Pretty Boy Detective Club~ The Dark Star that Shines For You Alone Vol. 1 (Bishounen Tanteidan) written by NISIOISIN/ art by Kinako/ translated by Winifred Bird
Mayumi Dojima is searching for the star she saw as a kid. She asks for help from the Pretty Boy Detective Club which consists of Manabu the Aesthete, lover of beauty; Michiru the Epicure, he of the beautiful palate; Hyota the Adonis, he of the beautiful legs; Nagahiro the Orato, he of the beautiful voice and Sosaku the Artiste, creator of beauty.
The burning question is: is it a reverse harem or not? There's a room converted into a decadent club room. The club members are beautiful, weird, and one who's filthy rich. There's a gender bender moment. The only thing missing is the twins and the broken vase. It all seems to point to Ouran High School Host Club but it's not. It's more like Ouran meets Disease Outburst Boy. But using these to describe the story doesn't give it justice.
After I'm done reading, I was confident to say that it's not a reverse harem but my confidence kept on wavering whenever I remember them calling her beautiful or the situations she got herself with the boys specifically with Hyota and Michiru that can be interpreted as something more. When I try to imagine how the anime will play out and I'm confused again. It has the reverse harem feels but it's lacking that one crucial element of romance that will officially make it as one. I'm still hoping though it may turn into one in the future? But reverse harem or not, I'm still looking forward to reading it.
And fair warning, I am not familiar with NisioIsin other works but his reputation precedes him. It felt dragging at first from the POV of the teenager with so many things running in her head but then it hooks me in with the characters and the humor and wit of the author. The novel is beautifully written and I revel in the play of words. It feels simple yet complex at the same time. It jumps from craziness then to a serious nugget of wisdom that strikes your heart then to more craziness again. Repeat. This is my first non-isekai light novel since Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report. It's a refreshing change of pace that broke my streak of consuming isekai light novels.
The novel made me realize that I enjoy mystery. Now thinking about it I don't proactively pick mystery shows like how I would be intentional say with sci-fi or stylish shows. Nancy Drew is my first book series in elementary and I looove the Elementary series. (I sound like Manabu here.) My only problem was how they figured out what happened. There is no explanation whatsoever. But the twist in the ending got me. It's so simple and I didn't even guess it although I already felt something was off.
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| Mayumi Dojima in the anime |
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| key visual from upcoming anime adaptation |
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