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スリーピングデッド #1-2
Sleeping Dead
Not yet published
Expected 15 Dec 26Frankenstein’s Monster meets Boys’ Love! An unfortunate incident leaves one man caught between dead and alive—and stuck with the man who made him that way. The dark BL manga makes its way to English print in a single omnibus edition! From the mangaka behind Takatora and the Omegas, Loved Circus, and I SAY, also from Seven Seas.
Death should have been the end. Instead, an earnest high school teacher named Sada awakens chained to a laboratory slab, his body carved and reconstructed to keep him alive. At the mercy of the brilliant scientist Mamiya, he is remade into something no longer fully human—an experiment sustained by obsession. As buried truths surface and dependency deepens, the line between creator and creation begins to fracture.
Death should have been the end. Instead, an earnest high school teacher named Sada awakens chained to a laboratory slab, his body carved and reconstructed to keep him alive. At the mercy of the brilliant scientist Mamiya, he is remade into something no longer fully human—an experiment sustained by obsession. As buried truths surface and dependency deepens, the line between creator and creation begins to fracture.
582 pages, Paperback
Expected publication December 15, 2026
About the author
Nemui Asada
16 books65 followersAssociated names : あさだねむい
Name (in native language) : 朝田ねむい
Zodiac : Scorpio
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.75 stars ⭐️
Mad scientist falls in love with his experiment.
What. A. Read. I loved the art style, the concept, the mix of horror themes and emotional elements, the characters and storyline, the slow burn love story.
But that ending completely wrecked me. Major spoiler, but this does not have a conventional HEA.
Unexpected and devastating, kind of lessened my enjoyment, but I still really loved this dark BL manga.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CWs (spoilers):
- Death
- Murder
- Bullying
- Graphic depiction of rape (not between MCs)
- Dub-con
- Touch aversion
- Cannibalism
“My adorable living dead.”
Mad scientist falls in love with his experiment.
What. A. Read. I loved the art style, the concept, the mix of horror themes and emotional elements, the characters and storyline, the slow burn love story.
But that ending completely wrecked me. Major spoiler, but this does not have a conventional HEA.
Unexpected and devastating, kind of lessened my enjoyment, but I still really loved this dark BL manga.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CWs (spoilers):
- Death
- Murder
- Bullying
- Graphic depiction of rape (not between MCs)
- Dub-con
- Touch aversion
- Cannibalism
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Reading this felt like having my insides scooped out and eviscerated before my eyes. If you told me at the beginning of the story I'd be crying by the end I probably would have laughed in your face, but alas...
Sleeping Dead is an interesting mix of psychological horror and BL that I think is pulled off flawlessly. It's Frankenstein's Monster meets Tokyo Ghoul meets slow burn romance, all with a tenderness I didn't see coming. The way the author achieves this is so clever, interspersing the present narrative with flashbacks, while carefully unravelling layers of character development that continually cast the story in a new light.
Mamiya, in particular, was a fascinatingly tragic character to explore. The author is careful not to excuse his actions by showing us his trauma, but rather allows the two things to coexist. He remains morally reprehensible, and I fundamentally disagree with his worldview and his choices, yet I still grew to love his character. In the same vein, it's not hard to see why Sada grew to love him, too. For all his apparent indifference towards the world around him, Mamiya holds on to his connection to Sada with an intensity that reveals a much more vulnerable side to him, and I found that contrast intriguing.
With such a dark and twisted premise, I was taken aback by just how intimate Sada and Mamiya's relationship became. Whilst I wouldn't say BL is the focus of the story, their emotional connection is undeniable, and it was refreshing to see a story focus more on that than sexual attraction. I also loved how much their characters explored themes of morality, obsession, desperation, and the human condition together. It examines how even the most deeply damaged and morally questionable people can still crave a form of intimacy, affection, and a sense of belonging, and the lengths they would go to to achieve that.
The art style is incredible and really well suited to the story. It has a very classic, unique feel to it, and I absolutely loved the character designs and how expressive they are. Although there’s a lot of dialogue on the page, the mangaka still manages to convey so much through the artwork alone.
I would absolutely recommend this omnibus to anyone who enjoys intensely character-driven stories that weave psychological horror with doomed yaoi and tragedy. It’s dark, unsettling, unexpectedly tender, and it will probably haunt me for a while yet.
P.S. Gotta give a shout out to Monkichi too, love you girl (╥‸╥)♡
Thank you NetGalley and Seven Seas Entertainment for providing me with a review copy!
Sleeping Dead is an interesting mix of psychological horror and BL that I think is pulled off flawlessly. It's Frankenstein's Monster meets Tokyo Ghoul meets slow burn romance, all with a tenderness I didn't see coming. The way the author achieves this is so clever, interspersing the present narrative with flashbacks, while carefully unravelling layers of character development that continually cast the story in a new light.
Mamiya, in particular, was a fascinatingly tragic character to explore. The author is careful not to excuse his actions by showing us his trauma, but rather allows the two things to coexist. He remains morally reprehensible, and I fundamentally disagree with his worldview and his choices, yet I still grew to love his character. In the same vein, it's not hard to see why Sada grew to love him, too. For all his apparent indifference towards the world around him, Mamiya holds on to his connection to Sada with an intensity that reveals a much more vulnerable side to him, and I found that contrast intriguing.
With such a dark and twisted premise, I was taken aback by just how intimate Sada and Mamiya's relationship became. Whilst I wouldn't say BL is the focus of the story, their emotional connection is undeniable, and it was refreshing to see a story focus more on that than sexual attraction. I also loved how much their characters explored themes of morality, obsession, desperation, and the human condition together. It examines how even the most deeply damaged and morally questionable people can still crave a form of intimacy, affection, and a sense of belonging, and the lengths they would go to to achieve that.
