Desire Hot

ART:
As always, Honami-sensei's art is beautifully soft and warm. Faces are rounded rather than pointy and the linework is delicate. Eyes are not absurdly big and there are few uses of super-deformation. It's the kind of art that you can spend ages admiring. The style suits the story fairly well and is this manga's strongest point.

CHARACTERS:
I think it is down to personal taste whether the characters will appeal to you or not. In my opinion, Ryoji is overbearing, insensitive and strangely stupid. I mean, what person with any amount of self-awareness would ask their best friend 'How come I get turned on when I look at you?' I don't really see any redeeming features about him. He treats his best friend like some kind of new sex toy, and continues to do so without any regard for said best friend's feelings.
Toru, although not as unlikeable, is nevertheless frustratingly submissive. Seeing such a weak character give in to his love interest's every whim just makes for uncomfortable and unsatisfying reading. His 'scheme' to distance himself Ryoji shows a complete lack of independence.
The only character with endearing traits is Toru and Ryoji's other friend (whose name I have forgotten). He truly cares about his two friends, and offers some sound advice and words of wisdom to both.

PLOT:
As I have mentioned before, the plot makes for very uncomfortable reading. It's difficult to believe in the story and sympathise with the characters. I can see how this situation might occur in real life, but the fact that Ryoji is so insensitive and callous just destroys any empathy we might have for him. Nevertheless, the drama is well-paced and at very least you won't get bored reading the book. This is mainly down to Homani-sensei's skill as a mangaka.


Overall: 6/10
Pros - lovely art, well-paced, lots of angst/drama
Cons - unlikeable characters, frustrating story


~Reviewed by Lally