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The Contract Between a Specter and a Servant #3
The Contract Between a Specter and a Servant (Light Novel), Vol. 3
After nearly dying and being pieced back together, Masamichi has gotten used to working at the antique shop Bougyoudou for the handsome and mysterious Shino, who saved his life. The man is actually a specter who has been living as a human since the Heian era thanks to a curse from a spiritual medium. As Masamichi gets to know the gruff man and discovers his kinder side, he begins to feel some strange feelings for the specter. Then one day, a visitor from London arrives with a request from his very wealthy boss—a request concerning a haunted house and the evil spirit within it...
160 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 27, 2024
This is one of those series that I wish was just a little bit longer, because there's potential here but it's hampered by the relatively short length of each volume.
In the case of this third one, we get some significant development in the relationship between Masamichi and Shino, but I feel like it could've been more fleshed out if it was, for example, twice as long. As it is, we're already halfway through the volume by the time we get to the meat of the "monster of the week" plot, and so the paranormal aspects get brushed aside a little bit in favor of putting more focus on the relationship. We could've had both the paranormal side and the relationship side, honestly.
What I do appreciate as this series goes on, however, is Masamichi's personal growth. He's still fairly shy and innocent - even bordering on naive, which causes him big problems toward the end of this volume - but he's slowly taking the steps needed in order to progress in life, starting with his efforts in cram school. We also don't get any of the "what is this feeling I am feeling?" spiel from his in this volume; at the very least, Masamichi is quick to figure out his feelings without spending too much time deliberately misunderstanding his affection for Shino.
For Shino's part, he's more oblivious about his jealousy but it's to be expected, given his non-human nature. His actions continue to speak louder for him, and in many ways he's come to respect a bunch of Masamichi's boundaries and he's learned how to meet Masamichi halfway. Outside of that one sensitive discussion back in the first volume, Shino is a character that I actually find myself laughing at because of his antics.
I should say that there is a potentially triggering situation in the latter part of the novel between Masamichi and a persistent side character, but it does get resolved before anything serious happens.
Overall, I think this is a decent series to read if you're specifically looking for this genre. It's nothing spectacular, but given the limited amount of licensed Japanese BL novels, this is a good place to start, and it's quick enough to read and easy enough to digest without a lot of investment.
In the case of this third one, we get some significant development in the relationship between Masamichi and Shino, but I feel like it could've been more fleshed out if it was, for example, twice as long. As it is, we're already halfway through the volume by the time we get to the meat of the "monster of the week" plot, and so the paranormal aspects get brushed aside a little bit in favor of putting more focus on the relationship. We could've had both the paranormal side and the relationship side, honestly.
What I do appreciate as this series goes on, however, is Masamichi's personal growth. He's still fairly shy and innocent - even bordering on naive, which causes him big problems toward the end of this volume - but he's slowly taking the steps needed in order to progress in life, starting with his efforts in cram school. We also don't get any of the "what is this feeling I am feeling?" spiel from his in this volume; at the very least, Masamichi is quick to figure out his feelings without spending too much time deliberately misunderstanding his affection for Shino.
For Shino's part, he's more oblivious about his jealousy but it's to be expected, given his non-human nature. His actions continue to speak louder for him, and in many ways he's come to respect a bunch of Masamichi's boundaries and he's learned how to meet Masamichi halfway. Outside of that one sensitive discussion back in the first volume, Shino is a character that I actually find myself laughing at because of his antics.
I should say that there is a potentially triggering situation in the latter part of the novel between Masamichi and a persistent side character, but it does get resolved before anything serious happens.
Overall, I think this is a decent series to read if you're specifically looking for this genre. It's nothing spectacular, but given the limited amount of licensed Japanese BL novels, this is a good place to start, and it's quick enough to read and easy enough to digest without a lot of investment.
June 21, 2026
I quite like this book series. Very short, less than 180 pages, and nice to the point stories in each volume. I like the mix of slice of life and supernatural happenings.
