Firefly Wedding, Vol. 1

ホタルの嫁入り [Hotaru no Yomeiri] #1

by Oreco Tachibana

On the surface, Satoko has it all—she’s beautiful, the daughter of a nobleman, and at a prime age for marriage. Unfortunately, she is also quite ill and only has a short time left to live. Before she can secure a marriage that will redeem her worth in her family’s eyes, she finds herself the target of the mysterious assassin Shinpei, and her plans are put in jeopardy. In order to save herself, she makes a desperate proposal—of marriage! When it comes to love, however, Shinpei takes “until death do we part” seriously.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical, Comics, Fiction

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2023

About the author

橘オレコ

Reviews

[N.]

That man is a walking traffic light, switching between red and green in 2 sec 🚦

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro]

"I think people who hurt my wife should be erased from the world."

12/10 obviously

[Ricarda]

I've known the sickly noblewoman turned prostitute and her psychotic assassin fiancé for less than a day, but I would be deeply upset if anything ever happened to them.

[vin .ᐟ (hiatus)]

something shifted in the cuntosphere...

[Krysta ꕤ]

3.5 stars

the mmc is a psycho, not mad at it honestly 💅🏽

[Jen]

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC of this book to read and review.

Ya'll I started 2025 with a Book Slump and it is still going strong. This book is one of the many books my slump has affected my reading of.

It isn't bad, the artwork is good, the storyline different from what I usually read and if you like darker plot lines, this will definitely scratch that itch, but it just didn't wow me. What grabbed me the most are the characters.

The MC h is determined and strong and is willing to do what it takes to achieve her goals, even if it's doing things she has never done before. She has emotions, but she is able to focus intellectually on the problem at hand and come up with the best solution she can with her knowledge and abilities and then she implements her plan.

The MC H is....he has issues and I am torn between wanting him to become less problematic or NOT changing, because I am afraid that he will change with the "love of a good woman" and that is not always a good trope to use. So we will see.

I do want to read the next volume, as it ended on a cliffhanger of sorts and this isn't a bad first volume of a series. It just didn't get as rave a review due to my slump.

3, not bad and broke through enough of my slump that I can say I am more positive than lukewarm about it, stars.

[任煦涵]

Don’t care about anything but that man who I want to eat alive

[Laura A. Grace]

FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/eTb-7YIZDVs

This was definitely a crazy level of unhinged!

I was not unprepared for that because I already knew thanks to trying this series over a year ago, but goodness, what I WAS unprepared for is how gripping this first volume to be! Satoko is a fascinating character who finds her entire world turned upside down and never really know what to think with every new situation she finds herself in. From declaring "Let's get married!" to an assassin to her becoming a prostitute so she can one day escape the island she's on, she is constantly having to make very quick decisions that are going to impact her for a longgg time. I really admired her courage in each of these situations because it really does feel like a bad dream and if she would just "wake up," she would be completely fine.

Buttttttt…

Between the very real blood Goto gets on her to no one listening to her story of being kidnapped (and even laughing at her), she is definitely NOT dreaming!

And speaking of Goto, he is INTENSE! I wrestled a lot with "oh, he's being so cute!" to "I am terrified for Satoko and she needs to get away from him ASAP!" because there is a strong mix of both and I'm still processing all my feelings about it. LOL! However, it IS those "sweet" or at least meaningful moments that do make me want to keep reading. There is something about him being his REAL self and showing an earnest side to Satoko that's hard not to want to see what will happen between them.

Though that beginning…what was that? Foreshadowing? Is this series even going to have a happy ending? Who exactly was that? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?

Lots of questions there, but all I can say is that while this was definitely very intense for me, I caught myself wishing I had gotten volume two from the library to see what happens next. I don't think it's going to shy away from real life on this island and that makes me a little uneasy, but the characters really are the best part of this first volume.

I would hesitantly recommend it if you want a historical read, two determined leads (with one being unhinged LOL), and a darker-toned story where you really don't know if it will have a happy ending or not...

[Delaney]

Finally found something with the same energy as Raise wa Tanin ga II (Yakuza's Fiance), but set in Edo-esque Japan instead of modern day.

I.e. a walking red flag man (borderline psychopath) who is insane, obsessed, and will kill for female lead (and is the only one to control him). The only man I want is one who is very crazy for his woman.

[Lily the Lilac ☄]

When he has a thousand red flags but I'm colorblind 🤭

I'll fall for anyone who smiles THAT evil-joyful while covered in blood

[alix flora 🌙]

Y’all 😭😭😭😫😫😫🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

NEED ME A MAN LIKE GOTO

I just wish every fucking romance manga the fmc wasn’t 16 bro like why why why ??? Make them OVER TWENTY FOR ONCE weirdos 🙄

That being said, this stowed my levi Ackerman obsession so much 😭😩 love love love

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?]]

This is one of my favorite unhinged mangas.
A noble girl being kidnapped and saved by a hired assassin who was supposed to kill her.
The artwork is beautiful and the manga itself is not only entertaining but also funny.