The art style is incredible and really well suited to the story. It has a very classic, unique feel to it, and I absolutely loved the character designs and how expressive they are. Although there’s a lot of dialogue on the page, the mangaka still manages to convey so much through the artwork alone.
I would absolutely recommend this omnibus to anyone who enjoys intensely character-driven stories that weave psychological horror with doomed yaoi and tragedy. It’s dark, unsettling, unexpectedly tender, and it will probably haunt me for a while yet.
P.S. Gotta give a shout out to Monkichi too, love you girl (╥‸╥)♡
Thank you NetGalley and Seven Seas Entertainment for providing me with a review copy!
October 28, 2026
i’m gonna need 7-10 business days to process this
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ohhh I really enjoyed this! Going to need to stare at a wall before I can write a more in depth review though!
This has such a classic BL feel, but it does an excellent job morphing to the horror genre. Mamiya is a little freak. Sada is a little freak (but less of a little freak). I really loved their dynamic and the 580 pages flew by. I still had some reservations about their dynamic (this would have been a solid 4 star read without the SA), but ended up staying up way too late to finish this because I couldn't put it down.
Definitely recommending it for fans of BL, but I think all fans of queer horroromance will enjoy this.
This has such a classic BL feel, but it does an excellent job morphing to the horror genre. Mamiya is a little freak. Sada is a little freak (but less of a little freak). I really loved their dynamic and the 580 pages flew by. I still had some reservations about their dynamic (this would have been a solid 4 star read without the SA), but ended up staying up way too late to finish this because I couldn't put it down.
Definitely recommending it for fans of BL, but I think all fans of queer horroromance will enjoy this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In exchange for an honest Review i got to read Sleeping Dead (Omnibus) by Nemui Asada. By Netgally and Seven Seas Entertainment.
Where to start with this Manhua, this is a grotesque and dark story with quite a fascinating plotline.
Sada`s story is lifechanging and dark and as a reader i feel with the loss of his life and the brutal murder of him.
tough i do love the dynamic between him and Mimaiya there is something really fascinating with how a researcher brings him back to life and then gives him a chance in life for a second time but also i can see the downside of what Sada goes trough, his life is upended and he can never go back to how things were before his death, Sada ends up living with Mimaiya that in a way takes pity on him, But does not see him as a monster just because his diet have changed as he live in this weird line between living and death. This BL story is devastatingly sad as well got quite the interesting plot.
Sleeping Dead is a dark horror story about a mad scientist that brings a person back to life as a zombie / modern Frankenstein, having to live off blood as a bacteria in his body keeps him alive and we get to experience an out of the kind relationship grow between the characters as they live together while Sada has to learn to live with his new reality. the story is dark, gritty but also with quite a great story line fitting to read around Halloween time.
I want to say Thank You To Netgally and Seven seas Entertainment for letting me review Sleeping Dead (Omnibus)
Where to start with this Manhua, this is a grotesque and dark story with quite a fascinating plotline.
Sada`s story is lifechanging and dark and as a reader i feel with the loss of his life and the brutal murder of him.
tough i do love the dynamic between him and Mimaiya there is something really fascinating with how a researcher brings him back to life and then gives him a chance in life for a second time but also i can see the downside of what Sada goes trough, his life is upended and he can never go back to how things were before his death, Sada ends up living with Mimaiya that in a way takes pity on him, But does not see him as a monster just because his diet have changed as he live in this weird line between living and death. This BL story is devastatingly sad as well got quite the interesting plot.
Sleeping Dead is a dark horror story about a mad scientist that brings a person back to life as a zombie / modern Frankenstein, having to live off blood as a bacteria in his body keeps him alive and we get to experience an out of the kind relationship grow between the characters as they live together while Sada has to learn to live with his new reality. the story is dark, gritty but also with quite a great story line fitting to read around Halloween time.
I want to say Thank You To Netgally and Seven seas Entertainment for letting me review Sleeping Dead (Omnibus)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Death should have been the ending for the beloved and popular teacher Sada. Instead, he wakes up chained to a laboratory with his body carved up and reconstructed - courtesy of a mad scientist obsessed with defying death. However, Sada is forever changed, walking the earth as something looking like, but not quite, human. Bound together in the aftermath of tragedy, the line between creator and creation begins to fracture as buried truths surface and a dark dependency deepens.
Sleeping Dead is a haunting and devastating read centered on two deeply morally grey individuals who may have just met their match. The dynamic between them carries a painful poignancy—Mamiya’s desensitization to his own past trauma directly contrasts with his intense, lingering attachment to Sada. It creates such a complex emotional layer that is entirely different to his presentation as a nonchalant world-be-damned cynic.
What stands out most is how the narrative refuses to excuse its characters' conflicting morals or shy away from calling out their hypocrisy. Rather than trying to justify their actions, the manga serves as a fascinating thematic exploration of a bizarre, dark question: what if you actually achieved reanimation - what if you finally proved the very studies that academia has looked down? How far would you go?
While it doesn't lean into traditional romance, it remains strikingly clear that both men are utterly enamored with each other in their own twisted way.
Ultimately, these two were doomed by the narrative from the very beginning, and rereading the early chapters highlights the subtle crumbs Nemui Asada laid out leading to their fate. Even with those hints, the ending lands as a heavy tragedy that my heart was still not fully ready to accept—though the extra chapters at least offered a fun, wacky reprieve.
A sincere thank you to Seven Seas Entertainment and NetGalley for providing this eARC. Please note that any quotes cited are taken from an uncorrected proof and may differ in the final publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Better to be twisted than tainted by this world's idiocy.
