Reverse Harem Garden

Stella wakes up in a mansion with four beautiful and mysterious residents - Levi, Friedrich, Yoel, and Gilbert. What secrets are they hiding?  It's no secret to us readers that this is a vampire manga.  Being a vampire manga and a reverse harem at that may be its charm but it is also its downfall. There's already a preconceived notion of us what to expect in the story thanks to Diabolik Lovers and Vampire Knight and other vampire media for that matter. But then again, I don't mind being proven wrong. And even with that notion, I have signed up precisely for that notion.   Based on the mangaka's art on Twitter, I was also under the impression it's going to be more mature but it is surprisingly sweet with hints of naughtiness. Think Diabolik Lover but asking for consent from her. Still, it may be too early for that. It felt like an introduction book though which it is after all and the things we are expecting I mean story proper will start in the next volume. The end...

Princess Maid/Maid to be a Princess (webcomic/manhua) 37 chapters - ongoing by Koowa Group & Ayu & Heibaigeer Princess Sophia is a spoiled princess of  Vesperang. Then overnight everything will be taken from her and the princess becomes a maid in the neighboring kingdom, Norterang. In Norterang there are five brothers: Alex, the cold eldest prince; Luka, the second prince loyal to Alex only; Cecil, the third prince with unknown motives, and the fourth prince Darcy who is sickly. There's a fifth brother not in the picture, the youngest prince Harry.   The start of the story is reminiscent of how Akatsuki no Yona started but instead of going with Hak she was taken by Su-Won. But that's how far it goes in terms of similarities and it's a different story of its own.  Sophia's strength is her cleverness.  It's not super battling of the wits but I enjoyed how the story banked on that . I  feel for her when she's being bullied but she hangs on and pr...

Hanayaka Nari, Waga Ichizoku: Kinetograph - OVA - 2 episodes Haru works as a maid for the Miyanomori family. The head of the clan is a powerful man in Japan in the Taisho Era. He has six sons from different wives and he will name the heir of whoever makes him the happiest.  At first, I didn't like the angular art and harsh palette. Even the music was weird. But I realized that I find it refreshing it after being used to fluffy and colorful reverse harems. The music has a nostalgic and retro vibe. I also like how they didn't try to squeeze in everything in just two episodes. It ends in a way that it will pique your interest to go buy and play the otome. Still, I wished it was a series instead of OVA. It was hard to choose my favorite bishie in just a short time but yet I find myself looking forward to the three brothers who are always hot-tempered. The anime also has also an unexpected good mix of seriousness and silly randomness. Overall, nothing fancy but not that b...

Kaichou Wa Maid Sama (The Student Council President is a Maid) 26 episodes Ayuzawa Misaki is the first female student council president of the former all-boy Seika Highschool. She rules with an iron fist to protect and increase the 20% female population. After a long day lording over her classmates she serves as part-time waitress in a maid cafe. But one day the most popular boy Usui discovers her secret after-school activities. I read the manga before and I didn't consider it really a 100% reverse harem. The summary above is taken from my manga entry 2 years ago. When I found about it being animated I had doubts if it will still have a reverse harem element. I haven't read the manga again since I posted about it but in the manga the stupid trio didn't have a name and the characters that are interested with Ayuzawa have not yet appeared or may not be in the manga at all. The anime turned out to be sweeter and funnier! The story is anything goes that happens ...

Ardour by Wu Rou Xuan 10 volumes-ongoing Ardour is the most popular boy band and Lian, an aspiring fashion student, doesn't even know or heard about them. The story scanlated so far is still at it's early stages. Let's wait for the threads and romance to unravel. Thanks Amel for the tip!

By ayreesa "Lovely Baby" Shin Yumachi 1 volume-complete Kohinata An suddenly becomes the manager of her grandma's all-boy lodging house when her supposed guardian is hospitalized. This is the mangaka's first project. Although I'm not familiar with her other works, the art looks like it's just a draft and I'm not sure if she tried to slack work by covering the other eye with bangs. The start of the story is random and rushed but after the second chapter I'm hoping it will surprise me with a good twist or ending.

