Gorgeous Carat, Volume 03

ゴージャス・カラット 暗闇の美徳 [Gorgeous Carat: Kurayami no Bitoku] #3

by You Higuri

This book is over 8 years old and is in good condition.

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Romance, LGBT, Mystery, Adventure, Fiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

You Higuri (氷栗優) is a Japanese shōjo and yaoi manga artist. She is known especially for her drawings of beautiful fantasy men in romantic storylines set in historical Europe, such as Gorgeous Carat in early 20th-century France and Cantarella during the Italian Renaissance.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[ashes ➷]

Well. It's definitely a Gorgeous Carat book! This one seemed somehow at times even less coherent than the others, to be honest with you, and I don't know whether it was the race issues or the drug issues or what-- but I admit that this is the one break-the-cutie arc that really does get to me, and watching Florian be so gently taken care of by Noir is everything. I want to take these scenes apart in my JAWS. Anyway. The fourth book is unreasonably expensive everywhere so just hold on while I try to finish this out-of-print yaoi manga. (apparently this is just what i sound like now. :D)

[[melanie] · Rating 4 out of 5]

the snarky racism towards white Americans is extremely funny to me as a white American

"This is why it's never a good idea to mix yourself up with white people."

*COUGHS*

[Myffanwy Geronazzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aside from the weird pacing, and text issues that are likely translation issues, it's just...rather boring. I can't find myself invested in what's going on. It's a lovely plot for those who enjoy intrigue, adventure and betrayal but it isn't for me I think. Let's see what the last volume has to offer.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd of four volumes following the adventures of jewel thief Noir and impoverished aristocrat Florian. A really exciting and dark installment set in Morocco. Noir is tortured at the hands of his once beloved Azura who is trying to force him to decode instructions to the location of the treasure of the Knights Templar. Azura tells him Florian is dead; he's not but is suffering from Amnesia. Solomon Sugar arrives in Morocco following leads about the Black Hand will he rescue our two heroes or will his obsession with catching Noir overshadow everything else?

Exciting story, if a tad melodramtic. Strong characters and a wonderful setting. Not bad at all. Can't wait for the concluding volume.

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely not a manga for kids. Azura really likes to shoot and torture people and there's also the implied non-consensual sex - yes, it's only implied, never actually shown, only indicated with shadows and rumpled clothes. I actually love the style that You Higuri chose, that she didn't go for graphic details. This way, the whole thing has a much bigger impact. I also love that in this manga, sexual assault actually does have consequences, the character doesn't just bounce back like nothing happened at all.

[Aliza Argueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story so much *sniffle*
This volume was emotionally wrecking (dammit tearducts)
I cried a bit because Ray felt like he had lost Florian, and though he never admitted it he loves Florin.
And when he gets Florian back *sniffle* Florian has lost his mind due to the Opium he was forced to take. And Ray feels like even more of a failure. But Ray takes Florian under his wing and cares for him, despite the pain it causes him.
I'm glad I have all four volumes with me, because I can't stop reading!

[Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Florian's helplessness is actually rather bothersome in this volume. Insulting even past an uke or female degree. Or perhaps Higuri just needed him out of the plot for awhile...somehow, I can't imagine her planning that well into it. I imagine Florian's helplessness is exciting to the intended audience. Azura's survival of the bullets also seemed VERY impossible.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many things happening in one volume!
The story progresses rather well and we get a lot of insight into Noir and who Azura really is.
I preferred the less heavy storylines of the first volume, but the story really does pull you in and the art is clean yet detailed so it’s an enjoyable read.