Why Don't You Eat Me, My Dear Wolf?

お伽話BL #1

by Ao Koishikawa

Taro is sent to the forest alone. He's a sacrifice for the monstrous wolf, Uru. Upon seeing him, Uru declares Taro too small and too thin. The wolf feeds him, clothes him, and cares for him. Time passes and Taro finds himself wanting to be devoured by this giant wolf who gives him nothing but affection.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, LGBT, Boys Love, Yaoi, Comics

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2020

Reviews

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so sweet and entirely wholesome and I loved it so much. At first glance, you might think that Uru is grooming Taro, seeing as how when he’s left to be the wolf’s sacrifice, he’s only a small child. But this was a slooooooooooow burn romance, many years in the making. I feel like you’d have to read it to understand.

The artwork is IMMACULATE and I will take no complaints or comments on that!😂

[Peppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless love story between a wolf-god and his sacrificial human🥹💓
The manga is lovely and endearing, art is equally mesmerising.
Growing up with disney fairytales, it is definitely one of my favourite adult fairytale now!
I will definitely reread this over and over again.

[Michelle Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it would be a super spicy BL, but it was surprisingly wholesome and I’m not disappointed. It’s a cute little love story about growing up and falling in love gradually. The smut at the end was great, and I definitely recommend this if you want a lighthearted read.

[SGetch · Rating 4 out of 5]

‼️ 🛑 SPOILERS 🛑 ‼️

Taro is given as a sacrifice to Uru, a wolfman, who raises him with the utmost care. Later we discover that Taro is intended to be Uru's bride.

I was drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and the fact that it was a retelling of a fairytale. Although a warning of explicit content is provided, I was surprised by the slow and mostly one-sided romance between Taro and Uru. At one point, I briefly suspected possible grooming due to Taro being sacrificed to Uru as a child but ultimately realized that wasn't the case. I would say that Taro is the main pursuer in the relationship with Uru pushing him away. Eventually, Taro leaves but returns as a young man to reunite with Uru. Overall, this is a sweet tale.

The black and white artwork is enchanting and, in my opinion, not overly explicit.

[nik drake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this what I was expecting? No.
Did I like it as much as I was hoping? No.
Was it as spicy as I thought it was going to be? No.
Did I like the twist? Yes.
Was it still a little problematic? Yes, but I was expecting that one.

I think Taro being a literal child when he was originally sacrificed was a little unnecessary, I think nothing would've changed if he had been like a mid to late teen. It just would've felt less strange. It was surprisingly more wholesome than I thought it would be, despite the almost grooming. The art was absolutely beautiful, and I loved that the two leads had different colored text bubbles, that was a wonderful touch.

I don't know if I would recommend this, but I didn't hate it.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially went into this book completely curious since so many of the reviews claimed that this book was not a stereotypical BL where the older man grooms the child. After reading this, do I agree with them? Well, kinda. Is this dynamic still problematic? Well, kinda. Let me explain.

This manga starts off with a child Taro being "sacrificed" to the wolf beast god Uru in a mystical forest with the goal of being eaten. However, upon arrival, Taro is met with nothing but kindness and is lovingly raised by Uru. However, Taro, while loving Uru, believes that Uru is raising him with the goal of eating him, a prospect he looks forward to and sees as repayment for all the happy years he's lived with him. And I'll give props to the author that this dynamic is handled rather well and the majority of the books is just Taro and Uru having cute and fun interactions together, somewhat similarly to "The Girl from the Other Side." That cuteness for 70% of the book however is what makes the romance feel entirely rushed and honestly somewhat unnecessary.

For majority of the book, the romance is entirely one-side on Taro's part, which starts the day he sees two mermaids mating in a mystical lotus pond when he became a teenager. As the book continues, his romantic and sexual desires are confused as wanting to be eaten and honestly dismissed as a weird feeling, highlighting his naivety and child-like manner. And Uru, when noticing these things, pretty much just dismisses this as a natural reaction and both parties move on. Honestly, this is where the romance should have died since every time Taro has any kind of sexual desire, it's almost immediately dismissed and the two go back to their fun family dynamic.

