Lies & Kisses: Yaoi

by Masara Minase

Haru and Tatsuya find that romance sometimes can happen . . . the morning after. However, a secret history between the two emerges that will test their commitment to each other.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976604574
• ISBN13: 9780976604570
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Dramaqueen
• Length: 200 Pages
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

Drama Queen produces the best titles

I've been a fan of Empty Heart for over a year, but I was wary when I saw the cover for Lies and Kisses. I didn't think anything could live up to the first, and the colors didn't look appealing. But I take it all back. Masara Minase's art is just gorgeous--beautiful modern lines, more clean, and long, yet realistic, like the higher quality art of mainstream manga. This second book didn't leave out any punches, satisfies with a love story, and that "kink" that every reviewer hints at here makes it very satisfying. She's gone on to include very slight "chibified" faces (only 3-4 in this volume and not overly exaggerated) and it adds to the characters rather than detracts. Drama Queen, as ever, finds and produces the best yaoi titles in English. The book is exactly the tankobon size with dust jacket and color inserts, the pages aren't too smooth or shiny or heavy, and feel just right.

No Lie, this is Beautiful

All genre of mangas have certain plot devices which are used again and again: Sibling or twin issues, parents dead or dying, someone being drugged/raped, cross-dressing, etc. I enjoy the angst, which is why I collect manga, including yaoi. A good author will use these devices effectively to move along the story and add a bit of angst. A GREAT author, will use these devices in a way which feels brand new and original. Take this great author, add stunning art and you have "Lies & Kisses" from Marasa Minase. The plot begins with Tatsuya, a successful (I know, "elite", whatever) business man hearing a report from his assistant about Tatsuya's missing brother. Apparently Tatsuya has hired a detective to find said brother, who was kicked out by their father unfairly. Within two pages we realize Tatsuya is a very nice man, concerned about his employees and about the welfare of the missing sibling. This is revealed in a simple exchange of dialogue and beautifully expressive faces(great art/great writing again). Cut to Tatsuya coming to a bar he normally frequents but hasn't been in a while. The dialogue banter is very natural with all the characters and not stiff, with awkard translations. Publisher DramaQueen has been magnificent in their printing and translation efforts. Check out "Brother" or "Rising Storm" and you'll see how natural the translation works as opposed to, say, "Passion, Volume 1". Anyway, on with the summary: Tatsuya sees a young man playing the piano. Immediately, he is capitvated. We see this again in one panel, with an expressive face. Looking at Minase's art, it's hard not to be captivated too. As even an idiot could guess, and we will quickly find out, the young man is Tatsuya's missing brother. But Tatsuya doesn't know it and hits on Haru. Haru meanwhile, thrilled to see his brother again, agrees to go for a drink with him. Yep, the ol' ohhh, you're gay? That's why you asked me out, and took me to a hotel? line. Unlike most yaoi, however, there's a definate, calm, "Yes, I am. Is this okay with you?" response. For once, the seme character gives a very realistic opportunity for the uke character to say, "Um, no," and you just know Tatsuya would apologize, get dressed and leave or something, instead of the typical battle. He's a non-playing, quiet, kind man. Not your typical Seme at all. Well, Haru's not the brightest bulb of course (but so pretty it doesn't matter) and "accidentally" (it is an accident but you have to read it to know what I mean) agrees to go ahead and sleep with him. Both are so happy, you just know it's going to be hell when Tatsuya finds out the truth. What actually happens? You'll have to read for yourself, and it is worth the read. There is a lot of white space in the panels, but it seems to only enhance Minase's elegant faces, hands and overall body language. The sex is not too terribly graphic (unlike another DQ publication, Brother, which I loved for its humor and originality, but that's in anot

deliciously deceptive...

first of all, dramaqueen did a fantastic job with this manga... the translation is smooth, and for some reason i find that the paper quality of this manga easily the best i've encountered so far. my copy came crisp and literally squeaky new. what i love the most about dramaqueen's manga is that they include colored pages as well, most other yaoi publishers here simply forgo that extra touch. the only other dramaqueen publication i have is yuzuha ougi's "brother," which also has very yummy colored pages. that said, i wish that several other illustrations in "lies & kisses" were printed in color, namely the picture of haru and tatsuya in front of the piano. from what i can make out of the b & w version, it must have been stunning as a colored print. before i forget, one caveat: this isn't for the kiddies. yeah, trauma (may) await innocent eyes. one thing i absolutely adore about this manga is the quite surprising ending, and believe me, this manga is aptly titled. yaoi mangas seldom surprise me anymore, so kudos to masara-sensei for being able to inject some spice and twist into what could have been another run-of-the-mill plot of half-brothers falling in love. i have read quite a number of her works, and i have to rate this as one of the more risque of her works so far. tatsuya and haru are incredibly sexy, and masara minase's trademark beautiful men abound in this manga. i love the innocence (and perhaps even naivete) shown by haru; he is absolutely lovable and pure, despite the hardships he goes through. tatsuya's immediate infatuation with haru is also quite surprising and refreshing. he certainly didn't take long to stake claim on haru - here is a seme who's not afraid to commit initially. very sexy in a man, methinks. masara minase's artwork is breathtaking; i love the vivid facial expressions and her fine eye in details. there is something terribly sexy about the way she draws the human form, like the curve of the neck, the seductive glance of the eyes, the lines of the fingers and even the drape of the cloth on the bodies are sensual wihout being blatant. lovely. this manga lives up to its yaoi rating; granted, it is not as explicit as, say... "brother" or ayano yamane's finder series in that most of the sex scenes were drawn to hide details, yet doesn't lose an ounce of its eroticism. some may think that haru seems a little too accommodating and even dependent, but somehow for me he doesn't fall into the weepy, helpless uke category. his mannerism and even meekness only amplifies the purity of his character, and i think shows how sincere he is about his love for tatsuya. the way the whole issue is resolved feels a tad rushed, not the best i admit, but eh, it works for me. the sex alone makes up for it. unexpectedly, there are some comic moments in this manga, despite its angsty premise. they are mostly evident in the later pages and somehow makes this love story even sweeter. the supporting characters are also well fleshed, like

Masara-sensei for the win!

I bought "Lies and Kisses" because I adore Masara Minase's "Empty Heart" (which also got licensed and is being released soon) as well as most of her short stories; I like the art style and the characters and dynamics in "Empty Heart" were decently well fleshed-out. I was pleasantly surprised by "Lies and Kisses." The art is good (though perhaps "Empty Heart" is ever-so-slightly better caliber) and the story contains some nice variations on the typical "boy meets boy, falls for boy, gets rather forcibly seduced and finds himself in love" formula. The romance is somewhat underdeveloped, but that can be overlooked in view of the characters' respective backgrounds. The main characters are half-brothers, so if you're offended by that don't buy! Altogether it was enjoyable and I was pleased by the mixed-emotions, somewhat surprising turn of events at the end. I definitely recommend this for people who enjoy salaryman/younger man romances and sib-love fans.

Worth keeping!

This is Yaoi and Minase is one expressive writer/artist. Maybe there is not as much explicit scenes as we would have liked but what she has drawn does satisfy. The plot is solid enough to carry through to the end and the art is marvellous with a fluid grace to it. The seme/uke pair is endearing and there is depth to their love which is not merely all sex. Lies & Kisses definitely stands out and I wait impatiently for the release of "Empty Heart".