The premise of Kei X Yaku got my attention right away, but I still didn’t expect how much I would enjoy this manga. It was tense and dark, but still had scenes that made me genuinely laugh out loud.

The first volume was mainly laying the groundwork and introducing characters. Although there wasn’t much movement in the actual plot, I didn’t feel like anything was dragging on either. In the next volume, I’m looking forward to seeing their investigation (and romance?) move forward.

While I find the plotline premise intriguing, I wasn't a big fan of the execution in this first volume. I struggled to follow the connections relating to the mystery they're attempting to solve. I think it's doing a decent job at building the characters' personalities however, and I'm interested in seeing how their friendship or relationship develops. I don't feel particularly connected to the story yet, but I'd read another volume or two.

I loved reading this book.
I need the next volume ASP.

The characters are quite different, but they have the same goal, and this makes them connect, and end up living together.
The conversations between them are so funny, but it becomes serious in the way they deal with things, and what they are willing to do to find answer for what they want.
The romance is slow-burn, which I love, because it leaves more space for the resolution of the mystery and for the story to move forward, and it also leaves time for the characters to get to know each other.
The drawings are beautiful. They fit the story perfectly and give so much to the characters and the theme.
I loved it so so much.

I really liked it! It's pretty fast paced but still well developed. I had never read a manga about detectives and mysteries, but I actually loved how fun and interesting the plot was. I was engaged with the story the entire time.

The characters were good too, I particularly enjoyed the banter between the main characters and I think if I continued the series I would end up shipping them quite a bit.
I would recommend it if you want a lighthearted mystery that keeps you intrigued!

*Thanks to NetGalley uk, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

I actually requested this manga because I watched some of the live action drama episodes. Kei X Yaku was serious but so funny at the same time. I really enjoyed the main characters banter and that the only reason they are dealing with each other is because they have the same goal. So no matter how much they don't like each other or how opposite their personalities they are, they will deal with it enable to find someone who is important to both of them.

4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I am always amazed by the intricate detail of graphic novels. The pages are so carefully created and tell a beautiful story. This fast-paced forced proximity plot was thoroughly enjoyable to read and I really loved it! The one minor negative I found, was that it was tricky to follow right from the get-go but after a chapter or so it was okay! I really liked both main characters and I was really invested - I wanted to read the next section!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

There's not much to say about the story yet. Things are just getting started. But this volume already makes things interesting and gripping. I like the pacing, and there's enough backstory to keep the reader invested. The two main characters working together despite their differences was well done and hilarious. I have so many questions, and I'm really intrigued about Shiro's sister and Ichiro's mentor. I'm really enjoying this so far.

This was super fun and quick to read. I was so hooked that by the end, I was sad there wasn’t any more story. Shiro and Ichiro are a fun duo to spend time with — I love that there’s a connection through a mutual goal, as it really drew me in and had me wondering how far they’ll go to attain it. The art style is pretty — one thing about me is I love pretty art and that’s what initially drew me to read this, but would recommend for readers who like to read about people who are very opposite being forced to interact with each other

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the e-book copy!

Kei x Yaku: Bound By Law is about a police agent and yakuza member teaming up to investigate the disappearance of a mutual person in their lives. When I saw that this was being recommended to fans of Banana Fish and No. 6, I was immediately intrigued to check it out. After reading this, I can say I see some similarities between those series and this one. The story is enticing, and some heavy themes are introduced that make you wonder how things will end. If you are a fan of the aforementioned series, this will definitely be worth the read. I am looking forward to reading more.

Honestly there's not really that much to say about this story just yet. This is only the beginning and we're just getting the groundwork of the characters and their link up. I enjoyed this a lot. Both characters are interesting with compelling motivations for why they decide to work together. Their banter and yes, flirting is also really fun. I'm so intrigued to continue reading and seeing how it all develops. I've watched some of the live action adaptation and wanted to read this to see how it compares and how similar they kept it. So far it feels like it was a faithful adaptation, that may change in the future installments.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author and artist for the ARC I read. I’m really glad this is being translated and published in English because I really enjoyed this first volume. I personally love a romance manga that has something else going for it too, either some fantasy, sci-fi, or mystery plot because it keeps the story engaging and me addicted. This story specifically, has the mystery and crime aspect that has me very intrigued. We really only get the setup of the plot in this first volume and not many answers discovered yet which has me very desperate to read the next addition, because I need to know what happens! I’m also very curious about how the romance will develop, so far it seems a little slow-burn which I think will be quite nice with the plot. The art is also really good. I love how often the artist played with opposites in the two main characters both with their personality and jobs and the colors they wear. It was cute and aesthetically pleasing. Really promising start to a series that I think I may have to pick up the physical edition of.

Adorable fake dating, mafia, forbidden romance story.

I could not get enough of these two with the constant bickering and sexual tension. Its not all hijinks though the over arching storing of searching for their missing mentor/ found family elevates the plot and leaves you craving more.

I am throughly hooked!

After the disappearance of his mentor, police officer Ichiro has never stopped looking for her, but constantly meets resistance from the higher ups in the police bureau. He gets an unexpected breakthrough when assigned to follow Shiro, a member of the yakuza who Ichiro soon learns is the brother of his mentor and is also looking for her. Despite misgivings, the two decide to work together to find the truth. The first in the series, this volume focuses on setting up the plot and developing the characters, as the main leads both start off not really trusting the either. There's a solid start here and i'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes.

The first collection of chapters is a start and I did overall enjoy it, but it felt like not much has actually happened yet. It didn't really end at a point where I felt compelled to keep reading. It just kind of...ended. Maybe this is just due to the length they wanted it to be at and where this part of the story naturally ended, but I suppose I'd expect something a little more exciting to make me anticipate the next installment.

The majority of this installment was introducing the characters and their individual connections to a mutually known person who ends up binding them together. There were some big leaps of logic in here for me that made me raise an eyebrow skeptically at the way they decide something is the ONLY way forward when it seems pretty unnecessary to me.

The art is detailed and easy to follow even in scenes of a lot of motion (or emotion). They did a great job of conveying subtleties of expression in ways that can add a lot of humor to even a serious scene. And the dialogue too really leans in for some laughs at times. Funny moments are often a highlight for me, and this embraced that right from the first few pages with the bag the senior officer delivers. 😅

That said it was also pretty violent and disturbing sometimes, and no punches were pulled. I have a feeling this will be quite a dark story moving into later chapters.

Overall I guess I'll keep reading this if I happen upon it when it comes out and remember, but it's not likely one that I'm going to be actively awaiting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC, it was such a pleasant discovery. I can’t express how much I was devastated when I’ve found out it was not yet available in my native language… It was a really good premise ; angsty, thrilling, hilarious, everything I love in an entertaining boys love story. So far the plot seems solid and promising, and I’m looking forward to see what happens next !

I regret one (1) thing about reading this, and that's when I did. Because I'm apparently going to have to wait until JANUARY 2025 for the fourth volume out of the NINE part series, and I'm desperate to find out what happens next. And yes, I know I could watch the show, but I'd rather wait to read it because of my track record with not loving manhwa & manga adaptations.

Anyway, dramatics aside, I loved Kei x Yaku SO much. The idea of two people on the opposite sides of the law fake dating each other so they can enact revenge for a loved one? It's quite literally the perfect plot. Volume one is the perfect introduction to the characters, and I love the balance between the dark aspects of the plot and the humor. I'm so glad I got to read an early copy of the English translation, and can't wait to finish the series one day!

TWs: violence, blood, torture, stalking

Kunishita’s coworker, Rion Nakaba, went missing three years ago. A video of her getting beaten up was posted and promptly deleted, and Kunishita has been investigating what happened to her ever since then. Shiro Hanabusa is apart of the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, and he’s Rion’s sister. With a mutual goal in mind, they decide to team up to find Rion and put her soul to rest.

It’s an interesting start to a gripping story. A lot of the volume was spent setting the scene and the characters, so there wasn’t a lot of progress on the mystery of what happened to Rion, but the volume was gripping enough to urge me to read the next volume and continue the series!

I haven't read manga in a while and decided to read this on a whim, not really expecting much of it, but ended up really liking this first volume!
The mystery aspect caught my attention, the story was fun, funny, and wholesome, and I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters.
Overall, I'm excited to see where this goes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC.

I want more 😭 this has a little bit of everything, great style of drawing, enemies to friends (maybe more 😏), funny dialogue, mystery, horror, it’s got the whole package for a good manga. I cannot wait to read more from this story and thought this was a great start to the story.

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley

~

Kei x Yaku: Bound by Law, Vol. 01
by Yoshie Kauruhara

★★★★☆


Kei x Yaku is an interesting story about two opposites who are drawn together by the same goal. Shiro is a male escort to various male politicians and involved in a crime family, while Ichiro is a police officer in a special branch. They encounter each other when Ichiro is tasked with investigating Shiro quietly, due to his connection to the politicians he's been associated with. However, upon meeting, they discover they have another link: Ichiro's mentor, Rion Nakaba, is also Shiro's older sister.

Rion Nakabi is an off-page third main character, in my opinion. The story centers around her, including many flashbacks about her with the two main characters. While Shiro and Ichiro have to fake being boyfriends to join forces, we explore just as much of Rion's life as theirs.

Rion went missing, believed kidnapped, and a video of her torture was posted online, then mysteriously deleted not long after causing a hype online. There's been no sign of her ever since. In the meantime, Shiro has become an escort and part of a crime family, simply to investigate her disappearance, after finding clues in her diary. Ichiro has wanted to investigate ever since she went missing, but has been warned off by the head bosses. When he bumps into Shiro, they both see an opportunity to investigate without anyone getting suspicious or getting in their way.

I loved both Shiro and Ichiro equally. They're total opposites but are equally interesting and wonderful in their own ways. I loved how they managed to find a rhythm with each other while continuing their own lives.

The artwork was lovely, with a few chibi style panels thrown in. I loved the addition of the bonus panels in between the chapters. I also really appreciated the glossary of terms at the end, which explained the meaning of the title, which really suited the story and the characters.

All in all, I'll be looking forward to the next volume.