my-queer-collection

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Comic: Patience & Esther by S.W. Searle

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Web Novel: The Saintess and the Villainess

When Anne finds herself suddenly reborn as the Saintess, the main character of the novel she had been reading just before she died, she has no interest in fulfilling her original role as the heroine. Instead, she devotes herself to saving her favorite character, the villainous Lady Corvina, from her terrible fate. But she'll need Lady Corvina's help to do so. 

Can the two work together to change their lives, and their nation, for the better? Or will the pull of the "original novel" prove to be too strong?

Title: The Saintess and the Villainess

Author: Teddy Asplund

Steam Level: Not Steamy

Status: Ongoing

Free or Paid: Free

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TeddyAsplund

Tapas: https://tapas.io/series/The-Saintess-and-the-Villainess

Recommended

I have had this web novel on my TBR for a while but I kept putting it off for other things that kept cropping up. I’m glad I did wait because then I had a crap ton of chapters to read. In the beginning the writing is not great but the story sucked me and kept me pushing that next chapter button. Then as I read further, the writing started noticeably improving as the story took twists and turns. Now warning, when I say this is a slow burn, I mean it. It takes about 150,000 words for their declarations of love. There’s a few spots in the beginning where I thought the author was going to fall into the trap of insta-love of getting them together too quickly. The author definitely didn’t do that and it’s a better story for it. With the chapters fairly short and the interesting story, I didn’t even mind the length it took to get to their confession. Yes, the dialogue is a little stilted at times. Yes, the writing is a bit clunky. Yes, a few of the characters feel a bit off. BUT, I am really enjoying the story being told so much it only took me four days (with little sleep and a lot of ignoring other responsibilities) to get to the end of volume one. I can’t wait for volume two. Overall, I think this is worth your time and pushing through the beginning writing.

[my-queer-collection]

Manga: Bloom Into You by Nio Nakatani

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Visual Novel: Salting the Earth

Roo Cherriwati has it all planned out...

She hopes to start anew in another city, earn a lot money and surround herself with long-lasting friends. Who knows? Among those unfamiliar faces could be a woman she will fall in love with.

Alright. So she didn’t plan to be late on her first day, nor did she plan to plummet down a building into the arms of a tall and enigmatic stranger. And what if her job isn’t what she signed up for either? She definitely shouldn't cross her boss but her curiosity is piqued: This building full of history doesn’t have anything hidden in its darkest depths, surely?

Perhaps, she hasn’t got it all planned out. Not in the slightest.

Title: Salting the Earth

Developer: BitterBerries

Price: $14.99

Platform: Steam & itch.io

Voice Acting: Subtitles Only

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I did not know what to expect with this VN. The art isn’t something I usually see in the games I play and I hadn’t seen a Romance game centering these kinds of fantasy characters before. It only took about five minutes for me to enjoy the art and fall in love with everyone. If you go in the order of the guide (linked below), parts of the story and world get explained as you play the routes that don’t if you play in a different order (found that out the hard way.) There are dark elements you come across (war, violence, death, murder) but they aren’t actually depicted on screen but are important to the stories (either happened in the past or happens off screen.) This game as a mode that I haven’t seen in other games where you can pick a love interest route or choose your own adventure. The choosing route plays like a typical VN while the love interest route has spots where you only have one choice to keep you on that path. There are quite a few side characters and they are all fun and different, adding a feeling of this world being lived in that most VNs set in cities and densely populated settings lack. There were a couple of oddly written sentences and one towards the end that got completely mixed up, nothing that kills the story. The art is wonderful, the characters are fun, the world building is amazing, and the story had me glued to my seat. This is definitely a game worth your time and money.

Adult patch: It is linked in this Tweet. https://twitter.com/BerriesBitter/status/1190388570453708800?s=20&t=SmLACn5nDRMn_IA1tf86rA

Guide: Absolutely worth going in the order laid out here. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1905075320

[my-queer-collection]

Yen Press Licenses Shakaijin Yuri Series 'Assorted Entanglements'

On Friday, Yen Press announced that it has licensed Mikanuji's opposites attract Shakaijin Yuri manga Assorted Entanglements (Fuzoroi no Renri). The manga was initially released on the author's Twitter and Pixiv before being picked up for publication.

