Syrup, A Yuri Anthology, Volume 3‘s Japanese name is Syrup NIGHT Hatsuyoru Yuri Anthology, (シロップ NIGHT 初夜百合アンソロジー) and I want to make that very clear, because the title explains why I never reviewed it in Japanese. An entire anthology about women’s “first time” with each other is exactly the kind of fetish about women’s sexuality that I, personally, can live happily without. Virginity is a stupid social construct that is used to control women’s bodies and sexuality, and fetishizing it is a thing people who are not me might do.

That said, Syrup, A Yuri Anthology, Volume 3 is a collection of shorts by names you will undoubtedly recognize from other Yuri anthologies. Creators in this anthology include Itou Hachi, Iwami Kyouko, Ikeda Takashi, Sal Jiang, Canno, Morinaga Milk and a few other names that are new to me. The stories range in tone, from melancholy loss to embarrassed comedy and whether or not you find them sexy will be entirely personal. For me, the strongest stories were Iwami Kyouko’s “Spare Key,” and Canno’s “The Story of the First and Last Night,” which was also a ghost story about grief.

I found it impossible to even read Itou Hachi’s story, which was basically the same lolicon animal-eared girls story they always provide, but in this case, the age issue was impossible for me to ignore. I am telling you this not to offend those of you who enjoy Itou’s work, but to warn those of you who don’t…this one is really not a thing I want to keep in the house.

Ratings: All are variable, as it’s an anthology.

Overall – 7

If 18+ Yuri anthologies are your boom, and you like – or would like to get to know – the creators in this collection, or enjoy this particular fetish, undoubtedly, you’ll enjoy this volume. Seven Seas bringing out 18+ Yuri will certainly appeal to some folks. It wasn’t for me, and I knew that going in to it, but it may well be for you! I can’t call this hentai or porn, even, but as an 18+ anthology, it didn’t hit a single mark on my “sexy” scorecard.