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Manga Review | The Demon And The Goblin’s Love Story by Tengoku

Title: The Demon And The Goblin's Love Story

Author(s): Tengoku

Artist(s): Tengoku

Kurama is a demon who protects the mountain he lives on. His existence is a lonely one, as he’s often joined only by the animals that call the mountain home too. But he spends his time fulfilling his duties, patrolling the mountain, and ensuring everything is as it should be. On one such patrol, however, he finds that his mountain is not as it should be. There’s trash and garbage littering the mountainside. Enraged, Kurama takes his time to clean it all up, then he goes on the hunt to find just who caused it.

Much to his chagrin, he discovers a gang of goblins taking refuge in a cave on the mountain. Kurama has dealt with goblins before, and it has never gone well. Still, this is his mountain to protect, so he takes the bag of trash and confronts the goblins. Immediately, he’s introduced to their leader, Hijiri, who apologizes on his people’s behalf. They have no intention of harming the mountain and hope Kurama will allow them to stay. It’s a pleasant surprise, to say the least.

While Kurama is pleased that his mountain will be protected, he’s more taken by Hijiri. For the first time ever, Kurama is hopelessly in love with the goblin leader. But how can an awkward demon win over someone so charming?

Title: Love Nest

Author(s): Yuu Minaduki

Artist(s): Yuu Minaduki

This is the third series in a shared world created by Yuu Minaduki. It is recommended that you read the first and second entries before reading this one, as they share backgrounds and characters.

Masato treasures his days off, often working late hours during busy seasons at work. Unfortunately, the little peace he has at home is disrupted by his upstairs neighbors, who constantly stomp around and make noise. He escapes his home to drown his sorrows at his favorite bar, where he complains to one of his best friends, Naruse. Naruse pokes fun and comforts Masato at the same time but ultimately ends up making him an offer he can’t refuse: to move into one of his houses. Masato is all about it and immediately cancels his lease.

Just as he expected, the house is phenomenal. It has the latest entertainment system, which tickles Masato’s fancy. It’s impeccably clean. But more important, there are no annoying neighbors. Masato is ready to enjoy his new digs when he’s suddenly face-to-face with an unexpected person: Asahi. Asahi is an older man. He’s dirty, inconsiderate, and constantly steals Masato’s food. What Masato thought was heaven is suddenly hell. He has gone from shitty neighbors to a shitty roommate, and Masato can’t wait to find another place so he can escape Asahi.

But as he compromises and grows to learn who Asahi truly is, he finds himself softening up to the older man. But Masato has been betrayed by a straight man before. Though his heart might want Asahi, Masato isn’t so willing to let it guide him that way.

Title: Mr. Wolf Is Violently Smothering Me with Love

Author(s): Abuku

Artist(s): Abuku

Sakutarou is a human omega. Though male omegas aren’t necessarily uncommon, there is still a bit of a social stigma around men being with other men and carrying children. As if that wasn’t difficult enough, Sakutarou also has an unusual fetish: noncon beastmen porn. Since he was small, Sakutarou adored beastmen, but that innocent admiration soon grew into an undeniable attraction. The odds of him finding a human alpha partner who likes omega men are already slim. The odds of him finding a beastman alpha partner who’d be attracted to humans are even slimmer still. Interspecies couples aren’t unusual, but marriage and long-term partnerships are rare and seen as a bit strange by the majority.

So, Sakutarou keeps his attractions to himself until he happens to start his heat a few days early. While out on the street, he ends up being picked up by beastman. The beastman carts Sakutarou away to a hotel, where the two have unbelievable sex. When Sakutarou finally comes around, the beastman makes an even more unbelievable claim: he believes Sakutarou is his fated mate. It’s everything Sakutarou could’ve ever wanted, but it’s almost overwhelming in how ideal it all is. Can Sakutarou find it in himself to accept who he is and the love that this beastman wants to give him? Or will he self-sabotage and run away from his happiness?

Title: I Seriously Can't Believe You...

Author(s): Jimi Fumikawa

Artist(s): Jimi Fumikawa

Iida is popular. Girls constantly surround him, but he’s never had a girlfriend. This intrigues Kon and his friends, who are trying to figure out why such a handsome and popular guy is single. They ultimately end up at one conclusion: maybe he’s gay? Unwilling to let go of his curiosity, Kon decides to confess to Iida, hoping to reveal whether or not he’s gay. The confession ends in rejection, though Iida is very kind and considerate about it, which Kon is surprised by. Once again, Kon is only further entranced by Iida.

However, what Kon doesn’t know is that Iida is gay, and his sudden confession has started Iida on a spiral. Iida didn’t know who Kon was before, but now that he’s received his confession, Iida can’t help noticing him no matter where they are. He’s gone through great effort to hide his sexual orientation, including avoiding other men as much as possible. But for whatever reason, Iida just can’t seem to escape Kon. I mean, Kon already confessed to him. Would it be so bad if Iida took the plunge and tried to get close to him in return?

Title: Amaregulus: Soldier & Soother

Author(s): Aion Kiu

Artist(s): Aion Kiu

Anton was once one of the most powerful and skilled warriors in the kingdom’s army. However, after an injury, Anton could not continue fighting within the military. Thankfully, as a praised warrior, Anton is put into a coveted and high-ranking position: Soother. Soothers are retired warriors who, thanks to their immense stamina and unquenchable libido, train their bodies to help sexually satisfy and train the nobility and royalty in the bedroom. It’s an honorable role that Anton happily accepts, and after intense training, Anton is finally ready for his first partner. Anton doesn’t expect to be posted to the 4th prince, Julius, who just had his coming-of-age ceremony.

Anton’s task is to teach Julius about sex and take his virginity, something Anton considers an immense honor. Julius also seems ready and willing, but when Anton tries to do his job, Julius refuses to let him. Julius believes Anton still wants to be a warrior and is determined to get Julius back on the field. He has no intention of using Anton as a Soother, leaving Anton at a loss. While he appreciates how much Julius cares about him, he longs to fulfill his role. Is Julius just not attracted to him? Or is there something deeper that Anton isn’t even aware of?

Title: My Bias Is A God!?

Author(s): Fuyu Touji

Artist(s): Fuyu Touji

Mamori is an idol superfan. His favorite group is Gods, a relatively new and temporary idol group. Despite their name, they aren’t Gods, but in Mamori’s world, Gods often live among humans, gathering worshipers in various ways, including the entertainment industry. But besides their superhuman abilities, such as mind control and flying, Gods don’t look any different from regular humans. And though Gods are a normal way of life for Mamori, he’s happy that his favorite idol group is comprised of regular, hardworking humans, especially his bias, Kamui. Mamori loves seeing Kamui grow and become the ultimate idol, and he’s especially excited to see him perform in person.

But during the concert, out of nowhere, it seems like Kamui talks to him and only him (despite being on stage in front of thousands of people). Kamui calls Mamori his ‘vessel,’ which Mamori doesn’t understand. Casting this off as a weird moment, Mamori is ready to go home after the concert, only to be approached by security and swept away to none other than Kamui’s home. As it turns out, Kamui is, in fact, a God, and Mamori is his chosen vessel. What is a vessel, Mamori asks? It is the person who will literally give birth to a God’s divine messenger.

And the only way for it to happen is to do it the old-fashioned way. So, not only is Mamori heartbroken that his bias is actually a God, but he’s now confined away and forced to have his baby. All Mamori wanted was to be a fan. What does this mean for his future now?

Title: Dangerous Drugs of Sex Re:Life

Author(s): Yuki Mizuta

Artist(s): Yuki Mizuta

Ryuji’s and Makoto’s relationship didn’t start like your average one; even now, they aren’t a regular couple. Though Makoto has come to accept their irregular beginnings, Ryuji can’t seem to shake his guilt, shame, and insecurities from that time and even long before. Still, Makoto does his best to shower Ryuji with love, and Ryuji, in turn, does his best to keep Makoto thoroughly satisfied in the bedroom. But once Makoto starts working more heavily at his new job, the tenuous happiness they’ve crafted for themselves begins to fray.

Ryuji fears losing the one thing that means anything in his life: Makoto. When they met, Makoto was confined and totally reliant on Ryuji for pleasure, sustenance, and happiness. But now, Makoto has a job that he loves, friends that Ryuji doesn’t know, and doesn’t need Ryuji to feel fulfilled. And though Ryuji has his own career and life outside of Makoto, he doesn’t feel he deserves to love, be loved, or experience pleasure in any form or fashion, instead devoting all of his efforts to pleasing and keeping Makoto happy. But if Makoto doesn’t need him anymore, what does Ryuji have left?

Meanwhile, Makoto only wants to know more about Ryuji, but Ryuji has an insurmountable wall around him. However, one of Makoto’s new coworkers happens to have known Ryuji when they were children. What will Makoto learn about his distant lover?

