Sensual Phrase, Vol. 15

快感♥フレーズ [Kaikan Phrase] #15

by Mayu Shinjo

As a budding poet and lyricist, Aine is on her way to an audition one fateful afternoon. Absentmindedly stepping into the street, she barely avoids getting struck by an oncoming vehicle. Not only is the cute teenager lucky to be alive, but her brush with death turns out to be a date with destiny. The driver of the car just happens to be Sakuya, the charismatic and fabulously handsome lead singer for a band called Lucifer. In short order, Sakuya and his crew compose a song using AineÅfs lyrics. The tune proves popular with the bandÅfs fans and Sakuya decides he wants a relationship, both professional and personal, with Aine. ThereÅfs only one small requirement: The lyrics Aine writes must be erotically charged. And guess what? Sakuya fully intends to introduce the young and inexperienced girl into the world of sensual delights. Does Sakuya actually care for Aine, or is she just another sexual conquest for him? Will Aine fulfill her dreams and become a professional lyricist, or has she simply sold her soul to Lucifer?

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Josei, Comics, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2000

About the author

新條まゆ in Japanese
Mayu Shinjo debuted in 1994 in Shogakukan's Shōjo Comic with "Anata no Iro ni Somaritai". She continued writing for Shogakukan until 2007, with her works appearing in both Shōjo Comic and their other magazine Cheese!. She left the company to go freelance citing a dispute over working conditions and abusive treatment by her editor.

Reviews

[Isla Chiu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Come on, why did you have to go dark on me, Sensual Phrase??? You're supposed to be fluffy (if problematic) smut.

[Starbubbles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say this, but with so many guys coming up to Aine with the intention of attacking her, it was bound to happen. As horrible as it was and this situation is, it was just too many close calls. But what I am glad about is that this is one of the few that actually tackle the issue. The consequences of such an attack. How do you face the day, put your life back together, regain normalcy, face your lover, face yourself? Where do you turn for help? These issues and solutions are basically tackled for the rest of the series.

[#ReadAllTheBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small warning for this volume. If you are uncomfortable reading about rape, please prepare yourself for this volume. This isn't the most violent depiction of rape I've ever seen in manga (I've seen worse), but it does happen and I know that some people really don't like reading about rape in their manga or fiction.

Shinjo does try very hard to make the aftermath as realistic as possible, so this isn't an overly glorified depiction of rape.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t have much to say about this volume besides it got dark real quick. It started out sweet with Sakuya picking out an engagement ring for Aine. Next thing I knew, Aine got raped and Sakuya was seconds away from murdering Yoshioka. Onto the next volume!

[Adriana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really?!
Did it have to go there?
After the last couple of volumes were more about developing the story than torturing the heroine, it's a total letdown that she has to go thru something like that and the lesson is that she has to hide in shame and not say anything to protect what others might think of her boyfriend...

[Katie (Katie's Corner Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

see full review @ Katie's Corner

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate you Shinjo sensei...

[chelci whorley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot about the major trigger warning for this. This one really hits ya in the guts

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. NO. Heart breaking. Freaking out. Wth! This isn't fair. I hate my life.