Archive for the Ratana Satis Category


Pulse, Volumes 5-7

June 23rd, 2024

by Eleanor Walker, Staff Writer.

Content warning: Volume 6 contains scenes of sexual assault.

A blonde with long hair in an orange dress and a long dark-haired woman wearing a beige top embrace happily.

Remember when I said back in my review of the first two volumes “does this hospital not have an ethics board?” Never did I predict this statement would come back to bite the way in the way that it has.  The hospital director, who we met at the end of volume 4 is cunning, ruthless and will stop at nothing to get what she wants, which is Mel. They have history together (they are ex girlfriends), and thanks to something Mel did which is never explicitly discussed, although it is covered in flashbacks, she cannot use her hands properly and had to give up being a surgeon. She is quite clearly a sociopath who only sees people as tools to be used and thrown away once she’s finished with them.

Back to Lynn and Mel. At the end of volume 1, they made a bet “If I can get you to fall in love with me within 2 years, will you be the one to operate on me?” It’s now time to call that bet in, or is it? Volume 5 sees Lynn’s condition getting worse, she’s back in the hospital and been moved to the top of the transplant list. But the director steps in, and the donor heart is sent elsewhere. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Lynn has to have another operation to place a device in her heart to squeeze out some more time while waiting for the transplant, and the director bursts into the operating theatre mid surgery and orders Mel to leave the room immediately.

 

A blonde and a dark-haired woman share an intimate moment, as the blonde takes the other woman's glasses off, as she sits on the floor next to a bed.

Because of the situation Mel finds herself in, in volume 6, Lynn overhears some of the other staff talking, concludes that this is all her fault and it would be best to break up with Mel so she doesn’t lose her career. It’s the least convincing breakup ever, but I’m pleased to report that they eventually find their way back to each other via all your favourite cliches, including a reunion at the airport, as is obvious from the frankly adorable cover of Volume 7.

Lynn finally gets a new heart, the director gets her long awaited and well deserved comeuppance, and they all live happily ever after. How far we’ve come from the stone cold woman who doesn’t believe in love, and the journey has absolutely been worth it. I’ll certainly be reading again from the beginning, and at 7 volumes the story is a nice length without dragging itself out too much.

 

 

 

A blonde in a wedding dress and a dark-haired woman in a wedding suit smile at one another happily.

Lynn and Mel continue to be the main attraction of the series, and although you do want to tell them to just talk to each other sometimes, we wouldn’t have a story otherwise. Olivia also deserves a lot of credit for being brave enough to stand up for what she thinks is right.

The art is as attractive as ever, and the erotic scenes are well crafted without leaving much to the imagination. Seven Seas have once again done a lovely job of designing the covers, and the interior printing is of good quality with clean lines.

Hot off the press, Thailand is expected to legalise same sex marriage by the end of the year.

 

Ratings:

Art: 8. As charming as it’s ever been.

Story: 8. Enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and even thinking the unthinkable. The side story with Mel and Crystal at school is also very fun.

Service: 10. Graphic depictions of sex with very little left to the imagination, as always. Also, Mel in a suit.

Characters: 9. Olivia, thank you for doing the right thing.

Yuri: 9.

Overall: 9. As I said for the first two volumes, if you’re looking for something with adult characters and a decent bit of spice which isn’t just porn, you could do a lot worse than Pulse. These later volumes up the drama but if spice is your main thing, you won’t be disappointed.





Pulse, Volumes 3 & 4

February 28th, 2024

Two women with long, flowing hair, one dark purple, one blonde, embrace surrounded by flower, as sunlight shines down upon them.by Eleanor Walker, Staff Writer

Today I’ll be talking about Pulse, Volume 3 and Volume 4, by Ratana Satis. I reviewed volumes 1-2 a while ago, so let’s see how the story has progressed. 

Content warning: Volume 3 contains scenes of violence and homophobic slurs. 

Lynn has now moved herself into Mel’s apartment, and domestic bliss/lots of sex ensues. Mel’s feelings for Lynn both in a physical and a romantic way are growing, but the dark cloud of Lynn’s heart condition continues to loom over the relationship. The porn to plot ratio is more skewed towards the porn side than it was in the first two volumes and most of the story in these volumes actually takes place away from the hospital, with Mel getting tangled up in an old police officer friend’s investigation of a violent thug who targets women.

Two women, one with long brown hair in a brown jacket and gloves, and a blonde in a tawny coat and gloves, share a red scarf and smile at each other as they embraceThis arc didn’t really last long and I felt it was all a bit conveniently wrapped up, but a fresh Big Bad in the form of a new hospital director does appear at the end of volume 4. From what happens when she appears and the flashbacks in the chapters when she’s introduced, things are going to get very interesting for Mel indeed. I’m looking forward to the story getting back to the hospital and seeing what will actually happen to Lynn because of her condition. 

Ratings:

Art: 8. It’s still attractive and some of the chibi facial expressions are a delight. The erotic scenes are also very well crafted.

Story: 6. Despite this review covering 2 volumes, I don’t feel like a lot actually happened in the story. As with the last review, don’t think too hard about how implausible the situation is. Why is practically every female staff member at this hospital a lesbian? 

Characters: 8.5. Still by far and away the best part of the series. Mel and Lynn are incredibly cute together and the side characters are well written too. 

Service (level of salaciousness): 10. This series is rated ‘Mature’ and shrink wrapped for a reason. The erotic scenes are even more plentiful in these volumes and there is very little left to the imagination. 

Yuri: 9. It’s lovely to watch them growing closer and the walls around Mel’s heart gradually coming down. 

Overall: 7.5

 

Still an enjoyable series, just the story felt a bit weaker in these two volumes than the first two.

Volume 5 is already out, Volume 6 has just come out in English, with Volume 7 the final volume, due to hit this summer. 

Eleanor can be found lurking around the internet @st_owly.