Sweet Pool Vol. 1 - Yaoi Review

Welcome to BRB, everyone! Today is an FFAF, which means I can post anything. And, I've chosen to post a yaoi review.

Where to begin.... I hate to say it, but this time I found myself quite literally stumped; how do I write a review when the book I've just read is decidedly strange. I mean close encounters of the fifth kind strange. Sweet Pool Volume 1, written and drawn by Mayu Kurumazaki and Nitro+Chiral is without a doubt at first glance an interesting yaoi. The synopsis and somewhat attractive characters are a lure, but once you get past the lust, you'll soon discover Sweet Pool is a slow read with a plot that doesn't make much sense.

Yoji Sakiyama returns to school after a long absence due to poor health. Once in class, he's reunited with a fellow classmate and friend Makoto. They talk then the morning assembly starts, and while the teacher brings everyone up-to-speed another student, Tetsuo Shironuma stares at Yoji, making him feel uncomfortable. The assembly ends and the pair pass one another, leaving the room. From that point on the plot transgresses into the realm of just plain freakin' strange. Yoji notices a weird smell, he meets another student, Zenya Okinaga who rambles on about nonsensical things, and he becomes almost delusional and starts to see what appears to be blood and blood clots. Then, Yoji finds himself attracted to Tetsuo in yet repulsed; he experiences uncontrolled sexual urges whenever the guy's around.

By this point, you'll be scratching your head. Then you find out someone else is pulling the strings. A group of people—possible aliens or scientists—have done something to him, and call him the female host. Host of what exactly...who knows, but there is some type of alien life form inside his body, and that is why he finds himself sexually attracted to Tetsuo, who is also a host, but the male counterpart. From there the story goes on and on, leaving the reader baffled and asking a lot of questions.

Even after reading Sweet Pool Volume 2 I'm no further ahead in understanding the plot. The characters are appealing, but the sex is gruesome and quite the turn off with the blood. Sweet Pool has the potential to be a decent yaoi, but that's it. I give it 2.5 stars for the art.

Sweet Pool Vol. 2 Review

My review for SW Vol. 1, includes this volume. For SW Vol. 2 my rating remains the same, 2.5 stars for the art. 

Happy Yaoi Hunting!

Blak Rayne