Archive for the Yuri Manga Category


Becoming a Princess Knight and Working at a Yuri Brothel, Volume 1

January 22nd, 2025

A blonde woman with extremely large breasts that spill over the top of a leather corset, her gauntleted hands tied above her head to a sword on her back, kneels on the ground wearing leather garters and stockings over visible underwear in a medieval-type street. 4 women behind her regard her with differing expressions: ignoring, glaring, smiling and saluting.Guest Review by Paul S. Enns, Guest Reviewer

Becoming a Princess Knight and Working at a Yuri Brothel, Volume 1, by Hinaki, has a better story than you’d expect.

It’s a mashup of isekai , yuri, and gender bender. Like many isekai stories, there are some RPG-like elements dropped in for doing tasks and gaining ranks. It’s easy to consider these elements as part of the main character’s imagination.

Every character name has been translated into Latin, and provides an additional level of interest/humor. I will provide translations into English in parentheses after the first use of their name.

Lillion (lily) herself/himself is our protagonist. The soul of about-to-die, 38-year-old Naruse Soushi is thrust into the about-to-die body of Princess Reina (queen). Instead of the defiant, not-afraid-to-die Reina, it’s now the quite-afraid-to-die Soushi who begs to live. This is granted and she (the pronoun I will use to refer to Soushi-in-Reina’s body) is sold to a brothel. The brothel’s Madam, Acanthus (genus acanthus are plants with spiny or toothed leaves), renames Reina as Lillion for the duration of her stay.

Given it’s in the title, no surprise, the brothel services only women. Lillion tries to adjust.

Lillion provides most of the humor, thanks to Soushi being inside. Soushi also allows Lillion to endure the many humiliations Princess Reina wouldn’t be expected to get through. Or would Reina be able to endure these? We can’t know. It’s part of the problematic nature of the character.

I can’t really fault Lillion for the actions she takes in the book. Trying to get along in a new world, she is doing the best she can.

Who I can find extreme fault with is Precarie (precariously), the one who removed Reina’s soul and grabbed a random soul from another world to replace it. What is Precarie’s endgame here? What happened to Reina’s soul? Why is Precarie so interested in Lillion when Precarie knows that Reina isn’t in there? Too many unanswered questions.

After Lillion deals with Lady of the Moon (I’m disappointed this wasn’t translated to Domina Lunae), Precarie, and Alsea (sea), she faces the threat of Lapis Rufus (red stone, or ruby, associated with love and passion), Captain of the Vigilante Corps.

I’ve summarized enough and will stop, except to say that it doesn’t have an end and goes right into Volume 2.

While I have a problem with all of the characters, the world building done for this captured my interest. Hinaki obviously has a destination in mind for these characters, and has created a world to tell an interesting story. Just with lots of sex.

By accepting the premise, you accept the level of service. It’s part of the plot.

Translation is well done. Making all proper nouns into Latin words was a fun addition.

Ratings:

Art — 8 I can tell every character apart, and it has well done backgrounds.
Story — 8 Held my interest the whole time.
Characters — 4 Problematic, especially Precarie.
Service — 7 for how explicit it is, 10 for how much there is.
Yuri — 9 It gets a point knocked off for Lillion being occupied by a guy’s soul.

Overall — 7

This was way more entertaining than I expected it to be. I’m going to continue reading this story. Volumes 2 and Volume 3 are already available, Volume 4 releases March 4, 2025.





Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikiteimasu, Volume 1 (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています)

January 20th, 2025

Two women hug, as they look at us. One woman wearing a brown vest over a white shirt, with messy shortish black hair smiles quietly, a woman with long pink hair, wearing a white shift looks at us seriously.In all my many years reading and reviewing manga, my favorite thing is when someone I have been following for ages breaks out into mainstream publishing. It has been my sincere pleasure here on Okazu to watch artists take their doujinshi career to new heights with major publishers. Today is one of those days.