Death should have been the ending for the beloved and popular teacher Sada. Instead, he wakes up chained to a laboratory with his body carved up and reconstructed - courtesy of a mad scientist obsessed with defying death. However, Sada is forever changed, walking the earth as something looking like, but not quite, human. Bound together in the aftermath of tragedy, the line between creator and creation begins to fracture as buried truths surface and a dark dependency deepens.
Sleeping Dead is a haunting and devastating read centered on two deeply morally grey individuals who may have just met their match. The dynamic between them carries a painful poignancy—Mamiya’s desensitization to his own past trauma directly contrasts with his intense, lingering attachment to Sada. It creates such a complex emotional layer that is entirely different to his presentation as a nonchalant world-be-damned cynic.
What stands out most is how the narrative refuses to excuse its characters' conflicting morals or shy away from calling out their hypocrisy. Rather than trying to justify their actions, the manga serves as a fascinating thematic exploration of a bizarre, dark question: what if you actually achieved reanimation - what if you finally proved the very studies that academia has looked down? How far would you go?
While it doesn't lean into traditional romance, it remains strikingly clear that both men are utterly enamored with each other in their own twisted way.
Ultimately, these two were doomed by the narrative from the very beginning, and rereading the early chapters highlights the subtle crumbs Nemui Asada laid out leading to their fate. Even with those hints, the ending lands as a heavy tragedy that my heart was still not fully ready to accept—though the extra chapters at least offered a fun, wacky reprieve.
A sincere thank you to Seven Seas Entertainment and NetGalley for providing this eARC. Please note that any quotes cited are taken from an uncorrected proof and may differ in the final publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Before you start Sleeping Dead, I think it's important to manage expectations. While it is marketed as a BL manga, if you're looking for a traditional romance, you may not find what you're expecting here.
At its core, this is a dark psychological story that centers on two men whose relationship is deeply complicated, unhealthy, and hard to define. The romance takes a backseat to the psychological exploration of dependency, isolation, and obsession.
After an incident leaves Sada caught between life and death, he becomes entirely dependent on Mamiya, the scientist responsible for his condition. Given that Mamiya experimented on Sada without his consent, I struggled to view their relationship through a romantic lens. A large part of that difficulty came from Mamiya himself. He's not simply flawed or morally gray. He's often cruel, selfish, and emotionally callous, and while the story provides some context for why he became the person he is, I never felt that it fully redeemed his actions. Because of that, I found it difficult to believe in the romance or root for the relationship in the way I typically would with a BL.
That said, I don't necessarily think this is a flaw of the manga itself. I think it's more a question of reader expectations. If you're looking for toxic dynamics, morally questionable characters, and unconventional relationships, you'll likely connect with this story much more than I did.
The pacing is also fairly slow, focusing less on plot and more on the evolving psychological connection between the two leads. Readers expecting a fast-moving horror story may be surprised by how character-focused it is, despite its dark premise and disturbing themes.
Overall, Sleeping Dead wasn't the romantic story I was expecting, and I never fully bought into the central relationship, but I can appreciate what the manga was trying to accomplish. Just be sure to check the content warnings beforehand, as this story tackles some heavy and potentially distressing subject matter. Thank you, NetGalley and Seven Seas Entertainment, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
.
Triggers: murder, gore, disembowelment, torture, bullying, sexual assault/harassment, kidnapping, cannibalism
At its core, this is a dark psychological story that centers on two men whose relationship is deeply complicated, unhealthy, and hard to define. The romance takes a backseat to the psychological exploration of dependency, isolation, and obsession.
After an incident leaves Sada caught between life and death, he becomes entirely dependent on Mamiya, the scientist responsible for his condition. Given that Mamiya experimented on Sada without his consent, I struggled to view their relationship through a romantic lens. A large part of that difficulty came from Mamiya himself. He's not simply flawed or morally gray. He's often cruel, selfish, and emotionally callous, and while the story provides some context for why he became the person he is, I never felt that it fully redeemed his actions. Because of that, I found it difficult to believe in the romance or root for the relationship in the way I typically would with a BL.
That said, I don't necessarily think this is a flaw of the manga itself. I think it's more a question of reader expectations. If you're looking for toxic dynamics, morally questionable characters, and unconventional relationships, you'll likely connect with this story much more than I did.
The pacing is also fairly slow, focusing less on plot and more on the evolving psychological connection between the two leads. Readers expecting a fast-moving horror story may be surprised by how character-focused it is, despite its dark premise and disturbing themes.
Overall, Sleeping Dead wasn't the romantic story I was expecting, and I never fully bought into the central relationship, but I can appreciate what the manga was trying to accomplish. Just be sure to check the content warnings beforehand, as this story tackles some heavy and potentially distressing subject matter. Thank you, NetGalley and Seven Seas Entertainment, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
.
Triggers: murder, gore, disembowelment, torture, bullying, sexual assault/harassment, kidnapping, cannibalism
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This was such a peculiar, dark and kind of philosophical manga that gave me massive Frankenstein x Tim Burton vibes!
I really loved how macabre the plot is, and how eventually you end up rooting for the characters and their wrongdoings for the name of science. Even the 'romance' is odd and slow going, it leans more on the questionable side of things.
I enjoyed seeing Sada grow into his newfound second life, sinking deeper into questioning his morals, and as for the scientist Mamiya...he was for sure a strange man. I liked that both characters have history with each other, it fuels the slow burn, yet I somehow didn't find myself hoping for their get together?
The plot isn't as deep as I would've preferred, and some chapters felt repetitive, but I didn't mind as I enjoyed watching Sada and Mamiya develop and grow closer, bonding as maker and miracle. The ending isn't exactly a conventional happy one, it felt quite sudden in the last two chapters or so actually, but again, I liked how it went.