Warning that this may be considered a minor spoiler, but we later learn that Taro is considered Uru's bride, which is not at all surprising. What was a nice surprise though was that Uru never wanted that life for Taro and raised him with the intention of him eventually leaving the forest to live on his own away from him. And this is how 80% of the book plays out, with Uru wanting Taro to live a somewhat normal life, and Taro being unaware of his desires and simply wishing to stay by Uru's side.

That's where I think this manga one-shot ironically falls off, where, until the last like 30 pages, there is little to no romance on Uru's part. Warning for spoilers of the ending. Uru never once returned romantic feelings and worried his desires as a wolf during winter, the wolf's mating season, would lead to him hurting Taro. He never said he actually wanted to have sex with Taro and he knew that it was wrong or that his desire would hurt him. Nope. He just worried his instincts and knowing that Taro was technically his bride would make the wolf side of him hurt him and "eat" him. Purely instinct. Uru has for almost the entirety of the book dismissed or be unaware of any desires on Taro's part. So when he sent Taro away to live on his own in a nearby village because his worry of hurting him grew to be too much, I honestly thought that the story might end there.

But nope.

Tell me why like 10 pages before the book ends Taro just randomly returns to the forest to be with Uru as a full blown adult (the manga emphasizes his age here) and Uru is suddenly just in love with him.

........

What? Excuse me? Sir, you spent almost the entirety of this book having no feelings with him, then in the last 5% of the book say you're in love and have sex with him? The ending was so rushed and confusing that I felt more blindsided rather than upset with the dynamic, because yes. Did Uru groom Taro? Honestly, it didn't really feel like it. Although reading the sentence of how Uru's love for him grew to desire upon adulthood on like the last page of the manga felt icky and completely contradicted his in the moment thoughts and reaction. Is their relationship balanced and healthy though? Absolutely not. The power dynamic is so entirely shifted in Uru's favor that, while I didn't get predator vibes from him and he handled Uru's burdening desires well, this is still codependcy on Taro's part. He was abandoned and had no one, so Uru was his entire world and that parental figure turned into a romantic one. While the author did a good job of making the reader feel like this was a coming of age story, the romance honestly felt unnecessary.

If this story was instead of coming of age story about puberty and sexual desires and had Taro outgrow them and decide to live happily with Uru as the son he was raised to be, I would have felt much more satisfied because that's how 80% of the manga portrayed their relationship to be. The romance just seemed to come out of left field at the very end and felt forced. Most of the book was just fun shenanigans between the two. If the book had stayed at that, I would have been happier because that felt like a more accurate portrayal of the contents within the book.

And heads up: if you're expecting a juicy sex seen between a monster and a boy, this is soooo not you're story. Reading this, I worried what the sex scene would be because the book was sealed, clearly meaning there would be explicit content. And considering how light and fluffy the book was, a graphic smutty sex scene felt like it would be very much out of place. Yet, despite being sealed, this was the most PG-13 sex scene I've ever read in a BL. So the sex scene keeps the tone of the novel and remains very tame and fluffy.

So what are my overall thoughts?

The manga wasn't awful. The art was gorgeous, the dynamic between then characters was cute and funny, and the love interest wasn't a creepy predator. But honestly, the romance felt forced on my part and I think the manga should have just been left as a coming of age story. He's a pubescent boy for most of the book. Sexual desire happens. But I enjoyed reading them move past it and still maintain they're fun and loving dynamic. Hence my disappointment with the entirely rushed ending.

Would I recommend this manga? Honestly, no. For an old fan of BL, this might be a fun refreshing take on this genre of BL, but that's about the main reason why I saw this manga as a reason to pick up. Cute fun read, but ultimately nothing spectacular.

3/5 stars.

[Mien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and fairytale-esque, a little bit confusing towards the end, but it was an interesting read overall. Big fan of the varying thickness and cleanliness of the lineart to show characteristics and emotions!

Also, I'm not a furry, but...

[Mols · Rating 1 out of 5]

my werewolf hyper fixation has led me places i wouldn’t even go with a g*n

[Meliss · Rating 1 out of 5]

So boring.

[Sparky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, so cute!! Totally loved everything from the plot, the development, the art style, and Taro and Uru!! Had me smiling all the way to the end, absolutely recommend!!