I have been following Kitao Taki since the early 2000s, when she was part of Sakuraike, a doujinshi team whose work I really enjoyed. We were fortunate enough to be able to include some of their work in ALC’s Yuri Monogatari anthology. In 2010, Sakuraike’s work was collected into a 2-volume series Kimochi no Katachi. Of course I reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 2 here on Okazu. When Kitao-sensei struck out on her own as circle BQ, I continued to follow her work, because I liked her formula of self-conscious butch and outgoing femme. ^_^ Well today, it is my very sincere pleasure to say that her work has continued to mature and grow and in 2024, her series published on the U-NEXT site, has been collected into a print volume by Kadokawa.

Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikiteimasu, Volume 1 (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています) is an absolutely delightful fantasy series about Laila, a commoner, whose life is upended when her useless parents sell her off probably for drinking money. Laila is not the kind of girl to wait around and see what becomes of her, so while in the forest, she escapes. Lost and alone, Laila is found by the unlikeliest person imaginable – her old childhood friend Eva, the duke’s daughter.

Eva immediately scoops Laila up and brings her home, where the Duchess summarily tells her to get out, despite Eva and the tutor’s testimony. But when Laila protects Eva from an assassination attempt, she is given the position of Eva’s bodyguard and allowed to stay by her side.

It turn out that Laila is not only smart, and resilient, but she has a knack for mimicking what she sees. When Eva’s clingiest friend tries to drive Leila away with magic and cunning, Laila mimics her magic and ends up saving the friend, Lisette. She’s fast and strong, so her role as bodyguard suits her. Of course the leader of the school, a powerful duelist, Touka Remberk, challenges her, Laila is able to make a decent show before she loses. Touka immediately offers her friendship, as well. But all is not perfect in their school of magic. Eva’s cousin Catharine is an old-school Evil Psychotic Lesbian with girls draped all over her as she holds court and she wants Eva…gone. She’s not above deceit and abuse, even going so far as to have her thugs jump Laila. On the positive side, no one likes Catherine, except her henchicks. ^_^

One of my favorite things about Kitao-sensei’s art has always been the expressions on her hapless and helpless butch characters’ faces as they are swept up by the objects of their desire. Here we definitely get some  of those faces, but Laila is neither helpless nor hapless. She is concerned for Eva’s (and Lisette’s and a classmate who is blackmailed by Catherine, Martha’s,) well-being. She’s a tough commoner, and has confidence in herself, even if a magic school for nobles is out of her depth. Eva is very on Laila’s side and not at all stupid. Lisette, who initially seemed like she’d be an annoying tsundere, is not the enemy she initially seems. In fact, I bookmarked an amusing panel when Lisette is asked if she’s met up with Catherine and her response is to say “bleah” and stick out her tongue. It was very endearing and keeps the character likable.

In a conversation from earlier today, I commented that the thing I was enjoying most about Sorairo Utility was how Minami was being taught how to do things, rather than being shamed for not knowing how to do things.  Here too, bullying is not the plot driver. When the Duchess is ready to boot the commoner for surely she will not have the proper table manners, Laila simply mimics what she sees Eva doing and thus passes well enough. At school, Laila has never fought with a sword when she is challenged to a duel – how would she have ever had a chance to hold a sword, much less wield it in a duel? But she watches and learns and does her damnedest to use the skills she does have, earning her Touka’s respect. Catherine is the only real problem, but she will at least give Laila a chance to shine.

There is quite a bit of Yuri sprinkled about, as one might expect from an artist who has been working on Yuri doujinshi for 2 decades. Eva and Laila are almost immediately a ‘ship and undoubtedly set to be a couple. Lisette’s feelings for Eva are very deep admiration/desire. Touka might have a bit of a crush on Laila, and the two are given a really nice balcony scene. Catherine and her henchicks are definitely a throuple – and we know the henchicks are an item on their own. Nothing is explicit, but I expect we’ll see more as the story develops.

Kitao-sensei’s art is the best it has ever been. Action scenes are clear and fun to read. Characters expressions have always been a strength and she really gets to use a range, from Cath’s evil sneer to Laila’s seductive face.  Despite the potential for a lot of gut-wrenching, this series is a whole lot of fun. Congratulations to Kitao-sensei!

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – Laila kneeling over Eva in bed was pretty servicey, yeah.
Yuri – 6, I expect that to go up.