Masamichi and Shino travel to London for work in this volume. I like the dynamic between Masamichi and Shino. I saw what was happening with Selwyn and I wondered how far it would go, but I had no idea the situation would attempt to go there, but seeing as how Shino tried it with Masamichi in volume one it’s not surprising the author would bring up the topic. Slightly dramatic but quickly and safely resolved. This section unfolded like a typical heterosexual romance would - danger, rescue from danger by the love interest then a chance to deepen the relationship. It was a little “victim blamey” but in Shino’s defense the responses make sense for HIS character and Masamichi’s too. I can shake my fist but the author was being true to the people she created and I am even more invested in the story. I love a good love triangle! And for such a short book, the triangle was triangling. That takes real skill.
When I bought the book series I saw that it was listed under the LGBT section on Yen Press’s site but I wasn’t sure if it would be more bromance - vibes but nothing loud and clear, like two other series I really enjoy, or not. However, I was pleasantly surprised that with the introduction of Selwyn for this volume, the story firmly moved in the direction of romance. Hehe! I was hoping a romance would be clear and would start happening. Looking forward to volumes four and five!
Masamichi and Shino travel to London for work in this volume. I like the dynamic between Masamichi and Shino. I saw what was happening with Selwyn and I wondered how far it would go, but I had no idea the situation would attempt to go there, but seeing as how Shino tried it with Masamichi in volume one it’s not surprising the author would bring up the topic. Slightly dramatic but quickly and safely resolved. This section unfolded like a typical heterosexual romance would - danger, rescue from danger by the love interest then a chance to deepen the relationship. It was a little “victim blamey” but in Shino’s defense the responses make sense for HIS character and Masamichi’s too. I can shake my fist but the author was being true to the people she created and I am even more invested in the story. I love a good love triangle! And for such a short book, the triangle was triangling. That takes real skill.
When I bought the book series I saw that it was listed under the LGBT section on Yen Press’s site but I wasn’t sure if it would be more bromance - vibes but nothing loud and clear, like two other series I really enjoy, or not. However, I was pleasantly surprised that with the introduction of Selwyn for this volume, the story firmly moved in the direction of romance. Hehe! I was hoping a romance would be clear and would start happening. Looking forward to volumes four and five!
January 5, 2025
OK, first things first: they no longer replace-all italicised 'chi' into 'energy', so now we have 'chi' in normal font throughout the book, lol.
I think so far this is the volume I enjoyed the most, probably it's because there has been apparent development in Shino and Masamichi's relationship. You can sense the changes compared to the previous books. The first half of the book is still repeating some of the things we have learnt in the previous volumes while adding some details that imply that there are still things we don't know about Tokifuyu, Shino's master, and what his real intentions are. I admit this first half can feel a bit too slow, but things pace up in the latter half, when Shino and Masamichi finally face a serious case of supernatural disturbance - in England, by the way - with a case of sexual advances misunderstanding on the side.
Oh, the characterisation of Masamichi can be very unrealistic perhaps, but hey, if we can accept the presence of a specter that has lived for centuries and eaten someone's severed leg and rescued the owner who's at the brink of death to life in a complete body, maybe we too should forgive a 20 year old boy this innocent. Reading about Masamachi's awakening to his feelings toward Shino also filled me with glee. And, damn, this series is on a fast track of becoming a full-blown BL despite the author's initial statement that it is not BL (not that I'm complaining).
I think so far this is the volume I enjoyed the most, probably it's because there has been apparent development in Shino and Masamichi's relationship. You can sense the changes compared to the previous books. The first half of the book is still repeating some of the things we have learnt in the previous volumes while adding some details that imply that there are still things we don't know about Tokifuyu, Shino's master, and what his real intentions are. I admit this first half can feel a bit too slow, but things pace up in the latter half, when Shino and Masamichi finally face a serious case of supernatural disturbance - in England, by the way - with a case of sexual advances misunderstanding on the side.
Oh, the characterisation of Masamichi can be very unrealistic perhaps, but hey, if we can accept the presence of a specter that has lived for centuries and eaten someone's severed leg and rescued the owner who's at the brink of death to life in a complete body, maybe we too should forgive a 20 year old boy this innocent. Reading about Masamachi's awakening to his feelings toward Shino also filled me with glee. And, damn, this series is on a fast track of becoming a full-blown BL despite the author's initial statement that it is not BL (not that I'm complaining).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews