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A curse is a difficult thing to break. Vald, prince of Alsvieth upon taking up arms to defend his country was beset with a curse that transforms him into a ravenous cannibalistic beast.

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

45 people are currently reading
947 people want to read

About the author

Ayano Yamane

93 books613 followers
Ayano Yamane (native name: やまねあやの) is one of Japan's most popular Boys' Love genre manga artist.
She debuted as a professional manga artist in 1996 and since then has published several BL series and illustrated many light novels. She is one of the top selling BL manga artists in Japan. Her most successful work is the Finder series.

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5 stars
1,508 (58%)
4 stars
670 (25%)
3 stars
313 (12%)
2 stars
69 (2%)
1 star
23 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,570 reviews1,245 followers
July 15, 2016
Much like volume 1 of this series the artwork enchants me once more. It is the biggest asset this series starts. I love looking at each image. Especially Vald in his demon form. He gets the most delicious markings!

The story is still sadly lacking. We get a bit of a better feel for Havi and Vald. Havi seems to really like taking advantage of Vald in his demon form. I can't help but wonder how Vald will react when he finds out. I am still questioning and wondering at Havi's role in everything. I want to trust him, but as of this volume I just can't. How he uses Vald against his knowledge does not help.

My favorite series character, Rulca plays such a small role but I love him. I want more of him. Keep an eye on Vald, Rulca!

I really hope the story picks up the pace soon. If not for the gorgeous artwork I would have given up on this series. If just has not grabbed me yet. I see potential but it is just invisible right now. I hope volume 3 pulls things together more.

***Please note, this is a mature, ages 18+ Yaoi.***

*I received an ecopy of this volume from Viz Media via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair, honest review. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.*
Profile Image for Bookwatcher .
746 reviews117 followers
July 4, 2011
I just want to show....

The simplicity of a kiss


The beauty of a half page draw


Do I recommend it?
I think the two images I post are enough to show you how much I adore this serie up to now.

5 stars. No doubt, it's the best draw Yaoi I ever read.
Profile Image for Emily G.
562 reviews12 followers
December 31, 2008
I can't get over the quality of these books, it really brings the gorgeous artwork to life! Also I like the way that the story is progressing, as Vald is finding out more about what Havi does to calm the demon inside him *g* and coming to terms with it. I'm on tenterhooks for the next installment, I hope we don't have to wait too long!
Profile Image for Ben Howard.
1,526 reviews273 followers
April 17, 2021
I kind of lost interest in this series here. The art style is not to my taste and the 'plot' is pretty basic. I'll try out volume 3 sometime but it's not high on my list.
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,909 reviews114 followers
March 30, 2009
This has to be one of my favourite mangas. I cannot get enough of Ayano Yamane’s beautiful work and I have read these two books several times. While I think Vald is utterly delicious, I adored Havi. He is quite unscrupulous and when he discovers Vald has no memory of his time as a demon he quickly takes advantage. It seems Havi’s touch is one of the only things that calms the unruly demon down and Havi is quick to capitalize on this. Bad, bad dirty man… but so good!

It is a bit of a double edged sword however as Havi beings to develop feelings for Vald, all the while Vald knows nothing of their nightly sexorin! But, I did wonder just a bit. Vald is supposedly unaware of what goes on with Havi while he is in his demon form but he does get pretty worked up when Havi is in danger. Maybe he is not totally oblivious!

The artwork is gorgeous and I really appreciated the fact that I could see everything. Often the best bits are blurred in yaoi manga and I do miss having that complete visual experience! The cock, is good! As is the man goo! Her boys are just beautiful. She manages to convey Havi’s slightly stern, cold manner perfectly all the while allowing you to feel Vald’s warmer, more noble self and his inclination towards brash heroics. The detail in the clothing is quite ornate and would totally give Prince a run for his money. There is much smex and I enjoyed the power dynamics between Vald and Havi. Yeah, and the whole cuffed and tattooed demon thing, hot!

It is only up to volume two at the moment so I am hoping that there is more to come.
A great fantasy story with loads of cool adventures, swords, pillaging plant life, nasty magicians, magic, sex, bad guys and a bunny. A definite must read.
http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2008/10/...
Profile Image for Emi.
865 reviews20 followers
March 9, 2025
Es un gustazo leer un BL con un argumento que no gira únicamente alrededor de los sentimientos de los protagonsitas. Que me encantan. Pero también mola encontrarte con aventuras, luchas, comedia, drama, y los calentones y los "Uy! que creo que este chico me gusta"

He intentado añadir esta edición a la que ya había leído hace años en inglés, pero no he sigo capaz de hacerlo. Antes se podía...
Profile Image for Kathi.
753 reviews18 followers
May 5, 2020
Das ist der 2. Manga aus der Crimson Spell Reihe von Mangaka Ayano Yamane. Bisher sind 6 Bände auf Deutsch erschienen.