Overall – 9

This is a super fun fantasy story by a long-time Yuri artist. Sample chapters in Japanese are available on Comic Walker, go take a look!  I’m very much hoping we’ll see a collected Volume 2 soon.





Mejirobana Saku, Volume 4 (メジロバナの咲く)

January 16th, 2025

A pale, blonde girl in a white blouse and green smock school uniform leans over a shorter dark-haired girl in the same uniform, who looks up at her with wide brown eyes.In the fourth volume of Nakamura Asumiko’s first Yuri series, small crimes are on the rise at school, and Ruby is determined to get to the bottom of it.  Is it a ghost, or  curse stealing everyone’s items…or a criminal? The answer is, of course yes, in Mejirobana Saku, Volume 4 (メジロバナの咲く)

First-year Marjorie is saying that the Tarot cards have spoken and the news is not good. Overwrought, she blames Ruby, and another first-year, Bryce. As Marjorie begins to lash out, she and Bryce are implicated in the thefts, but the story turns dark when it turns out that it is one of the older girls that is the mastermind. and her methods of manipulation are unsavory.

That mystery solved, it is  vacation time! Steph, Ruby and Liz all go to the Amalfi coast. Steph, her damaged foot already bleeding from walking too much, literally runs away from someone who seems to think they are friends. One mystery has been solved, but another has begun. Who is this young man to Steph? Ruby tries to understand Steph, but the older girl freezes her out.

This series is one of the gems of Rakuen Le Paradis magazine. I’m always pleased and surprised that it continues. And given where this volume ends, we are going to have to have at least a volume more, which continues to please and surprise. Ruby and Steph have become much more than the sum of their plot points and I look forward to finding out Steph’s undoubtedly emotionally fraught story. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 8
Characters – 8, Marjorie took up a lot of air
Service – 3
Yuri – 7

Overall – 9

Volumes 1-3 of A White Rose in Bloom are out now from Seven Seas, Volume 4 will be out this summer





Sasayakuyouni Koi wo Utau, Volume 10 (ささやくように恋を唄う)

January 9th, 2025

Two girls sit facing us, surrounded by falling pink flower petals. One girl with collar length blonde bob, wears a pink smock dress over a white blouse, holds a bouquet of pink and white flowers or roses, mums, daisies and baby's breath. The other, taller girl has long black hair pulled up into bun, wears a black blouse and skirt. In the wake of the final episodes of Whisper Me A Love Song anime finally seeing light of day, and the cancellation of a Blu-ray release, I wanted to finally take a moment and catch up on the manga  a series that is one of the top titles serialized in Comic Yuri Hime.  I read Takeshima Eku’s series in the magazine, but it is easier to see the story progress when I read it in a collected volume. ^_^ And I apparently forgot to review Volume 9, which is the final arc in the Aki / Shiho conflict, woops.  Don’t worry – if you watched the anime, you’re basically caught up. ^_^

Sasayakuyou no Koi wo Utau, Volume 10 (ささやくように恋を唄う) came with a little 24-page booklet that centers Shiho and Aki, and a a photo of themselves taken at a photo booth in better times, before the band break-up and Shiho’s spiral into whatever it is that she became. It is cute, and poignant and – in the bigger picture – a little silly, because these characters are like 17 years old and this huge falling out was probably 3 years ago. Life is so much more when we are young, because we have so much less to compare it to.

The majority of this volume follows Shiho and Aki as they go on a date. This is a rather huge moment for the two of them, and we watch every cringe and cute moment to see if they can navigate through the coral reefs they’ve both built up around themselves. Aki is a master at pushing Shiho’s buttons, but Shiho surely must get props for actually trying.

Yori stays over Himari’s house and once again, they discuss consent. In a very entertaining scene Himari’s mother cops to knowing that they are an item and welcomes Yori into the family. It was nice to see a scene where a parent just accepts her child’s girlfriend with a smile – there will be no fraught coming out for these darlings.

