Black Bird, Vol. 16

Black Bird #16

by Kanoko Sakurakouji

He loves her blood, but does her love her?!

There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

Misao has made the choice to forgo college and a normal human life in order to be Kyo’s wife and mother to the demon child she carries. But her pregnancy is unusual, even for the demon world. The last pages of the Senka Roku will reveal the truth of the matter, but now that Kyo has it in his hands, does he really want to know…?

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen plus audiences.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Shojo, Demons, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2012

About the author

Kanoko Sakurakouji (桜小路かのこ) is a Japanese mangaka.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

We found out in the previous volume or two that Misao will die while giving birth, perhaps being devoured by her newborn. Kyo decides on his own that the pregnancy will be terminated, but Misao has other ideas. After a dead-end trip to a demon apothecary, and some discussion as to how the child could have a huge amount of power, how it (he?) would affect the politics of the supernaturals, and so on, the group decides to let it live, and spend their energies on finding a way for Misao to live beyond its birth.

The information they're using as a primary source was a single book written 300 years ago. They didn't think to research anything written in the meantime (or anything else) until now. Everybody knows our leads have been going at it for a while, so if Kyo's inner circle really does care about Misao's fate, this feels a lot like plot stupidity.

I understand that a lot of this manga is obliquely about relationship dynamics and pregnancy in our own world. I continue to like Misao--whether that could be because of, or despite, her rather passive way of "being strong" isn't something I'm up for unpacking while I'm packing for a move--and continue to dislike Kyo. He's a little better at being straightforward about expressing his emotions than he was early on, and he hasn't been a gaslighting dick for a while. Still, Misao's frightened response to him when she thinks he might hate her is a bad sign for how healthy this relationship is at its core, in my opinion.

Misao's "scent" (good grief) is getting stronger the further her pregnancy gets along, and she's been giving Kyo energy on the sly since he's been exhausting himself over the ancient books that might offer a clue to solve the puzzle of the Senka Maiden. Is that energy transfer itself part of the puzzle? Or might Misao's fem human body have something to do with it?

This volume, as with much of the series, took a while to get anywhere. It consistently has gotten this rating from me because it wanders too much, none of the supporting cast is all that interesting to me, and--like many characters of his type--I have no sympathy for Kyo and don't think he'd be a decent partner for Misao. Maybe another demon with a similar outlook would have been a better match for him, but that's been off the table since the first handful of pages of this series.

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume strongly reminds me of Bella Swan when she got pregnant and how Edward wanted to abort the baby. I was sad that Misao forged college and normal human life and went with the unusual but I guess that is the point of the series! This book was so emotional and sad.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this part honestly reminds me of Twilight. GAAAH MY INNER TWIHARD IS AWAKENING. At least Kyou's got more attitude and arrogance xD But just as stubborn as Edward

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

They're finally beginning to handle Misao's instant pregnancy than they did in the previous volume, when it first happened. That storyline was just a disaster waiting to happen, and I was anxiously awaiting to see how they handled it...to see if they could make it look up in some way. And, they've done a decent job so far. But, that story is a disease that they will still be having to recover from for a few more volumes.
I applaud the mangaka for having Misao stand up for herself, and stand up to Kyo in her decision to let him know that she wants to have and keep the child, even if it kills her to birth it. It's her body and her child, so Kyo did not need to be the one making all the decisions concerning it.
Now, I'm not saying I want Misao to die. Far from it. This is one of my favorite manga series, and she is a character I have grown close to over these 16 volumes. But, when it comes to that point, we all know the following 2 things: 1. This is the Final Story Arc, so the series could end at any time. Killing Misao would end it with a bang!, as she is the female lead. and 2. The Senka Roku states that the Senka Maiden will die while she is giving birth. We can only hope that Kyo and his staff/friends will find a way to stop history from repeating with Misao.
Kyou is finally starting to realize what it seems Sho had already realized, that--in addition to be the precious "Senka Maiden"--Misao is also a human woman as well. Maybe, the answer to solving the problem at hand could very lie in that realization. It's going to take alot of thinking and researching of that on Kyo's part to make some true progress, I believe. We just have to trust and believe in him, and hope that he finds the solution before she gives birth.
-------------------
This volume was provided to me by VIZ Media, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Bry · Rating 2 out of 5]

When did I stop reading the manga and start reading the book Twlight? About halfway through volume 15 and all the way through this volume. The plot, the characters, the emotions - it's like a total copycat of Twilight. Which would be fine if it was at least written well but I'm not that lucky.

