I actually read the prequel chapter first. Man, this is dark and tragic! The chemistry is a lot more complicated. The characters are well drawn and beautiful. There are some pros and cons because of that. It’s still dark and sad despite the warm hearted ending. The extra chapter is the only light tone part.

To tell the truth it's far away from perfect but it definitely has it's own charm and some good points. Main characters are likeable and gentle, there's developed plot, some funny moments and there are plot twists, solid background for the characters and many supporting characters - some of them you'll like, some you'll love to hate. Also I was rather satisfied with the ending. On the other hand it's overly perverted, stuffed with rapists and evil characters to the point of absurdity. There are a few overdrawn scenes - I couldn't decide if I should laugh or identify with the characters, like the sex scene in the burning house... The art isn't into my liking, it's lacking of proportions quite often, but it's ok, sometimes it's even pretty. Because of the art I wasn't excited at all... and the ending is a little rushed. Anyway the whole thing is good enough to read it.
I did I like it, not sure why this much...

I like how Mizukami will take a short story from a one-shot & revisit it with a full book. It was my first Mizukami manga, & easily her best art. Kin-Ren & Rikara (different manga) are at a tie for her hottest Ikemen (bishounen/biseinen/bishota) in my book.

If you're wondering about the "tragedy," it has a happy ending that ends comically, but some important secondary characters die throughout the story. It's my 2ed favorite tragedy, next to John Woo's "Last Hurrah for Chivalry." (That movie is slashy as hell, you should totally watch it).

Technically, this is a gender-swap retelling of Jin Ping-Mei, but I can't help but make the Pinocchio comparison. This story is about a young man raised as a disposable sex doll who wants to become a real man, with hopes, dreams, happiness, & someone who genuinely loves him. He's constantly referred to as "toy" or "puppet."

Kinren is the unluckiest guy on earth. Sold into prostitution by his mother, separated from the man he loves, almost a victim of rape-murder, finds temporary peace only for it to be snatched away & dragged back to hell, gives up his dreams & accepts his fate, & develops sympathy for the Devil.

Saimon, a carry-over from a short story in a previous book, is a satyromaniac (insatiable lust for men) who takes great pleasure in destroying happy relationships & stealing or breaking things that belong to other people, spawning from his first love; a man whom he loved, despised, lusted after, & murdered.

You can tell it was scanlated by more than group; the translations are inconsistent with flashbacks & they can't seem to agree if it's Kinren or Kinnen. Owning a physical copy of the manga, I can confirm that Kinren is the correct name. Since one of the translators bothered to look up the actual Chinese equivalents of the names & it takes place in China, I would have preferred the translator have used the Chinese names instead.

This story makes use of different types of irony:


... Last updated on March 6th, 2014, 2:21am

this one is highly recommended for readers. the story line is great and kind of touching. Kinren who feels dirty and not worth of bu shou's love who is a descent man with a good life torture himself in prostitute. its like kinren is smiling outside but crying inside. the love between bu shou and kinren is totally awesome, not to mention there is something good that readers could get from this one

that is : no matter how dirty and broken you are, you deserved to be loved...

It has plenty hot perv scenes, clean plot, nice art. But still I wasn't very excited. I may be wishing too much from yaoi manga, but I think story was too plain, and so were the characters. It's not dull, but it's not great also.

The artwork and story in this volume are both wonderful. However, I felt quite a bit detached from the sex scenes. This actually helped the story, I found, as the sex scenes were anything but emotional for the main character. However, for those who like loving/emotional sex scenes, they'll definitely want to look elsewhere. The epilogue "Spring Fragrance" was really cute. I love the other concubines of Saimon's. They're so cute.

very pretty art, but it has so many sex scenes involving the main character and other partners. i get it, he's a prostitute, and maybe it would have been a dull story if the whole thing wasn't portrayed like this, but i prefer seeing graphic scenes of couples in love. meeeh, but the ending was okay.

... Last updated on December 19th, 2009, 5:09pm

If you've got a perverted mind and are looking for something smutty than yes, this manga would totally fit your tastes. It's a shame that the story (that's somehow there o.O ) is so very rushed. If only the story would have been better worked out, then I'd give this manga an 8 or even 9.. but like this.. nahh.. rather disappointing really.

this is so awesome^^ i love the tenderness the boy being forced yet cooperative.. and then being saved by the prince on the white horse... sold of to a rich guy and getting abused by tons of guys... ah... so extreem hot ^^