Die einzelnen Teile sollte man unbedingt in der richtigen Reihenfolge lesen, da die Handlung aufeinander aufbaut. Leider werde ich mit der Geschichte nicht so richtig warm. Ich weiß noch gar nicht, ob ich diese Manga Reihe weiterverfolgen möchte. Die Zeichnungen sind wunderschön, die Charaktere gleichen sich meiner Meinung nach teilweise aber ein wenig. Ich kann Havi oft nicht von anderen blonden Charakteren mit langen Haaren auseinanderhalten. Die Hintergrundkulisse gefällt mir dafür richtig gut. Man findet immer wieder traumhaft schön gezeichnete Gebäude.

Leider kann ich nur knappe 3 Sterne für diesen Manga vergeben. Bisher hat mich die Reihe noch nicht restlos in ihren Bann gezogen.
Profile Image for Ester.
1,220 reviews69 followers
October 21, 2024
Después de abandonar la ciudad de los magos, Havi consigue dilucidar cómo acabar con la maldición de Vald, o mejor dicho, descubre cómo hacer que él, y solo él, pueda subyugar al demonio del interior del príncipe, uno que se ha acostumbrado a las caricias y al sexo con Havi y que lo busco y lo saborea cada día más.

De nuevo en el camino, al grupo de Vald y compañía, aparece una especie de trotamundos al que Vald decide prestarle ayuda, sin pensar que este robaría las pertenencias de... Havi. Si bien algunas de las cosas que llevaba el mago eran robadas, Havi no va a permitir que ese supuesto espadachín se large sin más con sus cachivaches. Siguiéndole el rastro al tal Mars, Vald, Havi y Rulca llegan a un pueblo que está siendo atacado por unos poderosos demonios. Cuando Vald se lanza al ataque, no imaginan ni él ni Havi que tras este ataque está una mano negra que desea hacerse con el cuerpo de Vald, un recipiente perfecto para el más abyecto de los planes maléficos.
Siendo un tomo relativamente corto, cosa que no le quita ni un gramo de intensidad, Ayano Yamane ha introducido muchísima información en los capítulos que contiene este segundo volumen, centrándose mucho en contarnos más cosas sobre este mundo fantástico medieval, y el conflicto del pasado entre el reino de Vald con otro vecino y el cual fue el origen de que se creara la espada demoníaca Yug Verlind.

Uniéndose más personajes a la historia, así como en el viaje de Vald y Havi, Ayano Yamane mezcla muy bien toda la acción con las escenas sexuales y el romance slow burn entre el príncipe y el mago.

Leer la reseña completa:
https://unabibliotecaentremundos.blog...
Profile Image for Charles.
Author 76 books134 followers
November 11, 2012
Not For the Faint of Heart - Crimson Spell Vol 2 Review

Thus continues the glorious Crimson Spell Not For the Faint of Heart Double Header (still teehee)! This Sunday is go for reading both volumes of the lovely and alluring Crimson Spell, sadly the only two volumes available in the US. The third and fourth volumes are both out in places like Japan and Germany, but for those like me who speak neither of those languages, this is the final volume currently out. Shame on you, America, for neglecting such an amazing manga! SHAME!

Ahem, but yes, to continue. With this volume the story of Crimson Spell really takes more of the center stage, with the sex lessening rather starkly and the characters all getting a bit more complicated. We learn more of the mage's back story while the prince begins to have strange feelings for the man and a bevy of new characters are introduced. We get to see the mage as a boy and learn how he learned magic, and we also get at least part of the story behind the cursed sword the prince has and the demon that was bound within. There are still a few juicy bits as well, and this volume keeps up the proud traditions set by the first volume and keeps the quality of the series very high.

Here we start to see something of an overarching story, as well, which is interesting and seems more like a normal (read not sex-filled) fantasy manga, complete with demons trying to take over the world and errant swordsmen and inept magic users. It is all well done, and the side characters also get their moments to shine, from the flying rabbit guy to the magic user with the forgettable name to the swordsman who seems to always get into trouble. And with that focus the setting seems more and more fleshed out (teehee). We also get the first of what I assume are the main villains, with demons kidnapping the mage and eventually capturing the prince as well.

