By Volume 15, Rakuen Le Paradis has settled into a routine. Thankfully, it’s a routine I’m really comfortable with. ^_^ The stories are a mix of genres with a hard edge of WTF, which I approve of, even if I don’t always enjoy it. And I frequently do. I’m still reading and enjoying wholly straight romance by Mizutani Fuuka (“14-sai no Koi”) and Kazuma Kowo (“Darling”). There are a number of series I read, but have no idea if I like, honestly, like everything by Nakamura Asumiko and Ninomiya Hikaru. And there’s Yuri, some of which I love.

Topping the “I love this” is Takemiya Jin’s “Omoi no Kakera,” which comes to a completion, at last. It’s a pretty gentle landing for a series that started rambunctiously. Mika is happy, Saki and Mayu have a chance to be happy and I’m hoping we’ll get more from her. Her name isn’t on the roster for Volume 16.  :-(

Nishi UKO’s “Collectors” was actually laugh out loud funny this time, as Shinobu sparks a meme of a sort, and  “demande” was a paean to sweets, work and a happy life.

Kurosaki Rendou is getting soft. This volume had a Yuri story not filled with manipulation or BDSM. Kinda creeped me out, to be honest. ^_^; I kept waiting for the boot to drop.

A little surprisingly, Sengoku Hiroko’s Yuri one-shot is now a short series. The teacher and the student have it out between them. The student asks the teacher to teach her about love. The teacher responds with an important first lesson about consent.

Not Yuri, but loads of fun was Unita Yumi’s (creator of Usagi Drop) story “Nemuri-hime” about a middle school girl dragged into godhead by a wandering kami. It was just delightful. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

Rakuen Le Paradis remains my favorite magazine with it’s eclectic collection of stories, art and perspective.