Manga Review: A Promise of Romance

[Jason]

Title: A Promise of Romance
Author: Kyoko Akitsu
Mangaka: Tooko Miyagi
Originally Serialized in: (Taiyoh Tosho Publishing Co., Ltd.)
Genre: Yaoi, Light Novel
Licensed by: Juné
Rating: Mature (18+)
Price: $8.95/US

Satsuki has traveled from Japan to England to study acting, but he ends up putting his training to work in an unusual way. When he meets Edward, a peer trapped by the words of his inheritance, Edward asks Satsuki to pretend to be a woman…and his fiancée. But can Satsuki keep pretending when his feelings for Edward become more than a sham?

I’m a sucker for British romances, so I was eager to read this light novel, despite my reservations regarding the quality of writing and translations found in many of the yaoi light novels released by Juné. For the first two-thirds of the book, I was pleasantly surprised. Akitsu’s romance was readable and engaging, if a little slow and unoriginal. But then it takes a violent turn with a vicious attack that, while regrettable common in yaoi-land, was still a jarring element. From there the plot degenerated and unravelled until it ended in a mish-mash of story fragments.

None of the characters are really believable. Edward is a jerk and never becomes more than that, making me wonder why Satsuki would ever fall for him. Satsuki needs a spine more often than not, though he is the less repellent of the two. Edward’s childhood friend, his butler, and his cousin are important characters, but none of them are detailed enough to fill in their roles. The childhood friend Neville comes closest, but still ultimately fails.

Akitsu tries to dump too many plot elements into her tale. There’s another fiancée, another inheritance on top of Edward’s own, a number of scheming family members, people with failed crushes on both Edward and Satsuki, etc, etc, etc. It’s all too much. Miyagi’s illustrations do little to give more depth to the plot, other than to reinforce the notion that Edward only likes Satsuki when he’s a girl, not when he’s a boy.

While the translation for this volume is fairly strong, the story is what ultimately sinks it. This disturbing and dark tale is neither romantic nor sexy, so yaoi readers can skip A Promise of Romance with a clear conscience.

Reviewer: Snow
Review proofed and edited by Lissa Pattillo