What really impressed me the most it's the art, simply breath taking. I wish there are more yaoi mangas with such incredible art. I also loved the hot scenes even if S&M is not my thing. I believe all this enjoyment was possible because there is a plot behind the art and a very interesting one. The plot made me read the manga almost all in one afternoon. Definitely a must read even for those who are not into S&M - like myself.

Beautiful, slightly old fashioned artwork, memorable and HOT characters, plots that entwine and leave you wanting more. Sweet, sad and sexy all at the same time. You won't find SM this hardcore anywhere else, and there is plot behind it. The only thing I want is for the sequel to be scanlated. Hehe.
(Have I mentioned how sexy the characters are??)

... Last updated on May 25th, 2009, 10:06pm

I'm not a huge bdsm fan. I'm not a fan of super-hard yaoi at all. And yet I really loved this series. It's the most beautiful yaoi I've ever read - and oddly, it's also the most realistic. There aren't really any annoying uke/seme dynamics (although, this being bdsm, that dynamic would actually make sense in context). The characters are all actual gay sadistic and masochistic men that suffer from homophobia and the stigma of being kinky. It makes sense that all the characters are gay, because this is an exlcusive gay bdsm club.

The very best thing about Hoshi no Yakata, though, it that it's not just about the hot. These are real characters, not just sex objects, with complex emotions and love. Even amidst piles of chains and whips and gags the ending message is still always about love - and not the usual super-cute yaoi kind, but real, believeable love.

Oh, and another message seems to be "If you play kinky, stay safe." Words to know.

... Last updated on January 10th, 2010, 11:53am

Even if you are not into SM and Yaoi, it is worth to read this collection. The stories are (although the violence of SM) very romantic and sad. I recommend if you can pass through the SM/Yaoi theme.

This is one of the absolute best Yaoi series I have read. If you like BDSM, D/s, hard and sexy and aren't squicked easily, this is for you! It offers an exploration of the many darker and basic faces of humanity with characters that have depth and multi-faceted personalities.

"Behind every exquisite thing that ever existed, there was something tragic."
"The mutilation of the savage has it's tragic survival in the self-denial that mars our lives."

I was drawn in immediately, feeling for all the people at this club. The all had their own histories and issues to work through and each one's story was intriguingly and deftly delivered.

The art was incredible. The tools in the BDSM lifestyle were drawn clearly and beautifully. The only complaint I had was an occasional 'too feminine' look that didn't appeal to me for some of the characters.

The pain and the joys were all very evocative and believable. The decisions made by the characters made sense to me and kept me reading. I think this is really a niche piece, though. It helps if one has done a little research into the mentality of this lifestyle and the needs within the deeper recesses of humanity (that are often beaten out of us or shamed out of us in current society) that these types of activities can fill and allow a person to grow and understand themselves.

I think that Maia-sensei could have gone even more indepth with the back history of some of the characters. I would have liked to read more of their past tragedies and accomplishments that made them who they were in the present.

I'm not into BDSM but I liked this manga, all five volumes, and I guess it's because Hoshi no Yakata is really romantic.

I liked the extra of the second volume the best, it's awesome.

For those who don't like any kinds of violence and/or too feminine looking guys... Well erm I don't like them either but I still like this manga, so maybe you should just try and read it

Throughout this manga I could not help but think that it was all horribly romantic and sweet. I haven't read many bondage hentai, so maybe that's par for the course - though somehow I doubt that. Normally I can get past effeminate faces and recognize a person as male especially once they're naked, but I found that really hard to do with many of these characters. I really liked how the various sub-plots wove together and it ended just the way I like it, but I won't give it away.

I'm not a fan of yaoi, and never will be, even so, I really enjoyed this. I'm a complete fan of torture; that originally why I even read this. Boy, did I get what I wanted, and more.

This manga is filled with a nice amount of torture, although hardly any gore. =D Overall, its nice.

this is definitely graphic! If you're into s/m go ahead and read it. Well I'm not into s/m but surprisingly I enjoyed reading it. The story behind all the weird stuff they're doing had me interested enough to read the entire thing. ^_^ and I agree with ares6..what they did to Sumiya was horrible. I for one do not want to be branded by someone I don't even like. eww

I don't think I was ready for this manga the first few times I read it.
It seemed extreme to me, almost vile. Why would someone want to inflict pain upon a person they love? That's what I thought. Since then, it's been quite a few years. Having read it again recently, I found myself unfazed by the BDSM aspects, and in fact appreciative of them and the intricate dynamics it brings to the characters' relationships.
Through those acts they learn many things about themselves.

The art, while quite outdated is nice. It gives a softness to all the harsh deeds while being exquisitely explicit and arousing.

... Last updated on February 13th, 2015, 4:47am