There are more big fights in this volume, and while that comes (teehee?) at the expense of some of the sex scenes, those that are there are great and really work to start bringing the characters together as more than just sexual partners. They are starting to fall for each other, basically, if they haven't already, and to see that is fun and romantic and cute. In the mean time we get to enjoy the complicating storyline that looks to be taking in more and more places on the map. Again, it all works, and I wish that there were more series that treated sex as both an element in the story and as something that is fun and sexy. And while yes, again, there is something of a consent issue, it really isn't annoying because of the fantasy aspects of the story.

And again, the art is amazing, and the fights and the sex scenes are all done incredibly well. It is just fun to see what the artist does with the characters, and how she draws them is breathtaking. So yes, still highest regards for the art and the story and the series as a whole. It is just refreshing to see how it works, and to have a good story that also happens to have great sex. It is incredibly sad that there aren't more volumes out in the US, but one can hope that maybe it will happen soon. This is definitely one of, if not the best Yaoi title I have read. So someone print more of it. For now, though, volume two gets a solid and throbbing 9.5/10.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nina.
554 reviews31 followers
June 5, 2022
So after all the clichés and awkward moments of book 1 we finally get some meat on the story.

There is emotional development between Havi and Vald and the sex turns into love making.

Beast!Vald is obviously in love with Havi even if Human!Vald is still in the moon when it comes to their ongoing nightly sexual activities.

The villains however are so cartoonish that they are obviously there to pad the story with something else than Beast!Vald and Havi sex.
Profile Image for Rogier.
237 reviews96 followers
July 7, 2014
it is still a three but at least it has more storytelling . the non consensual sex/rape scenes are not okay in my book. thats what you get when reading yaoi
Profile Image for For The Novel Lovers.
476 reviews8 followers
May 9, 2023
Book Review
Title: Crimson Spell Vol. 2 by Ayano Yamane
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, LGBT
Rating: 4.5 Stars
As Vald and Havin continue on their journey to break the curse, they are unaware that they are being tracked by one of the sorcerers since Havi stole some very important books from them. On the route, the come across a man being attacked by monsters and they save him, he claims to have been a swordsman to a noble man but ends up stealing from them in order to buy his sword back. Enraged, Havi wants to track him down so they set off only to come upon a town being ravaged by monsters.
The pair immediately up in to help but Havi is aware that someone powerful is watching them but he has no idea who. While rescuing the town, Vald is going out of control due to the mass of negative energy and Havi kisses him to calm the beast but as Vald is in control now the demon, he runs away. Havi continues fighting the monsters but is attacked by a demon and marked, during their fight he learns that this demon and its master are after Vald and the demon bound to him.
Vald arrives and the battle increases to save Vald from being taken Havi pushes him aside and is taken in his place to Vald’s horror. Havi in the clutches of this pair is tortured to the point that he isn’t aware of what he is doing and when Vald finally catches Havi’s scent the demon takes over. In his demon form Vald is able to find the place where they are hiding but Havi isn’t the same and he ends up being captured as well. When Havi goes to the cell, the demon awakens and injures Havi which seems to break the hold on him but now they have to escape from the demon and its master as well as repair the relationship between them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for R.B..
304 reviews21 followers
March 23, 2025
While traveling to find a cure Hal kiss him when he's still conscious and Val freaks out, it didn't last very long though, talking it out made Val realize what he was feeling but unfortunately they didn't have the time to make up. An enemy targeting Val attacks them during this weakened moment, it's a powerful demon who traps both of them.

The bunny's comments and support were quite funny and cute, at least when you forget he seem to enjoys watching them have sex and would gladly join them if he was allowed. Hal pretended the sex was only casual at first but he's getting quite possessive, and Val while he still doesn't know they fucked almost every night since knowing each other is also starting to get jealous.
Apparently being able to contain Val is proof of how powerful Hal is, and damn that other wizard sure is an idiot.

I might just stop reading here, maybe it's a slow start but I can't see this getting more entertaining and why it even needs seven volumes for this kind of plot. For something with so much sex it's not even particularly hot to look at, maybe this style just isn't for me.
901 reviews19 followers
April 22, 2021
I'm officially hooked. Brooding seme sorcerer, smooth and slender uke with a lithe elfin body but possessed by a demon’s sting, and, finally, a toungue-in-cheek fantasy world that still somehow hits the dramatic tension button with creepy, evil villains.
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​​But most of all it's the art. Yamane uses formula graphic tropes for days, but, damn! She USES them. I think I've fallen in love with her updated Old School Anime look - faces and bods straight out of 80’s manga but updated with today's sensibility. As a result, Val is 100% swoon worthy. Don't look at his eyes too long, folks, you'll be a goner. Yamane is a master at subtle screen tone effects to convey light and form, but is in the eyes where she really draws you in. Although in black, white and gray, some close ups of the eyes have a startling 3D effect that most artist can only get using color.
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​​I'm totally sold on this series, and the next three volumes are on the way. Thank heavens I didn't discover this when it first came out. I couldn't bear to wait a year for the next book.
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2,068 reviews20 followers
August 2, 2018
The black sorcerer who created the curse behind the magic sword manages to capture and brainwash Halvir and Prince Vald rushes to the rescue and gets captured himself.

