Under Grand Hotel Hot

One of my favorite things about this manga is that it is set in a prison, and there is nothing fluffy-puppies-and-rainbows about it. It's very dark in a lot of parts, which a lot of yaoi manga don't quite manage properly. Even though some parts are somewhat cliche, it's done in a way that doesn't glare at you and it's all incorporated into the story very well.

The art is GORGEOUS. These are men, not little high school boys, and they look the part. They also don't all look the same, so even with a close-up in a panel, you're not trying to guess who it is. As far as the characters, everyone has flaws, and the personalities are all radically different, but in a way so as to keep you invested in the story and wondering "Is he really good, or is he just a good actor?"

I was emotionally invested the entire way through the story, and I'll be honest, the sex is hot. The dialogue is a lot like in real porn, gritty and sort of cheesy if you walk in on the middle of it, but I like that about it. There are also a bunch of moments that are really sweet when you consider the characters, so there's a bit of fluff, but it's sort of hidden among all the angst and dirty, dirty sex.

To be honest, considering all the clichés involved, I'm surprised that there aren't more prison yaoi's out there. This is the only one that I have stumbled across, and I have read a lot of yaoi mangas.

Sadahiro Mika Takes the prison setting, and turns it on its head by writing a love story; the two protagonists, Sen and Sword, are originally drawn together for purely practical purposes; Sen needs protection and Sword wants to get laid. However, the development of their relationship, and the strength of the feelings involved is what makes this manga so special.

I found the artwork a little hard to get into after all the bishounen school boys I had been saturated with. Sadahiro Mika draws men, not boys, and the sex scenes are frequent, graphic, and hot. But this is by no means one of those sex-fest yaois that you can sometimes stumble across. The ongoing story line is compelling, as are the characters, and the supporting characters are also well developed.

And as I said earlier, this is a love story; set in a harsh, unforgiving environment, still, the growing love between Sen and Sword hooks you in. This is one of those mangas that I will read again and again.