So, now, Himari and Yori are ridiculously happy together and now that Aki and Shiho are a couple…what’s next? Well, Aki’s younger sister and Himari’s best friend Miki has a sempai in the brass section of band, Aya. Aya reaches out to Miki’s older sister, Aki, who reaches out to Yori and the next thing Aya knows the whole band and Himari are in on her struggle to decide whther to tell Miki her feelings. Aya does fess up, but when Miki learns that everyone in the entire cast knew before she did, she understandably gets royally pissed at Aya! Is their relationship dead on arrival? We’ll have to keep reading to see if this is another Yuritopian school. ^_^  That is to say, yes, it is, and probably they will get together cutely.

Takeshima Eku’s art is instantly recognizable at this point. Her characters are cute, endearing, sincere and frequently seen at dramatic angles. The adorable-ness of everyone here is at Level 9000. Now that Shiho is reformed there is no one to really even dislike… although she’s probably be a prickly favorite for at least a few more volumes. ^_^

Sasayakyouni Koi Wo Utau just continues to be a really sweet series, that is growing just a little every volume.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 8
Service – 0
Yuri – 8

Whisper Me A Love Song, Volume 1-8 are available in English from Kodansha, Volume 9 is headed our way in autumn 2025.





Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing, Volume 3

January 8th, 2025

A wolf-woman in a butler's suit tucks a sheep girl in a fluffy bed surrounded by pastel colors and stars hanging from the canopy.by Luce, Staff Writer

In Volume 1 and Volume 2, we met and got to know Aki, a Wolfa butler, and Momo, a Sheepa princess. Momo was clearly interested in Aki, but even now that Aki has realised how she feels, the gap between them feels too wide for her to bridge, and with talk of marriage on the horizon…

In Sheep Princess in Wolf’s Clothing, Volume 3, we see the end of Momo’s birthday party, and Kunya leaving. Momo realises that she missed Aki’s birthday and does her best to celebrate! Bluebell, Momo’s maid takes ill, and the only person Momo would be comfortable taking over is, of course, Aki! The full moon comes around again, and Momo knocks at Aki’s door? Finally, with encouragement from Kiku and Sakaki, Aki finally tells Momo that she cannot reciprocate her feelings due to their differing social classes… How will Momo respond?

This manga is quite hard to review, as it’s generally just… pleasant. I enjoy it, but there aren’t many particular things to discuss – the art is cute, suitably fluffy when it needs to be, and good at making the characters look good. I like the interaction between Aki and Momo, especially in this one as Aki loosens up a bit. There are two sections that were notable in this volume though, both fairly brief.

There is a short moment at the start where it seems that Kunya may rat Aki out for her feelings… But it turns out she’s a huge fan of royalty/servant pairs, and just wants the details. Phew. I’m glad that she didn’t turn out nasty. I’m not sure her portrayal is necessarily the best representation, as there seems to be a flavour of the ‘exotic foreigner’ to her, but she is contrasted with the other character of colour who broke Momo’s heart and causes her to shut herself away, so at least she’s nice. (Upon a reread, I noticed there is another maid who is a person of colour, so there are a few).

The second full moon scene is something that probably needs a bit of a caution – when Aki refuses to let Momo in, as she knows that her emotions are harder to control, Momo orders her to let her in. Even if Momo is fully aware of the kind of thing that will happen if Aki loses control, and even wants it, it feels like an abuse of privilege, and not very fair to Aki. They don’t really get anywhere with it, as Aki shows enough control and escorts Momo back to her room, but I feel like it’s only fair to be warned about it.

Finally, I’m glad that Sakaki (and Kiku) manage to talk Aki out of separating herself from Momo, due to her perception of the difference between their social classes being too high to overcome. It’s always classed in fiction as some noble ambition to not hurt the other person, but really, walking away like that just means protecting yourself from seeing the hurt that you caused.

I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that Momo is elated that Aki says that she loves her. As she points out, Momo is the one who will have to persuade her family to accept it. In fiction, the power differential doesn’t seem so big, and I hope that they can make some kind of relationship.

Art: 8
Story: 6
Service: 4 (mainly in low cut dresses and maid uniforms)
Yuri: 8 not sure a man has been named on page yet. More on the ‘yuritopia’ end of series. Everyone has a crush on another woman it seems.
Fluffiness: 10

Overall: 7

If you enjoyed the previous volumes, you’ll likely enjoy this one! Volume 4 came out in November, hopefully the review for that will be done a bit quicker than this one!