Assorted Entanglements primarily follow Iori, a woman in her late twenties with a demanding job and troubled romantic history, and her romance with Minami, an 18-year-old delinquent who works at a local bar. Several other couples are introduced and featured heavily throughout the manga.

Yen Press describes the series:

Discover a variety of women’s love stories, starting with Iori who sets out to drown her love and job sorrows in booze. She's shocked when she wakes up next to Minami, a bar worker who doesn’t want to forget what they have!

The series is notable for featuring a romance story between adult women that balances both sweet and funny slice-of-life stories with light dramatic content. Also one of the characters, Minami, has multiple tattoos and piercings, an uncommon character design for romance manga.

Mikanuji began releasing the series online on her Pixiv and Twitter pages in 2017. Kadokawa picked the manga up for print publication, releasing six volumes since March 2019. The series moved serialization to Comic Newtype in November 2020.

Mikanuji is a Yuri mangaka known for her Idolm@ster doujinshi and her contribution to the Syrup, Yuri Drill, and Whenever I Eyes Meet Yuri anthologies. Her one-shot office romance, Now Loading…!, is published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment.

Yen Press has not announced a release date for the English adaptation of Assorted Entanglements.

[my-queer-collection]

August New Releases

HEADS UP: Due to the pandemic, release dates have been changing, dates might be different from this list. (This list does not include digital releases, only print.)

MANGA

(8/9) Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Volume 12

(8/23) Otherside Picnic Volume 2

(8/30) SHWD Volume 1

(8/30) I'm in Love with the Villainess Volume 3

MANHWA

(8/23) Pulse Volume 1

LIGHT NOVEL

(8/16) The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady Volume 2

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Manga: Yuri Life by Kurukuruhime

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April New Releases

HEADS UP: Due to the pandemic, release dates have been changing, dates might be different from this list. (This list does not include digital releases, only print.)

MANGA

(4/5) Even Though We're Adults Volume 4

(4/5) Failed Princesses Volume 5

(4/26) Our Teachers Are Dating! Volume 4 (Conclusion)

ANIME

(4/19) Gekidol

[my-queer-collection]

Light Novel: Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka Writer: Hitoma Iruma, Artist: Nio Nakatani

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Novella: Scandalous Passions

Scotland, 1504.

Lady Janet Fraser didn’t earn her reputation as Scotland’s most notorious sinner by following the rules. A former mistress of King James IV, she’s content to live her life from pleasure to pleasure. Even if those pleasures—and people—are forbidden.

People like Sir Lachlan Ross, given the moniker The Highland Beast, a man as intimidating in battle as he is in size. A beast she discovers secretly wishes to be tamed and submit to her dominance.

Or like her new ward, Lady Marjorie Hepburn, a convent-raised virgin with a desire to be taught all the sensual secrets of the marriage bed. Things that Janet is fully willing to teach her, again and again. There’s much for her to learn.

And forbidden pleasures like the three of them together in one bed.

But Lachlan and Marjorie both have ties to the king. As wicked lusts are indulged and affection unexpectedly grows into love, breaking the rules this time could mean all of their undoing…

Title: Scandalous Passions

Author: Nicola Davidson

Format: Digital/Audiobook

Steam Level: Steamy

Series: Complete (?)

Link: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0879GQ3NS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EGZCT5EE9GSP73FMJ1HE

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This novella is the first entry in the Highland Ménage series and, so far, the only one that’s F/F/M. The relationship between Janet and Marjorie is hot and sweet, and when Lachlan is added it doesn’t feel like he takes away from them. This is ménage series so Lachlan does have a relationship and sex with Janet and Marjorie both singularly and together. What I love about this novella is that there is no one relationship more important than the other, they only work as a thruple and not one-on-one. The sex is explicit, on page, and extremely hot. I just zoomed through this story and immediately bought book two (it’s a F/M/M relationship so I won’t be reviewing it here.) There is a little bit of violence and blood but it’s not gory, it felt appropriate for this setting. I loved all three characters and the villains who try to keep them apart are fun root against. I liked how it is stressed that communication is important and vital for them. It’s always important in every relationship and it’s nice to see that reflected here. The guy on the cover doesn’t look like how he’s described in the book and neither do the woman but that’s the problem with stock pictures, it doesn’t take away how hot and fun this story though. Overall, I really enjoyed this and a great introduction to a ménage story if you have not tried one.

If you are looking at romance books, you’re bound to come across the shorthand F/F/M or F/M/F and the like. This is to show who has sex/in love with who. A F/F/M story means both the female characters have a relationship together and with the male character. A F/M/F story means the female characters don’t have a relationship together but do with the male character. A M/M/F story means the two male characters have a relationship (people will say ‘the swords cross’) and with the female character. That middle symbol indicates who has a relationship with who in a ménage relationship.

The reason I say complete for now, is that if a romance book isn’t a stand alone, it usually has three books but I don’t see anything on the author’s website about another book.

Website: http://www.nicola-davidson.com

[my-queer-collection]

Visual Novel: Sakura Fox Adventure by Winged Cloud

[my-queer-collection]

Sentai Filmworks Acquires Upcoming Yuri Isekai Anime 'The Executioner and Her Way of Life'

Sentai Filmworks announced Thursday that it had acquired exclusive global (excluding Asia) streaming and home video release rights to the upcoming Yuri fantasy anime The Executioner and her Way of Life (Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road). The anime will premiere in Japan on April 1 on Tokyo MX and BS11 and will stream on HIDIVE.

The Executioner and Her Way of Life is based on the light novel of the same name by Mato Sato. The series is published in English by Yen Press, which describes the story:

The Lost Ones are wanderers who come here from a distant world known as “Japan.” No one knows how or why they leave their homes. The only thing that is certain is that they bring disaster and calamity. The duty of exterminating them without remorse falls to Menou, a young Executioner. When she meets Akari, it seems like just another job…until she discovers it’s impossible to kill this girl! And when Menou begins to search for a way to defeat this immortality, Akari is more than happy to tag along! So begins a journey that will change Menou forever… In addition to being an intriguing addition to the ever popular isekai genre of light novels, Virgin Road is an intriguing release due to the fact that it includes elements not commonly seen in light novels released in English—a female protagonist and a yuri storyline.

The anime stars Iori Saeki as Menou, the executioner, and Moe Kahara as Akari, a “lost one” traveling from another world. The series is produced by SB Creative and EGG FIRM and will be directed by Yoshiki Kawasaki (Ascendance of a Bookworm) at J.C. Staff. Additional staff are as follows:

Shogo Yasukawa - Script Supervisor

Keiko Tamaki - Character Designer

Jin Aketagawa - Sound Direction

MICHIRU - Music composition

The opening theme, "Paper Bouquet" is performed by MIli, and the ending, "Touka Serenade" by ChouCho.

The Executioner and Her Way of Life features a female protagonist and Yuri storyline. The series is well-reviewed and won the grand prize at the 11th GA Bunko Awards. A manga adaptation by Ryo Mitsuya began serialization in Young Gangan last year.

[my-queer-collection]

Manga: Éclair Orange: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart

Love is complicated in all its forms, but the feelings of girls especially so...Return again to tales from maidens’ hearts with this fifth installment of Éclair! Continue the journey of young and arduous love with authors like Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl), Yuriko Hara (Cocoon Entwined), and Kabocha (Kemono Friends á la carte).

Title: Éclair Orange: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart

Editor: ASCII Media Works

Publisher: Yen Press

Format: Digital/Print

Steam Level: Not Steamy

Status: Complete

Book: https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eclair-Orange-Manga

Recommended

This is book 5 in this anthology series. So far, (2021) there are only 5 books.

There was some controversy about later collections where stories were pulled from the English version for content. I know one of those stories was an age gap love story between an elementary school kid and a college student. I love age gap stories and enjoy some pretty taboo stories, but even that is a bit much for me. I’m glad they took it out. In this volume one series continue by Canno.

This volume also has a “Parental Advisory Warning Explicit Content” label and it actually makes sense this time. There are illusions to sex and one entry you see boobs head on and another time just from the side.