[George Taylor]

Firefly Wedding: volume 1 by Oreco Tachibana is a manga that will have you spilling your guts to all your friends about this great and gory volume that you read.
THERE ARE NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

What do you want from me? Why don't you run from me?
What are you wondering? What do you know?
Why aren't you scared of me? Why do you care for me?

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Blood, gore, violence and uh the hottest psychopath since Dahmer. Just kidding-except I'm not.

//Pre-Read. I already have two reviews to write, but this sounds amazing and hells, somebody just stop meeeeeee—//

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Five stars out of five. 5/5.

Review:

— Why did this have to end so fast? I was NOT done with it and I'm going to have to run off soon...
Why? Why did you do this to me? I am doomed, everyone's gunna think I'm a freak now and maybe I am. Not really, but this fact makes me wonder.

"Afflicted with a heart condition, Meiji-era noblewoman Satoko is determined to secure a marriage that will benefit her family before she dies." — the GoodReads website for 'Firefly Wedding'.

I don't like Satoko very much right now and, honestly, I don't think that will change anytime soon, not unless she becomes a bit more independent and hardy. I don't like women that can't help themselves even just a little bit. So she has a bad heart but it doesn't mean you have to wait to either show or to be saved, like, what?! Not only this but I don't find her pretty at all.

"But before she can realize her goal, she’s targeted by a mysterious assassin named Shinpei. In a last-ditch effort to save her life, she asks her would-be murderer to marry her. Her proposal isn’t sincere, but unfortunately for her, Shinpei loves as intensely as he kills." — the GoodReads website for 'Firefly Wedding'.

Shinpei... I will happily take her place instead. It's be scary, but I could take it... I think, maybe.

"When it comes to love, however, Shinpei takes “until death do we part” seriously" — the GoodReads website for 'Firefly Wedding'.

I've always enjoyed villains. Even before I was reading a whole lot I was really into serial killers and evil bad guys like Candyman, Loki—why am I struggling so much to remember bad guys that I liked? I mean anti-hereos are nice too, like Deadpool and Venom. I like monsters too, okay?! Jeez.

Shinpei is definitely the character with more depth despite him being a literal sociopathic killer.

Charming, and quick to draw a knife, the male is covered in scars and has a very warped way of thinking tof things. I can't believe what happened when they got to the island it really caught me off guard and that doesn't happen often. All too soon I was laughing though.

Not only funny, but Shinpei is pretty oblivious to the fact that Satoko wasn't being truthful.

I kind of want him to kill her now, but then there wouldn't be anymore volumes, so...



A full five star recommendation as this was my favourite manga by far.

[Keiko the manga enthusiast ♒︎]

What an unhinged ripped-off Battosai.

The following will be a very unpopular opinion but I’ll just fire away:

I honestly tried to finish the series but the main guy being a creep just made it even harder. Tried to swallow the series as hard as I can even though I’m choking along the process and kept on feeling a bile rising up. I hate it so much and what I hate even more is sensei coming up with a more unhinged side-character to justify the unhinged main character’s actions. This is toxic and problematic and I just want out of it.

I liked sensei’s Promise Cinderella. That one I can tolerate maybe because the main character is just too cute being a tsundere (this kind of character that I adore so much haha.) But this one… I finished this volume, but I’m not willing to continue to the next ones. I’ll drop this manga now.

I’m sorry but I guess I’m not into yandere characters because they just give me the creeps. I guess, this will be my 1-star manga this year.

[Coco]

Que belleza de protagonista ❤️

[V.ya]

Okay, this is creepy and fascinating at the same time. Not a fan of the cliche stepmother/step-sibling's malice, but at least the disturbing assassin is quite original.

[Rebecca]

3.5 rounded up for being different enough to be interesting. It also, if the opening pages aren't lying, may not end happily, but that's sort of expected when part of the back copy talks about the heroine's bad heart in a time before reliable (or any) heart-based healthcare. In some ways this sits in a place between Yakuza Fiance and Yakuza Lover while being much more appealing than both. An odd description, I know, but somehow the one that feels like it suits Firefly Wedding the best.

[hope]

no thank you. well that’s so unfortunate because this sounded good 😭💀

[AC's]

Maybe life with him wouldn't be so bad

[ingrid ₊]

don't speak about satokoshinpei at all unless it's to praise them btw

[Katie❄️]

I am totally here for this crazy! Lots of red flags but I'm down for possessive.

[Beatriz Books]

La historia me atrapó desde el primer momento y me ha encantado el carácter de Sakoto (protagonista femenina), es tan resiliente ✨️💖.

Goto (protagonista masculino) me ha encantado nada más salir en su primer panel, simplemente lo adoro, me hacer reír muchísimo aunque es verdad que está completamente loco y le faltan mil engranajes en la cabeza.

