After School Nightmare - Overall Impressions

When I ordered these books I did it for only two reasons - the artwork was absolutely gorgeous and I got a REALLY good deal for buying the whole series at once.  And now, as I sit here typing this, having read all 10 volumes, I can safely say that this is one of the most bizarre series I've ever read...and it's not just because the main character is a hermaphrodite with serious gender issues.

As I finished each volume and then went online to find reviews for my blog, I was honestly surprised by all of the positive feedback.  I was trying not to get spoilers, but I was also truly curious about what it was others saw in this story because I just wasn't seeing it.  Yes, the artwork was delicate, and flowing, and everything a good shojo series should have...but was this REALLY a shojo series at all?  There were elements of fantasy, horror, romance, etc. - it's like the story itself couldn't decide what it wanted to be, just like the main character couldn't decide which gender to accept.  Confusion abounded, but I kept reading because the mystery had captured my interest - then at about the 4th or 5th volume I figured it out...and kept reading to confirm my suspicions (and to finish things up for my blog.)

In addition to the convoluted plot, I also found myself disliking the main character, who did nothing but whine, complain, and blame others for almost all 10 volumes.  That got old fast and even the other characters couldn't save the story from my downward spiraling opinion.  All in all - despite the unusual twist of an ending (that you may or may not see coming), I just didn't like what After School Nightmare had to offer.

Regardless, there are still plenty of teens that I think would relate to, and enjoy this series.  So, if the story sounds like it might fill an empty/lacking niche in your library, why not give it a try?

Real/Fake Princess - Overall Impressions

In all honesty, when I first started reading this series I wasn't sure if I wanted to finish it.  Almost immediately, I was put off by the fact that the inner artwork wasn't anywhere near as good as the artwork on the cover; the gorgeous detail was still there, but often body proportions looked wrong or the character's faces appeared distorted.  Generally, bad art throws me out of a story faster than anything else; however, knowing the series was only five volumes, I decided to persevere.

For the most part, this story was predictable in a generic, fairy tale sort of way, and it was actually the side characters that saved this series from my "To Be Sold" pile.  The main roles were all fairly stereotypical and didn't change much from volume to volume, so I quickly began to rely on the minor characters for enjoyment and entertainment.  Fortunately, they didn't disappoint, and with their antics the story stayed interesting...and even took one or two unexpected twists.

Something else that definitely needs to be mentioned is the fact that the publisher rated this series for "All Ages".  IT IS NOT!  These books SHOULD have been rated 13+; please do not buy this series and put it in your Children's section - put it in YA where it belongs. 

With that said, while this wouldn't be my first choice to put on any library's shelves, it's still a sweet romance with very few volumes (i.e. cheap!) and if your demographics are right, you'll have many female manga readers who will thank you for adding this series to your collection.

Dramacon - Overall Impressions

This super-cute ameri-manga is a must for any fan of cosplaying or conventions.  Although only three volumes long, the plot flows nicely and the characters actually get some development, each moving (at least a little bit) out of their stereotypes by the end.  There are some scenes that might seem over-the-top and maybe even a little cheesy to older readers, but the series doesn't have "drama" in the title for no reason.

One of the things I enjoyed most was how the passage of time was depicted.  Each book represents a new year (and a new con); this enabled the author to do things with the characters - their lives and personalities - that, with such a short series, might not have been possible otherwise.  I've read quite a few of Tokyopop's 3-volume ameri-manga releases, and this is one of the few that I've felt really managed to pull off a cohesive, completed plot.

As for the artwork, it's beautifully rendered with very few noticeable flaws and just the right amount of humorous imagery thrown in.  Even without the fun storyline, I probably would have bought these books just for eye candy alone. Ms. Chmakova has a wonderful eye for both beauty and detail.

Overall, I found this series to be a very enjoyable experience, with fun characters and a charmingly sweet storyline.  So, if you think Dramacon might fill an empty niche in your library, I highly recommend you give it a try.