Overall, this was a great gothic, chaotic and somewhat peculiar read that I had a wonderful time reading!
4/5 🌟
This was such a peculiar, dark and kind of philosophical manga that gave me massive Frankenstein x Tim Burton vibes!
I really loved how macabre the plot is, and how eventually you end up rooting for the characters and their wrongdoings for the name of science. Even the 'romance' is odd and slow going, it leans more on the questionable side of things.
I enjoyed seeing Sada grow into his newfound second life, sinking deeper into questioning his morals, and as for the scientist Mamiya...he was for sure a strange man. I liked that both characters have history with each other, it fuels the slow burn, yet I somehow didn't find myself hoping for their get together?
The plot isn't as deep as I would've preferred, and some chapters felt repetitive, but I didn't mind as I enjoyed watching Sada and Mamiya develop and grow closer, bonding as maker and miracle. The ending isn't exactly a conventional happy one, it felt quite sudden in the last two chapters or so actually, but again, I liked how it went.
Overall, this was a great gothic, chaotic and somewhat peculiar read that I had a wonderful time reading!
4/5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank You NetGalley for the ARC!
Sada sensei is at the mercy of his creator. Mayima, a scientist obsessed with his experiments and research, has turned sensei into something that is no longer human. Sada lived a very normal uneventful life until that fateful night, while serving as a community patrol for his neighborhood he witnesses a student being attacked and he intervenes only to meet his death. Miyama comes to the rescue, but at a cost.
This was a great read. Dark, very complex, art was fantastic. The setting is very surreal and at first you feel so sorry for Sada and his new reality. He is no longer in control of his life and has surrendered completely to the doctor. One family member of Dr. Mayima was successful in these types of experiments and he wanted the recognition he felt he deserved. Between these two characters there is a history, took me by surprise but it digs deep into what makes the doctor do what he does. There is lots of gore but portrayed very delicately, as if it to make everything they were doing seem acceptable. And that ending!! Oh my! This was another great book by Nemui Asada.
Sada sensei is at the mercy of his creator. Mayima, a scientist obsessed with his experiments and research, has turned sensei into something that is no longer human. Sada lived a very normal uneventful life until that fateful night, while serving as a community patrol for his neighborhood he witnesses a student being attacked and he intervenes only to meet his death. Miyama comes to the rescue, but at a cost.
This was a great read. Dark, very complex, art was fantastic. The setting is very surreal and at first you feel so sorry for Sada and his new reality. He is no longer in control of his life and has surrendered completely to the doctor. One family member of Dr. Mayima was successful in these types of experiments and he wanted the recognition he felt he deserved. Between these two characters there is a history, took me by surprise but it digs deep into what makes the doctor do what he does. There is lots of gore but portrayed very delicately, as if it to make everything they were doing seem acceptable. And that ending!! Oh my! This was another great book by Nemui Asada.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sleeping Dead is a haunting, emotionally devastating read but absolutely worth it.
It handles some deeply uncomfortable territory. In fiction, it’s often much easier to digest violence or murder than non-consent and absolute moral bankruptcy. Early on, I was really uncomfortable with Mamiya’s horrific actions and complete violation of boundaries, especially knowing there was a romance tag. I was worried the story would try to excuse his behavior or use his past as a handwave.
Thankfully, it never does. The author delves into Mamiya's trauma, but it isn't presented as an excuse or even the root cause of his sociopathy—it gives you context for his misanthropy and lack of empathy. He remains a deeply flawed, morally bankrupt character throughout.
Because the story refuses to sanitize him or force an unearned redemption arc, the psychological horror works and the final act lands a devastating emotional punch. It brought me to tears tbh
A brutal, profound exploration of obsession, trauma, and desperate hope. A story I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
It handles some deeply uncomfortable territory. In fiction, it’s often much easier to digest violence or murder than non-consent and absolute moral bankruptcy. Early on, I was really uncomfortable with Mamiya’s horrific actions and complete violation of boundaries, especially knowing there was a romance tag. I was worried the story would try to excuse his behavior or use his past as a handwave.
Thankfully, it never does. The author delves into Mamiya's trauma, but it isn't presented as an excuse or even the root cause of his sociopathy—it gives you context for his misanthropy and lack of empathy. He remains a deeply flawed, morally bankrupt character throughout.
Because the story refuses to sanitize him or force an unearned redemption arc, the psychological horror works and the final act lands a devastating emotional punch. It brought me to tears tbh
A brutal, profound exploration of obsession, trauma, and desperate hope. A story I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is admittedly a reread, but oh what a reread it is. Sleeping Dead is perfect for an omnibus and I loved reading through Seven Seas' release and enjoying the story again. This is a dark horror romance (not MADK dark but maybe something closer to Total Eclispe of the Eternal Heart) with a very bittersweet ending, but if you're prepared for that, it is so so worth the time. Sada is heartbreakingly likable, in the sense that he doesn't deserve what he goes through and you desperately want better for him, and Mamiya is interesting and conflicting in a way that keeps you invested even when you kind of want him to go to prison. The fact that their story starts with such violence and becomes almost fully domestic in spite of the horror and trauma they both are living with... I don't know why it works, only that it does, very well. Excellent manga with lovely art. There's something about Sada's face and his expressions that will always do it for me. Lovely! Can't wait to buy physical and add to my collection.
Thank you to Netgalley, Seven Seas, and Nemui Asada for the ARC!
Thank you to Netgalley, Seven Seas, and Nemui Asada for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After an unfortunate incident, a teacher is given a second chance at life by a (mad) scientist. Only he’s not really alive and needs to feed on human flesh. Is it cannibalism if he’s a zombie?
