Tale of the Waning Moon, Vol. 2

Ryuka, in search of love, is trying to reach the Moon Spirit Ixto, and a series of chores have to be done before he can get there. Helping him, Ryuka has such things as a cat boy and someone who can transform back and forth between a human and a horse. This is a yaoi series, centering on erotic relationships between men, with a character named Widow the main exemplar, though his relationships are gratuitous and not based on love or affection. There are quite a few details and characters, causing some confusion%E2%80%94those who did not read the first volume will have a hard go of it. Artwork for yaoi is often, though not always, drawn with finesse and beauty, so by comparison the art in this manga is quite basic. This is a light read and high fantasy mixed with some homoeroticism, and while parts can be confusing, the detail on folklore and spirits is fascinating. (June)