Seriously I am just not sure where the manga is going and I don't think I gonna find out. Misao is still in danger of dying once the baby is born but I'm sure they will fid a way to save her as easily as they have solved every other climax to every other installment in this series.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I love the art and the story in this one. It's so sweet and somber all at the same time. It's a tragic potential outcome and direction, but I liked the characters' interactions in this one.

[Laura Luz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ya sólo quiero que termine la historia

[Corn Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shi coming in clutch from the after life 😤 loved her after all

[Cleopatra · Rating 2 out of 5]

What in the domestic abuse is this??????????????????????

[Vanessa (bookfairy.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really like the fast pace in the recent chapters. Even though I am worried. 🥲

[DonutKnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waaah Kyo lives Misao so much he can’t live if she dies. Ah, my heart, my heart 💔

[deedee megadoodoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I include the review that I have for books 1-16 I just want to also say that I really appreciate how absolutely dark this series gets while also among the intensity is really cute and laughable with so much comedic relief.

thank you.

now in continuation-->

This review will be the same for all of them-- excluding book seventeen and eighteen-- as I'm going to briefly review books 1-16



I've wanted to read this manga for quite some time, and once I started reading it like a few weeks ago. I couldn't stop. Despite what anyone says, I love this manga. I love the artwork. I love the main character's romance. I love the plot line. And I love all of the characters that make up this manga. There's a lot of people who've said that Hime-sama, the main character in this series, isn't independent, but that she's insufficient and relies on Kyou-sama, which is why this manga isn't good enough to read. Well, okay for one, that's all controversial. And secondly, I don't like my handfuls of dependent girls that can't do anything, in the other genres of books that I read, one example of one of those girls would be, classically, Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey.

(I read that series because I wanted to see what all the hub ba baloo was about-- and you can find my reviews here: Fifty Shades of Grey--> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and Fifty Shades Darker--> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Anyways, and since I know what an insufficient girl looks like, I'd just like to get it clear that Himi-sama (or Misao-san) is not one of them. Misao-san wants to be with Kyou so strongly and she wants to be a part of Kyou's life so much because. She. Loves. Him.

obviously.

Not because she's dependent on him. She lived the majority of her life without him. And she didn't die. So? And then for the things that she actually is depend on Kyou for? Like the youkai coming after her because she is the senka? Now that. You actually can't blame Misao for being dependent on Kyou for that because Misao, as a human, can't do anything about that.

Misao differs from girls like Anastasia Steele because as you advance in the stories you blatantly see that Misao wants to help Kyou and the family she has acquired through being the senka and being protected by the great eight. She doesn't want to just sit by and watch people fight her battles. She's strong and independent enough to identify that that's not what she wants and that if she can help in any sort of way- she'll do it.

Beyond that issue-
This anime has a really great romantic factor in it. Beyond the artwork which I absolutely adore (honestly, it's really hard for me to get into an anime or a manga if the artwork is half-assed and illogical like ... a man's arms are past his knees... like that's just weird) the relationship between Kyou and Misao is bitter sweetly adorably and just a relationship that makes my heart cringe. Kyou worked hard for ten years, moving past his older brother, just so he could become the head of the family and he could marry and protect Misao and not let her marry his brother Shou, who she'd been arranged for initially, and whom seemed as if he had many dark secrets of his own.



And Misao who only wants to make Kyou happy and is happiest around him, even though that means she'd have to give up her friends and her family who relentlessly stay by her side.



I just remember smiling so much in response to Misao and Kyou because they really are just a sweet couple- the couple that you have hope for in all the shitty relationships that take place nowadays.



And then, as a whole, the manga's premise is very interesting as it creates a new and interesting world of clans and dark spirits sharing the world among humans.