I ended up loving this one! I was hooked from the start. I almost read all of this in one sitting. This was such a great blend of horror and emotion. The relationship between Sada and Mamiya isn’t your typical romance. There’s obsession, isolation, violence. Despite that, there were parts of this that felt surprisingly domestic. It was a nice little slice of life amongst the dark and violence. I was not prepared for that ending! It was fitting but bittersweet.
This dark BL manga was quite the ride. An incredible story with gorgeous artwork! Thank you to Seven Seas for my copy!
I ended up loving this one! I was hooked from the start. I almost read all of this in one sitting. This was such a great blend of horror and emotion. The relationship between Sada and Mamiya isn’t your typical romance. There’s obsession, isolation, violence. Despite that, there were parts of this that felt surprisingly domestic. It was a nice little slice of life amongst the dark and violence. I was not prepared for that ending! It was fitting but bittersweet.
This dark BL manga was quite the ride. An incredible story with gorgeous artwork! Thank you to Seven Seas for my copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley & publisher for the arc of this book 👨🔬🔬🔪🩸👨❤️👨
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
There is something beautiful about a mad scientist and his creation falling in love, more if they were high-school classmates now in their thirties. A manga filled with such sad topics, trauma that leads you to do things no one can imagine and in the end just more pain of losing your beloved? Their talks were like the good and bad conscience of one human having battle, yet you can see so much more in this single 11 chapter manga, I am sad yet I really loved it, Frankenstein is one of my fav book already this is such a good take on it.
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
There is something beautiful about a mad scientist and his creation falling in love, more if they were high-school classmates now in their thirties. A manga filled with such sad topics, trauma that leads you to do things no one can imagine and in the end just more pain of losing your beloved? Their talks were like the good and bad conscience of one human having battle, yet you can see so much more in this single 11 chapter manga, I am sad yet I really loved it, Frankenstein is one of my fav book already this is such a good take on it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
TWs at the end to avoid spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Seven Seas for the review copy!
Sleeping Dead is a unique read that is definitely suitable for the spooky season. It is a BL, but one that is dark and a bit depressing. Sada-kun is a teacher who meets his end trying to help a student. He is unceremoniously brought back to life by Mamiya, a slightly mad scientist hell bent on proving his great-aunt's research. But it turns out Mamiya might not be exactly who he says he is, and his intentions are even more clouded...
Sleeping Dead is definitely not a traditional romance, so if you are expecting that you might not enjoy it. This story is a reflection of what it means to be human, and even more basic, what it means to be alive. I liked the exploration of these themes, but it wasn't anything groundbreaking or particularly unique. The "I've been turned into a monster and I either have to come to terms with it or die" is a common way to explore life and humanity. I've read other stories that carry it out a bit better and with characters with more depth. Perhaps the author just didn't have enough time for the deeper development, as it's a short, two-volume series.
I did enjoy the fact that it is not a romance. There are romantic elements, yes, and some suggestive scenes (though nothing is shown), but the underlying romance is more of a way to explore the main themes, particularly the idea of people needing other people to live well. The love shown here between Mamiya and Sada is unique and I liked that. They also eventually had some decent chemistry, though the first half felt very dubious in that regard. I also really enjoyed the ending - it's the kind of ending that is just ambiguous enough that you can make it what you want, but also implies enough to guide your mind in one specific direction. I'm certain it will stick with me.
One thing I absolutely did not like is the perpetuation of negative stereotypes around medical research, particularly using animals. As someone who has done research with animals, it's disheartening to see it framed as torture. It is extremely regulated, and animals are treated with the care they deserve. What Mamiya was doing was very unethical, but there wasn't a great attempt to make the distinguishment between his research and true biomedical research.
TW: death, murder, dub-con, cannibalism, sexual assault, implied suicide
Thank you to NetGalley and Seven Seas for the review copy!
Sleeping Dead is a unique read that is definitely suitable for the spooky season. It is a BL, but one that is dark and a bit depressing. Sada-kun is a teacher who meets his end trying to help a student. He is unceremoniously brought back to life by Mamiya, a slightly mad scientist hell bent on proving his great-aunt's research. But it turns out Mamiya might not be exactly who he says he is, and his intentions are even more clouded...
Sleeping Dead is definitely not a traditional romance, so if you are expecting that you might not enjoy it. This story is a reflection of what it means to be human, and even more basic, what it means to be alive. I liked the exploration of these themes, but it wasn't anything groundbreaking or particularly unique. The "I've been turned into a monster and I either have to come to terms with it or die" is a common way to explore life and humanity. I've read other stories that carry it out a bit better and with characters with more depth. Perhaps the author just didn't have enough time for the deeper development, as it's a short, two-volume series.
I did enjoy the fact that it is not a romance. There are romantic elements, yes, and some suggestive scenes (though nothing is shown), but the underlying romance is more of a way to explore the main themes, particularly the idea of people needing other people to live well. The love shown here between Mamiya and Sada is unique and I liked that. They also eventually had some decent chemistry, though the first half felt very dubious in that regard. I also really enjoyed the ending - it's the kind of ending that is just ambiguous enough that you can make it what you want, but also implies enough to guide your mind in one specific direction. I'm certain it will stick with me.
One thing I absolutely did not like is the perpetuation of negative stereotypes around medical research, particularly using animals. As someone who has done research with animals, it's disheartening to see it framed as torture. It is extremely regulated, and animals are treated with the care they deserve. What Mamiya was doing was very unethical, but there wasn't a great attempt to make the distinguishment between his research and true biomedical research.
TW: death, murder, dub-con, cannibalism, sexual assault, implied suicide
October 30, 2026
Thank you to Seven Seas Entertainment and NetGalley for this eARC! All opinions in this review are my own.