[alexander shay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I confess I wanted to read this book more to see what the content inside would be like than any real desire to enjoy the plot. Which is good because even with that mindset I almost put the book down. The expressions on the wolf are adorable, but that's about the only saving grace for me. The idea of a child growing up wanting to be eaten is intriguing, but the psychology of it (which would be my interest) isn't really gone into. Definitely a fluffy manga with very few stakes, if that kind of thing is what you like reading. But what's never really addressed is that their relationship starts out when Taro is just a child. It's naturally more of a father/son relationship because of that, but it feels very much like grooming to me; basically waiting until Taro is of "acceptable" age to shift the relationship into something romantic/sexual. That undertone definitely darkened the entirety of the context of the book for me, and not in the best way.

[Nea Poulain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me decepciona que ya tratandose de una historia muy al estilo el señor de la noche donde el demonio inmortal cría a su amante yadayadayada, all the fucked up implications de esa situación no se haya COMPROMETIDO con lo furro del asunto a la hora de la hora, si ya era lo de menos.

La historia es muy cute and whatever dentro del tema que trata, jajaja (niños sacrificios convertidos en las novias del lobo), pero me sentí como Bella cuando desaparece la bestia al final.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful art, and a lot of the book is just sweet slice-of-life adventures in a magical cottage in the woods. I’m uncomfortable with the implication that Taro is going through puberty as his feelings toward Uru change. The book does try to handwave that away by saying that both Taro and Uru are much older than they look; I expect your feelings about the story may depend on how successful you find that explanation.

[Dani Fall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is rated mature so I was expecting a lot of spice but it actually wasn’t. And you know what? That’s perfectly fine because this was so sweet and wholesome with a great twist at the end!

[ayreslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute and wholesome! 10/10

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars cause it was a really good story and art except for the rushed ending of him going back to the forest to bang his wolf dad. So ya know. There ya go :D.

[poet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very cute art, though I'm not so sure about the parenting situation and also it is cowardly to have the wolf turn human. Booo.

[The Local Spooky Hermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was wrapped up and said it was for mature readers, but it's definitely more wholesome feel good then anything spicy. Like theres faeries and I think they are 2 red pandas that just follow the human boy around. (Definitely throwing out cottagecore vibes here) Most of it is when the boy is small and an overprotective wolfman is raising him. It's cute. I was surprised.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Taro is sent into the forest as a sacrifice for Uru, a monstrous wolf. However Uru says Taro is too small and thin so he must raise him properly so he can be a proper meal. Many years go by and Uru, the big bad wolf, turns out to be very kind and over protective, but Taro doesn't understand why he hasn't eaten him yet. As he gets older he even finds himself wanting to be devoured by Uru.

This was ooookayyy. I kind of suspected I wouldn't like this one, but I always hope to be surprised. It has a trope I don't really like which is the raising a child as a parent, but then falling in love trope. It's just so icky to me, it's hard for me to look past. I didn't know that's what this was going to be going into it. I just thought that Taro was going to be very poor and malnourished. Not a toddler? Beast people are also very hit or miss for me. Sometimes they're okay and sometimes it gets too weird, but this beast person is a man who turns into a beast. Other than that the story was fine. I liked the cute moments they had together and how Uru would take care of Taro. It just sucks that their relationship was kind of tainted. Also the way they got together seemed a little rushed and awkward. I didn't hate reading it and I liked a lot of the fantasy elements, but idk just didn't work for me as a love story.

[L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhhhh, I really liked this one. It caught me in the same, unexpected way that The Ancient Magus' Bride caught me the first time I watched it -- I fell in love with the fantasy world and with how the characters interact with it.

The setting was definitely my favorite part. This just dreamy, magical, fantasy forest -- it was beautiful to see. And I loved seeing Taro just existing within it and interacting with it -- the way he just talks to fairies and sprites, the way the dryads talk and play with him, the way he walks light on the forest. It's hard to put into words, but the whole story just ended up feeling very magical, and I loved that.

