She publishes under two names in Japanese, that spell the same but are written with different characters. - 硝音あや: for shōjo manga - しょうおとあや: for BL manga
On her 16th birthday, orphan Himari Momochi inherits the ancestral estate she’s never seen. Momochi House exists on the barrier between the human and spiritual realms, and Himari is meant to act as guardian between the two worlds. But on the day she moves in, she finds three handsome squatters already living in the house, and one seems to have already taken over her role!
This is a rather unusual and refreshing volume of this yokai flavored manga, The Demon Prince of Momochi House vol 13. Aya Shouoto is VERY good at balancing between Aoi, Nue and Himari and you find yourself rocketing between the three at a thrilling pace. While the pacing is still spot on this time Himari takes center stage and its high tension with an emphasis on high. Himari is hit with struggles from every which way after a sudden visit from Kasha! And neither Aoi or Nue is able to protect her. Is she worthy of being an heir to Momochi House? Can she do the saving this time around? I was excited to follow her as she worked out what to do and freaked out over the implications of what she learns.
I'm super glad though that we didn't linger overlong over any of her circumstances... Himari has proven her persistence in the face of a problem so we don't need to drag it out. Her competence even in the face of being a typical 16 year old becomes quite clear. I really enjoyed centering on our heroine in The Demon Prince of Momochi House vol 13 and I struggled with her when unknown history in Aoi's life became clearer. I did enjoy a couple unexpected revelations that made Aoi seem more human and not just the perfect love interest.
The art is quite good, like always. I liked that there were a few effects that were used for Kasha that made the dire seriousness of the situation really apparent. And there were visual changes to Himari that clued in the reader, those worked really well to me. I found a certain segment of the story really powerful due to the looser art that was used. Just so rich and multi-layered... you can tell Aya Shouoto really knows her series art style and continues to push to improve on it!! I really loved the dark cover art too... this is quite a turn...
Aoi has been revealed as not being quite honest with Himari... we knew already that his situation wasn't something that can be broken as easily as Himari would like but we didn't realize how much he's kept from her. I think that her hope and optimism keeps Aoi fighting so he doesn't want her to feel as hopeless as he already does. That rings quite true to me... I like to put a positive spin on events that get me down with my loved ones... Aoi is so relatable! Now though the Nue is really in danger...
The Demon Prince of Momochi House vol 13 really keeps the surprises coming... We get to experience Himari in the biggest fight of her life and its a struggle filled roller coaster of emotions! The nature of Aoi and Nue is still rather obscured and its fascinating when we get a little glimpse of what it all means for Himari and Aoi's future...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tension ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Art
Thanks to Edelweiss and VIZ Media for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
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Ok, I have a few thoughts. 1.) this was an AMAZING volume 2.) I think the marriage isn’t for Aoi but for Himari and Kasha. Because kasha wants Aoi soul for power and if he marries Himari that would just break Aoi and probably force him to become the nue fully and allow for kasha to eat him. Plus, even if there is a lot of yaoi vibes from kasha and Aoi I think it’s just fan service due to my belief that Kasha is just a demon who wants power and not really into relationship (and if he is then it will most likely be with Himari due to Shojo rules you know?).
Anyway, I LOVED THIS VOLUME.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
We are getting really close to the end and I am really trying to figure out how this will all tie together. In this volume Big Bad is back and causing havoc for our lead characters. I don't really know how this will end, the closer we get the more I am hoping for Fu
I disagree with the points I raised almost four years ago. Why this arc unfolds the way it does is to show readers how Himari's relationship with Momochi House has become important to her throughout the course of the story. Having Kasha now completely framed as an antagonist and getting some background into his relationship with Aoi (which is still incredibly homoerotic and I live for it) tugs at the humanity in The Demon Prince of Momochi House's characters. Some may lack it, but it's there whether characters have changed or not. You just have to take another look.
Shouoto's panels are also some of her creepiest, and how she decides to continue building on the end of Volume 12 provides incredible tension. I like at a moment where Aoi's at his most threatening, it flips in a later chapter to show where the power dynamic currently lies (in Kasha's favor). Volume 13 was hard to put it down, and only makes me hungry for the next one given the pace I'm re-reading these. Himari's an incredibly effective heroine alone. I'm excited to see what she'll be up to next in this mission.
First Read Review (May 11th, 2019):
Original Rating: Four Stars
Things took a turn after what happened at the end of the last volume. I was surprised Shouoto didn't end it after one chapter, but stretching it out should work in her favor because the cliffhanger wasn't as cut and dry as I was initially expecting. There is depth to it and I'm interested to see how Aoi and Kasha's relationship will be further developed.
What's keeping me from giving this volume 5 stars is that Mr. Nachi's appearance felt oddly out of place in the grand scheme of the arc (despite it being refreshing to see him again) and the second chapter feeling a little too dramatic for my tastes. Other than that, this was another great volume and I'm sad I have to wait a while again for the next one.