This is a dark and tragic BL horror manga. I would recommend checking content warnings as it contains violence, cannibalism, blood/gore, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault/rape, dubious consent, and animal abuse.
As always, Asada-sensei’s art is amazing. I’m a huge fan of her art style and her unique character designs. The story itself is also unique and I love reading BLs that stray from the generic love stories in the genre.
The story is very dark and explores some heavy themes. At times it is very domestic though. I started feeling a bit bored in some parts, but the domestic scenes were an interesting contrast to the darker elements in the story and I enjoyed seeing Sada and Mamiya’s relationship develop. The romance is slow-burn (and a bit Stockholm Syndrome-y) but I appreciate the mutual understanding and complex emotional connection that develops between the two.
The manga delves into themes about the ethics and morality surrounding Sada’s need to consume human flesh – the actual act of consumption, but also where best to source it. I think these discussions were well done. It also explores themes of loneliness and being considered an outcast in society. I liked that despite their differences in social settings like work and high school, Sada and Mamiya still shared similar feelings about society and how they themselves participated in it.
The pacing works really well considering this is originally a two-volume series. The ending didn’t feel rushed and I think it did a good job at wrapping things up. I would have liked to know more about Sada’s life before his death, particularly his relationship with his mother and sister, and his work colleagues and students. I think it would have made more of an impact if we knew more about the life he had lost.
This is a very unique and devastating BL and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
This is a dark and tragic BL horror manga. I would recommend checking content warnings as it contains violence, cannibalism, blood/gore, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault/rape, dubious consent, and animal abuse.
As always, Asada-sensei’s art is amazing. I’m a huge fan of her art style and her unique character designs. The story itself is also unique and I love reading BLs that stray from the generic love stories in the genre.
The story is very dark and explores some heavy themes. At times it is very domestic though. I started feeling a bit bored in some parts, but the domestic scenes were an interesting contrast to the darker elements in the story and I enjoyed seeing Sada and Mamiya’s relationship develop. The romance is slow-burn (and a bit Stockholm Syndrome-y) but I appreciate the mutual understanding and complex emotional connection that develops between the two.
The manga delves into themes about the ethics and morality surrounding Sada’s need to consume human flesh – the actual act of consumption, but also where best to source it. I think these discussions were well done. It also explores themes of loneliness and being considered an outcast in society. I liked that despite their differences in social settings like work and high school, Sada and Mamiya still shared similar feelings about society and how they themselves participated in it.
The pacing works really well considering this is originally a two-volume series. The ending didn’t feel rushed and I think it did a good job at wrapping things up. I would have liked to know more about Sada’s life before his death, particularly his relationship with his mother and sister, and his work colleagues and students. I think it would have made more of an impact if we knew more about the life he had lost.
This is a very unique and devastating BL and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sleeping Dead by Nemui Asada is a title that was on my radar since well before Seven Seas announced their licensing of it, and, though I do already have it on preorder, I was so excited to have snagged the opportunity to read it digitally through NetGalley ahead of its release at the end of this year.
There’s not too much I feel that I can say about the plot without spoiling it, but one thing I can say is that this is a very unique and very compelling story. It really is one of those stories that stands apart from others in the genre and, despite the decidedly gruesome atmosphere of the story itself, it was such a delight to read. It was also much more of an emotional read than I was expecting.
A word of warning, though. I would encourage anyone who’s thinking of picking this one up to first look into the trigger warnings. Some parts could potentially be difficult for many to read,
I’d also like to mention that I was really pleased with the unique character design and how the author chose physical traits for characters (namely Mamiya) that aren’t necessarily considered “conventionally attractive.” It’s always nice to see more representation in BL!
Personally, I generally always prefer single volumes to omnibuses, so (though I’ve only ready it digitally thus far) that would probably be my only complaint. That said, I will admit that this story in particular does lend itself well to an Omnibus and I was definitely happy to be able to read it in its entirety rather than having to wait for the second volume’s release.
The above is an honest review and all opinions are my own. I would like to thank Seven Seas Entertainment for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
There’s not too much I feel that I can say about the plot without spoiling it, but one thing I can say is that this is a very unique and very compelling story. It really is one of those stories that stands apart from others in the genre and, despite the decidedly gruesome atmosphere of the story itself, it was such a delight to read. It was also much more of an emotional read than I was expecting.
A word of warning, though. I would encourage anyone who’s thinking of picking this one up to first look into the trigger warnings. Some parts could potentially be difficult for many to read,
I’d also like to mention that I was really pleased with the unique character design and how the author chose physical traits for characters (namely Mamiya) that aren’t necessarily considered “conventionally attractive.” It’s always nice to see more representation in BL!
Personally, I generally always prefer single volumes to omnibuses, so (though I’ve only ready it digitally thus far) that would probably be my only complaint. That said, I will admit that this story in particular does lend itself well to an Omnibus and I was definitely happy to be able to read it in its entirety rather than having to wait for the second volume’s release.
The above is an honest review and all opinions are my own. I would like to thank Seven Seas Entertainment for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Immediately requested from Netgalley once I saw Seven Seas Entertainment is now on there. Really did not expect to be approved to be honest, so thank youuuuuuuuuuu.
I have been seeing this cover a lot and was intrigued.
I really should start reading the synopsis before getting into something because I was pleasantly surprised that it has an element of romance.
Frankenstein's Monster meets Boy's Love should've really clued me in.
I still cannot that the other dude loses that much hair, they could've been such a cute couple.
All fangirling aside, we actually get to see psychological horror, gore, sexual violence and trauma oh is it really cannibalism if it's zombie-esque?
Mamiya is a 30 year old dude that I wanna hide in my jacket forever. Despite being a foil for all of us to work out on issues such as bullying and how that translates into him not trusting people, touch-averse
The book does not shy away from depicting the brutality of bullying amongst boys-- ++sexual violence
It does has its cringe moment where Mamiya learns to be a bit more human, trying to be more trusting, I wonder if he's secretly ace or something. Not to mention his somewhat blasé attitude towards life and the reality of actually commiting a bunch of crimes.
The plot twist halfway through the story and a bunch of flashbacks that we got is actually the highlight of this omnibus.
We get a few tender moments in a midst of horror.
I do wish Sada was a bit more fleshed out. He seemed to be going along with Mamiya until the end, or maybe he was already indifferent towards life, he seems like a social butterfly when he was younger but there was one panel where I think he put everyone at a distance.
In which he was giving Mamiya life advice, but we get to see his philosophy in a sense.
Finished this in one sitting, I feel like I wanna hug them both.
I have been seeing this cover a lot and was intrigued.
I really should start reading the synopsis before getting into something because I was pleasantly surprised that it has an element of romance.
Frankenstein's Monster meets Boy's Love should've really clued me in.
I still cannot that the other dude loses that much hair, they could've been such a cute couple.
All fangirling aside, we actually get to see psychological horror, gore, sexual violence and trauma oh is it really cannibalism if it's zombie-esque?
Mamiya is a 30 year old dude that I wanna hide in my jacket forever. Despite being a foil for all of us to work out on issues such as bullying and how that translates into him not trusting people, touch-averse
The book does not shy away from depicting the brutality of bullying amongst boys-- ++sexual violence
It does has its cringe moment where Mamiya learns to be a bit more human, trying to be more trusting, I wonder if he's secretly ace or something. Not to mention his somewhat blasé attitude towards life and the reality of actually commiting a bunch of crimes.
The plot twist halfway through the story and a bunch of flashbacks that we got is actually the highlight of this omnibus.
We get a few tender moments in a midst of horror.
I do wish Sada was a bit more fleshed out. He seemed to be going along with Mamiya until the end, or maybe he was already indifferent towards life, he seems like a social butterfly when he was younger but there was one panel where I think he put everyone at a distance.
In which he was giving Mamiya life advice, but we get to see his philosophy in a sense.
Finished this in one sitting, I feel like I wanna hug them both.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, this was... quite a read. There was a point early on where I thought, "There's no way you're going to be able to come back from this in terms of character arc." INCORRECT. This was upsetting and morally gray and still made me feel quite a wide range of human emotions.
Please, please, please be aware not only of the violence/cannibalism but the fact that there are two instances of on-page s*xual violence, one of which involves minors (both as victims and perpetrators). I was grew up on Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service so the the horror themes were mostly pretty mild to me, but those SA scenes are a tough read. As we learn more about the story, I got so sad. These characters started to feel like fully-developed people rather than tropes by the end, and I know people in my life who will relate to both characters. The conversations around morality reminded me of Hitchcock's ROPE meets the book version of WARM BODIES. Plus, obviously, FRANKENSTEIN. This was depressing as all get out, but still managed not to be entirely bleak. There's no way for things to end well, but I got quite attached to these characters along the way, and there was subtext that didn't get spelled out in obnoxious detail, which I always appreciate.
While I do love an upbeat queer story with a happy ending, my little goth heart does crave the tragic pining. Neither of these characters is fully "good" but you can definitely see why they ended up like this and how their experiences have shaped their worldview. A tough read, but a thoughtful character study, IMO.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sevens Seas for the ARC of this omnibus.
Please, please, please be aware not only of the violence/cannibalism but the fact that there are two instances of on-page s*xual violence, one of which involves minors (both as victims and perpetrators). I was grew up on Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service so the the horror themes were mostly pretty mild to me, but those SA scenes are a tough read. As we learn more about the story, I got so sad. These characters started to feel like fully-developed people rather than tropes by the end, and I know people in my life who will relate to both characters. The conversations around morality reminded me of Hitchcock's ROPE meets the book version of WARM BODIES. Plus, obviously, FRANKENSTEIN. This was depressing as all get out, but still managed not to be entirely bleak. There's no way for things to end well, but I got quite attached to these characters along the way, and there was subtext that didn't get spelled out in obnoxious detail, which I always appreciate.
While I do love an upbeat queer story with a happy ending, my little goth heart does crave the tragic pining. Neither of these characters is fully "good" but you can definitely see why they ended up like this and how their experiences have shaped their worldview. A tough read, but a thoughtful character study, IMO.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sevens Seas for the ARC of this omnibus.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is a lot to be aware of when going into this story in terms of darker themes and complicated relationships. Bullying, rape, murder, and manipulation are all part of the plot, some of which is portrayed with more subtlety, whereas other parts are much more matter of fact. For readers that enjoy horror and dubious pairings, there is plenty to be invested in, but if someone is looking for a more typical BL story, Sleeping Dead is definitely not it.
I loved the art style and found it was well suited to the horror genre. The detail in the drape or crinkle of clothing is really well done, as are the backgrounds/environments. Character designs are distinctive and continue to work well within flashbacks revealing the pasts of Sada, Mamiya, and others.
Sleeping Dead is one of those books where despite the toxicity you can't help but feel invested in the main characters. The relationship is messy, autonomy is questionable, but these two men make for an odd couple with surprisingly sweet moments as well. Asada does well with balancing the surreal horror elements, dark pasts (and presents), with some moments of vulnerability and honesty.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Seven Seas for the digital ARC!
I loved the art style and found it was well suited to the horror genre. The detail in the drape or crinkle of clothing is really well done, as are the backgrounds/environments. Character designs are distinctive and continue to work well within flashbacks revealing the pasts of Sada, Mamiya, and others.
