Dark Walker

by Hikaru Yura, Hirotaka Kisaragi, Christina Chesterfield (Translator)

Tomoki Naruse has just started his freshman year in high school, and as with all healthy, young men at his age, he's been dreaming of sex. But Tomoki isn't having normal wet dreams like his classmates! In his nightmares, err... dreams... his partner is a man -- and to make things worse, Tomoki is on the bottom! Aside from Tomoki's unsettling dreams, high school life is fun -- especially with his new, handsome, best friend Yugo Oda. But Yugo is no ordinary freshman -- he's involved in mysterious activities that Tomoki can't even begin to imagine!

Genres: Yaoi, Manga, Light Novel, Romance, M M Romance, Fantasy, LGBT

250 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2008

Reviews

[Felicia (Ferishia)]

Dark Walker (Yaoi novel) by Hikaru Yura (2008)

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting world building that unfortunately is constantly abandoned or forgotten in the wake of the other plot elements. Both couples fall into very tired, often-icky tropes and pitfalls. There's very little, if any, character development. Even the 'villain' only appears close to the end of the novel (the first two thirds it seemed like the romance and memory issues would be the only barriers to a happy ending). The resolution to the villain's actions is entirely unsatisfying - his subordinate, who was willing to torture and kill his own brother, for some reason decides that killing his brother's boyfriend is the line he won't cross and therefore kills himself and the villain - and the fallout from the villain's actions is never mentioned, despite some very unnatural things being made public and being recorded. Yuugo's Dark Walker form was recorded, as was Tomoki's normal self, with the public under the impression that Yuugo was kidnapping/hurting Tomoki. The police/army try shooting him. Never mentioned again, and they're both fine, living their normal lives at the end of the novel, apparently not recognised or remembered but with no explanation as to how. In addition, this novel's villain was only acting to save himself from a greater villain is who never mentioned again. All villains, and possibly at least one protagonist, are waiting on the appearance of a particular person/character (not one of the characters in this novel) who never appears and is never mentioned again - apparently it's just a useful distraction/reason to not have the ultimate big bad appear because they're only concerned with the Chosen One who doesn't actually exist (yet?).

Also very large amounts of rape and non-con. Not really worth the read, unless those are your kinks.

Rating: 2 stars (and that's being generous)

[Ari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really shouldn't dignify this book with a review, but it's been a few hours since I finished it and I'm still completely baffled and disgusted by this book.

A disturbingly high number of light novels I've read under the June imprint from Digital Manga Publishing have featured some sort of dubious/non-consensual sex or graphic rape scene that has soured my experience with the book before I could even begin to decide if I was interested in the book.

Dark Walker absolutely outdoes all of the ones I have read so far.

I'm not bothered by rape in books, especially if it is a part of the narrative, serves a purpose for the narrative, and the person committing the act isn't rewarded for their actions. Books are allowed to contain problematic materials. This, though? No. The narrative seems to actively reward the various rapists in these books and hides it behind the guise of "love" or "passion". It's gratuitous in the worst way possible.

Even when the book is pointing out that these heinous acts are rape, it also makes it a point to show that the person being raped is also enjoying it very much so that makes it okay. Or, again, "love" makes it okay.

Not to mention the fact that these are supposed to be 15 year olds in high school having tons of sex in a dreamscape...

Also the story and lore is just beyond nonsensical. There is no way to grasp what is happening in the story. A villain gets introduced and in the end they don't even matter because they never show up again.

I get it. This book was written in the era of Yaoi writing where this was a common trope, but that does not excuse it for its excessive, indiscriminate use of rape to tell its senseless story.

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is a weird amalgam of superhero fighting mixed up with incubus sex along with a swipe at sexy schoolboy antics. There’s also hints of reincarnation as Tomoki Naruse tries to figure out his hot wet dreams as well as his confused reaction to the pushy and enigmatic Yuugo. Tomoki is a virgin but he wonders why he would find a boy attractive, especially a boy who’s got the girls fluttering around him like butterflies around roses.

It’s sometimes hard to follow the rules for the magic outlined in his yaoi manga. Perhaps the trouble lies in the fact that the novel is based upon the world developed by Hirotaka Kisaragi in her manga of the same name. A familiarity with the latter possibly helps with the former.