"Kaichou wa Maid-sama!" ("The Student Council President is a Maid!" or "My Sweet Kaichou") 6 volumes- ongoing by Hiro Fujiwara Ayuzawa Misaki is the first female student council president of the former all-boy Seika Highschool. She rules with an iron fist to protect and increase the 20% female population. After a long day lording over her classmates she serves as part-time waitress in a maid cafe. But one day the most popular boy Usui discovers her secret after-school activities. The story is surprisingly tame and boring at times for its' moe-ness. The cute art and promising romance is the only thing that's piquing my interest. I'm thinking this will end up as not a reverse harem since the story is about Misaki and Usui. But I'll give extra credits to the three idiots (A, B and C) who earned a lot of cameos and the Ayuzawa Club.

By ayreesa "Maniattemasu" ("No Thanks!") by Ai Morinaga 2 volumes Homare becomes a maid to Mr. Ichinokura and his three sons to work off her parents' debts. This is an earlier work of Ai Morinaga of 'My Heavenly Hockey Club'. The guys looks the same as MHHC except for the 'ugly duckling' heroine who looks out of place. I was inwardly groaning when I saw that it's another maid story, but it's actually funny and different. Opposed to the traditional reverse harems, Homare is very aggressive with her feelings and her harem are not a bit interested at all. Ouch!

"Gong Zhu Xiao Meo" ("Romantic Princess") based on manga "Romance Godan Katsuyou" ("Four Steps to Romance") by Kazuko Fujita 13 episodes Xiao Mei is a hardworking girl who dreams of getting rich. Like a fairy tale, the pauper turns into princess when she was discovered as the long-lost granddaughter of the billionaire Emp. But being a heiress is not romantic at all. She has to thwart the schemes of her grandfather and the 4 successors. I like the opening song "Xin Wo" sang by Fahrenheit (w/ members Cai & Jin) and S.H.E (w/Ella from "Hana Kimi"). I've been singing this and even dancing (!) with made up lyrics for days now like "shining shiny". I also like the montage taken from various scenes of the series. And I have a burning question, what's with the bear mascot in a suit??? The script for the twists are well-written and logical. But the pacing is such a drag that I can only watch 1 episode a da...

By ayreesa "Beniiro Hero" ("Crimson Hero") by Takanashi Mitsuba 12 volumes-ongoing Volleyball is everything for Nobara that she'd rather be dorm maid than inherit the ryotei or restaurant. This is a half reverse harem because at the start she's serving the top 4 players of the boys' volleyball team and as the manga progresses she was was able to form her own female volleyball team. "Crimson Hero" has a winning combination of comedy, volleyball action and romance. The art is beautiful too. The heroine is tomboyish but a real beauty. I've put off writing it since it's not a full reverse harem but all I can remember is that I enjoyed it. I've read the latest chapter, and it's looks like there's a new set of reverse harem.

By ayreesa "Full House Kiss" by Yuuba Shiori 5 volumes-ongoing Suzuhara is desperate to get clues about her missing sister that she worked as a maid and a clueless art teacher to gain entry to the prestigious school. The story is similar to "Dakedo Happy Paradise", "The Wallflower" and "Crimson Hero" (future blog entry :P), about a girl tasked with household chores for elite students who are conveniently the resident hunks of the campus. The manga also comes with an otome PS2 version. No review yet as the scans are for a few chapters only.

"Dakedo Happii Paradaisu" ("Dakedo Happy Paradise") by Takarada Iyo 2 volumes Ruu's father ran away from debts, forcing her to apply as a maid to the Hiura brothers. Nothing happened to the story. Really. The pacing was so slow. The story was not fully explored and then it abruptly ended after two volumes.

Yamatonadeshiko Shichiheng e (The Wallflower or Perfect Girl Evolution of Sunako of Many Forms or My Fair Lady)- 25 episodes based on Tomoko Hayakawa's manga Sunako was rejected by a boy she liked because she was ugly since then she shuns everything beautiful and bright. Her aunt entrusts then these four bishies to turn her into a lady or else, their rent will increase. This anime is a breath of fresh air against the cutesy, beautiful animes.The jokes are irreverent and the drawings seems crude with Sunako being in chibi form half the time. If you're into gothic and dark anime, then this one's for you. See there's reverse harem for everybody. The soundtrack is also cool especially the rock ballad "slow" by Kiyoharu.