En pleine ère Meiji, Satoko Kirigaya n’a qu’un seul souhait : se marier pour l'honneur de sa famille et ce, même si ses jours sont comptés. Mais alors qu'un assassin tente de la tuer, elle lui propose de l’épouser ! Une proposition qui pourrait bien se retourner contre elle…
Avec ce nouveau shojo, Oreco Tachibana prouve combien elle maîtrise le shojo et les relations tortueuses. Outre sa 9e place dans le prestigieux prix Kono Manga des lectrices, Les Noces des lucioles a également reçu le grand prix “Minna ga Erabu!! Denshi Comic Taisho 2024”. Elle réussit même l'exploit d'avoir dépassé le million d'exemplaires de ventes au Japon, en à peine trois volumes. Une série addictive avec une héroïne bien décidée à survivre à l'assassin qu'elle doit épouser !
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Menudo plan tiene la pobre chica. Me gusta porque ve que tiene que espabilar para sobrevivir y es lo que hace, pero el chico da mucho miedo. Pensaba que sería un drama, pero es divertido.
So, this series got a lot of buzz online a couple months back—which is the only reason I can believe this actually got an international publication.
It’s not a very good story.
The premise is essentially that our FMC Satoko—the sickly yet beautiful eldest daughter of a wealthy man—is kidnapped by some thugs one day who threaten great harm to her. One of these men though—a violent assassin named Shinpei—steps in to protect Satoko after she promises him marriage in exchange for her life. From there, this story documents their “love story”.
Toxic doesn’t even begin to cover it.
This story is a series of red flags woven together—not even in an interesting way so much as a haphazard way. Every time you think we might be coming to a “turn” in the story, it’s just more sludge.
I mean, I can understand that this story is fulfilling a very common fantasy—that of the brutal and mean character who is only soft for you. I get that and can even appreciate it to a certain extent—especially when that trope is done well.
But, here, it’s NOT done well.
Shinpei is just an unrepentant d*ck at every turn and Satoko has to roll with it because the circumstances of this VERY contrived story really give her no other options than to concede and obey if she wants to live.
What, pray tell, is romantic about that?
This whole story is giving “torture p*rn” lite—which, apparently, seems to be what all publishers across the world are increasingly pushing as “romance”. Wonder why.
Anyway.
I guess the art is okay? There are some cool panels.
And, maybe Satoko will be given a backbone at some point in this story as well?
If either of those possibilities is appealing to you and you can stomach the rest of the ill-advised story here, perhaps you’d want to pick this one up~