I also really liked the layers of complexity in Taro and Uru's relationship as well; the dual meaning of "sacrifice," all the double speak, Taro's need to have a purpose, Uru wanting the best for Taro. There was a lot going on, and I think it was done well. I wish we could have got a bit more explanation on a few details however, such as what exactly Uru is and how so much time had passed but the magical quality of the story also makes me not really care. It's magic, and sometimes it's okay to not have all the answers.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: Child Neglect from Parents, Young child love interest who ages up before anything intense happens, References to eating a loved one

I liked this manga, but I still wanted more from it. I think my expectations were a little high because I love furries and monster romances. We follow a young boy named Taro who is offered as sacrifice to Uru, a wolf God. This wolf says he will raise and take care of him until he's old enough to eat him.
Despite that wild premise, this was a cute story. It's more about finding a purpose in life when you have none. The wolf is a big softie who doesn't actually want to eat him, he just wants to keep him safe.
It does get spicy at the end, but it isn't explicit. I liked this story and am curious to read more from this mangaka.

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was different and not what I was expecting but I enjoyed the artwork and fantasy premise. The writing was just okay and the story got a bit confusing (it never did explain how 100 years passed but the boy grew up? And the wolf didn't age?). I'm also usually okay with age gap romances but this one did get a bit weird even for me. I think it was the language they used to describe certain things. Look, one of my favorite mangas with a similar age gap/raising aspect is Super Lovers, but that's because it totally makes fun of the trope and it's so over the top dramatic it's downright hilarious. With this story... it went in the opposite direction trying to be too wholesome? Anyway that's my opinion. Still enjoyed something different and will keep it in my collection.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 stars rounded up**

So Taro was sacrificed as a boy to the monstrous wolf, Uru, in the forest. Uru knows the boy is too small so he decides to care for the boy until he’s older. But as the years pass, Taro falls for the gentle, not-so-monstrous older wolf.

Lemme just say I was a bit disappointed. It’s rated “Mature” but it read like a YA. I wouldn’t have minded the lack of…anything…if I was prepared for it, but this was told more as a story and not as a love story. 90% was Taro as a child and then he goes home and then he comes back…but it’s been like 100 years? Y’all, I’m confused. lol

The artistry was absolutely gorgeous like usual from the writer/artist, but this story just didn’t do it for me. Such a bummer because it could’ve been so good.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story/art style reminded my of The Girl From the Other Side series, however the plot is different.
For the majority of the book, it reads like found family and how the wolf cares for the boy -- still don't understand why the wolf couldn't show that he was a human to the boy, but whatever.

The very last 10 pages are what really makes the rating 18+ and even then, there is nothing shown on page that is super spicy... There are mentions of the wolf "eating" the boy throughout and he does lick him a lot (usually foot or face)

I cannot argue that the art is beautiful though. I really did like that.

[Lexyloowoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were looking for a spicy manga, then you picked up the wrong manga. It is such a cute story and interesting and unexpected ways. I assume the reason that is classified as mature is because the wolf head is a tendency to lick the wounds of the child. That being said, there are literally no Lifesavers, or anything related to Lifesavers in this manga. The relationship is so cute in the story being told is so beautiful and the artwork is incredible. But I thought there was gonna be something spicy in there.

[Jessica Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Red Riding Hood. You know this one, from the ‘what big teeth you have’ to the very obvious red cloak on the cover and the tagline on the back. This manga is a play on our understanding of the old fairy tale, asking what it would be like if it were actually a sweet yet taboo romance, rather than a cautionary tale for children.

I do so love when people take old stories like this and twist them all up with different flavors...

Read the full review at Well, Are They? A Queer Review Blog:
https://wellarethey.blogspot.com/2023...

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

Seeing as this only focuses on two people with an extensive age gap, it would have been amazing as a coming-of-age store OR a romance, but it's both and I got the ick.

It tries to show the wolf as steadfast in his need to raise the MC so he can leave. But as the story moves on it kept either reminding the reader that the whole sacrifice was supposed to be a 'relationship' thing or that the now adult MC was raised by the wolf. It's just...awkward and no matter how sweet the interactions that happen after the MC comes of age, I just can not with this

[Cassie M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the art and was really hoping for this to be a nuanced exploration of a problematic trope. It asked a lot of intriguing questions, but unfortunately, it was less and less nuanced as the story went on.

This is basically a fairytalecore version of "werewolf imprints on a child and is 'whatever they need them to be '" - à la Stephanie Meyer. But from the perspective of the imprinted child.