I definitely recommend this ^^

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long travel with Misao and Kyo in this manga series: Black Bird. This final volume of the manga brought thrill, suspense, sadness, and true love. I pretty much thought that the ending was quite obvious, since Misao doesn't die, even though the Senka Roku says that the Senka maiden will die while giving birth. However, after giving birth to her son, Sou, she wakes up. This was a miracle for both Misao and Kyo which furthermore lived happily ever after together with their son and his tengu clan. Kanoko (the author) enraptured me with her skilled art, great storyline and plot, and combines the love and hate of her characters into some sort of another feeling which can't be described. I was pouring tears when reading the end of this manga series, I hope Kanoko would continue to write and draw more manga. ファイティング!

[Isel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really.... REALLY disliked Kyo on this one. I wanted a supportive partner to Misao in this volume and what did I get? A freaking asshole. Instead of helping her through this, obviously, hard and painful decision he just made it harder and MORE painful for her. I couldn't even feel bad for him. My sympathy meter broke with him. Won't work. Tap on it all you want. No sympathy for Kyo from me on this one. I honestly would have preferred that Sho had taken her at this point.
Get your shit together in the next volume, Kyo!

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

It'so hard to see Kyuo and Misao having this burden on them because of Misao being the senka and she is pregnant. It's taking a toll on their relationship, but it seems like Kyou is on something to prevent the prophecy that Misao will die when she give birth to their child. Something about Misao's scent being stronger when she is aroused/loved/cared for ...

[L. J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

My former best-friend got me into this series; she loved it, therefore I loved it. Looking back at it, it was horrible; love does not excuse anything. Bad behavior is bad behavior. Toxic bullshit will always be toxic bullshit. I will always regret completing this manga series. At least a few supernatural aspects were okay…ish.

[Usagi Tsukino · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review is for the Italian edition.


...Is the end an ephemeral dream!? I want to give up but the end is -almost- near, so I'll just bear with this thing for a little bit more. *cries angrily*

[Hannah (Sakurahan or ForeverBooks18) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a couple of readathons. Those being: The Cardcaptor-a-thon, Reading Rivalry, and Fiction Feud Society.

4 Stars!

The OWLs Magical Readathon - Transfiguration - A book that includes shapeshifting - Kyo, the main male character, grows wings because he’s a part of the Tengu clan. Each clan can perform different abilities in this series. The Tengu’s is flight with wings.

The Cardcaptor-a-thon - The Illusion - A book with a deceptive cover - the cover looks steamy but the book is quite depressing!

Reading Rivalry - A book you would be embarrassed to read in public - this is quite a depressing volume, as well as the characters being in a rather intimate pose on the cover.

Fiction Feud Society - Stand By Me - a character has goes through hell and other characters support them.

Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge - A book set in in Japan, the host of the 2020 Olympics - Blackbird is a manga, most of which are either set in Japan or in fantasy worlds. Blackbird has a magical twist but is set in Japan.

NOTE: There’s talk of death and abortion in this volume and review, so if you’re sensitive to either of those things maybe don’t read them.

Spoiler Review...

Kyo is scared of Misao dying. “Get rid of it...Get rid of the kid...Misao,” and “We’re going to get rid of it” both show that he doesn’t want her to have his baby. He thinks the baby will kill her because it’s half of him so half demon. He doesn’t think much of himself. Without Misao he won’t be able to go on he doesn’t think. Kyo loves Misao more than his child. I was a little put off by this but I also understood that after the long time Misao and Kyo had had apart, all Kyo wants is to cherish every moment he can get with her.

Kensuke, the Shirohebi Clan leader tells Misao “You should make up your own mind.” She shouldn’t be influenced by anyone, not even Kyo. He doesn’t want her to die but is more concerned about Kyo still having a hold over her.

“Wait!”
“My Lady...?”
“I’m not going. I’m having it. I’m going to have this baby.”

This ends the chapter on a cliffhanger. Kyo is going to take Misao to have an abortion of the magical variety. She doesn’t want this, though. She wants to have the baby.

“My death is inevitable. All I can do is choose how it will happen.”

This quote is about the most significant in Blackbird vol 16. It signifies when Misao realises that she’ll die one way or another. She would prefer for it to be through love, rather than hate with another man, when she gets pregnant to the next Tengu clan leader, as is destined for her.