Last one in the series (printed in 2020 and I haven’t seen anything yet about another volume) and this one is just as good as the others. There’s a good mix of unrequited love and unhappy endings and happy endings in this one, more so than the others. It also has sci-fi and adults and high school students and age gaps. One story, Song of a Heat Haze by Kumiko Takeba, was the saddest I’ve read in this series and actually cried. It was so good and so sad. The last story, Karen-chan Master by Auri Hirao, was super weird and an odd one to end the series on. The one before it would have been better I think since it had the feel of the all books as a whole. Overall, this anthology series is great and worth picking up every book. As with anything like this, there are stories I loved, others that tore my heart out, and others that I was meh about but none that I hated. It’s a good collection.

Favorite story: 52-Hertz Whale by Yuriko Hara

[my-queer-collection]

March New Releases

HEADS UP: Due to the pandemic, release dates have been changing, dates might be different from this list. (This list does not include digital releases, only print.)

MANGA

(3/15) My Wondering Warrior Existence

(3/22) GUNBURED X SISTERS Volume 1

(3/22) Catch These Hands! Volume 1

(3/22) Breasts Are My Favorite Things In The World! Volume 5

(3/22) Vampeerz My Peer Vampires Volume 1

(3/29) Failed Princesses Volume 5

ANIME

(3/29) Otherside Picnic

[my-queer-collection]

Doujinshi: Shiori and Yuki by Twa

[my-queer-collection]

Manga: Éclair Rouge: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart

The emotions of girls burn bright, but love can be especially intense...Éclair is back in this fourth installment with an exciting new collection of impassioned romances. With chapters from returning artists like Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl) and Kabocha (Kemono Friends à la Carte), plus fresh additions like Akiko Morishima (The Conditions of Paradise), this volume is sure to thrill.

Title: Éclair Rouge: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart

Editor: ASCII Media Works

Publisher: Yen Press

Format: Digital/Print

Steam Level: Not Steamy

Status: Complete

Book: https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eclair-Rouge-Manga

Recommended

This is book 4 in this anthology series. So far, (2021) there are only 5 books.

There was some controversy about later collections where stories were pulled from the English version for content. I know one of those stories was an age gap love story between an elementary school kid and a college student. I love age gap stories and enjoy some pretty taboo stories, but even that is a bit much for me. I’m glad they took it out. In this volume three different series continue, one by Kazuno Yuikawa (that ends here), another by Canno (which goes until volume five,) and one by Kagekichi Tadano (that ends here.)

This volume also has a “Parental Advisory Warning Explicit Content” label but there really isn’t anything that explicit. There is a mention of sex and nipples though nothing is shown. Perfectly safe to read in public.

One again, the volume is as much of an emotional roller coaster as the others. There’s pining, heartbreak, happy endings, and potential of happiness. I enjoy that these books range from adult to high school, sci-fi to normal life, and established relationships to just starting out. There really is something for everyone here. I also like the diverse art styles and lots of fantastic creators (it’s a great way to expose yourself to new creators.) The series of Kazuno Yuikawa that ends here, ends in a way that I did not expect but felt very satisfying (even with it not being a happy ending.) The one by Kagekichi Tadano is really good but I’m greedy and do wish there was more. While unhappy endings and unrequited love endings hurt my heart, I can handle them even if they make me very sad (I always have something happy on tap for these times) but there is one in this collection by Shuninta Amano (Me, My Girlfriend, and My Friend), that I did not like and still annoyed with. Overall, still a great addition to this series as a whole and a great read.

Favorite story: The Legend, the Newbie, & Me by Taki Kitao

[my-queer-collection]

New License: Cats and Sugar Bowls by Yukiko

Seven Seas Entertainment acquired the license to the collection Cats and Sugar Bowls by Yukiko.

Want a little spice with your sugar? Cats and Sugar Bowls serves up nine bite-sized tales about love between women. Rena and Sanae are like a pair of naughty kitties who act far more innocent than they really are. Touka, while looking for a lover willing to indulge her more extreme BDSM fantasies, runs into her boss at a bondage club. All these delights and more await!

Title: Cats and Sugar Bowls

Mangaka: Yukiko

Price: $14.99

Planned Release Date: September 2022