No sé por qué tengo la idea que esta historia terminará rompiendo mi corazón pero igual llegaré al final de ella. Por otro lado, el arte es una pasada....es simplemente precioso! ✨️💖

[mikaela (spinebreaker)]

TL;DR : unhinged in the best way

I loved this. There's a fast start, and really interesting characters that at first seem to be similar to other mangas, but quickly we find out that they're completely unique! While I was slightly taken aback by Goto at first, readers like me will easily warm up to his maniacal, earnest energy. He reminds me of Chika Takiishi from Windbreaker in the best possible way. I can't wait to see what depths there are to his and Satoko's characters- I think they'll develop so well! The art style is beautiful and the character expressions and action are well-drawn. I loved this and can't wait to read more in this series!

Thanks to VIZ Media and Netgalley for the ARC!

[Madison]

I’ve never read manga before—this was my first book so I don’t necessarily want to rate it because it’s so new and different from anything I’ve ever tried. Trying to expand my reading genres so I thought I’d give it a go. :)

[Rebecca]

This series dives into its messiness and makes a home there. And so far it's a wild ride. Shinpei is unhinged and I can't wait to see his ferocity expand from violence to passion.

[Susanna]

I don’t know where they pulled that description from, but it’s not even remotely accurate. Satoko is kidnapped by mercenaries, who have orders to kill her, and no talks about ransom. She has no real idea who could be behind it, but since she seldom leaves home due to being ill, she suspects her step-mother who hates her.

The abductors are brutes who aren’t above rape, but fortunately for her, the swordman ordered to execute her is also given an order to prevent rape and he kills everyone. She tries to bargain with him for her release, so he whisks her away from the abductors so that they can finish negotiating. He’s a very single-minded person, but manipulative too. Since she fears for her life, she strikes all sorts of deals with him just because he keeps frightening her.

Turns out, they’re in an island of brothels that’s outside the law. The only way to get out is for a wealthy patron to buy the woman’s freedom. So Satoko has to become a prostitute, if only for a moment, and get someone to free her. Her saviour certainly won’t let it go farther than that. He’s already become attached to her, because she didn’t flinch when she saw him kill people. The volume ends before the escape plan is put to motion.

It’s really difficult to rate this manga. On the one hand, the story is fairly good, if very brutal. On the other, it’s kind of off-putting. It’s saved by the ending though when Satoko finds her backbone, and tells the assassin she’ll handle their escape. Art is good too. Still, I’m not sure I’d read more.

I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Marureviere]

This is a fun one

[Greta K]

Never taking straight shojo manga recs from the internet again this was deeply uncharming and mildly misogynistic. Bad.

[Emily]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Now Playing: Departure (from “Rurouni Kenshin”) piano by Natalia Andrea

My Thoughts:

Going into the manga, I really didn’t know what to expect. At first, I was really confused; I was not really sure where this manga was going. I knew a little bit from a quick read of the back, but if I am honest, this was just because the cover was pretty purchase. However, as I continued, I really found myself loving the characters.
​
Let's start with Satoko. I love her; she really is a great female lead. Even though she is naive to the ways of the world, she is still fierce and willing to do anything to live. She stands up to her rude half-sister, she kicks and bites at her attackers, and she fully yells at her assassin fiancé who could kill her in an instant. Maybe this is due to her heart condition, where she could die at any moment, but Satoko is such a great character. She is not wallowing in the unfortunate events that are happening to her as some female leads do; instead, she assesses the situation and changes her tactics to work towards her goal of escaping.
​
Now onto Shinpei, I am not sure if he is psychotic or what, but I still really enjoy him. One moment he is murdering a whole bunch of people, and then the next he is like a kid in a candy store because Satoko was nice to him. It is very whiplash-inducing but also leads to a lot of humorous moments. I hope we get to learn more about him because I am not sure if he is putting on an act or if he really is just a psychotic killer.
​
I did like the mix of serious elements interlaced with humor in the manga. This manga is dealing with very serious topics (ex., death, SA, Unwilling Prostitution), yet throughout the book I found myself laughing. The quick quips Shinpei and Satoko throw at each other, and even simple things such as their reactions when one behaves unexpectedly, bring needed humor. The simple humor in this book really helps in navigating the darker elements.
​
I really enjoyed this manga and look forward to reading the next one. Hopefully we learn more about Shinpei, and I really look forward to seeing how their relationship blooms.

[honeyy ✩]

⤷ 𝑽𝒐𝒍. 𝟎𝟏 ┊ ★★¾☆☆

“𝐼 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦” ─────────────────────────────

꒰ 🍵 ꒱ : 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝟽 – 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝟾

𓂃 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔

this volume is genuinely so pretty. the story has a pretty crazy premise, but it felt really short. we barely got to know satoko, and i really wanted more from her character.

my biggest problem is how every woman is basically villainized because they’re jealous of satoko’s beauty. like we get it, she’s pretty. i just wish satoko had more going on besides being beautiful, a noblewoman and having a heart condition.

𓂃 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍

i liked it, but i definitely wanted more from the story and characters. hopefully the next volumes give us more.