So flawed, so perfect. Is this a new genre? Oh my goodness, is it jousei-BL? It's so genuine, honest, and unflowery. So unidealized, brutish--hngggg. Why aren't there more twisted titles like this? This kind of quality and rawness, I've only been able to find in rare fanfic and Queer as Folk until now!

The art style isn't the best, but the story and dialogue is amazing. We're not sorry that Kyouichi is not a Gary Stu. Get over it. He's not supposed to be likeable. He's supposed to be human. On the other hand, I found Imagase extremely likeable and interesting.


Cliche? What? Are you blind? This goes against so many yaoi cliches I've ever known. You know how ukes magically are never able to shove the offender away and say no?
Do you know how amazing that is? Do you?! Huh?! /jabs finger.

So many of you complain about how it's not love, but an obsession. And I'm like--and? Seriously, it's way more interesting like this. You complain about how the characters sleep around--and? Imagase's just using them as replacements. Even if he wasn't, I still wouldn't care. They're guys. What do you expect.

Do you know what line killed me beyond ecstasy?

/swoon~swoon~~oh my god I love this author so much asdahkdglakdjhgaldg

That was a masterpiece. Onto the sequel!

... Last updated on March 5th, 2013, 11:26am

This book, The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese, is an atypical josei book. First of all, it's heavy on the yaoi (not that josei isn't heavy on the smut, it just tends to be of the heterosexual variety). Secondly, this is not a book of misunderstandings, dubious consent, or flowery declarations of love. Both of the main characters have their own issues to deal with, and both of them have character flaws that make it hard to completely love one or the other.

Yet what this book does is make you believe that a one-sided love can be so strong that it draws two people together, even when the odds are stacked against them. It shows that people can be human, make mistakes, and be forgiven. Mizushiro's endings are rarely definite or definitive, and this one falls into that category, but it leaves you hopeful, believing that these two men will work out the problems that plague them and finally be comfortable in their love. It is not a "fluffy" story, but neither is it "angsty." It simply is a story about two men who have to find out where they stand with one another and face the trials life throws at them. Mizushiro's new art style is a beautiful sight to behold, but her gift for storytelling hasn't changed at all. The only reason it doesn't get a perfect 10 in my book is because the first chapter is a little weak. Chapter 5 is one of the most cruel, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming chapters I've read in a book for a long while.

I swore off yaoi the other day. No, really - I did. I've read so many yaoi titles that were just big disappointments. I'm not into smut so much as good stories and likable characters. I'll read anything from any genre, so long as it entertains me. Unfortunately, I kept being let down by yaoi in particular... So I swore it off.

Then I decided to read some more of Setona Mizushiro's work and... Well, here's a yaoi title by her. Well, whatever. I took a chance and read it. Am I ever glad I did.

This is, by far, one of the finest yaoi titles I have ever read. The characters are amazing and well-developed. The story has depth and cohesion. The relationship is realistic and full of emotion. The art is lovely and easy to follow. Everything about this manga is good. Good, good, good.

Don't shy away from it if you're not a fan of yaoi (or if you've sworn it off, like I did ). The story and presentation far surpass the genre of the work. This isn't a yaoi manga with a good story... This is a good story that happens to be yaoi. If only there were more in the genre like this one!

Definitely give it a try, no matter who you are. It's excellent.

... Last updated on January 10th, 2011, 5:21pm

Oh my god, this series! It's kind of mean, and very intense, and although I was a bit dubious about Mizushiro Setona's new style at first I don't think the old style could have done such an amazing job getting that across (or at turning me into an astonished fangirl wreck). Reading the more pivotal scenes feels rather like being punched.

I don't really *like* either of the main characters, and thankfully I don't think we're supposed to: this is a complicated situation with complicated people. These aren't picturesque flaws - the normal yaoi window dressing - and it's all the stronger for it.

ETA: Ahhh, I forgot to mention: it's *really* hot.