Misao begs Kyo to let her have his baby, even though it’s destined to kill her because she wants to prove the love between them did exist. She doesn’t want him to forget her or their feelings for each other.

“Don’t you feel you have to live for the sake of this child?”

This is Misao asking Kyo to live for the sake of their baby! She won’t be there for them so she’s begging Kyo to be alright with looking after them.
“I don’t give a damn about what happens to the world after you’re gone,” is what Kyo tells Misao. He’s really depressed about how she won’t be there to enjoy their lives together. All he wants is to be happy with his wife. I reallt felt for Kyo, throughout this volume, while also feeling what Misao must be feeling - a sense of loss and bewilderment and uncertainty. This bewilderment is reflected in “Why…Why do I have to die?…Why?!” Why is it her that has to die, why can’t they be happy.

Kyo becomes determined to save Misao. “I will find...a way to keep you alive...I will never give up on you…!!”

There is a little bit of humour in this volume from Ayame and Sagami. “She really cannot do anything,” is Sagami talking about Ayame’s lack of any skills. Of course, she was ill before Misao saved her with her healing abilities a few volumes ago, so she really isn’t very skilled at much. I found the artwork hilarious for this, though. Sagami always offers a little comedy, even in the darkest of times. Ayame has a moment with Misao where she tells her that she’s sure that Lord Kyo will find an answer to the predicament.

“Being hated by Kyo...being separated from Kyo...even feeling lonely...feels as frightening to me as death,” is significant as Kyo is her everything, literally. Without him, there’d be no Misao, as she knows herself. She’s be better off dead in her opinion.

The last line of this volume is “I’m going to study the Senka Roku again...perhaps the way to preserve Misao’s life...lies within her body,” meaning that Kyo is going to reread the Senka Roku, the sacred document that tells the characters what will happen. He thinks there could possibly be an answer. Maybe it’s got something to do with the baby...we’ll have to read to find out!

While all of this is going on, it’s Misao’s seventeenth birthday. The Triplets who act as Kyo’s servants make sure she has a party. The triplets are cute, and add a little lightness to the story, although they’re only allowed to shine in the last few pages of this volume.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reseña completita---> http://bit.ly/2vX1uRK

¿De qué trata este manga? Nuestra protagonista es Misao una chica que toda su vida ha podido ver espíritus y cosas raras (Yokais) y que siempre ha sido segregada por esta habilidad, el único amigo que ha tenido es un extraño niño llamado Kyo, sin embargo un día este pequeño tuvo que alejarse de su lado prometiéndole que volvería para reclamarla como su esposa y como Kyo fue el primer amor de Misao ella ha decidido esperarle. Finalmente el día que cumple 16 años, el misterioso chico regresa para convertirla en su esposa y le revela su verdadera naturaleza, pues Kyo es un Tengu, una especie de demonio cuervo y Misao es una humana muy especial pues es lo que los Yokai llaman Fruto Sagrado. ¿Qué significa eso? Que si un Yokai bebe su sangre, logrará sanar sus heridas, si comen su carne vivirán para siempre y si se casan con ella traerán prosperidad a su clan. Misao y Kyo han tenido que superar una cantidad increíble de problemas como ataques constantes de los demás clanes de Yokais, incertidumbre acerca de sus sentimientos, incertidumbre por el futuro pues aunque se dice que el registro del fruto sagrado (el “documento” que hace una compilación de que pasará con el fruto sagrado una vez se una al líder Yokai) advierte de un enorme peligro para Misao pero no sabes que peligro pues solo se tiene la mitad del registro y la otra mitad esta perdida, enfrentamientos familiares y mucho más, pero en el tomo anterior parecía que por fin habíamos pasado esa etapa y el drama ya se había acabado llegó una revelación que pondría el mundo de Kyo y Misao de cabeza: Misao esta embarazada. Suena como una buena noticia, y de hecho ellos se ponen súper felices al principio, pero todo se vuelve en una pesadilla cuando, por fin, se enteran del escrito final de registro del fruto sagrado...una vez que Misao de a luz y agote toda su energía vital, ella morirá, igual que lo han hecho el Fruto Sagrado da prosperidad al clan dándoles un heredero. A partir de ese momento, Misao y Kyo se enfrentan a multitud de decisiones importantes, peligrosas y que les romperán el corazón...