The story is engaging enough and if you like boy-on-boy sexual hijinks then this book is raunchy enough to satisfy. I should warn you that demonic rape is also within its pages. If that’s a turn-off, it would be best to look elsewhere.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

The concept was interesting, but the story dragged. It also had the usual "dub-con," which was annoying, but it sadly comes with the trade. That said though, the relationship between the villain, Kanon, and Shiki, his sex slave, was absolutely appalling. None of the other reviews have mentioned this, so I'm going to go into detail about it. When we are introduced to these two characters we are told two things:

"Kanon had found [Shiki] fourteen years earlier [. . .] He had been a nine-year-old at the time." and "[Kanon] had trained Shiki not to disobey him, and had been having sex with him for fourteen years."

Fourteen years. Fourteen years earlier, Shiki was 9. Kanon has been raping Shiki since Shiki was 9 years old. And this monster essentially gets redeemed at the end. And almost all the reviews I have read are talking about how much they liked Kanon and Shiki's relationship. I couldn't find a single review mentioning this. I feel like I am going insane.

[Elizabeth King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark Walker is an action driven fantasy light novel involving dreamscapes and demon slaying. Tomoki has been having sex dreams, which it turns out are actually real events happening in the dreamworld with his classmate Yugo. Both of them, as it turns out, are Dark Walkers: Humans that can retain consciousness within the dreamworld, and have been lovers for a while. But there are also demons and monsters roaming the dreamworlds as well, and some of them are after Tomoki’s unique magical abilities, so now that he’s awoken to his powers, he’s in danger! It’s a cheesy kind of fantasy adventure story, and one that I could see being developed into a fairly engaging anime, as it follows a lot of those kinds of tropes.

Read the full review on my blog: https://rosesbooks.home.blog/2020/01/...

[Mary Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fue... interesante.

Algo me dice que la versión manga debe ser un poco mejor, pero no esta mal.

¿Me gustó? un poco ¿Lo releería? definitivamente no.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: Tomoki has no idea what to make of these dreams he's been having. He does know they aren't something to be shared with his ribald classmates, though. No telling what they'd say to make fun of him if they knew. Strangely, he doesn't seem to have the same worries about the new guy, Yugo; handsome, tall, and flirtatious Yugo. In fact, Tomoki is pretty sure his reaction to Yugo isn't quite what he's come to expect as 'normal'.

So this story is nice, focusing a bit on Tomoki's coming out, mostly to himself, and admitting he's interested in Yugo as more than just a friend. Finding out Yugo's the one he's been dreaming about, and more, that Yugo is actually entering his dreams is something else again, though.

I like Tomoki, even if he is a little stubborn in seeing the truth and then in admitting it. Once he does, though, he's so loyal and fierce in protecting his lover, it's heart-warming to see, and heartbreaking to watch what he has to go through, and what he must sacrifice to do it.
As with many of these novels, I'm finding out, there's not enough insight into the seme's point of view. I like semes, and I'd like to know what's going through their pretty heads, but that's me. In this instance, there seems to be a lot of sadness in Yugo's past that he doesn't really share with Tomoki, but it does explain his caution, and his patience. Maybe he's afraid to push Tomoki too hard, afraid to push him away.

Some of the illustrations in this book are less expressive than I like, but the middle black and white drawing, where Kisaragi shows her version of Tomoki saving Yugo from becoming a demon is absolutely gorgeous. The desperation in Yugo's expression and the sweet acceptance in Tomoki's are so perfect. I kept going back to look at it again. Her depiction of the villain is also so vivid, it gives a great sense of his cold cruelty, and beauty, which she later softens to something almost loving in the last drawing of him.

And his relationship with his slave is what I have the most problem with. I guess I'm just not a fan of violence paired with sex, which is different from D/s and BDSM. This was a little extreme for my taste.
As for the writing, I'm not sure. There's a lot of clunky prose, and as I've mentioned in other reviews, not sure if that's a function of the original Japanese text or of the translation, or of an English translator with less writing experience. I've no idea what it takes to translate from one language to another effectively, so all I can speak to is the fact that the writing was not as immediate as I like. There is a lot of "he felt his body grow hot and sweaty." and "Tomoki was running around..." which puts an extra bit of stumbling words between reader and action. Could be lost in translation, could be the original Japanese is stilted. I only know I wish the writing to be a bit cleaner. That's probably the writer in me coming out.

All in all, I did like the story line, and the twists thrown in gave the overall story an emotional edge that reconciled a lot of the difficulties I had with it

My Recommendation: This one might not appeal to writers, but for fans of Yaoi, more willing to overlook the technical flaws, there's a lot of emotion, and lot of action, and a fantastic twist. And, of course, some lovely sex scenes between the main characters.

[Serah Miskani · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting take on a yaoi sci-fi novel, i found it enlighting and exctiting erotic and romantic theres nothing this novel dsnt posses, with Tomoki as the leading role his heart belongs to the dark haird stranger he loves nightly within the dream world, he sees these nights only as a dream his heart is willing to make true as he closes his eyes, but Yuugo is only around the corner and is waiting for tomoki to open his eyes to his true existance, -spoiler alert- Tomokis brother shiki taken away from his family by Kanon at a very young age lives with the slight memories of his brother and the wish to see him again his heart belonging only to the demond who uses him. This unfrotunate story of kanon and shiki was the reason i kept on turning the page -that goes without saying that the erotic heart throbbing very well described scenes- all of this still dosnt prepare for the large black wings and demonds which live within the dream world, it sounds confusing but it has to be one of the best and my first yaoi novel, i enjoyed it emensly ad for any yaoi lover this si a great novel to read with brilliant illustrations by Hirotaka and Kisaragi, the last picture of Tomoki and Yuugo in a tight embrace is my favorate, its sweet and heart warming, i love the exctiment and the romance i would advise this to anyone!!
i hope this helps you find the perfect novel...-yaoi lover-

[Hannah Tryon-Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dark Walker”, by Hikaru Yura, is a story about two high schoolers that are beyond normal. Tomoki Naruse has been having strange dreams lately. He’s been finding himself waiting for someone to show up every night and when they do, he can’t remember their name or face. Yuugo Oda seems to know something about it even though Tomoki hasn’t shared anything with him. What is the secret behind these dreams?

The characters in the story make it a great book. They capture you with their actions and make you want to continue reading. The author makes describes everything so that you can get a general idea of what an object, place, or person looks like. While reading this book, I feel so much emotion. When the author introduces a new villain, I hate them like the characters do. Hikaru Yura makes you feel like you are also part of the story. I recommend Dark Walker to anyone who likes a little mystery with romance.

[Reader17 Der · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay Yaoi novel. I have like others better then this one but I still like reading it. This book is about Dark Walkers they are humans that can be awake in there dreams. They are in another area where Demons exist and they try to devour the human. Dark Walkers can do different things while in their dreams.

Yuki is a Dark Walker that has his eye on Orihara. Yuki was mainly living in his dreams until he meet Orihara in one. Now he has come back to the human world to be with Orihara. Yuki looks out for Orihara in the dream world. Parts this story made me smile with how Yuki didn't know much about electronics and how to react to people he keeps smiling at everyone. So Orihara is teaching him not to be to friendly and about the electronic gadgets while Yuki is teaching Orihara about the being a dark walker.

[Zhana · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Български***
Една от любимите ми книги в стил yaoi. Много харесах историята. Сексуалните сцени бяха горещи. Има насилие в книгата и ако човек не е фен, по-добре да не чете тази книга, въпреки че си заслужава. Краят беше толкова сърцераздирателен, че ме докара до сълзи. Героите не бяха толкова добре развити, колкото исках, но въпреки това ги харесах.

***English***
One of my favorite yaoi novels. I loved the story line. The sex scenes were hot. There is violence in this book so if you are not a fan it's better for you not to read it although I think the book is worth the reading. The ending is so touching that it made me cry. The characters were not as well developed as I wanted them to be but I still liked them as well as the book as a whole.

[Blak Rayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a Yaoi Graphic Novel. There are illustrations, but not near as many as you'd find in a usual manga. I found the story to be very interesting and it carried fairly well straight through...until the end. The general plot was good and the characters quite likeable. The illustrations undeniably well done. But the chapters were never-ending and it was difficult to decipher one from the next. When I finished reading the last page, I felt a little empty and oh perhaps...dissatisfied.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The summary held such promise, but it's poorly written. Scenes jump from sentence to sentence or to different point of views without warning. It's a bit confusing at times. And the intense rape scenes just aren't my cup of tea.

It was... er. Not the best first impression of a yaoi novel.

[Wattana Seesin]

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