Highlight has to be the prison bar sex scene at the end. I love how despite being brainwashed Havir is still drawn to the prince. I also really like the scene where Vald, having been kissed by Halvir for the first time in his prince persona rants to the jailed thief - so funny.

Beautiful artwork on this a good story,plenty of sexy scenes but balanced with slow emotional build. For those who like fantasy based yaoi this is at the top of its game.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
676 reviews4 followers
June 23, 2024
Non smetterò mai di ammirare i disegni pazzeschi di Ayano Yamane. Che meraviglia.
Dopo aver intravisto una possibile soluzione alla maledizione che ha colpito il principe, Vald si ritrova inseguito da un signore oscuro e Havi, per salvarlo dalle grinfie di un demone superiore giunto a rapirlo, finirà in una bruttissima situazione. Ora che lo stregone è stato soggiogato ed è incapace di ragionare, riuscirà a proteggere il suo principe? Il richiamo silenzioso dei loro corpi suggerisce che non tutto è ancora perduto…
Profile Image for TT.
2,018 reviews5 followers
August 24, 2017
Beautiful story and artwork by the very popular author who bought us the Love in the Viewfinder series. I have v. 1-2, they became scarce when I was trying to get copies years ago so this fell off my radar. I read some scans of it but never finished it. I think its been released but I haven't followed up to be sure.
Profile Image for Chelsea &#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308;.
2,069 reviews6 followers
September 9, 2021
I’m still enjoying this series more than I expected to!

It’s an erotic fantasy BL story with a plot that’s as interesting as the romance progressing between the 2 main characters. I feel like the feelings between progressed at a reasonable speed and I liked seeing them come to care and protect each other. Excited to read the next one!
Profile Image for ℂ ✧.
2,482 reviews
October 26, 2024
En aquest volum la trama es complica i tenim un desplegament força considerable del lore de la història... És justament la part que se'm fa més feixuga del gènere fantàstic i, malgrat l'acció trepidant de les batalles, m'ha semblat un pèl pesat :/ amb el següent volum decideixo si continuo o abandono a mitges
Profile Image for Michelle.
835 reviews4 followers
July 26, 2018
Someone is spying on Havi and Vald! Havi gets robbed, a town gets attacked, Havi is taken prisoner and Vald quickly follows into the clutches of the villains. New traveling companions join the crew. Action! Adventure! Hot demon sex! I love Ayano Yamane and this story.
Profile Image for Flor Márquez.
677 reviews26 followers
November 23, 2020
La historia mejoro un poco comparada con el primero volumen, igual el sexo no consensual sigue y es por esa razón que la nota sigue siendo baja. No entiendo por qué la autora, teniendo dos personajes que se sienten atraídos, utiliza un recurso tan horrible.
Profile Image for Joy Hale.
82 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2022
Loving Havi and Vald

I couldn't find volume 2 in physical form after reading the first book so grabbing the Kindle version was the way to go. Vald and Havi are still on their journey until Havi gets captured and made to forget Havi but can he truly forget?
Profile Image for Jordan MacKinnon.
883 reviews7 followers
June 19, 2023
That was incredible! So much to process that happened in such a short time! The teasing of romance! The protectiveness and possessiveness! The details in the drawings! And the angst and drama and plot thickening right along side ..... ;)
Profile Image for Ana Maria.
311 reviews1 follower
Read
April 28, 2025
2 o así
He leído lo que es leer un 15-20% y me estaba dando pereza así que he mirado lo que venía y dios que ganas de dropear me han dado lol. Long story short he entendido lo que estaba pasando pero he sido incapaz de leerlo 100% y he pasado directamente al siguiente my bad.
Profile Image for Lucy Westenra.
113 reviews42 followers
May 8, 2017
Pues no sé si quiero que rompan la maldición, que Val de tigretón es hotez pura e.e
Minipunto para Ruruka, qué conejo (parece un pokemon!) más gracioso!!!
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