... Last updated on July 14th, 2008, 2:42pm

Personally, I though this was perfect. Somehow, it managed to hit all of the things I want in a love story or any story. The characterization was developed and well thought out with individuals being fleshed out and possessing different ways of thinking with actions and reactions that are fully realistic (though the motivations and personalities involved may not be). The romantic development actually had visible (and more importantly, understandable) progress, instead of teleporting from A to B. And of course, the backstory that permeates through everything.

I've read this manga and it's sequel over and over again. Mizushiro actually created a beautiful and believable story out of a couple of yaoi cliches and it all had to do with the strength of the characters she created. It was the first manga I read where I didn't have to suspend disbelief while watching a straight man fall in love with a gay man because it made sense. Even Imagase's obsessive stalker behavior was within the realm of the believable. Every character in this manga was deeply flawed but still likeable, and that includes the female characters which is a rarity in yaoi. I didn't even dislike the adulterer, I felt sorry for her and understood why she was doing what she was doing even though I didn't approve.

The plot was strong and character driven. It built up naturally and didn't feel rushed or forced even when it came to the climax. And though cliches were used, the story itself never felt cliche. I just can't say enough about how much I really, truly loved this story and the characters in it but I'm hungry so I'm going to stop here and recommend that you read it for yourself so you too can know that joy of reading a well constructed, realistic and moving romance between two men. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wish it was licensed in English so you could proudly display it on your bookshelf even though it freaks your mom out.

I don't know how MIZUSHIRO Setona did it. She is one of those rare authors who can build her characters with all the flaws that I find very annoying but they somehow fit in together so well to create an amazing & unforgetable story. Cornered Mouse is definitely one of the best yaoi drama I have ever read. The story is very well drawn & narrated that makes it so easy for me to suspense any disbelief.

The story started with a cliche of a Imagase (kouhei) blackmailing Kyouchi (his former school senpai, unrequited love) into a physical relationship in exchange for keeping quiet about Kyouchi's infidelities from his wife. As the story progresses, we see more of the complex & sometimes unflaterring sides of each character: of how Imagase recklessly threw aside his current lover while declaring his undying love to Kyouchi over the phone and how he shamelessly installed himself as part Kyouchi's life after the divorce. Kyouchi is far from blameless - he was indeed a serial adulterer due to his spinelessness. When you think their relationship is resigned to a lot of ambiguity, Sentona sensei introduced a catalyst in the form of Kyouchi's former girlfriend & the ex school mate of both - who eventually forced both guys to choose the direction of their relationship.

I love everything about this manga - the art, the character building (so realistic) and the frank, engrossing conversations that read more like a novel than manga. I love it so much that I took the time & pain to put it on my Kindle 2 so I can take it & read it anywhere because I am tired of waiting around to see if any US publisher will license & publish in English or not. In my opinion, the English literate audience definitely deserves this glorious manga!

... Last updated on June 18th, 2011, 6:47am

i still re-read this manga and its sequel every now and then. it's just too powerful a story to just forget and pass over. i'm impressed the mangaka made the characters so complex and relatable WITHOUT making them "likable" characters. in fact, there isn't much to like about either character; kyouichi is spineless and unfaithful while imagase is obsessive, insensitive and insanely stubborn (although he has his super cute moments). the magic in this manga is that you can identify with some of the characters' deeper flaws and relate to some of their feelings during certain circumstances. you want them to be together, but at the same time you realize the reality of the mess of their relationship.

... Last updated on July 24th, 2017, 2:36am

What a manga, I mean it, but it becames awesome when you read this one and the sequel. In fact something I feel sad it took me so long to find... I wish I could find mangas this good and nicely elaborated like this one. Such a jewel. If you feel like reading angst, then this fits perfectly. It talks about the scape of real world when u fall in love with same sex person and how to face the world and your own morals in the afterglow. So much passion and tears, for real, my collection was incomplete without this amazing manga.

I really liked this one, it was TRULY realistic in the sense that it makes you say this happens in real life... I must say that I didn't fancy the ending that much but if the ending of the story would be any different, like say fluffy, it would've been the ruin of the whole series... I truly commend the manga-ka for this... The art could've used some improvements but it was still worth it... I totally recommend this even to those who aren't yaoi readers simply for the sake of the great plot it's got...