Ka Shin Fu

by Makoto Tateno

Handsome men Kaoru and Ryuugo are pawns in a cutthroat competition filled with twisted plots and violent passion.  The winner's prize?  An entire family fortune!  The Kourenjis must find an heir to the throne of their sprawling empire, and only one young man will finally ascend to the position of power.  But there are secrets that define this family's fate.  With everyone grasping for the golden ring, will it take a fatal fall to finish this wicked game?

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Boys Love, Shounen Ai, Romance, Comics Manga

200 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2007

About the author

Name (in native language): 立野真琴

Birth Date: March 23

Also writes under the pen-name of Shinjuku Tango.

Makoto Tateno is an extremely prolific mangaka, having created 30+ series of manga in both the shoujo and BL genres. However, she is probably most well known amongst English-speaking audiences for her yaoi series “Yellow,” published by DMP. She debuted in 1986 with the short story "Yuraete Tamago Boys," published by Hana to Yume.

Reviews

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two men drawn together with a woman, all part of the same family form a web of part relationships which come back to haunt them. The woman’s fresh-faced son returns to that family with plans of his own, only finding himself seduced and being seduced by another man in the same family. Caught in the orbit of a dying matriarch, these four find that nothing is what it seems, except their growing passion for each other.

Illustrated in the exquisite style of Tateno-sensei, this is a more quiet, emotional tale of family drama and family secrets than some of her other work, yet no less compelling. If any of these qualities, combined with steamy m/m yaoi scenes appeal to you, I’d pick this book up.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I can always rely on Tateno's work for gorgeous art and addictive melodrama. While not my favorite of her work, this was certainly entertaining, but untangling the family tree gave me a literal headache.

[Leila Anani · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first of Tateno's books that I've not really enjoyed. It's sexy and the artwork's up to her usual standard but I wasn't very keen on the characters or the story. In the first place it deals with first cousin incest - both pairs of lovers are cousins and I found that implasible - one set possibly but two??? Also found the scenario of an inheriance bringing everyone together a bit far fetched. One other thing that bugged me was the 20 year gap between stories. The heroes from the first story appear in the second, set 20 years later and yet they still look as young as they did in the earlier tale. Having the two different stories also meant that the characters aren't as developped as some of her other series. Disappointing.

[Anna Kļaviņa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not better not worse than average yaoi manga. Story actually follows not only to Kaoru and Ryuugo but also to Shuu and Yuuichi.

After first chapter in the second chapter has passed 20 years and yet Shuu and Yuuichi appearance has not changed more confusing is that Kaoru looks very similar to Shuu and Ryuugo and Yuuichi looks almost like twins.

[orannia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars. It's really frustrating when the plot jumps from one set of characters to another set...

[xartemisx · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Shahna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining.

[Lyri · Rating 1 out of 5]

B
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[Shaundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good manga!!