[Lynn Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows Misao, a high schooler who can see the magical creatures and spirits that are invisible to everyone else. This gift is merely an annoyance until her sixteenth birthday, when she gets attacked by a demon and discovers that she is the Senka Maiden, or bride of prophecy – a human whose blood gives unlimited power to the demon who claims her. Her childhood friend Kyo appears in time to save her, though it turns out he is a demon as well! Kyo is the leader of the Tengu (crow demon) clan, thus the name of the story. His intentions to protect her, however, seem to be pure – and Misao allows him to lick her wounds long enough to fall in love with him herself. Together they must face the challenges that come from courting the Senka Maiden, as well as the curse that befalls her once she bears the child of a demon.

This was a fantastic story! The characters were well done with bold personality traits: we can clearly see Kyo’s determination, his brother Soh’s treachery and underhandedness, the Daitengu’s loyalty, even Misao’s simultaneous naivety and bravery. And I absolutely loved the plot. Unlike Demon Spell (another manga featuring demons of Japanese culture), the story was very complete, with no detail left unexplained or unaccounted for.

*SPOILER ALERT* But my favorite part of all has to be the ending. Misao’s pregnancy is meant to lead to her death, but just when all seems to be lost, hope appears. Even if their ending isn’t perfect, it is happy, and you find yourself happy and grateful for the imperfection because it shows you how much worse things could have been.

I have more to say on this book (and others!) in my blog! Check it out here:
https://www.lynnwallaceauthor.com/blo...

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Misao turns 17 yay! Finding out she may die due to her childbirth makes the couple very upset. Keep in mind this is a normal danger even if you aren’t giving birth to a half demon child. Kyo threatens to abort it and kill himself before deciding to do his best to ensure Misao stays alive. Because you know, that’s normal. Misao just kinda goes along with it until she is pushed to her limit to cry out that she wants to keep her child. It’s supposed to be a big important scene for her but it kind of just shows how much of a steppingstone she is to every character.

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

So depressing. This whole book made me want to cry. After everything they survived and fought for, I can't believe this will be the end. I don't want anything to happen to Misao. I love how protective she is already. She just wants everyone to be happy and safe, even if it means her death. She doesn't want the rest of them to be sacrificed for her life to be spared. I hope that they all find the right solution. Kyo is so in love with Misao. I don't want him to be without her. Only 2 volumes left.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotions are ratcheted up even more in this issue. Misao and Kyo contemplate abortion as a solution but will that really do it? It would also destroy Kyo's position as clan leader and put them all in danger. And the stress of constant research is putting a stress on Misao and Kyo's relationship. Will Kyo end up destroying the days remaining to Misao?

It emotionally tears you up. But well done.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Solo tengo un deseo... Vivir juntos"

Esto es como leer una historia que conocía con anterioridad. El hecho de que el bebé puede alimentarse de la madre y que por ende debe matarla.

Kyo sufre mucho, pero sabe que debe encontrar una solución a su problema, pues él prefiere morir antes de que algo malo le pase a Misao.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Troubles continue in this volume, but at the same time little solutions, or almost solutions, keep sprouting up, hoping to resolve the problems and keep Misao alive. I'm definitely curious how this will end. Two volumes left to go!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like this volume was a bit redundant to fill space. However, by the end, we did learn more about the Senka Roku, what could happen to Misao, and what everyone is planning to do about it. Overall, I liked it.

[Illy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason I forgot she was only 16 when they met and now she is 17 - it’s interesting because nearly no shojo manga deal with teen pregnancy. It’s a nice refresher for something that happens a lot.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kyo wants Misao to abort their child after learning what happened to the Senka maiden in the Senka Roku. Kyo takes Misao to Kensuke to try to abort the baby but there is nothing he can do. Misao decides she wants to keep the baby and they all search to find a way to save Misao and the baby.

[Lauren Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a series it's not bad. I enjoyed most parts of the story, some things were just not needed. I love all the characters. The love story is crazy but it's a book so do not take it seriously! Also, not a book for young readers.

[Sol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't stop thinking of this meme the whole time: