Yakuza Pride and Yakuza Courage by HJ Brues - First Look

[madimpossibledreamer]

Spoiler-free: definitely not perfect, but not bad.  Definitely have moments that are just dumb romance writing decisions, but it feels like a slightly-more-serious Ryu Ga Gotoku.  There is definite porn that I can't give my opinion on because I skipped it (it came so soon and I hadn't gotten a feel for the characters so it's not a draw for me; also while I was skimming in the first book I think there was one instance of the word r*pe being used in a way I don't approve of, but I can't say for sure again because I was basically like 'glance at page still porn okay next page').  Also it doesn't fully feel accurate because WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE GAY not just bi or whatever, gay (a few main characters, sure, random side characters really??  this isn’t an lgbtq meetup this is a bunch of random adults who happen to populate the entire world I’m all for more lgbtq+ representation but a) that requires the l and b in the lbgtq+ to be represented at minimum and b) no straight people except for maybe one guy exist, which is…just weird?)  There is also some graphic torture in the first book.  And some parallel to Majima Construction intrigue shenanigans in the second book. Basically, definitely related M for Mature, warnings all over the place, stay safe there.  It's outside of my usual reading comfort zone and as mentioned I didn't read all of it but I'm glad that I gave it a chance (mixed genre renders romance okay, hence why Princess Bride is so fantastic).  Honestly, I might be taking this too seriously.  It might just be an excuse to write erotica/Romance with a capital R.  I might be the only one reading this for plot.  But you know, I do what I want, and what I wanted at the time was more Yakuza|RGG.

 

Spoilery on Yakuza Pride: some sex I skipped in the beginning, but is shaping up to be a pretty cool mystery with yakuza intrigue.  (and yeah, the sex was kinda important, plot-wise, but all I had to know was that it happened.)  I did notice casual use of the word r*pe, which.  I’m not happy about.  I get that it’s a thing, but I don’t like it.  And a Family pulling together.  (there is sexual assault here, so it’s not all just casual)  I can see Atsushi being involved, but I’d think Nishimura’s the only one with the kind of organization behind him to pull it off, and I think I remember construction having been mentioned and the kidnapees are at a construction site.  I wonder if they can get that reattached, though it might be a ‘needs to be soon’ thing.  Wondered if that was Madame Butterfly.  Yeah, crazy gaijin.  (never trust terada-irony that it’s in something with actually honorable Korean mafia.  Yakuza is Business.  (business cards!)  (okay, Atsushi has a wound.  Coincidence? …okay, probably not.) im kinda sorry I suspected you nishimura youre all right. Also on one hand they said to do this without violence.  On the other this is the yakuza we’re talking about. Ah, and now you get to hear about your yakuza being a complete idiot.  This is golden.  …did you…did you just send your pinky to a senator?  And then they pull the Majima Construction thing, except without the construction.  You’re all mad and I’m glad I accidentally checked this one out and decided to read it anyway.

Spoilery on Yakuza Courage (less summary, more just reacting to random stuff in story)

kotaro i think you legit just caused all the problems in this book baka

did you just...revenge go to a soapland?  and fail?

...and yeah, he just showed up to talk to his crush.  Maaaan

things always gotta be complicated.

/chuckles obvious romance writing is obvious

/nerds out for two seconds as I get the foil and saber reference (I took fencing and was terrible as I'd get too excited and swing it around; foils are meant for Silver Chariot stabbing motions)

Okay kinosuke you are not helping but then last book you’re not helping involved attempted murder so you know... (spoilers)

that feels like a very true slap in the face thanks Matsunaga

You're all being idiots and Matsunaga might not be Captain anymore but he still needs to slap some sense into you

sudden anime is sudden

MATSUNAGA IS AMAZING

I have mixed feelings about Kenshin-san being taken captive.

Again.  Though if it's his dad it would be entirely in character, so there is that, but I'm not here for torture porn

Yes kinosuke go on be polnareff

anyone named tachibana is a boss apparently you go man

...okay, yeah, the twist is a Yakuza twist well done

I'm going to go with they're just called twins because they're inseparable not because they're related because I really don't want to think about that (okay, yes, I forgot that they had been introduced at the beginning, okay)

curious how well Hawaiians feel represented here

fugu & the yakuza make a return (tsw & rgg)

okay i am more okay with this as long as there's not more torture porn

there...kinda is?  interrupted but still why, man?

I love how Craig was set up to be a slimeball at the beginning and then nope rgg twist

it's even set near Christmas

(feel weird about that last twist about bobcat man STOP)