After School Nightmare, Volume 10

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  10 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A dog is shown biting someone and tearing out someone else's throat; blood is shown
 - A dog is attacked/strangled by a shadow creature
 - A character's chest is cut open with a sword and bloody birds fly out
 - A woman is giving birth prematurely and blood is shown seeping from her pants

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character is seen in bed with another male character after the fact.  It's obvious what they were doing, but nothing graphic is shown
 - The main character observes another couple obviously in the middle of sex, but all that's seen is their discreetly covered upper bodies
 - The main character has sex more than once with the male love interest; nothing graphic is shown, but it's obvious what they're doing
 
Reviews
Graphic Novel Reporter
Heart of Manga
Manga Life 
Manga Maniac Cafe

After School Nightmare, Volume 9

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  9 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A character has his leg chopped off and then he's run through by a sword; blood is shown
 - A character is sliced across the chest by a sword; blood is shown
 - A lion bites into the neck of a character and slashes him across the chest; blood is shown
 - A character shoves his hand into the chest of another character and eventually pulls out a bloody key
 - A character forcibly strangles/drowns another character

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character accepts his feminine nature and confesses his feelings to a male classmate
 - The main character and the male love interest share several kisses
 - Incest is seen; a brother and sister kiss and share an intimate embrace while unclothed (although nothing graphic is shown)
 
Reviews
Graphic Novel Reporter
Heart of Manga
Kuriousity  
Manga Maniac Cafe

After School Nightmare, Volume 8

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  8 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
- It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A parasite appears on a character's hand and another character cuts it off with a sword; blood is shown
 - Several characters are run through &/or sliced up by a sword; blood is shown

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character accepts his feminine nature and confesses his feelings to a male classmate
 - Several instances of the main character and the male love interest making out
 - Incest is implied but not shown
 
Reviews
Familiar Diversions 
Kuriousity  
Manga Maniac Cafe

After School Nightmare, Volume 7

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  7 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A face grows out of the back of one of the other characters
 - A character is chopped in half by a sword
 - Unidentifiable bodies are shown, all of them run through with umbrellas
 - Images of a husband beating his wife are shown
 - A character is bitten on the hand by a parasite living in his arm; blood is shown streaming from the parasite's mouth
 - A character is shown with blood running from her eyes and mouth

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character begins to experiment with the idea that he might be more feminine than masculine by dressing in girl's clothes
 - Incest is implied but not shown
 - Scattered sexual references throughout the volume
 
Reviews
Familiar Diversions 
Kuriousity  
Mania 
Manga Maniac Cafe

After School Nightmare, Volume 6

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  6 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A character is crushed to death by a giant hand and blood is seen streaming down afterwards
 - A character attacks and then stabs two swords through the chest of another character; spattered blood is shown
 - A character's hand is torn off at the wrist; blood and ripping skin/muscles are visible

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 
Reviews
Familiar Diversions
Manga Maniac Cafe 
Mania
Pop Culture Shock 

After School Nightmare, Volume 5

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  5 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A character is sliced to pieces by a multi-bladed device
 - A character has a huge hole shot through his chest, but no blood is seen
 - A chamber filled with spikes, blood spatter, and bloody hand prints is seen
 - Another blood-spattered wall is shown
 - A character sets off a trap which causes a spiked block to crash down on top of her; nothing graphic is shown except for blood pooling out from underneath the triggered device
 - A blood-covered key is shown in several panels
 - A character is doused in oil and set on fire
 - Unidentifiable bodies are shown, all of them run through with umbrellas

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character, who asserts himself as a guy, is almost raped by another male character, who gives up halfway through
 - Incest between a brother and sister is implied; they are seen in bed together, one on top of the other, unclothed from the waist up, but nothing graphic is seen
 - The main character has sex with his girlfriend; nothing graphic is shown, but it's obvious what they're doing
 