Spoilers as I try to figure out why I didn't like this book. So. This may not be a popular review but this book was very frustrating to me and I didn't enjoy it. I gave it 3 stars because I do find it slightly interesting but the first part of the book Himari is in danger, the second half of the book Aoi is in danger. Kinda frustrating. And the book ends on a cliff hanger. I mean the Aoi at the end is obviously not him. Kasha is trying to consume Aoi's human-soul? And Himari just handed what she thinks is Aoi's soul to someone she thinks is him...but then he tucks it into his clothing. like...uh. Should you not be worried Himari? And he told her to leave after she handed it to him. like ugh. The too & fro is I think what made me annoyed and frustrated. Just tell us! Like so many mysteries every book. I think I'm going to take a break before I finish this series. Maybe I'll come back to it in the next 3 books in the new year. I want to know what happens at the end of the series but I'm annoyed right now. ha.
Aoi Nanamori has been kidnapped and it is up to Himari and the Shikigami to save him. His soul has been removed to the state of a simple rice cake and the Nue doesn't try to put it back by eating it. Instead he tries to go along with the "wedding" ceremony for the Nue and Himari and he wants to turn Himari into an Ayakashi.
Himari was attempting to save Aoi with his shikigami, Hakka. They made it to Kasha's lair and were very surprised to see Kasha's twisted version of a game. There were spirits that looked like Aoi everywhere. Hakka was smart and was able to figure out that it was part of Kasha's twisted game and that it shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Himari has found the real Aoi and demands that he explain his relationship with Kasha. I wonder what will happen.
In questo tredicesimo volume riprendiamo la narrazione da dove l’avevamo lasciata: la morte di Himari. Kasha ha sparato ad Himari con un oggetto magico che separa l’anima dal corpo; così facendo l’anima di Himari vaga per casa momochi mentre il suo corpo è in uno stato comatoso. Tutti gli spiriti aiutanti ed Aoi sono alle prese con una ricerca che possa fare al caso della situazione. Aoi, peró, non riesce a trovare una soluzione così contatta direttamente Kasha che si approfitta della situazione per adoperarsi in un altro misfatto. Himari riesce a tornare nel suo corpo ma Aoi viene rapito da Kasha. Con l’aiuto del guardiano Hakka, Himari riuscirà ad infiltrarsi nel palazzo di Kasha e a scoprire quale sia la verità sul suo legame con Aoi.
I'm quite confused about whatever is going on between Kasha and Aoi, but this was definitely the most entertaining novel of them all. It was sweet, emotional, and that one scene when Aoi stared at her with sad eyes when she asked who he was without his human soul and he said 'I'm me.' I feel like in an attempt to love his human self she is ignoring the fact that he is also Nue, and not simply one thing or another. I love both Himari and Aoi and I'm surprised with how good this series has gotten!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Following this series's trend of really bad stuff not being quite so bad (see the volumes where Yukari confessed to cannibalism and Aoi was already dead), Himari isn't dead... her soul just isn't in her body anymore. But getting to be a ghost turns south when something else ends up in her body...
Meanwhile, Kasha is busy scheming and his net is tightening around Aoi's neck. (Also this is the volume where the fujoshi have a field day).
This volume is a really wild ride... I feel like, there has been a general lack of narrative cohesion since the end of Aoi’s main arc. It looks like we are due for revelations into Aoi’s and Kasha’s relationship. Kasha seems to have some more sinister intentions that simple mischievous pranks. Lots of negative space in many panels and wispy line work. It’s pretty, but there is a lot of missing depth.
The art on this cover is WICKED COOL. Kasha's design is so freaking cool and I love him as an antagonist that is bored and wants to stir up trouble. As Himari deals with her new reality, I really enjoy how the situation resolves and leads to another bigger plot. An old character comes back and we get more screen time for Hakka, Aoi's newest Shikigami.
Really, the art and emotions of the last couple of chapters is so, so tasty. This volume is when the series really starts to take off for me.
Die Seiten habe ich nur so verschlungen!!! Durch den Cliffhanger im letzten Band war ja schon klar, dass Kasha sein Unwesen treibt und es eine gewisse Abwärtsspirale geben wird. Aber dass das Ganze solche Ausmaße annimmt... EXCUSE YOU?! Wieso wird hier so sehr mit meinen Gefühlen gespielt? Sieht so aus als würde im nächsten Band endlich aufgeklärt werden was die Vergangenheit von Kasha und seine Beziehung zu Nue betrifft. I'm beyong excited to read this!!!
Did a massive re-read/catch up with this entire series. Beautiful artwork and the story was just as good as I remember it (and it kept me up until 2 in the morning so that's always a good thing...)
You can check out the rest of my review plus others! over at Randomly Kait
Each of the covers before this have be getting progressively darker and darker. What’s next, a pitch black cover?
This one was pretty spooky. It took a turn that I didn’t expect at all. It ended out to be done with the overall story in mind so it was tastefully done.
Himari life is getting much more complicated. How is she going to handle everything that is thrown at her? Can she keep everyone safe? What a rollercoaster!