Sleeping Dead is one of those books where despite the toxicity you can't help but feel invested in the main characters. The relationship is messy, autonomy is questionable, but these two men make for an odd couple with surprisingly sweet moments as well. Asada does well with balancing the surreal horror elements, dark pasts (and presents), with some moments of vulnerability and honesty.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Seven Seas for the digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There's so much going on here, I would have read another couple of volumes easily. The ending does feel a little abrupt after everything else that Sada and Mamiya go through and work through, and I think it could have been just as devastating with another volume's worth of interactions, but we still get a meaty chunk of time with them and their issues.
Sometimes your love language is chaining someone to a surgical table and pulling out their intestines so you can understand how they're un-alive and can continue being un-alive. Sometimes your love language is finding people to kill together so you can make human smoothies for sustenance and learning how to do it effectively and smoothly. Sometimes it's finding out your target is the other's high school bully and then doubling down on the fact that they should die.
As stated, I wish it were longer and that we got a little more into their relationship as it is now, rather than with the shadow of Mamiya's high school trauma hanging over him, of maybe working through some of his neuroses, but then again, his being a neurotic cat of a man is his charm.
More guro-adjacent men in their 30s being absolute messes, thank you very much.
Sometimes your love language is chaining someone to a surgical table and pulling out their intestines so you can understand how they're un-alive and can continue being un-alive. Sometimes your love language is finding people to kill together so you can make human smoothies for sustenance and learning how to do it effectively and smoothly. Sometimes it's finding out your target is the other's high school bully and then doubling down on the fact that they should die.
As stated, I wish it were longer and that we got a little more into their relationship as it is now, rather than with the shadow of Mamiya's high school trauma hanging over him, of maybe working through some of his neuroses, but then again, his being a neurotic cat of a man is his charm.
More guro-adjacent men in their 30s being absolute messes, thank you very much.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sleeping Dead (Omnibus) by Nemui Asada
4.5☆
Thank you to NetGalley, Seven Seas, and Nemui Asada for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am a huge fan of anything involving reanimation or mad science, and this was such a beautiful addition to that pantheon!
I wish it had been even longer. I could've read 500 more pages of their development. I loved how bittersweet the ending was. I loved how they grew together, and how well they worked together despite both having their own flaws to deal with.
The art is also beautiful. Every panel is exciting and interesting to look at! And the way Monkichi was drawn was soooo cute. I loved everything about this! I definitely need to check out more of Asada-san's work in the future.
4.5☆
Thank you to NetGalley, Seven Seas, and Nemui Asada for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am a huge fan of anything involving reanimation or mad science, and this was such a beautiful addition to that pantheon!
I wish it had been even longer. I could've read 500 more pages of their development. I loved how bittersweet the ending was. I loved how they grew together, and how well they worked together despite both having their own flaws to deal with.
The art is also beautiful. Every panel is exciting and interesting to look at! And the way Monkichi was drawn was soooo cute. I loved everything about this! I definitely need to check out more of Asada-san's work in the future.
Read
November 7, 2026Wow if you read Loved Circus and enjoyed it but thought it needed to be longer, I think you will love this. This is 2 volumes so it gives the right amount of time to build this story. There is love but this is mostly a horror story for at least half of it. I must say, Mamiya is not an easy character to like. I am glad that Sada was able to empathize and sympathize with him but the writing didn't really ask us to. Horrible things happened to him which led him to be even more dismissive towards people. Sada not a perfect character he does things that are questionable but he is easier to have sympathy for. The art is engaging. In the end, the story is haunting and I like that the ending was a bit unexpected in how it was melancholy. I loved this so much..
6/6 stars
6/6 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Amazing read!!! I feel bad for him at first but gosh i feel so sad of the ending! God the ending is so devastated i couldn’t sleep at night. I cried cuz Mamiya is finally learning to have feelings like a human being and now he has to learn without Sada. I wish Sada could live longer but there no way he could keep on killing people just to make him stay alive… God i still remember the ending TvT
Amazing read!! Really recommend this!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book in advance~
Amazing read!! Really recommend this!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book in advance~
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of an ARC from Netgalley
This story follows Sada, a high school teacher who is killed, then brought back to life. This one had me hooked from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. It was dark and depressing at times, but if you know that going into it, then it's definitely a worthwhile read. Trigger warning for rape, cannibalism, murder, and other violence.
This story follows Sada, a high school teacher who is killed, then brought back to life. This one had me hooked from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. It was dark and depressing at times, but if you know that going into it, then it's definitely a worthwhile read. Trigger warning for rape, cannibalism, murder, and other violence.
October 31, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.
To begin, I'll say that I read it in one sitting. This manga captivated me even before I started reading it. The artwork is gorgeous.
No spoilers, but that scene... Wow! I can't believe the level of detail in the story. It truly makes you understand, while also allowing you to question, the behavior of both characters.
To begin, I'll say that I read it in one sitting. This manga captivated me even before I started reading it. The artwork is gorgeous.
No spoilers, but that scene... Wow! I can't believe the level of detail in the story. It truly makes you understand, while also allowing you to question, the behavior of both characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
this was the perfect read to kick off halloween weekend! i do recommend readers to check the trigger warnings though as this story explores very dark themes. overall, it was a very intriguing read especially for frankenstein fans!
thank you netgalley & seven seas for the eARC
thank you netgalley & seven seas for the eARC
May 9, 2025
No es en absoluto lo que esperaba, pero no por ello me ha gustado menos. Creo que es mejor ir sin saber nada. Me sorprende mucho que esto se haya publicado en Japón
September 24, 2025
“A ti te guardaré... en un lugar donde nadie pueda encontrarte.”
Soy lágrimas, que doloroso ha sido todo.
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