Reviews
Graphic Novel Reporter
Heart of Manga
Kuriousity 
Mania 

After School Nightmare, Volume 4

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  4 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - One of the characters uses some sort of telekinetic power to attack another character, slicing them again and again; blood is shown
 - Lots of spattered blood when one of the characters is attacked by a long-armed creature
 - A character has tree limbs that shoot out of her body; a little blood is shown

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character, who asserts himself as a guy, allows himself to be kissed and touched multiple times by another male character
 
Reviews
Graphic Novel Reporter
Heart of Manga
Manga Maniac Cafe
Mania 

After School Nightmare, Volume 3

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  3 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - One of the characters attacks a long-armed creature, beating it repeatedly; blood is seen flying around and spattered on the ground
 - A character is stabbed in the back my multiple sharp-tipped umbrellas
 - Two characters struggle and one pushes another out into "dead space"
 - The walls drip briefly with blood
 - A giraffe is attacked with a sword, no blood is seen

Sexuality/Sexual Themes

 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - The main character, who asserts himself as a guy, allows himself to be kissed by another male character
 
Reviews
Graphic Novel Reporter
Heart of Manga
Manga Maniac Cafe 
Mania 

After School Nightmare, Volume 2

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  2 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - It's possible there was use of language in this volume, but it was scattered enough to be unnoticeable

Violence/Gore
 - A character is stabbed through the back with a sword
 - A character thrusts their hand (up the the wrist) into another character's fresh wound and rummages around before finally pulling out a bloody key
 - A character attempts suicide by jumping off a building, but is unsuccessful
 - A character is attacked by lots of long little arms and he proceeds to hack them to pieces
 - A character sinks down into a pool of blood and drowns

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - It may bother some that the main character is being romantically sought after by both a guy and a girl
 - Suggested incest between a brother and sister; sex is referenced and we see them kiss on the lips
 
Reviews
Graphic Novel Reporter
Heart of Manga
Manga Maniac Cafe 
Panel Patter

After School Nightmare, Volume 1

Title:  After School Nightmare

Volume:  1 of 10

Author: Setona Mizushiro
Type: Manga

Publisher: goComi!

Genres:  Drama, Horror, Fantasy, Gender Bender, Romance

Age Rating: Older Teen, Age 16+

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

This probably depends on your library and where you feel comfortable putting it.  I believe this title would work very well in a YA collection.  However, due to some of the issues the characters deal with, if your community is a bit more conservative the best place to put it would probably be in Adult.
 
School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Not recommended

High School - Possibly, be aware of your community
 
According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

Mild Language, Moderate Violence, Mature Situations
 
Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
Language
 - The use of the words "bastard" and "hell" as generic curse words

Violence/Gore
 - A character is run through multiple times with a VERY sharp-tipped umbrella; blood is seen
 - A character is seen multiple time walking around with two large, bloody holes in her body, one through the head and the other through her upper chest
 - Images of a husband beating his wife are shown
 - The main character has begun to menstruate - drops of blood are shown (in full color) at the beginning of the story
 - A character is strangled by a creature made up of nothing but VERY long arms

Sexuality/Sexual Themes
 - The main character, Mashiro, is a hermaphrodite; male on top and female on bottom
 - Mashiro has begun to menstruate when the volume begins
 - Mashiro walks in on two other characters having sex; both are completely clothed, but it's very obvious what is going on
 - It's implied that a 5 year old has been raped, but nothing is graphically shown
 - One character cuts the clothes off of another with a sword; full nudity is implied, but all the viewer actually sees is a bare, male chest
 - A forced kiss between Mashiro and another male character
 - There's an attempted rape, but it doesn't get very far; the characters involved stay fully clothed
 - Scattered sexual references throughout the volume
 
Reviews

Anime News Network
Manga Life
Mangablog
Mania.com

Real/Fake Princess, Volume 5

Title: Real/Fake Princess

Volume:  5 of 5

Author: I-Huan
Type: Manhua

Publisher: DrMaster

Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Shojo

Age Rating: All Ages

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

YA section

School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Possibly (See Parental Eyebrow Raisers below)

High School - Yes

According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

DrMaster doesn't appear to have a more advanced age rating system.