Title: Dangerous Drugs of Sex

Author(s): Yuki Mizuta

Artist(s): Yuki Mizuta

Katsuragi was your usual upstanding salaryman. He was praised in his position at work, had a loving girlfriend, and even made enough money to send his supportive parents on a vacation. Unfortunately, this act of generosity from a filial son ends in tragedy. His parents end up dying in an accident during their trip, leaving Katsuragi to mourn them. This starts a domino effect. While mourning his parents, issues start at work due to Katsuragi’s absence. He resigns out of guilt. Then, his girlfriend leaves him with barely a world. Suddenly, the life Katsuragi worked so hard for and loved is unrecognizable.

Katsuragi is a walking corpse, unable to go on after losing everything that made his life worth living. He’s prepared to end it all when, while standing on the ledge of a building, a stranger grabs Katsuragi, stopping him. The man tells Katsuragi that if he’s going to throw his life away, he might as well give it to him. The stranger is sure he can make Katsuragi want to live again. Scared off the ledge, Katsuragi gives himself over to the man. What he doesn’t realize is that the plans the stranger has for him involve unimaginable pleasure and humiliation, unlike anything Katsuragi has experienced before.

But why Katsuragi? Why him? And what does this man plan on doing with him when it’s all over?

Title: The Man Who Shattered My World

Author(s): Osamu Moriya

Artist(s): Osamu Moriya

Tachibana is a player, and he’s exclusively a top. He has no intention of falling in love or maintaining a romantic relationship, and to ensure his partners are aware of the status quo, he has them agree to a relationship contract. It has several requirements, but the most important one is simple: no falling in love. This serves Tachibana well for the most part. However, while he’s on the hunt for a new partner, he finds himself having to reject potential candidates, as they admit that they might end up falling for him. Tachibana is about to call it a night after hunting for a sex partner when a new guy approaches him.

The man is very handsome but very tall and much more masculine than Tachibana usually goes for. Tachibana immediately assumes he’s a top and clarifies that he is exclusively a top. But to Tachibana’s surprise, the man says he’s a bottom. Again, the man is not Tachibana’s usual type. However, Tachibana loves to dominate, and what would be more satisfying than dominating this big guy? So, after explaining his contract with the stranger, the two agree to the terms and head to a hotel room together. Everything is going well with his new bedmate, Kuzumi until Kuzumi decides to turn the tables.

The exclusive top Tachibana suddenly finds himself on the bottom and is thoroughly dominated instead. Tachibana is ready to break the contract and forget the whole thing, but Kuzumi has no intention of letting Tachibana go. And as much as Tachibana doesn’t want to admit it, he finds himself craving to be taken by Kuzumi again.

Title: Smoky Nectar

Author(s): Akira Minazuki

Artist(s): Akira Minazuki

Mitsuru has been friends with Annaka (nicknamed Anna) since they were in preschool, and though their lives have gone in entirely different directions, they remain close. Anna has become a successful real estate agent, while Mitsuru is often in the trenches as a field journalist, reporting on various local news. Mitsuru is currently on a story that leans toward the supernatural. Still, he’s determined to find the truth, whether based on reality or something harkening back to human imagination. A local woman was recently found dead, her blood completely clotted, and with two suspicious bite marks on her neck. The killer is called “The Biter,” a rumored vampire.

Mitsuru is actively seeking the killer, and as usual, he reaches out to Anna, who has a multitude of connections, looking for some information. Anna doesn’t have much and spends most of the time insisting that Mitsuru stop inserting himself into such a dangerous scenario. What Mitsuru keeps to himself is that Anna is suspected of being “The Biter,” and while he is looking for additional information from Anna, he’s also hoping that he’ll be able to prove Anna’s innocence. Anna is his closest friend, and Mitsuru wants nothing more than to protect him the only way he can. But if Anna is “The Biter,” what would that mean for their relationship?

More importantly, is Mitsuru safe?

Manga Reviews

Manga Review | The Demon And The Goblin’s Love Story by Tengoku

Manga Review | Love Nest by Yuu Minaduki

Manga Review | Mr. Wolf Is Violently Smothering Me with Love by Abuku

Manga Review | I Seriously Can’t Believe You… by Jimi Fumikawa

Manga Review | Dangerous Drugs of Sex Re:Life by Yuki Mizuta

Manga Review | Dangerous Drugs of Sex by Yuki Mizuta

Manga Review | The Man Who Shattered My World by Osamu Moriya

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