Black Bird, v. 1 by Kanoko Skurakoji

Black Bird, v. 1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji - 194 pages

Misao has always seen things no one else has -- demons.  As she turns 16, those demons start to attack her.  She's rescued by her childhood friend Kyo who heals her by licking her wounds.  He's a demon who is determined to marry her to bring prosperity to his clan.

Black Bird is a fairly popular manga series that picked up to read on my lunch break.  I did not care for it.  The Misao is very wishy-washy and Kyo and other male characters are pretty much bullies that sexually harass Misao.  This is definitely for older teens.

Black Bird v.4 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 200 pages

Black Bird v.4 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 200 pages

From reading the first half of the Senka Roku, it is discovered that a tengu and his human bride are able to get married and live a normal life together, but the end of the book and whatever secrets it may contain are still unknown.  Kuzunoha’s brother Tadanobu becomes leader of his clan, and he happens to be Kyo’s best friend.  However, if he wishes to claim Misao, the two friends will have to duel to the death, and Tadanobu will lose his human girlfriend.  They fight, but Misao steps in, warning Kyo that killing his best friend will be too great a burden to bear.  Tadanobu puts up enough of a fight to satisfy his clan’s honor, and Misao heals both their wounds with her blood.

Just when matters seem resolved, news comes that the Senka Roku has bee stolen.  Kyo learns from Tadanobu the secret of the book- if Misao gets pregnant, Kyo will have to choose between being leader of his demon clan, or becoming an ordinary man.  A good entry in the series with friendship tested by conflict, and an interesting twist at the end that puts Kyo in a position of as difficult a choice as Misao has faced.   

Black Bird v.3 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 200 pages

Black Bird v.3 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 200 pages

Both Kyo and Misao begin to wonder what will happen to Misao after the wedding.  Will she be spirited away by the tengu?  Will she even survive?  A former rival for her hand, Kuzunoha, reappears and offers a look at the Senka Roku, a record of a bride-taking 300 years ago.  He offers to let Misao see it at his house, but such is a trap to get her for himself, and Kyo has to rush in to get her back.

Kuzunoha teams up with Shirohebi and her twin Kensuke to get rid of Kyo and win Misao.  The twin appears as a transfer student at school.  While he seems friendly, it’s all part of a plot.  Shirohebi tries to poison Kyo, but it has no effect, and Kyo cuts off Kuzunoha’s head.

Misao loves Kyo more than ever, but still the question remains, will she be spirited away and lose her family and friends if she marries him?  Black Bird has good pacing, with a buildup to one dramatic scene then another, usually two per volume, punctuated with humor and romance.

Black Bird v.2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 200 pages

Black Bird v.2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 200 pages

Kyo’s older brother Sho, whom Kyo deposed to become head of their demon clan, appears on the scene.  He seems friendly to Misao, but Kyo warns her to stay away from him.  Sho tempts Misao with promises of being able to restore the lost memories of her childhood shared with the two brothers, and thus traps her, intending to consumer her for her power.  When Kyo and his band of eight daitengu vassals rescue her and she glimpses his true devotion, she declares her love for him.  She feels accepted and protected by the brother-like band of Kyo’s retainers, but learning of Japanese folklore from her father, has to question what it would mean to become the wife of a tengu.

Black Bird v.1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 194 pages

Black Bird v.1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji – 194 pages

Masao can see spirits- spirits who frequently trip her up and give her injuries.  The forgotten childhood friend Kyo who can see them also suddenly moves back next door after a 10-year absence.  When attacked at school by a demon-possessed classmate on her 16^th birthday, Misao learns her fate- she is a special human born once in 100 years, the target of demons, who want to drink her blood, eat her flesh, or marry her in order to gain power.  Kyo swears to defend her against other demons, but she believes he only wants to marry her for the power he’ll gain.  However, after a series of attacks when he defends her, and a rival for her hand attacks Kyo, Misao starts to believe he may actually love her.  The artwork grew stronger through the several chapters of this volume.  A little blood and a little romantic tension made this a slightly dark high-school fantasy.