Given Vol 3 by Natsuki Kizu

 

Absolutely forever ago my friend Chloe lent me all the volumes of this graphic novel, which is based on a band called Given who in the first book haven't even met and who throughout the series get closer. I found them all after my move and am really trying to make my way through them mostly so I can have them back to Chloe. I've had them way too long! 

In this book Uenoyama realises he's in love with Mafuyu and they kiss each other just before the band plays their first live gig. But Uenoyama doesn't say anything to Mafuyu so they're just both confused Jaruki has a massive crush on Akhiko, but Akhiko is seeing someone else so that's really confusing too. These boys are just all useless and need to chat.

This review just doesn't need to be that long. I enjoyed the progession of the story. I liked the artwork, as previously. I'm giving this four out of five. I'm writing this in mid December, I wonder if I could get to the rest of the series soon? 

Given Vol 2 by Natsuki Kisu - Review

I read the first volume of this graphic novel when my friend Chloe lent it to me because she thought I would like it. I did, so she lent me the second volume. And then I totally forgot about it, so didn't get round to reading it for ages. Then she reminded me about it and about three other books she had lent me, so I decided to get to them and read them all in a few days. And I did! This was the first. 

So we're back with Uenoyama, Akihiko, Haruki, and Mafuyu. In the first volume they put their band together and the reader found out what happened in Mafuyu's past which makes him the way he is. In this volume, he's trying to write lyrics for some songs for their first gig, but he's really struggling. 

I loved the artwork for the gig the band actually play, it seemed really realistic and each member seemed to come alive and to really love what they were doing. It really seemed to get across the emotions of playing live music. 

I'm not sure if I'll read anymore in this series, but I did like this a lot. Five out of five. 

Given by Natsuki Kizu - Review

My friend Chloe lent me this book because it's about boys in a band who fall in love and she thought I would like it. She was right, I did! I like graphic novels because I like looking at the art at the same time, and the artistic choices that have been made.

So the story is about a band and it ends up that there are two relationships going on between the four of them. Because this is the first volume, though, it mostly just sets up the band getting together. Ritsuka is the electric guitarist and he's still at school. He goes to his special spot one day and finds another boy sitting there. A boy with a very fancy guitar, but with apparently no idea how to play it. It's got broken strings, so Ritsuka helps the boy, Mafuyu, mend it. He isn't sure who the guitar belongs to, but Mafuyu wants to learn to play it so Ritsuka helps him. Ritsuka already knows the bass player, Haruki, and the drummer Akihiko, so the four of them do start a band by the end. 

Chloe asked me to guess which one of the boys was her favourite and it was a no brainer, it was obviously the soft blonde one Haruki. He's my favourite too! 

I'm looking forward to reading more in this series. I'm giving this four out of five.