but hopefully not the last! i loved it.i think the emotions were heightened with the lack of pictures cuz you could play it out in your mind what their expressions and body movements were. at least the smexy scenes! but i do agree that it seemed rushed at the end. i would have loved it if it went on just a lil longer or gave a epilogue.

A very nice novel indeed! This was only my second yaoi novel, and while it fulfilled all the requirements of what a yaoi romance novel is all about the only thing I didnt like was the ending. It was very abrupt, but so was the last novel I read. Its making me think they're all like that. In any case if you're a lover of sappy romance, slightly cliched plots, and pretty words 'A Promise of Romance' will make you happy.

Getting past the fact that this is a 'novel' and not a manga, this is what I have to say about this:

I came in expecting manga so I was pretty disappointed at the pages but, hey, it's still yaoi, I guess. This received so much praise so I was expecting something more.

Hmm, I'm used to reading novels that are pretty freaking awesome you can actually see everything the author wants you to see in your minds eye. I also read manga because they're more visual, the author relies more on the dialogue, the expressions shown per panel and in the art itself and even if the plot is total crapapalooza in some manga, sometimes the author can totally pull it off. It's harder for a writer of a novel to convey everything in words and expressing his characters.

The first thing that hit me when I turned the pages of this novel was the utter pain creeping from my eyes to my brain. The prose was just damn...underwhelming? I guess I entered with too high an expectation because of all the other comments.

I read on since, I guess, I've read worse. The plot is...captivating? I dunno, pushing past the first few pages, I just kept reading, patiently waiting for the good parts the others were talking about.

There are so many slash fics written better than this.

I ended up getting caught up in the events but I ended up face-palming a lot. Like a lot, a lot. I still couldn't get past the name Neville, like arethusa, kept thinking about Mr. Longbottom of HP.

A line that totally caught me off guard and made me snort out loud since I decided not to take this too seriously after I got over my initial disappointment:

I think this is crack. I'm not entirely sure. It says drama and romance in the tags but I totally agree with MightyMaeve.

The plot is okay and you end up getting caught up with the events. I hate to leave things unfinished even if it was a pain to read. I recommend for those who aren't as picky as me at the prose. Don't take it too seriously or you might end up busting an artery or something.

It was okay. The first 1/3 of the story was great, but as the story progresses, even with the nicely-written angst, it failed to get an impact. It was too fairytale-ish in the sense that you need to suspend your disbelief in how smooth the engagement and wedding went when their plan's biggest obstacle is Satsuki being a GUY. The ending was abrupt, as well.

I loved Satsuki's and Neville's characterization very much (except for the crying!uke part). Edward was just... meh. Neville made me think of Longbottom (HP). Ooh, and witty banter in a yaoi novel (le gasp!), that's a first for me.

All in all, a nice read. As long as you don't question the plot device too much.

... Last updated on September 10th, 2010, 9:41pm

Very Yaoi-novel-ish! The writing style is easy to follow and its a fun, fast ride all the way through. The non-con (only to be expected in a yaoi novel!) was bang-on if you like that sort of thing - it tore my heart right out and I think of it often. *hangs head* Yes, it was incredibly angst-ridden.
The ending was a bit lacking (too suddenly sweet), but the furious jealousy resulting from seeing the uke act of his own accord to hold friendly tete-a-tete with another man, was a sight to behold as it burst forth from the seme who hired him. And of course, after the blinding rage, came the searing guilt...oh gods! Yaoi novels profiled at their finest. LOL. Much love for this story.
And Miyagi-sensei's art strangely appeals to me strongly with her boys' gangly, shockingly long and thin stick figures with painful looking contortions of the body...

... Last updated on October 22nd, 2009, 3:51am

Well I can't say this was the first yaoi novel I've read ('cause it isn't) but it was one of the best. I loved the main character. His (Her?) personality was perfect for the part.(Haha, ya get it. 'cause he was an actor. Ohhhh) I enjoyed readin it and for yaoi lovers you should read at least one yaoi novel. It leaves some things to the imagination. Which, at times, can intensify or detensify (is that a word?) a part. It's all about the perception of the reader.

I can find no better phrase to describe this novel. I generally check out the following factors when reading a novel-
1. Plot: The plot was generic and nothing to boast of. The unfolding of events was quite predictable and had all the tried and tested elements of yaoi culture:- cross-dressing, rape due to jealousy, realization of feelings after rape and an almost cheesy make-up sex. The strife between the lead pair was hardly dealt with which made the making-up part seem fake and rather rushed.
Points: 2 out of 4

2. Prose: The translation was okay however I did not like the author's writing style. The best way for me to describe my dissatisfaction is through a quote- "When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters." And that is where this one falls flat. The characters do not elicit a single emotion from me. Their personalities are very one-dimensioned.
Also, one major peeve for me was when the author twice described British food as "disgusting".
Points: 2 our of 4

3.) Art: It was pretty enough. Satsuki was portrayed as a feminine-looking boy, just as he's described. Edward looks refined too.
Points: 2 out of 2.

Total points: 6
If you are looking for a light yaoi read and are willing to overlook a rehashed plot, this one is for you.

... Last updated on November 23rd, 2013, 3:50am

Ok it wasn't that bad.. but i agree with the others who said that it was angst-gone-bad..and then-failed-plot
Is true... it didn't impressed me, the ending was like the and i didn't liked it.
I liked that is detailed but not too much, (cause i get bored easily if i read one page of completely rubbish like when a writer describes a room or whatever it is that decorates it...) is just too much 4 me... but this one didn't had all that talking non stop, so i liked it!.. but i also think that it should had more talking when .
I would like more drawings also! they were perfect!

I'm totally addicted to this novel when I first read this and I even printed the scans so that I have my personalized copy.
The manga is light hearted and sweet.
I like how Edward gave up his fortune just to be with Satsuki.
I also like their first wedding night.
This novel is truly unforgettable.

First off I'd like to start with the summary. Since it's a "summary" I assumed it's just an explanation of the beginning of the story, but nope. It goes into the story for about 2/3 through. That was a let down for me. Because I thought the story would process faster but it didn't. It started out slowly but I still continued reading looking for something special to happen and finally the climax happening, but sadly there was no climax since everything was just plain and predictable. However I can't deny that the story was good. The story is really unbelievable though. I mean how on earth can a guy actually marry another famous guy and no one would find out the other's situation?! At least there's a plot going on unlike most of the other yaoi which are mostly smut. Speaking of smut, there's not much in this one. There was only two scenes where they slept together and it wasn't explicit at all. The author focused more on the emotions of characters rather than the action.
Characters. That was the most frustrating part of the story. They start off good, good enough to handle...lets just leave it at that. But later on they both get so annoying. I felt like choking the life out of them. Edward is just close minded and fast to judge. He does not look at the situation and just does whatever comes to his mind. Satsuki is just plain stupid. I liked him at times when he knew the right thing to say, but most of the times he was just the "hard to get uke". Frustrating, both of them!
Over all, it was an ok read. Other than the slow pace and the annoying characters, I'd say it's a pretty good story.