unrealistic characters (I'm sorry if I were a guy, I would've given up Fuuko a long time ago. and if I were Fuuko, I would've given up on both guys even though they're fairly attractive in their own way), and just how predictable it is. There is just nothing original in the plot. Nothing. I can't believe I read as much of it as I did. It's almost exactly like Peach Girl, albeit with better art.

    Okay I just needed to get that off my chest. Like I said, I respect the fact that you like Parfait Tic. I just think there's a lot better out there.

    (But I know how you feel about Ichi - he's the only redeeming character even if he's the stereotypical stoic male).

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  4. @Anonymous I definitely agree that there's nothing much to recommend Parfait Tic in the plot itself, but I think the way the mangaka presents the story is nice. I don't care for the plot at all. It's the humor that I like.

    Thank you peppermint_fairy for the suggestions! I will definitely take a look at the mangaka's other works :)

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