Parental Eyebrow Raisers 

(To be honest, I really feel that this book should have been rated for 13+)

Violence/Gore
 - Character torture with visible blood, but nothing overly graphic.
 - A minor character is beheaded 

Sexuality/Sexual Themes 

 - There is a sex scene in this volume.  Nothing is shown, mostly it's just close-ups of the characters' faces, but it's obvious what they're doing.

Reviews

Advanced Media Network 
Manga Life 
Manga Maniac Cafe
Mania

Real/Fake Princess, Volume 4

Title: Real/Fake Princess

Volume:  4 of 5

Author: I-Huan
Type: Manhua

Publisher: DrMaster

Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Shojo

Age Rating: All Ages

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

YA section

School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Yes

High School - Yes

According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

DrMaster doesn't appear to have a more advanced age rating system.

Parental Eyebrow Raisers 

(To be honest, I really feel that this book should have been rated for 13+)

Violence/Gore
 - Knife stabbing and sword slashing in this one; it's not overly gory, but blood is involved
 - Character death due to sword wound 

Sexuality/Sexual Themes 

 - Very mild suggestive language
 - Concubines are mentioned

Reviews

Manga Jouhou
Manga Maniac Cafe
Mania

Real/Fake Princess, Volume 3

Title: Real/Fake Princess

Volume:  3 of 5

Author: I-Huan
Type: Manhua

Publisher: DrMaster

Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Shojo

Age Rating: All Ages

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

YA section

School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Yes

High School - Yes

According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

DrMaster doesn't appear to have a more advanced age rating system.

Parental Eyebrow Raisers 

(To be honest, I really feel that this book should have been rated for 13+)

Violence/Gore
 - One of the characters attempts to kill another with a knife.  There is a fight and blood is shown in several panels, but nothing overly graphic.

Sexuality/Sexual Themes 

 - Very mild suggestive language
 - Brothels and concubines are mentioned

Reviews

Manga Jouhou
Manga Maniac Cafe
Mania

Real/Fake Princess, Volume 2

Title: Real/Fake Princess

Volume:  2 of 5

Author: I-Huan
Type: Manhua

Publisher: DrMaster

Genres:  Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Shojo

Age Rating: All Ages

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

YA section

School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Yes

High School - Yes

According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

DrMaster doesn't appear to have a more advanced age rating system.

Parental Eyebrow Raisers 

(To be honest, I really feel that this book should have been rated for 13+)

Language

 - One or two words here and there (Ex. bastard) 

Violence/Gore
 - There's a sword duel where two of the characters receive minor injuries; blood is shown. 

Sexuality/Sexual Themes 

 - Very mild suggestive language
 - Brothels and courtesans are mentioned

Reviews

IGN
Manga Jouhou
Manga Maniac Cafe
Mania

Real/Fake Princess, Volume 1

Title: Real/Fake Princess

Volume: 1 of 5

Author: I-Huan
Type: Manhua

Publisher: DrMaster

Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Shojo

Age Rating: All Ages

Public Libraries - Location Suggestion

YA section

School Libraries - Location Suggestion

Elementary - Not recommended

Jr. High/Middle School - Yes

High School - Yes

According to the Publisher - What the Age Rating Means

DrMaster doesn't appear to have a more advanced age rating system.

Parental Eyebrow Raisers 
(To be honest, I really feel that this book should have been rated for 13+)

Language

 - One or two words here and there (Ex. bastard) 

Violence/Gore
 - One of the characters has flashbacks in which someone is attacking her with a pair of scissors.

Sexuality/Sexual Themes 

 - Concubines are mentioned, but not explained.
 - One of the main characters occasionally visits a high-end prostitute, but nothing is ever seen, only very vaguely suggested.

Reviews

IGN
Manga Jouhou 
Manga Life
Manga Maniac Cafe
Mania